Hope College Arts Update for Aug.25: The Way We Were, The Blind Boys of Alabama, GPS Season

Your connection to the arts at Hope College and in the Holland area community

August 25, 2011

Blind Boys of Alabama Order Tickets Soon
Sept. 10, 7:30pm
Hope College Dimnent Chapel

The gospel sounds of the Blind Boys of Alabama will fill Dimnent Memorial Chapel at Hope College on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 7:30 p.m.

Through the years, the legendary gospel group has won five Grammy Awards, has been granted lifetime achievement awards by both the National Endowment for the Arts and the Grammy Foundation, and has twice been invited by presidents to sing at the White House.

The Blind Boys interpret a wide range, from traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material, by songwriters including Curtis Mafield, Ben Harper, Eric Clapton, Prince and Tom Waits. With performances airing on "The Tonight Show," "Late Night with David Letterman," "The Grammy Awards," "60 minutes," and a PBS special, millions of people have experienced the group.

Call 616-395-7890 for tickets.

The 39 Steps
August 12-28
Mason Street Warehouse, Saugatuck

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece and a juicy spy novel with a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps. This riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft will delight anyone who enjoys the magic of theatre. It's a fast-paced treat packed with nonstop laughs, over 50 characters, an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers, spies, murder, and some good old-fashioned romance. A two-time Tony and Drama Desk award winner, this whodunit amounts to an evening of pure pleasure. Its Hitchcock meets hilarious!

Mason Street Warehouse

Buddy -- The Buddy Holly Story
August 26- 27
The Red Barn Theatre, Saugatuck

With a groundbreaking combination of country music and rhythm & blues, Buddy Holly and the Crickets catapulted to national stardom in just three short years with such hits as That'll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, and It's So Easy. By the age of 22, Buddy Holly had it all: chart topping singles, a beautiful wife, and international acclaim, until tragedy ended a brilliant career. The Buddy Holly Story follows the ups and downs of one of Rock N' Roll's most influential musicians. It's a toe-tapping feel good evening that makes you believe in music's power to change the world. With THE BIG BOPPER and RICHIE VALENS.

Although Buddy was only 22 years old when he died, he was a major influence to rock and roll music. Don't miss this nostalgic story featuring the songs that take you back to the fabulous 50s!

For More Information

The Way We Were
Aug. 30, 7 p.m.
Saugatuck's Red Barn Theater

The Red Barn Theater's feature filmattraction for August 30 is 'The Way We Were,' the story of a romantic relationship proving that opposites may attract, but they don't stay together long. This 1973 film features Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford under the direction of Sydney Pollack.

Marketed on the reputations of its two stars ("Streisand and Redford Together!"), the film was a box office success, and won Oscars for Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Song (They Way They Were) for Marvin Hamlisch. The soundtrack recording sold more than a million copies.

The film plays up the ethnic and attitudinal differences between its lead characters: not surprisingly, Katie (Streisand) is a strident Marxist Jew and Hubbell (Redford) is a carefree WASP disinterested in politics. He writes well without even trying; she wants to save the world. Separated by World War II, they meet again, fall in love, marry, and have a child.

Much to her chagrin, he becomes a successful Hollywood screen writer. When Sen. Joseph McCarthy begins his attacks on film writers, Katie launches a political movement that harms Hubbell's career.

Red Barn Theater

Hope College Great Performance Series
Season Tickets Now Available (offering savings of over 40%)

The Hope College Great Performance Series is returning for the 2011-12 season with a range of cultural events highlighting the best in dance, music and theatre.

From the alluring movements of the River North Dance Chicago Company to sounds of jazz legend Kenny Barron, the series will feature a range of events suitable for anyone and everyone to experience.

The season will open on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 29 and 30, with 7:30 p.m. performances by River North Chicago Dance Company at the Knickerbocker Theatre. Under the direction of Artistic Director Frank Chaves, River North is a jazz-based contemporary company. The "Chicago Sun-Times" has described River North Dance Chicago as "enthralling, a hugely attractive and technically impressive company."

On Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel, the Enso String Quartet will take the stage. With a 2010 Grammy nomination for "Best Chamber Music Performance" this award-winning young ensemble is growing a wide fan base. "The Washington Post" has said that the quartet gives "a thrillingly athletic performance."