Western Herald » Weekend Scene

Review: Fancy Pants Theater wows with production of three one-act plays

CraigManning — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:37:31 +0000

John Campbell
A&E Reporter

Fancy Pants Theater is putting on three shows for the price of one with “Something Old, Something New, and Something In Between.”

“Something Old, Something New, and Something In Between” is a series of three one-act …

Born to Run: A playlist for the class of ’13

CraigManning — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:54:40 +0000

Craig Manning
A&E Editor

When the right song collides with the right moment, both are immortalized forever. I’ve written a lot, over the past few years, about music I love most, but while criticism certainly has its place in the …

Review: “Kiss Me, Kate” offers a jazzy, musically-stimulating, dance-fueled finale to the University Theatre season

CraigManning — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:00:41 +0000

John Campbell
A&E Reporter

The 2012-2013 season at The University Theatre is rapidly coming to an end, and what better way to close than with the Cole Porter Tony Award-winning classic “Kiss Me, Kate?”

“Kiss Me, Kate” is the story …

Review: Farmers Alley’s “39 Steps” uses small cast to comedic perfection

CraigManning — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:46:31 +0000

John Campbell
A&E Reporter

Farmers Alley Theatre is fusing Alfred Hitchcock with Monty Python with their production of “The 39 Steps,” continuing its near sold-out run

The four-person show is based on the 1935 Hitchcock movie of the same name, …

REVIEW: University Theatre brings Shakespearian nightmare to life

CraigManning — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 16:23:18 +0000

John Campbell
A&E Reporter

Vengeance is awakened at the D. Terry Williams Theatre in the Gilmore Theatre complex, as the University Theatre brings the classic William Shakespeare play “Macbeth” to life.

On his way home from defeating the allied forces …

SATURDAY: Jeremy Porter & the Tucos bring unique genre blend to Kalamazoo

CraigManning — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:07:18 +0000

Craig Manning
A&E Editor

Growing up in Marquette, Mich., Jeremy Porter was probably one of those guys who spent as much time listening to the radio and spinning records on the turntable as he did hitting the books. At 16, …

SATURDAY: Eclectic folk-rock band returns to Bell’s

CraigManning — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:42:59 +0000

Craig Manning
A&E Editor

Slim Gypsy Baggage is back by popular demand.

The regional-touring act, which has been on a 100-gig-a-year schedule since they came together back in 2011, played Bell’s Eccentric Cafe for Kalamazoo beer week in January. Considering …

St. Patrick’s day bar guide

MeganWenzl — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:33:56 +0000

Megan Wenzl
News Reporter

On Sunday, March 17, Western Michigan University students will embrace the fun green-themed holiday of St. Patrick’s Day.

Kalamazoo bars will have drink specials and Irish themed food to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Here are the …

Deciphering the darkness: Final Oscar Predictions

CraigManning — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:45:19 +0000

Craig Manning
A&E Editor

Well it’s been an interesting Awards season, to be sure. I’ve mostly kept out of this conversation since the Screen Actors Guild awards, partially because they essentially sealed Argo as the big winner of the season, …

Local Music Watch: Pleasant Drive party at Papa Pete’s

CraigManning — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 04:11:43 +0000

Stan Sulewski
A&E Reporter

Papa Pete’s was the place to be Saturday night as Kalamazoo’s own Pleasant Drive took the stage, opening up for Chicago-based experimentalists, Indigo Sun.

Pleasant Drive, a local four-piece band, is made up of vocalist/guitarist Jason …