Arts and Culture

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will host a staged reading of "Tragedy Sound," a play written by NMU alumna Karen Saari, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, in Jamrich 1100. The reading is free and open to the public. The production follows three U.P. women who are lifelong friends as they find themselves stranded on Lake Superior after accepting a dare to embark on a canoeing trip.

“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 CO/LAB Dance Company will present a concert anchored by the premiere of “Love is a Burning Thing: A choreography tribute to Johnny Cash.” CO/LAB artistic director and assistant professor Karina Johnson choreographed the contemporary ballet piece, which uses several familiar Cash songs to showcase how people experience relationships in their lives. 

Northern Michigan University recently held a dedication ceremony for a new permanent display of flags in the Superior Dome representing each of the five Upper Peninsula tribal nations: the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; and the Keweenaw Bay, Hannahville and Bay Mills Indian Communities.

Northern Michigan University's School of Art and Design is hosting its Fall 2025 Senior Exhibition at the DeVos Art Museum. A closing reception is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, with an awards announcement at 8 p.m. 

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present a family friendly, “amped-up spectacle” of the holiday classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Dec. 4-6 and 11-13. On a related note, Theatre and Dance will bring back its “Letters to Santa” campaign in collaboration with Honor Credit Union. Children who participate will receive a buy one-get one ticket offer for this or a future NMU production. 

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation's longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative writers and artists nationwide in grades 7-12, are accepting entries. More than $450,000 in monetary prizes—the most in program history—will be awarded. The submission deadline for U.P. students is 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. The Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project site at Northern Michigan University serves as the Upper Peninsula affiliate of the awards.

Northern Arts and Entertainment will present a concert for NMU students featuring musical acts Adam Paddock and iDKHOW (I Don't Know How But They Found Me) on Thursday, Nov. 20 in the Northern Center Ballrooms. Doors open at 6 p.m., with opening act Paddock at 7 and headliner iDKHOW at 8

Brass Queens, a female-led brass band from Brooklyn featuring all-female horns with a sound that is deeply inspired by the New Orleans tradition, will perform at Northern Michigan University. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in Reynolds Recital Hall. 

The Northern Michigan University Orchestra directed by Barbara Rhyneer and the NMU Choirs directed by Erin Colwitz will present a concert titled "Baroque to the Future" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Reynolds Recital Hall.