Bamboozled! and Baker's Wife

Two theatricals not to be missed:

The Gull Lake High School Performing Arts Company presents its annual state competition show, Bamboozled!, in three home performances on Friday, January 30, Saturday, January 31 at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, February 1 at 2 p.m. Take special note that, because the competition requires a large stage, these home shows will take place at the Gull Lake Middle School cafetorium. You'll be charmed and entertained by this traditional Renaissance comedy in the commedia dell'arte style. To add to the wonder of the performances and technical ingenuity, I hear the costumes are fabulous!

This is PAC's eighteenth year going to state competition, sponsored by the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association. Home performances will replicate the competition situation, in which the company must move all scenery and props onto a bare stage, perform the play, and completely clear the stage again, all in a total of 45 minutes or less. It's always an amazing spectacle as well as a great performance.

If you're free to travel, the show will be performed in district competition at Greenville High School on January 24, in regional competition at Olivet High School on February 7, and, if Gull Lake wins there, they'll perform at state finals at Chelsea High School the weekend of February 13 and 14. Watch this space for news!

Another theatrical must for your calendar: The Baker's Wife opens January 30 at the Civic's Parish Theatre and runs through February 15 2009. Gull Lake alumna Mary Teutsch plays the title character. Says the Civic: "Old world charm permeates every moment of this bittersweet, wise and gently romantic fable of life and love in southern France. The bickering residents of a small Provencal town at last find peace and contentment in the heavenly bread of the newly arrived baker and his attractive young wife. But when she is lured away by the attentions of a handsome young gigolo, the middle-aged baker is heartbroken and loses all zest for life and baking, throwing the community into chaos. If you're looking for a musical that is warm, mature, intelligent and melodic, you're sure to enjoy The Baker's Wife. But be warned, you should only see it if you're prepared to fall in love. (Adult Themes)" See the Civic's website for times and ticket info.

Celtic Concert and Tea Report!

If you weren't able to be at the Richland Area Community Center in person on December 28, we're sorry to tell you that you missed one of the most delightful afternoons in a long time. PAF's Celtic Concert and Tea was a great success. Even the weather cooperated to let more than 85 people attend the concert by Erica Holcomb, who played the Scottish harp and a guitar and sang songs both traditional and original.

Afterwards, Jeri Holcomb of Tudor House Tea served an amazing array of treats and delicious teas on fine china and white tablecloths. It was quite a day. Jeri had also donated a beautiful tea gift basket, which was raffled, and copies of Erica's two CDs were sold. Huge thanks to all the Holcombs for sharing their musical and culinary gifts, and for doing all the hard work for the event. Rick Holcomb designed and printed the beautiful posters and tickets, so many thanks to him, too.

Between ticket sales and raffle tickets, the event raised just over $1,000 for the Performing Arts Foundation. That will go a long way towards arts education projects in our schools. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported PAF!

Thanks, too, to all the volunteers who helped it to happen. Robin and Sarah Nott, Pat, Louise and Emily Hanavan, Jan and Lisa Watson, Murray Cooper, and of course the Holcombs all pitched in. Even some of the folks who attended as guests wound up lending a hand. Thank you! And we are grateful to the Richland Area Community Center for hosting the event--and for hosting PAF's monthly meetings all year long.

One last note, speaking of PAF's monthly meetings: Our longtime regular meeting day has been changed. The new meeting time for PAF will be 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, starting this month. So our next meeting is not this week but will instead be on Tuesday, January 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center. See you then!

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.