Lexibaby

It's already all over the Gazette, but don't forget to put it on your calendar: The world premiere of the new movie Lexibaby happens this weekend at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo, fruit of the labors of Gull Lake alumnus Jon Petro, who directed the film. See it this Friday and Saturday night, January 2 and 3, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 at the State Theatre box office or through Ticketmaster. The film's intertwined stories deal with themes of violence and its effects. You'll definitely recognize some of the filming locations: First Presbyterian Church in Richland, the Blackhawk Grill, Bronson Hospital, and other local landmarks. It's not rated, but the film does contain violence and adult language. More details at the film's website.

Celtic Concert and Tea, Sunday, December 28

I know this is a busy week, but picture yourself NEXT weekend, after the eggnog is all gone and everyone is still hanging around the house going stir crazy. It's Sunday, December 28. Just an empty, gray day. But wait!

You can cheer up everyone--young, old, and all others--with a festive afternoon at the Richland Area Community Center, where Erica Holcomb will be playing Celtic harp and singing songs both traditional and original. And, after the concert, there will be a fabulous, festive tea, including little sandwiches, scones, and pastries, served by Tudor House Tea. Tickets for the whole event cost $15 and benefit the Performing Arts Foundation. Yes, us! No, not us personally, but all the great arts education projects we support.

Erica graduated from Gull Lake High School in 2005, studied traditional music in Appalachia, and then moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where she's continuing her studies. She is best known for her skills on the clarsach, or Scottish harp, but she also plays mandolin and guitar. The event celebrates the release of her new CD, Birds, Ghosts and Lifeboats, which will be available for sale at the concert, along with her previous CD, Eightsongs.

It all happens at 2 p.m., Sunday, December 28, 2008, at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue in Richland. See you there!

Meanwhile, you can check the websites of:
Erica Holcomb
Tudor House Tea

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!

Wassail away!

Richland will be decked out for the holidays on Thursday, December 4, when the village's 35th annual Wassailing Night begins at 5:30 p.m. All the businesses will be offering goodies and activities for all ages, and, in the square, you'll have a chance to hear almost all of our schools' fabulous musical ensembles: GLHS Band, GLHS Choir, the Middle School Minors, the Ryan Chorus, and the Ryan Singers. The festivities continue until 8 p.m. and are sponsored by the Richland Area Business Association.

Pre-Thanksgiving Blues

Nah, not that kind. The fun kind. Come on out. Everyone will be in town Wednesday night, and most of them will, no doubt, be found at the Stagecoach Barn (behind the Blackhawk Grill at M-89/M-43 and C Avenue), having a lovely beverage and enjoying some good blues with our own Jordan Lunardini. The festivities get under way about 8 p.m. See you there!

Jordan plays there again on Saturday, December 13.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.

Check out the Chocolate Factory

Don't miss the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre's production of Willy Wonka, November 21 to December 13! Gull Lake's Stacy Bartell is in charge of properties--which must be quite a creative coup for this show--and Lisa Watson is assistant stage manager--again, that's quite a stage to manage. Check the Civic's website for performance times and ticket info. This one's not to be missed.

PAF meeting November 13--and a heads-up!

The Performing Arts Foundation has much to discuss at its regular meeting, Thursday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. Such as . . . new marching band uniforms, new uniforms for the high school choir, the December newsletter (please send items along asap to PerformingArtsFoundation@gmail.com) and--here's your heads-up--arrangements for a fabulous Celtic concert and tea during the holidays.

Mark your calendar now for Sunday, December 28, at 2 p.m. when, at the Richland Area Community Center, our own Erica Holcomb will give a concert of traditional Celtic and original music. Erica now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she has built a reputation as a singer and harpist, and we're very fortunate that she will be home during the holidays and willing to do a benefit show for PAF. Check her latest CD, Birds, Ghosts, and Lifeboats, on CDbaby. A festive tea will be served that afternoon by Tudor House Tea, and ticket sales (price to be set at our PAF meeting!) will benefit the Performing Arts Foundation.

Hope to see you at Thursday's meeting . . . and please let us know if you have items for the newsletter or can help with the fun on December 28!