Fall 2009 Events

Thursday September 3

Cartoons at 6:45 pm

Movie at 7:00 pm

Concessions will be available for a nominal fee.

Barefoot in the Park       

The HarborLight Movie Series, in conjunction with the Arts Council of White Lake and the White Lake Community Library, presents the classic, 1967 film Barefoot in the Park. Based on the best-selling play by Neil Simon, Barefoot in the Park stars Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.

Saturday September 5

Daytime Activities 11:00 am

Concert 7:30 pm

General Admission Tickets:
$10 in advance
$12 at the door

All-day Fundraiser Extravaganza

Cats, dogs, folk music, and organic produce

Cats, dogs, folk music and organic produce will be the main acts for this daylong fundraiser extravaganza to benefit Pound Buddies Rescue and Faithful to Felines. Pound Buddies is an animal advocacy organization run by volunteers that handles stray and abandoned dogs for Muskegon County. Faithful to Felines is a nonprofit organization that accepts unwanted or stray cats and kittens, and tests, spays and neuters them. It also works to find them loving, permanent homes. Besides kitties and puppies, and dogs and cats (both available for adoption), the daytime activities will also include a documentary film by Chris Bedford, locally-grown organic food produce, hand-made jewelry, a healing touch practitioner, massage therapy, and chair massages.

The extravaganza will close with a evening concert by Jo Serrapere & the Willie Dunns. Jo Serrapere & the Willie Dunns hail from the Detroit area, and the group's music is modern and traditional folk.

Donations Gratefully Appreciated!

Friday September 18

7:00 pm

General Admission Tickets: $10

Killer Blues Presents

a Benefit for Washboard Sam's Headstone

Killer Blues presents their 4^th White Lake Blues Festival at the Playhouse. Headlining will be Big House Blues Band from Muskegon; Washboard Jo, all the way from Kansas City; and RB & Company from Grand Haven. This show is a benefit to raise money for the purchase of a headstone for Washboard Sam.

Concessions will include Michigan Beer and Memphis Style BBQs provided by Muskegon’s own “Pistol Pete’s Pit".

Saturday September 26

6:00 pm

General Admission Tickets: $5

One Voice Gospel Choir

One Voice Gospel Choir performs a benefit concert to support the Playhouse. The Choir was started about 20 years ago by Jean Wilson. Since then the choir has grown into an outstanding group with its members coming from different churches around the Ann Arbor, Michigan, area and from all denominations. They go on Fall and Summer tours every year and have traveled to Nashville, Chicago, New York, Iowa, Washington DC, West Virginia, Indianapolis, Western Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, and many other places.

This talented group had a cancellation for this date and our friends at the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce pointed them towards the Playhouse. The Choir has generously offered their talents and services for this benefit concert to support the Playhouse!

Thursday October 1

Cartoons at 6:45 pm

Movie at 7:00 pm

Concessions will be available for a nominal fee.

To Catch a Thief       

The HarborLight Movie Series, in conjunction with the Arts Council of White Lake and the White Lake Community Library, presents Alfred Hitchock's 1955 film To Catch a Thief starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

Saturday October 10

7:00 pm

General Admission Tickets: $12

Shoreline Barbershop Chorus

Enjoy an evening of two full hours of barbershop harmony featuring performances from Chordiology, Go 4 It, Broadside, Half Step Up, and Harmony Transfer, as well as special guest appearances from local Muskegon County high school barbershop students that have recently attended the Intensive Barbershop Workshop at Interlochen Arts Academy.

Barbershop harmony, a truly American art form!

Thursday October 29

7:30 pm

General Admission Tickets:
$10 adults
$5 for students

Blue Dahlia presents: Nosferatu

Its 1922 and no one has ever seen Dracula on the big screen. A new creature rises from a gloomy tomb to frighten not only a village, but the world! This cinematic masterpiece is accompanied by the magical sounds of Blue Dahlia. This experience will captivate all the senses and pulls incredible artistic energy from it. A Detroit Free Press review raves that “Blue Dahlia is more adventurous than anyone dares to be, the exotic ripples through each composition blending textured guitars, melodic bass, soaring multi-lingual vocals with ethnic, orchestral percussion.” This unique and engaging musical group creates one of the most astounding entertainment opportunities available in West Michigan.

Friday October 30

7:30 pm

General Admission Tickets:
$10 in advance
$12 at the door

Playhouse Productions presents

STEPPIN' IN IT

50% of ticket sales go directly to the Playhouse

Rare indeed when a collection of songs creates an entire world. Sonically painting with a pleasant array of old time country swing and blues, this Lansing, Michigan, quartet brilliantly updates a resurging American musical genre. It’s a world Woody Guthrie knew about, and sang about. Steppin’ In It conveys the wonder of the American spirit, but also its heartache. Led by composer/guitarist Joshua Davis, traditional roots music is celebrated here by plaintive vocals and sweet harmonies, plus musicianship that is positively staggering. The number of instruments manned by Davis, upright bassist Dominic John Suchyta, steel guitarist Joe Wilson and the harmonica-playing Andy Wilson includes trombone, trumpet, Cajun accordion, dobro, slide guitar, Cajun fiddle, clawhammer banjo. Even rarer, though their competence on these instruments is clearly superior, there is little, if any, soloing taking place. All four musicians play to support the essence of the song. See these truly gifted musicians at the Playhouse.

Thursday November 5

Cartoons at 6:45 pm

Movie at 7:00 pm

Concessions will be available for a nominal fee.

Roman Holiday

The HarborLight Movie Series, in conjunction with the Arts Council of White Lake, presents the immortal comedy-romance from 1953, Roman Holiday. Directed by William Wyler the film stars Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. The film was nominated for ten Oscars, winning three including Audrey Hepburn for Best Actress.

Friday November 6

7:30 pm

General Admission Tickets:
$10 in advance
$12 at the door

Playhouse Productions presents

Orpheum Bell            

50% of ticket sales go directly to the Playhouse

Equipped with an orchestral ensemble of banjo, accordion, trumpet, shepherd's harp, musical saw, cittern, guitar and dobro, double bass, various ukuleles and horned violins, Orpheum Bell performs an original "Country & Eastern" songbook of lullabies, stomps, dirt-road ballads, and gypsy suites and waltzes. Relying on old, acoustic instruments, the band's sound moves from chiseled, plaintive song stories to articulate, richly-played instrumentals. The members come at the music from different angles—a classically trained harpsichordist, a rural folk polymath, a church choir girl, one from Holland, and another from Ukraine. Hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, this band promises everything White Lakers love—talented, creative and interesting musicians with loads of good old fashioned country tunes.

Friday November 13

7:30 pm

General Admission Tickets:
$10 for adults, two for $15
$5 for students

Opry Night at the ‘Met

with Delilah Dewylde & the Lost Boys
opened by Mike Snell

Mixing self penned songs with old country hits by such artists as Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Ernest Tubb, and Buck Owens to name a few, Delilah and the Lost Boys come out on stage looking and sounding like a 45 year step back in time. Dressed to the nines in the tradition of pre-color television country singers and musicians, donning matching western suits and playing the finest vintage musical instruments in the finest old school way. The leader of the band of course is Delilah, playing upright bass and singing lead. A veteran of the West Michigan music scene for over 15 years and an alumnus of rockabilly institution DangerVille, she is also a holder of the secret of standing on the bass while she plays it. Don’t ask her how it’s done, as it’s a secret. See for yourself. Join us at the Playhouse for Opry Night at the ‘Met and enjoy a rocking, good old fashioned time!

Saturday November 14

2:00 pm, Family Concert

7:30 pm Grown Up Concert

Tellabration: A Tale for Two Cities

Mark Lewis returns by popular demand

The afternoon family concert will feature Mark, Sandor Slomovits from Gemini, and more storytellers to be announced! Join us for music and fun for the whole family. The evening concert for grown-ups will also feature Mark Lewis and, again, more storytellers to be announced!

Wine sales by White Lake Performing Arts

Friday November 20

7:30 pm

General Admission Tickets:
$10 in advance
$12 at the door

Playhouse Productions presents

Rachael Davis and Band

Rachael Davis has been singing on-stage since she was two years old. Being born to parents who never intended to keep her very far from music for very long seems to have made all the difference in the world. Before she could walk, Rachael would be set in a car seat and placed in the middle of a song circle, and with silver bells on her ankles she would shake her feet to the rhythm. At one-and-a-half Rachael was singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow to anyone who asked, and at two she started performing with her parents on stage. In September of 2001, Rachael moved to Boston and within the span of seven months was awarded a Boston Music Award for Best New Singer-Songwriter. Her influences range from the jazz styling of Ella Fitzgerald to the soulful pop vocals of Patty Griffin — with many more in between. She is a contemporary songwriter but is equally at home singing anything from traditional ballads to Cole Porter to Joe Henry. She will be accompanied by four truly gifted Michigander musician friends: Joshua Davis (guitar), Jason Scott (Drums), Dominic John (Bass), and Mike Lynch (Hammond Organ).

Thursday December 3

6:00 pm

A LITTLE ELF MAGIC

Nuveen Center Student Theater Showcase

The Nuveen Community Center for the Arts fall theatre classes will present A Little Elf Magic, a performance of theatrical experiences. The showcase will feature 21 elementary, middle, and high school students from the White Lake area. The presentation is free to the public and appropriate for all ages.

A Little Elf Magic will conclude prior to the 7:00 pm HarborLight Movie Series December feature, Christmas in July (see next item).

Thursday December 3

Cartoons at 6:45 pm

Movie at 7:00 pm

Concessions will be available for a nominal fee.

Christmas in July       

The HarborLight Movie Series, in conjunction with the Arts Council of White Lake, presents another romantic comedy classic, this time the 1940 film Christmas in July. Directed by Preston Sturges, it stars Dick Powell and Ellen Drew.

Saturday December 12

4:00 pm

General Admission Tickets:
Adults: $10
Students (18 and under): $5

Check out the Harborview Grille promotion for this event!

Home Town Holiday Weekend

A Christmas Tree-o of Stories

Fun for the Whole Family

During Hometown Holiday Weekend We’re thrilled to be partnering with Master Arts again, our good friends that brought us the beauty of Driving Miss Daisy this past summer. They will present a charming and poignant “tree-o” of Christmas stories for the enjoyment of the whole family, young and old. Join us to celebrate the holiday season as Master Arts will present A Christmas of Many Parts, Window of His Love, and A Mime Performance.

Since we partner with these great performers, you can rest at ease knowing that 60% of your ticket sales go directly towards the day-to-day operations of the theatre. Join us for this exciting Holiday Production!

Friday December 18

7:30 pm

General Admission Tickets:
Family, $25 (up to 5 members)
Adults, $10 or 2/$15
Students, $5 (18 and under)

A Christmas Carol Benefit Concert

Please join us for a warm and inviting evening to get you in the holiday spirit! A Christmas Carol Concert Benefit, hosted by the Howmet Playhouse, will feature a mix of both traditional and contemporary Christmas musical performances by local musicians, and occasional Playhouse staff Christina Inez Bell, Cassidy Anne Caswell, Jailynn Pepple, and Lorrell Pepple. Local author and White Lake Beacon columnist, Dave Walks-As-Bear, will present background on American Indian traditional gift giving. Dave will also be available to sign his new book, Medicine Hat. The evening will conclude with a classic sing along.

Please join us for some homemade cookies, cocoa, and carols as we benefit Whitehall’s Historic Howmet Playhouse and celebrate the season together. Appropriate for all ages, so please feel free to bring the whole family!