Hoot Owls at Cooper's Glen

You can see--and, moreover, hear--the great bluegrass, gospel, and old-timey music of the Hoot Owls at Cooper's Glen Music Festival on Saturday, January 23, at 1 p.m. You'll recognize at least one of those Owls as our own talented Robin Nott. Just head on down to the Radisson Hotel. A day pass for all the music all day and night on Saturday is $30, and that includes evening performances by Joel Mabus and the Dillards. Let the toe-tapping begin!

Spelling Bee update!

News from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, via Ken Holda:

Due to popular demand, the Civic has added four performances to the Spelling Bee schedule. They are:

Sunday, January 31 at 2
Friday, February 5 at 8
Saturday, February 6 at 8
Sunday, February 7 at 2

Each performance, 4 audience members are selected to compete onstage in the spelling bee. Right now, the plan is to select these people about 40 minutes before the show starts. If you want a chance to get onstage, please arrive early and sign up.

Tickets are available from the Civic's website.

Spelling Bee

Hey, it's a new year! Time to revisit grade school and enjoy the fun of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Civic’s Parish Theatre, January 15 through 31. Gull Lake's Mary Teutsch is one of the featured players. The Civic bills this hit musical as one that “will be most enjoyed by the more mature members of the family.” Tickets are available online.

Holiday theatricals!

It's easy to get in the holiday spirit, whether you're at the Tiny Tim or the Scrooge end of the spirit spectrum. Gull Lake alumna Lisa Watson is stage managing the fun family musical cabaret Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings, now through December 27 at the Farmers Alley Theatre. Enjoy dessert and coffee along with some great holiday harmonies in the intimate Farmers Alley space downtown.

If you're a little more on the adult/cynical side, you'll enjoy seeing Gull Lake's Adam Carter as one of the title characters in The Eight: Reindeer Monologues at the Whole Art Theatre mainstage in the Epic Center through December 19. As the Whole Art puts it: "Accusations, rumors and all-out attacks are flying fast and furious around Santa's toyshop this holiday season. Told in a series of witty monologues, each of Santa's flying hoofed critters confesses the truth behind the reported shocking allegations. The jolly old elf himself is at the top of the naughty list, and you won't believe what his trusted reindeer have to say. If you've had your fill of traditional, feel-good Christmas fare, leave the kids at home and enjoy an antler-packed evening of acid-tongued reindeer."

Enjoy!

Time for Wassailing!

It's December and that can only mean . . . Wassailing in Richland! Come out for more fun than ever this Thursday, December 3, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in and near the village square in Richland. There will be treats of all kinds, and music galore. On the village green, you can hear the Gull Lake Middle School Band, the Ryan Chorus, the Middle School Minors, and the High School Choir. After 6:30, groups from the Gull Lake High School Band will play at the Richland Community Library. At the Little Yellow Frame Shop and Gallery, enjoy the seasonal harmonies of the Kalamazoo Barbershop Chorus. The choir will be practicing inside First Presbyterian Church. And students from the Daisies Dance Studio will perform at the Library at 5:30 and 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, Richland merchants will be open and offering deals and treats, Santa will be at the Community Hall, the Scouts will be selling Christmas trees, the Presbyterian Church will have an alternative gift market going on, and there will be live reindeer in the park. The whole festive evening is sponsored by the Richland Area Business Association. Happy holidays!

Thanksgiving Cheer

Once you've had a good solid helping of food and family, you'll want a cheery outing, and you're not likely to find anything cheerier than the improv show "Bury The Hatchet" by the duo t&a, aka Tara Sytsma and our own Adam Carter. The show goes on at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28, at the Whole Art Studio, 246 N. Kalamazoo Mall.

Laurie Cartwright

We were so very sorry to hear of the death of Laurie Cartwright, a 2009 graduate of Gull Lake High School and wonderful, talented member of both the Performing Arts Company and the GLHS Band. Our deepest sympathies to her family and all of her many friends. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 19, at Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D Avenue in Richland. More about Laurie's life and the remembrance can be found at the Kalamazoo Gazette website.