Charles Curtis Sanders plays Coyote and Andi Foster, who plays cat, rehearse a scene from “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot” by the Western Michigan University’s University Theatre.
KALAMAZOO — There’s a new creative creature in town — “The Rocky Horror Show.” It’s just one of the events listed in the Fall Arts Preview, which can be accessed through links at the end of this story.
While the sci-fi musical has been around for years, this fall, for the first time, Western Michigan University’s University Theatre students will perform on the Miller Auditorium stage — and the collaboration is sure to produce a lively “Time Warp” Oct. 28-29. Western also will tackle the area premieres of Jose Rivera’s surrealistic “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot,” Sept 22-Oct. 2, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “August: Osage County,” Nov. 10-20.
Farmers Alley Theatre kicks off its season Sept. 16-Oct. 9, with “Extraordinary Ordinary,” which appeared off-Broadway last season. It’s an original work by Scott Burkell and Western Michigan University graduate Paul Loesel. The theater also launches its new children’s theater effort with the play “Bunnicula,” Oct. 26-31. Kalamazoo College’s Festival Playhouse opens its season with the new documentary play about the events leading up to the U.S.-Iraq war, “Stuff Happens,” Nov. 3-6.
Other theater offerings of note include the presentation of the classic musical “My Fair Lady,” at Miller Auditorium, Oct. 18-19; the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre season opener, the Elvis-inspired musical “All Shook Up,” Sept. 16-Oct. 2; and the New Vic offering “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” Oct. 7-Nov. 4.
Victor Robertson plays Alfredo in the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra production of “La Traviata.”
Musically speaking, those famous “Rocky” lips are singing the praises of the return of the biennial Michigan Festival of Sacred Music, Nov. 10-20, as well as jazz, classical and pop offerings that include the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra’s season opener Saturday of “La Traviata,” which allows Maestro Raymond Harvey to show off his special touch with opera, and the KSO’s concerts Oct. 21-22 with clarinetist Anthony McGill, who performed at the 2008 presidential inauguration.
Fontana Chamber Arts will premiere six new works based on unfinished pieces by masters such as Bach and Mozart in its Sept. 24 concert with the Brentano String Quartet. Fontana will jazz things up on Oct. 21 with SFJAZZ, an all-star octet that includes vibraphonist Stefan Harris, alto sax Miguel Zenon and tenor sax Mark Turner.
As it prepares for another festival year, the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival whets our appetite with its Rising Stars Series, which opens today with Chinese pianist Ran Jia. Just a few weeks ago, WMU announced pop star Jason Derulo will take the Miller stage on Nov. 14.
There are a multitude of art, comedy and other events, including the ongoing double exhibition of installation works by Indonesian artists at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and WMU’s Richmond Center for Visual Arts; the comedy of funny lady Lisa Lampanelli on Oct. 7 at the State Theatre and famed TV star Bob Newhart at Miller on Oct. 23; and lectures by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques Cousteau, on Oct. 25 at Gull Lake High School, and Buddy Valastro, star of the TLC show “The Cake Boss,” on Nov. 17 at Miller.
Take a look at the Fall Arts Preview sections below to find a new favorite obsession for the season.
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