 Classic story comes to life in dance Photography: Ray Nard Imagemaker N3-There is nothing quite like The Wizard of Oz. One of my earliest television memories was seeing this story come to life on a black and white Sylvania console TV. It was around 1958-59 and color hadn't made it to our household yet so there was no dramatic transformation when Dorothy landed from colorless Kansas into the technicolor paradise of Oz. Even the Emerald City was just kind of gray. But it was still magnificent. I’ve watched it dozens of times since with my kids, and my grandkids and on one occasion accompanied by the Dark Side of the Moon album. I also read the book written by L.Frank Baum in 1900. It is a truly great story via book or movie. And now we all have a chance to see it as a ballet. Here. At the Dogwood. Here’s the skinny: Fans of the classic story can see "The Wizard of Oz" ballet performed by Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company at the Dogwood Center on Saturday, April 15 at 3:00 p.m. Bring the entire family and go down the yellow brick road with Dorothy, the cowardly lion, the tin man, the scarecrow, and the wicked witch. "The Wizard of Oz" features a talented cast of student dancers, inventive choreography by school director Attila Mosolygo and delivers a professional-level show that is fun for all ages. The school company completed performances of the "Wizard of Oz" ballet in Grand Rapids during March, and are now excited to bring their production for a Newaygo County audience. This program is funded in part by the Fremont Area Community Foundation. Tickets are $17.50 for adults, $10 for children 18 and under and are available through the Dogwood Center Box Office, NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, or on-line at www.dogwoodcenter.com. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.  
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 Karan Casey, flanked by Sheila Falls (L) and Matt Heaton (R) Karan Casey charms the BB crowd.
By Ken DeLaat Photo by Lil DeLaat It was a truly timely and superbly satisfying concert that took place at the Dogwood’s Black Box on St Patrick’s Day. In front of a packed room Karan Casey the beloved Irish songstress charmed her audience with a splendid mix of traditional songs, covers and her own compositions. Backed by a pair of superb musicians in 3 time North American Irish Fiddle Champion Sheila Falls and guitarist extraordinaire Matt Heaton who assists with vocals, Ms. Casey helped attendees celebrate the holiday with an interactive performance that put the talents of the trio on display. She connected with her audience with a warm and welcoming manner gliding through two sets filled with memorable musical offerings. Casey’s delivery is filled with emotion whether a love song or plaintive ballad and her occasional requests for audience accompaniment did not go unheard.Ms. Falls took a turn on the mike as well showing off an impressive set of pipes. Addressing the pandemic that silenced concert halls throughout the world she expressed her appreciation for once again being able to tour and referenced her canceled Dogwood appearance from 2020 with “It took me years to finally get here.” It was one of those magic nights at the Black Box and I am likely not alone in hoping that one day Ms. Casey will make a return engagement. Kudos once again to the Dogwood staff who have delivered yet another enticing evening of entertainment in their gem of a venue. Upcoming Dogwood events: https://dogwoodcenter.com/events/  Jim Jenkins as Oscar and Charles Zeldenrust as Felix  The Poker Group: L to R: Ron Jenkins as Vinnie, Mike Gesler as Murray, Bob Alonzo as Speed and Jim Renney as Roy.  Felix (Zeldenrust) and Murray (Gesler) in a bit of a discussion LionHeart production brings a bevy of laughs to the stage Review by Megan Wirts LionHeart productions is back with a classic for their spring show. Under the direction of Jamie Evans, The Odd Couple by Neil Simon will be on stage at the Grant Fine Arts Center March 17 and 18 and The Dogwood Center for Performing Arts in Fremont March 24, 25 and 26. Tickets are on sale now at the Grant Fine Arts Center Box Office and Dogwood Center for Performing Arts. Many people of a certain generation grew up watching The Odd Couple on TV, before that there was a movie but before that Neil Simon created the stage production that started it all. The show starts out at Oscar’s house during his weekly poker game, where we meet Speed (Bob Alonzo), Murray (Mike Gesler), Vinnie (Ron Jenkins) and Roy (Jim Renney). This crew brings the laughs! All veterans of the LionHeart stage and each bringing a bit of comic relief and sincerity to their roles. It is during this poker game that Felix shows up disheveled and upset. His wife kicked him out and he has nowhere to go. Oscar reluctantly agrees to let Felix move in with him and that’s where the real story begins. Oscar and Felix couldn’t be more different. Oscar, played by the incomparable Jim Jenkins, is a divorced bachelor who is messy, loud, qne likes to drink and play poker. Felix, played by the wonderful Charles Zeldenrust, just found out he’s getting divorced. He is tidy, sensitive,and likes to make fancy dinners and keep things organized. Two complete opposites, yet good friends that deeply care about each other while also being incredibly irritated with how the other lives.The banter between Jenkins and Zeldenrust flows and will have you invested in each character's lives. Rounding out the cast are the lovely Pigeon sisters, Gwendolyn played by Melissa Bass and Cecily played by Buffy Alonzo. The two sisters that live upstairs bring the giggles and the sweetness and deliver some of the biggest laughs of the show. LionHeart always brings us excellence on the stage and behind the scenes. The set design and props are detailed and intricate. The backstage crew stage was on top of their game, keeping the show moving and making sure each potato chip was in its proper place. From the lighting and sound to the hair and costuming, LionHeart productions knows how to create an immersive experience. As a non-profit and small town community theater they rely on support from ticket sales and donations from their generous patrons to continue giving our community quality entertainment. You can become a member by visiting LionHeart Productions. Don’t miss this hilarious show! Performances are March 17 at 7:30pm, March 18 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm at the Grant Fine Arts Center and March 24 at 7:30pm, March 25 at 7:30pm and March 26 at 2:00pm.  Jim Jenkins as Oscar  Felix, and Oscar inn a visit from the Pigeon sisters Buffy Alonzo as Cecily and Melissa Bass as Gwendolyn .  Irish Singer/Songwriter Coming To The Black Box Friday
By Ken DeLaat Karan Casey has long been a fixture in the Irish music scene with her blend of traditional ballads and contemporary sounds and on Friday she is bringing her show to the Dogwood for a St Patricks Day concert that looks to be a special evening. She is a strong advocate for the rights of women in her home country as well as for all women and her music spreads a message of love and inclusion. We caught up with the talented Ms. Casey via cell phone as she was heading for East Lansing to perform Wednesday night at the Ten Pound Fiddle. With a delightful sounding brogue and a friendly demeanor she answered my call with “Hi Ken. how ya goin’?” We chatted a bit then I posed a few questions. What led you to singing as a career? My Dad is a fantastic singer and my uncle and 2 grannies were great singers so there was always a lot of singing in the house. They had a lot of parties and you were expected to do a song or a poem so there was a lot of singing. Then I was very fortunate in primary school I had a great teacher who was a big influence. She’d be baking biscuits at her house and have you over and next thing you know you’d be singing songs. That sounds wonderful. Especially the biscuits. Yeah it was. I can still taste the butter. One of many mentors? Yeah I’ve been blessed with people who have been generous and kind and wanted people to sing… traditional songs in particular. They were very generous with their time. I’ve had that community all my life and it's such a great thing You were one of the primary movers of FairPlé, an organization focusing on the role of women in the music industry. Tell us a little about it. That's right. We got it going in 2018. It's the Irish word for discussion. We started having discussions about the role of women in traditional Irish music and arts. Over thirty sessions in Vienna, Boston, New York, Cork, Belfast, all over the world really. It was a chance to figure out what were the issues for women. There was a small amount of pushback with some saying there was no sexism in the industry but we all knew better. It’s created a camaraderie and I’m proud of the work we’ve done. It’s become like an HR for artists. They help out with counseling and many other areas. It’s a good story Anything surprise you after getting involved in this? I am a woman of privilege in this traditional music world. Somewhat insulated and less vulnerable to abuse that can happen to lesser known artists. Another group, the irish #MeToo or #MiseFosta set up an instagram account and chronicled a lot of incidents of abuse and I have to say I was very disturbed at the extent of it. As an older woman (I’m 55 this year) a lot of my generation, you know we’ve been silenced and I think I lived under the illusion that it didn’t happen in such a wholesome scene like traditional music.or at least that was the image projected. You think that it can’t happen in this kind of art scene but of course it does. You have a new album ‘Nine Apples of Gold That just came out. Yeah. A lot of the songs are about holding other women up. I live in a country where I claim the suffering of Irish women and some hope in what we can do about it. You know it's ironic to me. I first came to the states 30 years ago when Ireland didn’t have these rights for women and gay marriage was illegal. And I was so proud of Ireland that we stepped forward and campaigned on those issues. The world is a much better place when we promote love and inclusion. I think that’s a lot of what the album is about. You've grown in your feminism? I’ve grown in being able to speak about it. I think in the political campaign FairPlé I was definitely up there on a platform so I had to figure out what I was saying. What should people expect on Friday? Well, you know some funny stories, conversations from the road and songs about love, family traditions Ireland and a good time. Live music is a gift and there is love and trust in the room. You don’t go away from a gig not feeling happy or at least buoyed up some. Your sense of spirit is restored and you feel good after. Do yourself a favor and catch a few of Ms. Casey’s tunes on YouTube then get your Irish on with a St Patty’s Day concert that will ‘buoy you up a little’
Search Begins for NBFF’s 2023 Queen’s Court
The National Baby Food Festival Committee has begun their search for the 2023 Queen’s Court! This year the festival will take place during the week of July 19-22. The NBFF Queen’s Court Committee is looking for individuals who will enjoy representing the festival as a goodwill ambassador around West Michigan. The 2023 Queen’s Court will consist of three very eager and outgoing individuals willing to be involved in various events around Newaygo County as well as during the week of the National Baby Food Festival. A scholarship will be award to the members of the court. Interested individuals must be between 16 – 20 years of age and a resident of Newaygo County. Please submit a letter of introduction, along with a current photograph to: NBFF Queen’s Court 7 East Main Street Fremont, MI 49412 Letters of introduction and photograph must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 24, 2023, to be considered in the 2023 NBFF Queen’s Court search. If you have any questions, please contact the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce at (231) 924-0770. Applicants will then be interviewed, and a three-person court will be announced this spring. The 2023 Queen will be crowned during the Festival’s Friday night entertainment on July 21st. Her first official duty will be presiding over the National Baby Food Festival Grand Parade on Saturday, July 22nd.  Celebrated Irish singer Karan Casey will perform in the Dogwood Black Box on Friday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. Casey has long been one of the most innovative, provocative and imitated voices in Irish traditional and folk music. Her career has spanned twenty five years from the early days as a jazz performer in George’s Bistro in Dublin, to her heady days in New York with the band Solas, to her now established solo career and she has sold over half a million albums. Casey has toured constantly throughout North America, Europe and Japan, performing solo, with her own band and with many other artists, often from outside the realm of Irish music. Her adventurous spirit results from the varied influences--classical music, jazz, and American pop that Casey has made her own since growing up amid Irish traditional music in Ballyduff Lower, County Waterford. Karan Casey, says the Associated Press, has "a voice so beautiful, it's almost impossible to avoid falling under her spell." She comes to the Dogwood Center as part of a 13 date U.S. tour with a recent album, "Nine Apples of Gold." Tickets are $20.00 and are available through the Dogwood Center Box Office, NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, on-line at www.dogwoodcenter.com or make it easy and click here. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.  Too busy last fall? Here’s your chance at not regretting you missed it again Ok. Last fall you heard about the River Country Community Choir and their invitation for prospective members to come join the rehearsals for the upcoming Christmas Concert. “What fun” you thought. “I’ve always liked to sing and haven’t ever been in a choir so I’ll give it a try.” Then you missed the first rehearsal. After all it was the day after Halloween and there was a lot to do but next week you planned to attend. But there was that birthday party at the inlaws so it didn't work out. The following week you had a cold and then, well, it was nearly Thanksgiving and so much to do and you hadn’t even begun Christmas shopping so… Regrets and a little ‘wish I had done that’ aside, here is your chance at following through with that desire to share a bit of song in a choral group, meet some fun and very cool folks and take to the stage at the Dogwood to be a part of a truly community choir that will present a lively Spring Concert to an appreciative audience. The Choir will begin rehearsals on Tuesday, March 28th from 6:30-8:30pm and will continue these practice sessions each Tuesday through May 16th. Then on Sunday May 21st at 3pm the work from those rehearsals will come to fruition for what is hoped to be a sparkling performance. Rehearsals are held at Newaygo United Methodist Church, 101 State Road in downtown Newaygo. No tryouts. The only requirements are high school age or older, a commitment to attend most if not all the rehearsals and, most importantly, one must enjoy singing. Of course if you made it this far into the article there is a high likelihood you enjoy singing. Of course if you have choir experience that’s a plus and that includes being a singing shepherd in the 2nd grade Christmas Pageant. Want more details? Here’s their fb page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/407989146668247 “Then the singing enveloped me. It was furry and resonant, coming from everyone's very heart. There was no sense of performance or judgment, only that the music was breath and food.”- Ann Lamott, Traveling Mercies   Alaina Keelean and Deidre Kennedy Photo Credit: Lukas Sweers Review By Megan Wirts Freaky Friday opened last weekend to a crowd of excited family members, friends and theater lovers last weekend at the Grant Fine Arts Center. If you missed it there will be three more shows this weekend: March 3rd at 7:00pm and March 4th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. So don’t you worry, you too can experience the magic created on the beautiful stage at Grant Public Schools. Freaky Friday is a familiar favorite. Originally a novel written by Mary Rodgers and adapted to the screen several times spanning many generations. Director Lukas Sweers said that the reason that this story has lasted so many years is because, “The relationship struggles between parents and children have not changed. What this story has always aimed to do is highlight the nuanced frustration that each generation faced and because of this generational divide, every audience member should be able to identify with someone on stage.” With his strong direction the students on this stage shine!  Left to Right: Kara Geerdink, Zahara Chuchoque, Bobby Johnson, Alaina Keelean, Julia Simon, Berlyn Nickerson, Jasper Chandler Photo Credit: Todd Merrifield Speaking of the characters, the show is led by the magnificent Alaina Keelean and Deidre Kennedy. Both seniors at Grant High School, and their last high school musical, you don’t want to miss seeing them both completely wow the audience every night! It has been a joy to watch them grow and become the incredible actresses and vocalists they are now. Their futures are bright! Playing mother and daughter that switch bodies due to a magical hourglass, they had the crowd in tears from laughter from their comedic timing and their tender moments with each other and their family. Ellie just wants her mom to understand her and Katherine just wants her daughter to be her best self and they are not communicating well. Through this transformation they are allowed to spend a day in each other's literal shoes and come to an understanding that neither of them are perfect and both feel pressure in their lives and they truly love each other. Alaina plays Ellie, the teenage daughter of Katherine, played by Deidre. Their acting chops and vocal abilities blew me away and I felt like a proud mama sitting in the audience watching in awe. I could listen to both of them sing all day long and I would never tire of it. I loved the bluesy “Bring My Baby (Brother) Home”, their vocal acrobats and power was impressive. You will tear up while Deidre tenderly sings “After All of This and Everything” and will be feeling the power when Alaina busts out “No More Fear”. Bravo!  Deidre Kennedy Photo Credit: Liam Higgins You can’t have a high school musical without a love interest. Bobby Johnson plays Ellie’s crush, Adam and “list master” of an extravagant scavenger hunt happening on the night of Katherine’s wedding rehearsal dinner. Bobby is not a stranger to the stage and they were an awesome addition to this cast. They played the cool heat throb Adam excellently and I loved them during “Women and Sandwiches”. I especially loved their entrances, you must see this show to know what I am talking about, but you will love it too. Then there is Gabe Malone, who plays Mike, Katherine’s doting fiancee. Gabe has the voice of an angel and his solo song “Vows'' will have you saying “wow” and giggling a little. The cast was filled with familiar faces like the incredibly talented Gracey Koogler as Torrey who is a vocal powerhouse and absolute joy to watch, and Julia Simon as Savannah, who played the best mean girl. Just so you know, Julia is very sweet in real life. There are also many new faces, like the talented 8th grader Padrick Metz as Fletcher, Ellie’s puppet loving little brother, who brings some comedy and sweetness to the show. The large ensemble numbers like “Oh Biology” and “Watch Your Back” (Lead by the impressive Emerson Mayra as the gym teacher Ms. Meyers) were so much fun to watch with fun dance numbers and lots of laughs! Everyone on that stage was an integral part in making this show a success.  Bobby Johnson Photo Credit: Todd Merrifield Not only do the kids you see on stage work hard, but those in the back are working just as hard. They keep the show running, build the sets, keep the lights on, play beautiful music and allow us to hear the actors on stage. Without the crew and the pit, a show could not happen. Congratulations to all of you on your efforts behind the scenes! It is such a joy to see these students finding themselves through theater. I have seen shy young kids completely transform into confident young adults on that stage. The theater is a wonderful place to learn teamwork and form lifelong friendships. Thank you so much to people like Lukas Sweers and Philip DeYoung (Our new GHS Band Director who directed the pit.), for showing these students that if you work hard, you can have incredible results.  Alaina Keelean and Deidre Kennedy Photo Credit: Liam Higgins I hope that you will find the time to support this incredible group of hard working students and get tickets to see this show! You can find them at https://grantfac.booktix.com/ or they can be purchased at the box office an hour before show time. Performances are at the Grant Fine Arts Center on March 3 at 7:00pm, March 4 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors and $10 for adults.  Entire Cast, Crew, Pit Photo Credit: Liam Higgins |
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