Arts and Culture

“Disney's The Little Mermaid,” a musical adapted from the Broadway production and motion picture, will be presented by Superior Arts Youth Theater and the Wildcat Performing Arts Academy at Northern Michigan University Thursday, March 5-Sunday, March 8.

Due to recent snow days and lost rehearsal time, the Northern Michigan University Orchestra's annual Children's Concert has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, in Reynolds Recital Hall. This is a free event.

The Westerlies, a Grammy-nominated, New York-based brass quartet, will be the featured performer at the NMU Jazz Festival. The group will present the festival's opening concert, which also serves as a Siril Concert Series event, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The quartet will also join NMU's Jazz Band and Jazz Combo for the closing concert on Friday, March 20, at the same time and location.

The Northern Michigan University Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, directed by Steven Riley, will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, in Reynolds Recital Hall. NMU assistant professor Theresa Camilli will provide piano accompaniment.

“Letters Jim Harrison May Never Read.” “Walt Whitman and His Lake Superior Baptism.” “John Lennon at the Old Marquette Inn.” “Chagall Taught Me How to Drive.” These are some of the titles featured in Northern Michigan University English Professor Russell Thorburn's latest collection of poetry, And the Heart Will Not Quicken. The book is populated by imaginative scenarios featuring pop culture, artistic and literary legends who move freely across various decades and countries.

Northern Michigan University's Music Department will host a free jazz concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The event will feature the NMU Jazz Band, composed of nearly 20 players representing various academic majors and directed by Mark Flaherty, along with two smaller ensembles coached by Patrick Booth.

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tennessee Williams, Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 19-21 and 26-28, in the Panowski Black Box Theatre. The show will be directed by assistant professor Kaitlyn Frotton.

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present “Cupid's Cabaret,” an immersive and potentially interactive performance set at a 1980s high school prom. 

Northern Michigan University's Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will unveil two exhibits in its new gallery space in 223 Harden Hall: "The Conservationists: George Shiras III, Theodore Roosevelt and the Migratory Bird Act"; and a permanent display of artifacts, photographs and stories about NMU. The opening reception begins at noon Saturday, Jan. 31.

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance made a strong showing at the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) Region 3 Festival in Madison earlier this month. Senior Liam Fisher was the region winner in the Music Theatre Intensive vocal category, and freshman Neel Archis Manish was region runner-up for the Irene Ryan acting award. NMU's production of CTRL+ALT+DELETE, directed by Jimmy Ludwig, also won the BOLD Audience Choice Award after two sold-out performances at the festival.