Music, Film, and Theatre schedule
Friday, May 4 at 7:30 pm
First Friday Film – “King of Devil’s Island”
FREE 
“King of Devil’s Island” will be shown in partnership with the Maud Preston Palenske Library at the Box Factory for the Arts on Friday, May 4, at 7:30 pm. The film is part of the foreign film series and is offered free to the public.
This true story of the infamous Bastoy Boys Home correctional facility in Norway, begins with the arrival of seventeen-year-old Erling, a rumored murderer. He immediately clashes with the island facility’s governor (Stellan Skarsg†rd), who believes manual labor, rigid discipline, and harsh punishment are the only methods that can turn the boys into honorable members of society. Refusing to accept the constant abuse, Erling slowly rouses the rest of the boys out of their resigned existence, and encourages them to fight to lift up their spirits. When tragedy finally falls at the hand of the sadistic dorm master, Erling leads his comrades in a courageous and vicious rebellion that will bring them head to head with no less than the Norwegian Army.
Saturday, May 5 at 7:30 pm
“Tony Pica – Blues and Pop”
$10 adults; $8 seniors and students; free for children under 12
Tony resides in the fruit belt of Southwestern Michigan although his music reflects his urban and worldly influences. Tony has played as a solo performer and with others in a wide assortment of venues in the tri-state area for several decades.
Tony’s original music, which crosses genres of jazz, pop, blues, and rock, includes two CDs, Soul Occupation (2003) and Schism & Blues (2005). Both albums have received critical acclaim with reviews in national music and entertainment publications. Tony’s single, “Whole Lotta Kalamazoo”, from the Schism & Blues album was included in the soundtrack for the cinema release of “Kalamazoo? The Movie”
Presently, Tony is pursuing interests in contemporary and smooth jazz. He will perform music from Jazz greats such as Oscar Peterson, Ramsey Lewis, and George Benson. An evening of Tony’s music includes standard and contemporary jazz tunes along with songs by artists like Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, and B.B. King among many others.
The Tony Pica Project includes Tony on keyboards, guitar, and vocals. In many venues he is accompanied by his sixteen year old percussionist/drummer, Nick, who tastefully plays with skills way beyond his years. Buy Tickets
Saturday, May 12 at 7:30 pm
“Women of Riversong (Music Society) in concert”
$10 adults; $8 seniors and students; free for children under 12
The annual Mothers’ Day concert featuring the Women of Riversong will be presented at the Box Factory for the Arts on May 12 at 7:30 pm.
Join the fun when Riversong Music Society musicians Mary Czarnecki, Pam Chappell, Sandy Feldman, Pat Hanks, Marnie Heyn, Bev Smith, and Kristine Widerquist take the stage to sing and play an array of tunes from a variety of genres. There will be opportunities to sing along; to be deeply moved; and to laugh out loud. Buy Tickets
Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 pm
“Stuart Shaw and The Valley Runners”
$10 adults; $8 seniors and students; free for children under 12
Stuart Shaw will release his latest CD, “The American Fever,” at his first Box Factory for the Arts appearance on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 pm. Joining him on stage will be The Valley Runners.
Shaw of Kalamazoo has been writing and recording country songs since the early 1990s. He says, “The bare bones to each project is to capture human emotions or a human situation that is about right or wrong, good or bad, love or hate, black or white.”
His latest CD follows two released in 2011, “The Crow and the Fellow,” and “Two Hearted River,” the songs written and recorded in the Upper Peninsula on the shores of the river of the same name.
“Music has always been the backbone of the strength that I needed to keep pushing forward through life” says Shaw. “Music has taught me to live with raw emotions. And that the art of music is in the energy you hold.”
The Valley Runners are comprised of local musician Dan Geib on guitar and banjo; Colin Kilmer, bass and viola; and Derek Rhoda, drums.
For more on Stuart Shaw, visit his website at www.stuart-shaw.com. Buy Tickets
Friday, May 25 at 7:30 pm
“Lake Effect Jazz Big Band”
$10 adults; $8 seniors and students; free for children under 12
The Lake Effect Jazz Big Band will give a special performance at The Box Factory for the Arts on Friday, May 25th at 7:30pm.
Now in its 12th year of bringing its unique blend of traditional big band and contemporary jazz arrangements to the summer venues of Michigan ’s beautiful southwest region, the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band is becoming one of the premier big bands in the Midwest . This season, the band will be performing music from the classic big band libraries of jazz composers like Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, and Count Basie, but also showcasing the sounds of more contemporary ensembles like Gordon Goodwin, Fred Sturm, and Tom Kubis. The Lake Effect Jazz Big Band is committed to preserving the uniquely American art form of big band jazz.
The musicians in the band’s ranks include on saxophones: Andrea Gentry (Alto), Anne Jensen (Alto), Chris Keech (Tenor), Jeff Bopp (Tenor), and Rob Funk ( Bari ). Trombonists are Cheryl Thomas, Michael Ostrander, Tom Farrand, Carl Steffens and Brad Jensen (Bass Trombone). On trumpets are Steve Bizoe, Tom Crowner, John Poehner, and Kevin Renfro. The rhythm section is comprised of Kim McCavit (Keyboard), Dustin Lowe (Guitar), Doug Wegscheid (Bass), and Joe Trojan (Percussion).
The band will be joined by vocalist Michelle Bythrow . Michele was born and raised in St. Joseph , Michigan , and found a love for singing very young. She received a scholarship to study voice at Denver University and then went on to complete a music education degree (with vocal emphasis) at Indiana University , Bloomington . She has performed professionally as a singer, dancer and actress both locally and nationally, in styles ranging from opera to jazz. She recently received a Master’s of Sacred Music Degree from Notre Dame University . She is a private voice teacher and adjunct faculty member at Bethel College . She is a music minister and conducts a choir at River Valley Church in Mishawaka , Indiana. Buy Tickets
Saturday, May 26 at 7:30 pm
Last Saturday Film – “The Greatest Game Ever Played”
$5 donation at the door
“The Greatest Game Ever Played,” based on the true story of the 1913 U.S. Open, where 20-year-old Francis Ouimet defeated Harry Vardon. A great “easy peasy lemon squeasy” family film.(Attend the film to see what that means.)