Heritage Theatre Group’s second play of the summer is “Inherit the Wind,” the modern classic drama based on the Skopes Monkey Trial. Act 2 of the play is set within a trial, which requires a seated jury (males only). We don’t always like being called for jury duty, but this time it would be for fun and entertainment, and you get to see the play for free! These walk-on roles have no lines, so there’s no pressure. Dates are July 29-Aug1 and Aug 5-8 at Spectrum Theatre. All performances are at 8pm except the two Sun. matinees at 2pm. Contact Dan Brooks at x2068 or brookdan@aquinas.edu if you are interested. You can do just one performance or several–whatever you can do.

“Who is Silvia? What is she, that all our swains commend her?” Valentine, one of her suitors, says she is “a heavenly saint.” His friend Proteus says she is “an earthly paragon,” but is so charmed by her that he betrays his friend to vie for her hand. Will any of them succeed in finding true love? Not before a full complement of comic antics runs its course, including clowns, outlaws, and mistaken identity involving a cross-dressing maiden.

Heritage Theatre Group’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona” continues this weekend, July 15-18, at 8 pm (except for the 2 pm Sunday matinee) at Spectrum Theatre on the campus of Grand Rapids Community College. The cast is led by AQ student Rachel Pineiro and Humanities professor Mike Dodge. Ticket prices are $18, with $14 tickets for seniors and $10 tickets for students with a valid ID. Sunday matinee are $10 ($5 for students with ID). Tickets can be purchased by calling the Spectrum Theatre box office at (616) 234-3946. For more information visit Heritage Theatre Group’s new website at www.heritagetheatregr.org, or check out Heritage Theatre on Facebook.

“Who is Silvia? What is she, that all our swains commend her?” Valentine, one of her suitors, says she is “a heavenly saint.” His friend Proteus says she is “an earthly paragon,” but is so charmed by her that he betrays his friend to vie for her hand. Will any of them succeed in finding true love? Not before a full complement of comic antics runs its course, including clowns, outlaws, and mistaken identity involving a cross-dressing maiden.

“Two Gentlemen of Verona,” which opens Thursday, July 8, is Heritage Theatre Group’s first production for the 2010 summer season. The show runs July 8-11 and 15-18 at 8 pm (except 2 pm Sunday matinees) at Spectrum Theatre on the campus of Grand Rapids Community College. The cast is led by AQ student Rachel Pineiro and Humanities professor Mike Dodge.

Ticket prices are $18, with $14 tickets for seniors and $10 tickets for students with a valid ID. All Sunday matinee tickets will be priced at $10 ($5 for students with ID). Tickets can be purchased by calling the Spectrum Theatre box office at (616) 234-3946.

For more information visit Heritage Theatre Group’s new website at www.heritagetheatregr.org, check out Heritage Theatre on Facebook, or call Dan Brooks at x2068

Hello! I’m working on a project and i need humorous ways real people have been broken up with or broken up with someone. Get a crazy email? Via candy-gram? Via a note strapped to his neighbor’s dog? All identities will remain confidential and, hey, it just might be therapeutic. In case it matters, this is for a new monologue for The Jane Doe Project.

Email Cheyna at roczkche@aquinas.edu

Thanks!!

Circle Theatre is holding 20 tickets to each performance just for High School and College Students.

Tickets go on sale at noon the day of the performance at the box office of the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5 each, cash only with valid student ID. Limit one ticket per ID, each person must be present at the time of the sale.

All performances are at 7:30 PM in the Performing Arts Center. For more information visit www.circletheatre.org

Circle theatre is offering $5 student tickets to the first 20 people with a valid high school or college ID Tickets go on sale at noon the day of the show and are cash only. Limit one ticket per person. Rent performs in the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center May 6-22.

Circle theatre is offering $5 student tickets to the first 20 people with a valid high school or college ID

Tickets go on sale at noon the day of the show and are cash only.

Limit one ticket per person.

Rent performs in the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center May 6-22.

Circle Theatre is offering $5 student tickets everyday for the first 20 students in line.

Tickets go on sale at noon at the Box Office of the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center.

Cash only

ID must be shown. One ticket per valid ID

This is your last chance to get a FREE ticket for tonight’s performance of Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin at DeVos Performance Hall.

There are 15 tickets remaining for this Final Dress Rehearsal of the Opera Grand Rapids production.  Come to the AMC Office and pick them up, first come first served, if you can make time for this moving American Opera (and terrific stress reliever).  Curtain is at 7:30 p.m.

DeVos Performance Hall is the location of Opera Grand Rapids’ final production of the season, Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin, Wednesday, April 28 at 7:30PM. 

Students must have a ticket to attend. 

You are allowed into the Hall beginning at 7:00PM. 

Parking in the immeditate area will cost you $7 – $7.50.  Do you need a ride?  You can be put in touch with others who will be driving if you act fast.

And this fabulous American Opera is FREE!

Contact Barbara Witham McCargar, AMC 126, mccarbar@aquinas.edu for your FREE Student ticket today!

Two Recitalists will take the Kretschmer Recital Hall stage in the Art and Music Center this Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 3PM Kathleen Lally, Soprano  and 7:30PM Scott Kirchner, saxophonist! 

This Sunday, April 25 in Kretschmer Recital Hall at 3:00 p.m., Kathleen Lally -soprano CE student will be presenting a Senior Voice Recital in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Liturgical Music degree.  She will be performing American Art Songs, German Lieder, French Chanson, Opera Arias and Contemporary Sacred song.  Kathleen will be joined on stage by William Marfink, accompanist, the Aquinas College Chamber Choir and Guests with Larry Biser, conducting.  There will also be a lovely vocal duet from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro performed by Kathleen and Roberta (Bobbie) Trahan-Grabiel. 

At 7:30 p.m., also on April 25, Scott Kirchner – saxophonist will present his Senior Recital in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Music Education in Instrumental Supervision degree. Scott will be accompanied by William Marfink on the Sonata for Eb alto saxophone by Paul Creston, Trois Gymnopodies for tenor saxophone by Eric Satie, and other works for alto saxophone.  Members of the AQ Jazz Band and New Dimensions “Percussion Plus” Ensemble will join Scott on stage in the last portion of the program for some jazz standards and a percussion trio. 

If you’ve never attend a concert in recital format, you are in for an amazing experience.  Come out and support these two very talented students of Aquinas College.  Both recitals are FREE and open to the public! 

There are several FREE tickets available for the 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, Final Dress Rehearsal of the American opera, PORGY AND BESS by George Gershwin, available in the AMC. Have you ever heard “Summertime” or “It Ain’t Necessarily So”? Now you can listen and enjoy the full opera which brought these great songs to the world, in DeVos Performance Hall in downtown GR. Email Barbara Witham McCargar mccarbar@aquinas.edu or stop by her office, AMC 126. Two per person, please, and these are Student tickets.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY is getting ready to pack up for the summer, but we have one more Wednesday night show! TONIGHT, APRIL 21, at 10:30pm IN THE MOOSE. Get there early for a good seat and to help fill out some pocket quotes!!

Stock up on the laughs while supplies last!!

If you have been longing to get in on the action in the AQ Theatre Program, Monday is your chance. Auditions for Calderon’s LIFE IS A DREAM are this coming Monday the 19th at 6pm in the Theatre Annex. Prepare a one-minute classical monologue. Sign up for a time slot on the Theatre Annex bulletin board.

Rehersals will begin right as the fall semester begins in late August for the performances in early October (with all actors off book). You may have been hearing about the exciting shows, nominations, awards and local attention that the program has been garnering. Come be part of it!

Scripts are available for sign out in Brink Hall. Call the theatre office at x1988 or email Randy Wyatt at rew001@aquinas.edu for more information.

This Sunday, all of the Aquinas College Music Department Ensembles, yes, ALL, will be presented on stage performing some of their favorite concert works from the semester.  Beginning Sunday, April 18 at 3:00 p.m. in Kretschmer Recital Hall of the Art and Music Center you will be treated to: the Valenti Handbell Ensemble (S. Wiltse, dir.), the College Chorus (M. Olson, con.), the Guitar Ensemble (S. Bergeron, dir.), the Chamber Choir (L. Biser, con.), the Jazz Band (P. Brewer, dir.), the Chamber Strings (S. Redmon, dir.), the New Dimensions “Percussion Plus” Ensemble (S. Anzivino, dir.), and the College Band (P. Brewer, dir.).  Musical styles will be criss-crossing through the centuries, truly offering something for every listening ear. 

Come out and enjoy, revel, and appreciate the artistry of the AQ student musicians together in concert for the last time this year.  Look for more details on Senior recitalists, Kathleen Lally, soprano and Scott Kirchner, saxophoninst, yet to perform their solo repertoire on April 25!  AND IT’S ALL FREE!!!

James Trares – Senior Pianist to Lead the Spring Parade of Music Students in Recital – This Saturday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. in KRH
The Outstanding Graduating Senior in Music, James Trares, will be taking the stage Saturday evening to present a diverse and engaging piano recital in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Liturgical Music degree. 

James will be performing a strong piano solo program including works of J.S. Bach, Handel, Mozart, Khachaturian, Chopin, Dello Joio and Grieg.  Included as part of this recital will be two works for four hands, a time when James will be sharing the stage, first with his professor, Mrs. Mary Hurd, and then with fellow piano student and liturgical music major, Elizabeth Christian.

If you’ve never attended a concert in the recital format you are in for an amazing experience.  Come out and support this talented graduating senior.  This recital is free and open to the public.

Watch for details on two more recitals coming up on Sunday, April 25:  at 3:00 p.m. Kathleen Lally, soprano CE student will be accompanied by William Marfink and joined by members of the AQ Chamber Choir; and at 7:30 p.m. Scott Kirchner, senior saxophonist will also be accompanied by Williams Marfink and members of the Jazz Band and New Dimensions “Percussion Plus” Ensemble.

Former Aquinas Professor Herbert Woodward Martin will perform selected poetical works of Paul Laurence Dunbar on Wednesday April 14, at 12:30 in the Kretschmer Auditorium in the Art and Music Center. This event is free and open to the public.

Martin is a prize-winning poet and performer, actor and playwright, singer and opera librettist, teacher and scholar who has devoted much of his career to the study and public reading of Dunbar, a 19th-century African American author and the son of slaves, who is primarily remembered for his poetry but who also published short stories, plays, and essays.

Herb Martin has edited two volumes on Dunbar’s works, but has also published many volumes of his own poetry, for which he has won several prestigious awards. He is the subject of a new documentary, “Jump Back Honey: The Poetry and Performance of Herbert Woodward Martin.”

The Aquinas College Music Department invites you to a FREE concert in Kretschmer Recital Hall tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.!  
New Dimensions is directed by Steve Anzivino, and the Ensemble members include:
Danielle Brower, Charlie Merkel, Kyle Tomczyk, and Dr. Summer Silvieus.  
Bring your friends over to the AMC for a spirited and innovative concert experience of about an hour.  

“We hit stuff with other stuff!”

“OUR AMERICAN SPIRIT” is the title of the benefit concert to be presented by the Aquinas College Chorus on Sunday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Robert of Newminster Church, 6477 Ada Drive S.E., Ada 49301. Gospel, Folk and 20th century choral works will be performed with stirring effect and you won’t want to miss the opportunity to soak it all up.  Free will donations accepted.

 This performance will benefit the Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness.  The Chorus, under conductor Matthew J. Olson, will knock your socks off.   Supporting them in this wonderful concert will be guest singer/songwriter, Matt Johnson, the College’s women’s acapella group, AQpella, an AQ jazz rhythm section, Bill Marfink – accompanist, and student soloists.

Email or call if you’d like a ride: Barbara McCargar 632-2417 or mccarbar@aquinas.edu

Spring Jazz Night has been an Aquinas College tradition for over 35 years.  Our own Doc Brewer (a.k.a. Associate Professor Dr. Paul Brewer) is in his eleventh year of leading the big band.  For the concert this Spring, he has taken several of his original songs and Scored and Dedicated them to the students in the AQ Jazz Band who will perform them at 7:30 p.m. in Kretschmer Recital Hall, AMC.  The date is April 8, Thursday.  Be there and be cool!  ……………………And it’s all FREE.

Music Technology Seminar #2, Songwriting and Apple Garageband Software, Saturday, April 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. in AMC 113. You may want to bring a Mac Laptop Computer if you have one (or can borrow one for the morning).  The guest presenter joining Matthew J. Olson, Music Department adjunct faculty member, is Matt Johnson, who will also be the guest artist on the Sunday, April 11, 3:00 p.m. College Chorus Benefit Concert to support the GR Coalition to End Homelessness which will be taking place at St. Robert of Newminster Church in Ada.

 Matt Johnson is a singer, songwriter, recording engineer, and producer from Minneapolis, MN.   He has led many successful Twin Cities-based bands including BlueStone Moon and the Matt Johnson Band with whom he has recorded numerous albums.   He has recently focused much of his energies on sound engineering and record producing.

Free to AQ Students and $15 for non-AQ Students.  

Contact Matthew Olson for more information:  matthew.olson@aquinas.edu 

507.382.8671

Heritage Theater announces 2010 season.

“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” performance dates July 8 – July 18.
Directed by Whitney Hershberger

“Inherit the Wind” performance dates July 29 – August 8
Directed by Christopher Weaver

“Stephen Vincent Benét’s Stories of America” performance dates August 12 – August 22
Directed by Don Rice

Audition dates and times are below.

AUDITION DATES AND TIMES

April 9 – 7:00 pm-11:00 pm
April 10 – 9:00 am to noon then 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Callbacks:
April 11 – 2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Location: Aquinas College, Academic Building, First floor

Questions? Contact Dan Brooks at 632-2068 or brookdan@aquinas.edu

• Special Deal!  The Wednesday, April 7th performance is being sponsored by the Contemporary Writers Series’ and Admission is Free to Everyone. 
• Meet George Brant on Thursday, April 8th at 12:15 p.m. in the Grace Hauenstein Library, Room 302. 
• Performances April 7-10, 2010 at 8 p.m. Aquinas Performing Arts Center
• With encore performance Sunday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets: $10 general admission; $8 faculty and staff; $4 students

AUDITIONS: Mon. April 12th 6-10pm @ Spectrum Theatre (Fountain and Barclay – Downtown GR) Call for appt. 616-862-3212. Walk up’s welcome at 6pm.

Casting: One Male and One Female. 20′s – 30′s (min. 18yrs). Singer/Actor/Moves Well. Non-Equity. Bring Photo and Resume. Prepare TWO contrasting pieces. One in “traditional” B-way style. One in a contemporary B-way/Pop style. Accompanist Provided (won’t transpose). No Accapella. Be Prepared to Dance. Paid Position. Housing Provided.

Rehearsals Start June 1 (evenings/days flexible)
Performances in Petosky, MI: June 27th – July 10 (includes travel days)

Did you know you can now purchase your tickets for AQ Theatre online?  And this week is a week you don’t want to miss.  Identity theft, betrayals, madness and poetry all collide in George Brant’s fascinating ANY OTHER NAME, featuring some heavy hitters of the AQ Theatre Department including Duncan McCargar, Owen McIntee, Jana Veldheer and Julian Kratchovil.  

 Here’s the link:  http://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/EventSearch?presenter=CIRCLE&event=Name

 …and we’ll see you there.