May 04 Saturday
In a special Festival event, British pianist Paul Lewis will present a survey of Franz Schubert’s monumental contribution to the classical repertoire: his piano sonatas. Mr. Lewis has received critical and public acclaim worldwide, consolidating his reputation as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of the central European classical repertoire. He regularly works as a soloist with the world’s great orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgebouw, and Cleveland Orchestras, among many others.
Announcing the return of the ultimate glass blowing competition! Glass blowers from all over the region will descend upon Kalamazoo for two days of head-to-head battle in the hot shop and flame shop. Witness the thrilling action as they clash to capture the victory belt in a series of artistic competitions. Cheer on your favorite performances and cast your vote to help decide who receives cash prizes, trophies, and bragging rights!
This year’s Glass Blowers Battle competition will begin on Friday May 3 with the collaborative Bronson Children’s Hospital “Sculpture Throwdown” in the Hot Shop as well as the “Flourishing Functional Art” event in the Flame Working studio. On Saturday May 4, the competition in the Hot Shop will feature the “Centerpiece Showoff”, along with individual Marble and Pendant making competitions in the Flame Working studio.
Friday May 3 (2pm-11pm)Saturday May 4 (11am-6pm)
Glass Blowers Battle is THE event of the year at Glass Art Kalamazoo, and is free and fun for all ages! More information including a full schedule of events at https://glassartkalamazoo.org/glass-blowers-battle-2024/
Andrea Beaton, Troy MacGillivray, and Tracey MacNeil hail from the isolated beauty of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their joyful style of dance music is defined by its improvised folk piano tradition. Expect instrument-switching, solo dancing, and inspiring harmonies, as they explore the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, and Cape Breton, along with original compositions. Their performances offer a shared sense of fun and years of making music together. Enjoy the band in their natural habitat in Bell’s Back Room, with plenty of room for dancing!
The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre presents “Catch Me If You Can” in the Civic Auditorium, May 3-19, 2024.
Based on the hit film and the incredible true story, Catch Me If You Can is a high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught. Nominated for four Tony awards, including Best Musical.
Seeking fame and fortune, precocious teenager, Frank Abagnale, Jr., runs away from home to begin an unforgettable adventure. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer – living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. When Frank's lies catch the attention of FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, though, Carl pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes.
Catch Me If You Can is a big and bright spectacle with high-energy dance numbers and a riveting story.
Catch Me If You CanMay 3 - May 19, 2024Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 2:00 PMKalamazoo Civic Auditorium Tickets: https://kazoocivic.ludus.com/200435296 | 269-343-1313
Based on the DreamWorks Motion PictureBook by Terrence McNallyLyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc ShaimanCATCH ME IF YOU CAN is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
The enduring love story of John and Abigail Adams began with a whimper rather than a bang in 1762. John Adams accompanied his friend Richard Cranch to the Smith house. Richard was interested in courting Miss Mary Smith.
It just so happened that Mary was the older sister of Abigail Smith. Abigail was 17 and John was 26. She was a minister’s daughter he a country lawyer.John described the visit in his diary as a waste of time.
John would soon change his mind. John and Abigail got to know each other over the next three years and were wed on October 25, 1764, five days before John’s 29th birthday.
They were married for 50 years and had five children. They witnessed revolution, war, and the birth of a new nation.
During their long separations, they wrote thousands of letters to each other. Of those letters written between 1762 and 1801, just over 1,000 survive.It is those letters that are the inspiration behind John & Abigail: An American Love Story.
A collaboration between James & Jennifer Furney, John & Abigail, explores the relationship of our nation’s first Vice-President and second First-Lady. In this play, Jim & Jennifer take us on a journey appearing as Mr. & Mrs. Adams, reading their letters and discussing the nation’s events of the time.Whether you love live theatre, history, or love stories, John & Abigail: An American Love Story is sure to delight your senses.
Doors @ 7:30Show @ 8It's been a year! We welcome back two amazing songwriters with special guest Dan Rickabus this May to the Clover Room.Kate Pillsbury, you may know her from the Cranewives, began writing songs after inheriting a guitar from her dad as a teenager. In the years since, she has faithfully answered the calls of her muse, primarily focusing on her role as singer and guitarist for the band The Crane Wives. Her songs fall into the cracks between roots and pop, with potently autobiographical lyrics that can soothe or sting. She lives for howling into a microphone and becoming more feral with time.“From the moment he opened his mouth to sing, Eric O’Daly captured the crowd, guiding us through moments of ecstatic outburst, pastoral melancholy, and churning questioning. With the sparkling eyes of a good friend sharing an old joke, he engaged the audience during and between songs. O’Daly’s ability to transform himself to fit the wide-ranging styles of music he performed was echoed in his exchanges with the audience, sometimes displaying a wry wit and other times drawing us in with deeply personal anecdotes. Rich and evocative, his songs are woven together by the threads of authenticity and open-heartedness. I can’t wait to see him again.” - Dave Kozman, KLR Review
Composer, pianist, educator, and NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron returns to the festival with his trio. A peerless performer known for timeless classics and innovative improvisations, Barron’s piano skills are a testament to his status as a jazz icon. He has released over 40 albums, received 12 GrammyⓇ nominations, and played with legends including Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, and Buddy Rich. Barron was a music professor at Rutgers University for more than 25 years, and was inducted into the American Jazz Hall of Fame in 2005. Whether playing solo, trio, or quintet, Kenny Barron is recognized worldwide as a master of performance and composition.
5 pm Q&A with Kenny Barron and Gilmore Director of Jazz Awards Seth Abramson, Shaw Theatre lobby
Please join us the first Saturday of each month at 9 AM (barring special events or bad weather which will be announced on our Facebook page), for "Beginning Birding Walks," led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, just off SR 43. All skill levels are welcome.
We will enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. The walk typically takes about 2 hours (but feel free to arrive late or leave early).
May 05 Sunday
Andrea Beaton, piano, fiddleTroy MacGillivray, piano, fiddleTracey Dares MacNeil, piano, fiddle
No stage? No seats? No problem! Parents can relax while kids of any age can have fun checking out the piano, meeting the artists, crawling or dancing around the room. A Baby Grands concert is The Gilmore’s way of sharing great music with the whole family. Refreshments will be available.
Andrea Beaton, Troy MacGillivray, and Tracey MacNeil hail from the isolated beauty of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their joyful style of dance music is defined by its improvised folk piano tradition. Expect instrument-switching, solo dancing, and inspiring harmonies, as they explore the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, and Cape Breton, along with original compositions. Their performances offer a shared sense of fun and years of making music together.