Community Calendar

A pinch of surrealism, modern folklore and talharpa revival! The Estonian duo known as Puuluup play talharpas – traditional bowed lyres, popular in Northern Europe since the early middle ages.

The mellow sighs of the talharpa are paired with electronically amplified echoes, knocks, creaks and crackles, while still maintaining the instrument’s natural sound.

Their lyrics and melodies are a mixture of the duo’s musical memories and improvisation. The music may have a dancing beat, or resemble a dark film soundtrack. Spy around in the chambers of ancient talharpa players, or travel to far-away lands. The duo plays with music as they play with words, sometimes creating their own language.

As the band states: “We draw inspiration from Vormsi nights, trams in November, junkies in love, criminals from Odessa and Antonio Vivaldi”.

Tickets are $20, $18 for seniors, and $5 for ages 25 and under. All seats are general admission. Tickets will be available for purchase on our website and at the door.

** Limited seating is available for this performance, buying tickets in advance is strongly recommended. **

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All in-person Festival events will follow state, local and venue COVID requirements. Please check our website for the latest updates!

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The Connecting Chords Music Festival events center around the common convictions and threads that draw our community together: the importance of cultural traditions, human dignity, and the increased understanding of various faith traditions.

Learn more about the Festival and the organization behind it at www.ccmusicfest.com.

Book by: Joe Tracz
Music & Lyrics by: Rob Rokicki
Adapted from the book The Lightning Thief by: Rick Riordan

As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want, and a mythology textbook’s worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is an action-packed mythical adventure.

Book by: Joe Tracz
Music & Lyrics by: Rob Rokicki
Adapted from the book The Lightning Thief by: Rick Riordan

As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want, and a mythology textbook’s worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is an action-packed mythical adventure.

Directed by Mildred Ruiz-Sapp

Shakespeare's last play is considered by some to be his best work of theater, combining elements of mystery, romance, intrigue, broad comedy, magic, music, and dancing! A usurped duke named Prospero and his now adolescent daughter have made an almost-abandoned island their home, along with a fairy named Ariel and a half-human slave, Caliban. Prospero uses magic to conjure a storm to bring his usurping brother and his cohorts to the island, with magical and fantastic results! This play contains some of Shakespeare's best characters and most beautiful poetry, artfully condensed into a faithful one-act adaptation.

Stop the presses! The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre production of Disney’s “Newsies” runs from September 16 to October 2, 2022 at the Civic Auditorium

To purchase tickets and for more information, visit KazooCivic.com or call our box office at 269-343-1313.

Performances: September 16 – October 2, 2022 (Friday to Sunday)

ASL interpreted, Audio described, and Sensory friendly performance: Saturday, September 24, 7:30pm

Show Synopsis: Set in New York City at the turn of the century, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged newsies, who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys' expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike for what's right.

Newsies is inspired by the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, when newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and runaway newsies on a two-week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers.

Rating: Recommended for Family Audiences

Celebrate the legendary Meat Loaf and experience his hit songs performed brilliantly by The Neverland Express plus American Idol winner, Caleb Johnson.

The Neverland Express includes world-class alumni of Meat Loaf’s official band. Led by his Record Producer, Music Director, Guitarist, Paul Crook with drummer, John Miceli, guitarist, Randy Flowers and female lead vocalist, Lyssa Lynne, the band stays true to the original recordings while delivering the excitement of a live Meat Loaf show.

In addition to a #1 album and touring with some of the biggest names in rock, Caleb Johnson is the winner of American Idol season 13. He delivers his own unique stamp to such classics as “Bat Out of Hell”, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and “I Would Do Anything For Love” while staying true to the essence of Meat Loaf’s delivery. Created & produced by Paul Crook, this is the only show that was officially endorsed by Meat Loaf.

Pears Mill, an 1857 water-powered mill in Buchanan, Michigan’s downtown National Register Historic District, is open 9am to 1 pm each Saturday this summer. The mill is adjacent to the Buchanan Farmers’ Market, which is in operation during the same hours. There is no charge.

Hosted by the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council and the City of Kalamazoo. Volunteers will gather at Merrill Park on the Kalamazoo River at 9:00am. We will be doing cleanup around the boat launch and shoreline at Merrill Park, and then we will paddle to the Mayor’s Riverfront Park Boat Launch in Kalamazoo. Help shuttling vehicles will be provided. Participants must have their own vessel. Personal protective equipment will be provided. Bringing your own waders is also recommended.

This event is by donation. Doors will open and seating for this event will begin 30 minutes prior to showtime.

This dynamic music performance celebrates both Hispanic Heritage month and the Cultivating Community programming. Well known throughout the Battle Creek and West Michigan region, Celestina y Los Sanchez performs Tejano Conjunto. The style refers to a small musical ensemble performing Tex-Mex music which fuses Mexican and US influences including country music, polka and waltzes.

Born and raised near Battle Creek, Celestina has been singing and performing since the age of 6 and by age 12 officially joined her uncles in the group headed by her grandfather, Lupe Sanchez.  Sanchez’s career began in the 1960s and by the 1970s he was performing most every weekend in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Ohio and Indiana.

In 2015 Celestina competed in the Tejano Idol competition in Austin, Texas where she was second runner-up and the only contestant not from the state of Texas. As a group Celestina y Los Sanchez has been recognized on multiple Tejano Conjunto Countdowns across the US and South America and their latest album is available on Spotify and Apple Music.

According to the Smithsonian Institute Tejano Conjunto or Tex-Mex Conjunto has been around for more than 100 years and is “one of the most enduring musical traditions among Mexicans and Mexican Americans.” One of the most celebrated entertainers Selena is credited with catapulting Tejano music to mainstream radio stations across the US and Mexico in the 1980s and 90s.

Emcee for the afternoon will be Daniel (Dano) Oropeza, a well-known advocate and radio host in West Michigan. With a long list of organizations which he has founded or assisted through organizing fundraisers or promoted through his broadcasts, he has made a significant impact on his community. He is co-founder of Despierta Kalamazoo Committee, co-host of Alma Latina for WMUK 102.1 FM, and DJ at Mi Gente Radio (MI Cumbia +) FB live365.

In addition to the concert, there will be a display of the flags of Central and South America.

Previously partnering on their Light Behind the Light concert, percussionist Mike Weis and cellist Elizabeth Start will collaborate on an improvised concert at Kleinstuck Preserve.

The performance is entitled “In a Landscape: Improvisations with the Sounds of the Kleinstuck Preserve for Cello and Percussion” – a nod to John Cage’s “In a Landscape” and his ideas of attention to the everyday sounds around us.

Weis will lead the audience down a trail into a “cello trap” set by Start, and the two musicians will improvise a series of interactions.

Attendees should meet at the tennis courts behind the Maple Street YMCA. As the audience will be walking to a location without seating, we recommend wearing appropriate footwear and bringing a portable chair. The hike to the performance location takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

A $10 cash suggested donation per person will be accepted on-site.