Fall 2020 Events

Tuesday, August 25

7:00 pm

Tickets:
Adults: $9
Students: $7

Run Time: Two Hours

A Movie: Coming Up for Air

A Mom Struggles to Find and Rescue Her Brilliant Son Spiraling Out of Control

When single mom Anna Russell, a ceramic artist, discovers that her son Stan, an outstanding college diver and academic star, is unraveling, she must act quickly to avoid tragedy. In denial and mysteriously out of reach, Stan suddenly disappears. Anna must find him on a journey that highlights the key role caregivers play helping those in need survive a mental emergency and successfully recover. The film also focuses on the special challenges of balancing high stakes athletics with academic  excellence.

The winner of four best feature awards at home and abroad including the grand prize for best feature at the Culver City Film Festival, Coming Up for Air was shot across West Michigan in Muskegon, Grand Haven, Ludington, Pentwater, and Holland along with Ann Arbor and Milwaukee.

The film, features many favorite West Michigan actors including Kim Harsch, Kate Thomsen, Judy Johnson, Foley Schuler, Tom Harryman, Chris Beaman, Bill Iddings, Liz Nolan, Ray Brazaski, Shelley Irwin, Jacqui Robinson, Diane Van Wesep, and Joe Hasper.  The film’s art director is Kirk Wahamaki and it was produced by Roger Rapoport who cowrote the script with lead actress Deborah Staples. Chase Yi costars and the film was directed by Robert Cicchini.

For more information contact producer Roger Rapoport at (231) 720-0930.

For more information about the movie visit its website or watch the movie trailer

Rating: Unrated, plays as PG

Saturday, September 5

7:30 pm

Tickets:
$20 in advance
$25 Day of and at the Door

John Gorka in Concert

You won’t want to miss this evening with world-renowned contemporary American folk singer-songwriter John Gorka. With his soulful baritone voice and rich multi-faceted songs full of depth, beauty and emotion, Gorka has been filling concert venues throughout the United States and Europe for well over two decades. Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement.” In addition to his 11 critically acclaimed albums, John released a collector’s edition box featuring a hi-definition DVD and companion CD called The Gypsy Life. Windham Hill also released a collection of John’s greatest hits from the label called Pure John Gorka. In 2010, he also released an album with his friends and Red House label-mates Lucy Kaplansky and Eliza Gilkyson under the name Red Horse. Getting high praise from critics and fans alike, it landed on the Billboard Folk Charts and was one of the most played albums on folk radio. Many well-known artists have recorded and/or performed John Gorka songs, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Mary Black, and Maura O’Connell. John has graced the stage of Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, etown, and has appeared on CNN. His new song Where No Monuments Stand is featured in the upcoming documentary Every War Has Two Losers, about activist and Oregon Poet Laureate William Stafford (1914-1993).

Friday, September 25

7:30 pm

Tickets:
$18 in advance
$23 Day of and at Door
Plus $3 ticketing fee

Gruvia Productions Presents: Organissimo

You might notice of something different at an Organissimo performance. The audience isn't the typical homogenous "jazz" audience. You'll see a healthy mix of people from all walks of life; young and old, black and white, from hippies to corporate professionals and everything in between. organissimo's music skirts over fences and satisfies a diverse range of tastes. You're as likely to see people dancing as a group of folks intently listening.

As American cultural critic Elvis Mitchell wrote after witnessing a show at Baker's Keyboard Lounge, "The group's toned, muscular playing keeps the crowd rapt, a condition noticeable by the fact that almost no one is talking."

Organissimo formed in November of 2000 with the goal of bringing jazz back to the people. Organissimo's sound is instantly identifiable yet constantly evolving, infusing elements of funk, gospel, blues, progressive rock, and Latin rhythms into a solid foundation of jazz. Shifting meters, deep grooves, melodic finesse and tight ensemble interplay are hallmarks of the organissimo sound.

Saturday, September 26

7:00 pm

Tickets:
Adults: $10
Students $5
Plus $2 ticket fee

Use Coupon Code: PUPPET2020 at check out to take advantage of a limited numbers of BOGO tickets, so order early!
Minimum order 2 tickets.

The Playhouse at White Lake and My Air Productions Present:
The Phillip Huber Marionette’s “Suspended Animation”

Recommended for ages 8 and above

Emmy award-winning master and the puppeteer behind Being John Malkovich, Phillip Huber, brings a stunning range of marionettes in this sophisticated performance praised as “a marvel” by the L.A. Times. Huber also worked his puppetry magic in China Girl, in the Disney film Oz the Great and Powerful, and in many other artistic and theatrical productions internationally.  The Huber Marionette’s incredible, complex puppets and manipulations are famed around the world. Sure to delight all audiences and to surprise even the most knowledgeable puppet fans.

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/user/huberpuppet

Saturday, October 3

7:30 pm

Tickets: $10 (plus $1 ticket fee)

About the movie:
With onscreen lyrics
Musical
175 min.
G rating

The Sound of Music
Sing-a-Long Movie Night

The Friends of the Playhouse invite you to “start at the very beginning (a very good place to start) …”. All proceeds benefit the Playhouse!

We love all our Playhouse sing-alongs, but singing along with the Sound of Music is truly something special. You get to see the classic movie on the big screen, with helpful subtitles to help you sing every one of the wonderful Rodgers and Hammerstein songs.

A tuneful, heartwarming story, it is based on the real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers, one of the world's best-known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II. Julie Andrews plays the role of Maria, the tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey who becomes a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children, and brings a new love of life and music into the home.

You are invited, even encouraged, to come in costume!

Saturday, November 7

Doors open 6:30 pm
Showtime 8:00 pm

General Admission Tickets: $40

Gruvia Productions Presents: The Verve Pipe

With a reputation for spectacular live performances, the multi-platinum alternative rock band The Verve Pipe are recognized worldwide for their radio hits Photograph, Hero, Happiness Is, Never Let You Down, and the #1 smash single The Freshmen.

In addition to their success on radio, TV and film, sold-out concert dates throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia, features in Rolling Stone, Interview Magazine and many more, and videos on MTV and VH1, the band has made numerous television appearances, including The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Late Night With David Letterman.’

Between recording rock albums, including the most recent release Parachute, and their first-ever live album Villains – Live & Acoustic, featuring an acoustic reimagining of their platinum debut album Villains, The Verve Pipe expanded their repertoire to include writing and recording A Family Album, their critically acclaimed introduction to the world of children’s music, as well as their follow up family oriented release, Are We There Yet?.

With a new lineup and a renewed energy and focus, lead singer/principal songwriter and founder Brian Vander Ark and the band continue to deliver original music that is distinguished by innovative arrangements, soul-searching lyrics and layered vocals.

The Verve Pipe perform both rock and kids shows throughout North America, including notable appearances at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Festival, Lincoln Center, Hangout Music Festival, SummerStage in Central Park, and many more.

Saturday, November 28

7:30 pm

Tickets:
Presale $15
Day of and at the Door $20
(Plus $3 ticketing fee)

Dixon’s Violin

You've never heard violin like this! The world's premier visionary violinist, Dixon's life mission is to inspire people—and he has done so across North America, including giving three TED talks/performances, over ten years at Burning Man, plus radio, TV, and film appearances. A former technology leader and symphony violinist, Dixon walked away from a distinguished career to follow his dream full-time, and invented a whole new music genre. Dixon now improvises on a 5-string electric violin with a looping system he developed to create an all-live one-man symphony, guided by his remarkable personal story of life transformation.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/XHlmsw5VFsE

co-produced by Gruvia Productions