Go wild in December

Okay, there's almost too much going on for any one person to get to, so let's split up and cover all this territory, because it's all fabulous.

For starters, this weekend is your last chance for two stage treats:

Willy Wonka, an extravaganza made possible in part by assistant stage manager Lisa Watson and property master Stacy Bartell, is at the Civic Theatre downtown. Call the box office (269-343-1313) or check their website.

Familiar Faces and Peculiar Places, four one-act plays by different authors, features one directed by Adam Carter. Shows are at 11 p.m. at the Whole Art Studio, 246 N. Kalamazoo Mall. Tickets are only $5, which includes coffee and doughnuts.

For your visual arts and Christmas shopping enjoyment:

"More Small Work," the Blue Water Gallery's holiday show, opens Friday, December 12, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. and continues through January 7. Note, though, that the gallery will be closed from December 28 to January 4. It's located at 8860 N. 32nd Street.

And, of course, there's music:

Friday, December 12, Dave Marlatt, as part of Marlatt and Woodworth, plays traditional Irish music at the London Grill Singapore in downtown Kalamazoo from 8 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, December 13, 'round 9 p.m., Jordan Lunardini plays blues at the Stagecoach Barn, behind the Blackhawk Grill at that intersection of M-89, M-43, and C Avenue.

Insider's tip: On Sunday, December 14, at the First Presbyterian Church of Richland, veteran New York Metropolitan Opera basso Kenneth Young will sing a selection from Bach's Christmas Oratorio. Trumpeter Mike McMinn will accompany him, and that's also the day that the church choir presents its special annual festival of Christmas music and the spoken word. That's all during the regular church service at 9:45 a.m.

And Monday, December 15, the Gull Lake High School Choir sings for the season at the High School cafeteria at 7 p.m.

That should keep us all busy and happy all weekend. More to follow!

Please note, Performing Arts Foundation folk, that at Thursday's meeting, our longtime regular meeting day was changed. Notwithstanding what's printed in the Footlights newsletter that you're about to receive, the new meeting time for PAF will be 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, starting in January. So our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center. But we'll surely see you all before then!