So Much Good Summer Theatre!

Looking to see some fantastic theatre this summer?  There are a whole bunch of interesting productions happening around Grand Rapids.  Check them out:

June 1-17 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.  Read a great article about the show on www.mlive.com or get more information at Civic’s Facebook page or on the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre website.

June 6-9 Living on the Edge: Evil Things by Actors’ Theatre in Spectrum’s black box theatre.  Join us for Actors’ ten minute play festival.  Go to either Actors’ Facebook page or website to learn more and read the complete line up of plays.  Note:  Seating for this production is general admission and limited to 50 seats per evening, advance ticket reservations are recommended.

June 7 – 23 Escanaba in Da Moonlight at Circle Theatre.  MLive.com also has great article about this this production, and you can learn more on Circle’s Facebook page, or on the Circle Theatre Grand Rapids website.

June 14 – 24 Checking Out at Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids.  JTGR has show information on Checking Out on their website and their Facebook page.

June 21 – July 1 Love’s Labour’s Lost performed by Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company at Dog Story Theater.  Get the full information on the production at Pigeon Creek’s website or at Dog Story Theater’s website.

July 12-14 Medea by Heritage Theatre Group at Spectrum Theatre.  Learn more about this production on their Facebook page.

Looks like it is going to be a great couple of months of theatre!

Grand Rapids Theatre Pros Take a Look at “The Adams Family”

Well, this is fun!  Sue Merrell brought some familiar faces along with her to review The Adams Family at Broadway Grand Rapids.  Check out the full review on MLive.com.

What Grand Rapids theater professionals say about ‘The Addams Family’ from Broadway Grand Rapids

“The Addams Family” musical opens at DeVos Performance Hall Tuesday, May 22, in Grand Rapids. (Photo credit: Katie Greene | MLive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — MLive theater critic Sue Merrell said it was “a snap” to enjoy “The Addams Family” musical brought to DeVos Performance Hall this week by Broadway Grand Rapids.

Her review acknowledges: “Much of the humor is the predictable macabre twist on everyday life, and the dialogue is often choppy, bare bones, but the show has some moments of innovation that really soar.”

As she reviewed Tuesday night’s opening performance, Merrell was joined by three colleagues from the Grand Rapids theater community. We were curious how local theater professionals would review the Grand Rapids appearance of a Broadway show on national tour.
Below are mini-reviews by Mary Beth Quillin of GEM Theatrics, Larry Young of Creative Edge Productions, and Joe Dulin, former managing director of Circle Theatre. (…)

Read what Mary Beth, Larry and Joe had to say here on www.MLive.com.

Employment Opportunity: Instructor to Teach Acting and Dance for Musical Theatre Needed

 

 

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp needs your help!  Summer sessions are fast approaching and the theatre department is still looking for an instructor to teach acting and dance for Musical Theatre.  The dates are June 26 – July 8 and the campers will be in high school.

From the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp website:

Faculty Positions

Founded in 1966, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is a summer community of the fine arts serving over 5,200 elementary, junior high, and high school students each season through its varied programs. Blue Lake annually employs over 500 faculty and staff, who work together to provide a diverse and enriching learning experience for campers. Although Blue Lake is a fine arts training center, it strives to maintain a “camp” atmosphere in as many ways as possible through the environment, facilities, and camper activities.;

More information on applying for this position can be found on the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp website.

Funding for Michigan Arts Gives Back to the State’s Economy

In case you missed it on our Facebook page, check out this fascinating article in Craine’s Detroit Business about funding for the arts!

Report says think about this: state spends $1 on arts and culture, which spends $51 on economy

By Sherri Welch

The intrinsic value of arts and cultural organizations has long been recognized, but a new report reinforces what the sector has long trumpeted: They have significant economic impact, as well.

For every $1 the state invested in nonprofit arts and cultural groups in 2009, those organizations pumped more than $51 into Michigan’s economy through spending on rent, programs, travel and salaries.

“Creative State Michigan,” a new report from the Wixom-based advocacy group Art Serve Michigan, reinforces what ArtServe has known all along, said the group’s director of public policy, Mike Latvis.

“For a long time, we’ve heard that state funding to the arts is a handout, but it’s not. This report shows that investment is returned multiple times over to the state’s economy.”

The report was generated from data entered into the Cultural Data Project, a multistate database gathering national economic impact data from participating nonprofit arts groups in 11 states.

The project, launched in 2004, is administered by one of its initial funders, The Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia.

Michigan’s arts and culture sector joined the database in May 2010 with nudging and support from the Taylor-based Masco Corp. Foundation and other foundation members of the Council of Michigan Foundations‘ Arts Affinity Group. The Masco Foundation provided a lead grant of $200,000.

The budget for ArtServe’s three-year implementation of the project totals $854,215. Assisting ArtServe on the report was Data Driven Detroit.

“Here in Michigan, we have lacked an annual, consistent source of data … to be able to affirm the health and vitality of the arts and cultural sector,” ArtServe President and CEO Jennifer Goulet said. “Particularly as the economy has tightened, it’s been even more critical for us to (have) the data to build a case for support.”  (…)

Read the rest of this article here on www.crainsdetroit.com

Warm Up and Show Your Love for the Arts in Grand Rapids

Psst! Fall in love with GR Arts (all over again) with these sweet winter deals from all of our friends involved with CulturePassGR!

Go to www.atgr.org to learn more!