The return of Combat Corduroy

This week, thanks to spring break, the band Combat Corduroy is complete, and they'll be performing Thursday night, February 26, at Up and Under on Michigan Avenue in Kalamazoo. Jump on the opportunity to hear and see one of the best bands to come from our area in a long time!

Musical Extravaganza at Comstock

If you can believe it, the Center Stage Theatre--previously known to most of us as Comstock Community Theatre--is 35 years old, and it's celebrating with a fabulous musical revue this weekend. Among other Gull Lake luminaries, Mary Jasiak and Lisa Watson will be performing numbers from some of your favorite musicals. The 35th Anniversary Celebration Showcase runs this Friday, February 13, and Saturday, February 14, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $8 and can be purchased online at the Center Stage Theatre's website or at the door. The show is in the Colt Center at Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 North 26th Street.

Love Is in the Air!

Valentine's Day is on its way . . . What could be more romantic than a lovely Sunday afternoon spent listening to gorgeous piano music, followed by a fancy tea reception? On Sunday, February 8, pianist Doug Decker will perform at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Richland, on the Village Green in the heart of Richland. A freewill offering will be taken, and the tea afterwards is free. The concert is part of the Village Green Arts series.

Local Heroes

If you've attended any Gull Lake High School or Middle School event in the last--oh, just about ever--from plays to track meets to football games to--well, just about anything--then you've seen Jack and Marcia Sizer. They're always there, taking wonderful photographs, rooting for the kids, and offering support to the adults. Then, as often as not, you'll see them quietly handing kids or parents prints of those photos--priceless keepsakes of great times in their lives. For dozens of Performing Arts Company productions, they've provided photographs for the archives. All of this they do quietly, and usually at their own expense.

On Friday, January 30, at a home performance of PAC's state tour show, Bamboozled!, the Sizers were recognized as true Local Heroes with the Department of Fine Arts' annual award. Robin Nott presented them with a plaque on stage before the show began--and before the Sizers returned to their cameras to continue their wonderful work. Thank you, Marcia and Jack!

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.