MUSIC
Several Performances
Throughout the month
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
From the patriotic to the nostalgic, the KSO has an eclectic slate of shows this month.
The full symphony will give two free performances of Patriotic Pops: Stars, Stripes & Symphony. The first will be at 7:30 p.m. July 1 at the Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road in Portage; the second at 8:30 p.m. July 2 in Bronson Park.
On July 9 and 10, KSO musicians will perform with the members of improv troupe Crawlspace Eviction in Improv Meets Symphony at Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave. Showtimes are 6:30 and 8:15 p.m. both nights and tickets are $30.
KSO artists-in-residence will perform pop hits from the 1980s in the cozy ambience of a candlelit room at 7 p.m. July 15 in the Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave. Tickets for the show, KSO by Candlelight: 80s & More, are $5–$50.
To purchase tickets, visit kalamazoosymphony.com.
Outdoor Concerts
Throughout the month
Various venues
The season for the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo’s Summertime Live outdoor music performances is in full swing this month with shows across the region. The scheduled concerts, show times and locations are:
• Classic Rock & Roll, 5 p.m. July 1, Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners
• Tony Fields & Doug Decker and DJ No Limit, 5:30 p.m. July 1, Bates Alley, located between Edwards and Portage streets in downtown Kalamazoo
• Patriotic Pops: Stars, Stripes & Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. July 1, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road; and 8:30 p.m. July 2, Bronson Park
• Allie Garland, 5 p.m. July 8, Gilmore Car Museum
• Out of Favor Boys and Vineyard Chicks, 5:30 p.m. July 8, downtown Vicksburg
• Andre Jones and Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience, 6 p.m. July 9, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road
• Sophie McIntosh, 11:30 p.m. July 10, Bronson Park
• Cobb Mob Tree, Boogz, P Way Bug and Sherdizzil, 4:30 p.m. July 11, Kalamazoo Land Bank, 1523 Riverview Drive
• Sierra Shame, 6 p.m. July 12, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive
• Black Rock Sextet, 6:30 p.m. July 13, Kindleberger Park, 122 N. Riverview Drive
• The Mickeys, 5 p.m. July 15, Gilmore Car Museum
• Root Station and Special Guest, 5:30 p.m. July 15, downtown Vicksburg
• Levi Lumberjack, 11:30 p.m. July 17, Bronson Park
• Dana Scott, Durt and First Aid Spray, 6 p.m. July 17, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage
• BlueBack, 6:30 p.m. July 19, Flesher Field gazebo, 3664 S. Ninth St., Oshtemo
• Ultrasonik, 6:30 p.m. July 19, Kindleberger Park
• Moonrays, 5 p.m. July 22, Gilmore Car Museum
• Gemini Moon and Lucid Vibe, 5:30 p.m. July 22, downtown Vicksburg
• Broke Joe & Johnny Cashless, 6 p.m.; Mallrats, 7 p.m. July 23, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road
• Shelagh Brown Band, 11:30 p.m. July 24, Bronson Park
• Great Lakes Brass, 4 p.m. July 26, Bronson Park
• Zion Lion, 6:30 p.m. July 26, Kindleberger Park; 5 p.m. July 28, Gilmore Car Museum
• Ellis & M.E., 3 p.m. July 29, Richland Community Center, 9400 E. CD Ave., Richland
• 3 of a Kind and The Stranded Hobos, 5:30 p.m. July 29, downtown Vicksburg
• Big L & Code Blü, 11:30 p.m. July 31, Bronson Park
COMEDY
Canadian Comedy Night
July 25
CanadianaFest
Henry Sir, the Canadian comedian who has appeared on Comedy Central and CBC and whose debut special Chalant hit #1 on iTunes, will perform at 6 p.m. July 25 at City Centre, 125 Kalamazoo Mall.
Bob Fredericks will host the show, which is presented by CanadianaFest. Tickets are $39 for general admission and $69 for VIP, which includes a meet and greet with Sir. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/henrysirzoo.
DANCE
5OMA
July 18
CPR Dance: Inhale Movement
In this performance, the Stevensville dance company will explore the theme of connection through movement with one’s body, self and collective humanity. The program will include works choreographed by Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers, Sarah Zehnder, Sophie Allen and Kelsey Paschich.
Show time is 7 p.m. in 3rd Floor Studio B of Dalton Center Recital Hall at Western Michigan University. Tickets are $25 and available online at inhalemovement.com.
VISUAL ARTS
Art Hop
July 10
Various locations
With the theme “Continuum,” this month’s Art Hop gives a nod to the United States’ 250th anniversary and the spirit of innovation, imagination and artistic expression that has defined the nation since its founding.
This free event in downtown Kalamazoo runs from 5–8 p.m. and features a variety of artists’ works as well as live music and the chance to visit businesses. For a brochure showing Art Hop sites and information about participating artists, visit kalamazooarts.org.
New Exhibitions
Through Sept. 9
The Carnegie Center for the Arts
Four exhibitions featuring Southwest Michigan artists are on display at the Carnegie Center for the Arts, located at 107 North Main St. in Three Rivers. The exhibitions opened June 26 and run until Sept 9. The exhibitions are:
• Inspiring Connections, works by 24 artists in a variety of mediums;
• A Journey through the Seasons, fabric art by Shannon Dion;
• Goddesses: You and Me Sister, paintings by Susan Teague; and
• The Limitless Sky, paintings by Suzanne B. Siegel.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday. For more information, visit trcarnegie.com.
Ongoing Exhibitions
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts:
• From Cobalt to Indigo: The Power of Blue in East Asia, through July 12
• West Michigan Area Show, through Sept. 27
• For the People, By the People: America at 250, through Oct. 4
Kalamazoo Poetry Festival Ekphrastic Art Event, through July 28, reception 5–8 p.m. July 10, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
THEATER
1776
July 2–5
Multiple venues
A musical highlighting the events that led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence establishing the United States as a sovereign nation will be performed at two venues over the July 4 weekend.
The Barn Theatre, 13351 M-96, Augusta, will stage its performances at 8 p.m. July 2 and 3; 5 p.m. July 4 and 5; and 8:30 p.m. July 4. Tickets are $50–$58 and available online at barntheatreschool.org.
Echo Point Performing Arts, a Portage-based theater company, will stage their production of 1776 in the Hayloft Theatre at Celery Flats, 7335 Garden Lane, at 6 p.m. July 3, and 1 and 6 p.m. July 4. Tickets are $25 per seat and can be purchased online at mypark.portagemi.gov.
• Disney’s High School Musical Jr.
• Footloose The Musical
July 8–13
Kindleberger Festival
The Kindleberger Festival of the Performing Arts will offer two stage productions during its annual event at the Kindleberger Park Stage in Parchment.
The students of East High will sing about the trials of being teens in the festival’s youth production of Disney’s High School Musical Jr. at 5 p.m. July 8–10 and 3 p.m. July 11–12.
Meanwhile, Footloose The Musical, focusing on a teen’s move from Chicago to a small farming community, will be staged at 7 p.m. July 8–10 and 5 p.m. July 11–12. For more information, visit kindlebergerarts.org.
Dear Evan Hansen
July 9–26
Farmers Alley Theatre
Equity actor Keegan Sells has the title role in this musical about a high schooler who invents a role for himself in a classmate’s tragedy.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. July 9–11, 16–18 and 23–25; and 2 p.m. July 12, 19 and 26. Tickets are $22–$59 and available online at farmersalleytheatre.com or at Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley.
• Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical
• Rent
The Barn Theatre
In addition to its production of1776 (see entry above), The Barn Theatre, located at 13351 M-96 in Augusta, will stage two other productions this month.
Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical, a production based on the animated film, will be performed July 9–19. Show-times are 8 p.m. July 9–10 and 16–17, 5 p.m. July 11–12 and 18–19, and 8:30 p.m. July 11 and 18. Tickets are $30–$58 and available online at barntheatreschool.org.
Rent, which examines a year in the life of a group of young artists and musicians living in New York’s Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDs, will be performed July 23–Aug. 2. For showtimes and ticket costs, visit barntheatreschool.org.
Shrek The Musical
July 11–19
Center Stage Theatre
This musical adventure about a grumpy green ogre’s swamp being invaded by exiled fairytale creatures will be performed at Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St.
Showtimes for this community theater production are 7 p.m. July 10–11 and 17–18 and 2 p.m. July 12, 18 and 19. Tickets are $12–$15 and available online at kzoocst.com.
FILM
I Saw the TV Glow
July 7
Dormouse Theatre
Described as one-part Lynchian suburban nightmare and one-part nostalgic love letter to monster-of-the-week millennial-core TV shows, this coming-of-age horror story will be screened at 9 p.m. A pre-show party will be held at 7 p.m.
Dormouse Theatre is located at 1030 Portage St. Tickets are on a pay-as-you-will basis beginning at $5 and can be purchased online at dormousetheatre.com.
LITERATURE
Author Talks
Throughout the month
Various venues
From graphic novels to nature at night, three authors will discuss their work this month.
Rose Mary Wood, the author of Chronicles of Cass County, Michigan, will discuss the county’s history at 6 p.m. July 7 at Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane. Registration to attend is required and can be done by calling 329-4544 or online at portagelibrary.info.
Zoe Perisco, author and illustrator of the middle-grade graphic novel How to Talk to Your Succulent will speak at 2 p.m. July 9 at the Comstock Township Library, 6130 King Highway.
Leigh Ann Henion, New York Times bestselling author of Night Magic, which explores nocturnal life in nature, will speak at noon July 11 at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave. She will also lead a night hike at 9 p.m. Admission to KNC is $4–$7 and the cost to participate in the night hike is $12 for KNC members and $15 for non-members.
To register for Henion’s events, visit naturecenter.org.
