Tambourines to Glory Closes WMU Theatre Season and the KFS Presents The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: This Week on the NCH

Western Michigan University Theatre Department will close out its 2009-2010 season with Langston Hughes’ gospel musical play Tambourines to Glory.

Tambourines to Glory, which features the WMU Gospel Choir, is the story of faith and friendship in a storefront church in Harlem opened by Essie, who wants to deliver the gospel, and Laura, who uses the church to get gambling money and to attract men.

The Nonchalant Café Hour will be joined by WMU Professor of Theatre Dr. Von Washington who directs the show as his farewell production ahead of his retirement later this spring as a full-time professor and director of WMU’s Multicultural Theatre program.

Performances of “Tambourines to Glory” at the Shaw Theatre

* Thursday, April 8–8 p.m.
* Friday, April 9–8 p.m.
* Saturday, April 10–8 p.m.
* Thursday, April 15–8 p.m.
* Friday, April 16–8 p.m.
* Saturday, April 17–8 p.m.
* Sunday, April 18–2 p.m.

Also on the show tune in for a chat with President of the Kalamazoo Film Society Mike Marchak. This weekend at the Little Theater the KFS is presenting The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
directed by Terry Gilliam.

The 2009 film stars the late Heath Ledger in his final performance and cast that includes Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Lily Cole and Michigan native Verne Troyer.

See a trailer of The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus below:

And … Check out our regular chat with KalamaBrew for all the latest on the Midwest craft beer scene and our weekly conversation with WIDR Music Director Jeremy Martin in to chat about his top music selections of the week.

Listen to the NCH streaming online:

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44 Elite Kalamazoo Hip Hop WIDR Music Director Top Pick of the Week

NCH WEB EXTRA NCH WEB EXTRA NCH WEB EXTRA NCH WEB EXTRA

WIDR FM Music Director Jeremy Martin “Jers” stops by the Nonchalant Café Hour for a regular segment to discuss his top music selection for the week. This week, Jers recommends the Kalamazoo-based hip hop group 44 Elite as his top pick of the week.

Also be sure to check out more picks from Jers in the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Ticket section published every Thursday.

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Oberon, Whitsun, Golden Cap Saison Released: The Summer Trifecta of Michigan Beers

Compared to the snow fall this time last year, 2010′s release of Bell’s Oberon matches the feelings of summer the wheat beer embodies with temperatures outside around 80 degrees as I type this.

KalamaBrew contributor Josh Smith has the latest on the release of Kalamazoo’s favorite beer and details on Arcadia’s popular Whitsun also New Holland’s Golden Cap Saison which were both released this week.

Plus the unusual tale of why Founder’s Breakfast Stout has been banned in Sweden. Definitely worth a listen.

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Gorilla Comedy Comes to the Strutt also Oberon is Released to the Masses: This week on the NCH

Stand up comedy is headed to the Strutt in downtown Kalamazoo as part of a new series called Gorilla Comedy. The first show of the series is scheduled for Monday April 5 and features some of Chicago’s “wildest” stand-up comedians including Aaron Weaver, Simmons McDavid, Tony Blanco among other.

As a special treat, former WIDR FM radio talent Ken Witzgall will be hosting the event. Tune in Friday for a chat with Witzgall, now in Chicago, for all the details.

And … Check out our regular chat with KalamaBrew for all the latest on the Midwest craft beer scene and our weekly conversation with WIDR Music Director Jeremy Martin in to chat about his top music selections of the week.

Listen to the NCH streaming online:

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Ben Lando from Iraq Oil Report Discusses Reporting in Iraq, Complex Energies Market

Journalist Ben Lando, the Iraq bureau chief of Iraq Oil Report, stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour recently for a conversation about the challenges of covering the oil energies market in the heart of the Middle East.

Lando, a former general manager at WIDR FM during his studies at Western Michigan University, is also regularly featured in The Wall Street Journal and TIME reporting on events in Iraq including a moving first hand account of the recent Baghdad hotel bombings which he discusses during the interview with NCH host Steven Davy.

Click on the media player below to stream, download and share.

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Chicago Heats Up WMU’s Williams Theatre

Chicago, the hit Tony Award-winning show, opened last weekend at WMU’s Williams Theatre. Actress Kayla Peabody (Velma Kelly) and actor Billy Casey (Billy Flynn) stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour Friday to discuss the show and the incredible work and fun they and the entire cast are having performing in the cabaret courtroom.

Also be sure to check out the NCH Web Extra with Casey and Peabody.

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Construction Begins at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe

For our weekly chat with KalamaBrew, contributor John Liberty lets us in on what’s happening at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo, Mich. Construction has already begun at the cafe and patrons should expect to see the presence of heavy machinery for some time to come. But, Liberty suggests when its all done, the changes to the Eccentric Cafe will definitely be worth the wait.

Click on the media play below to listen, download and share.

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http://nonchalantcafe.com/2010/03/20/chicago-velma-kelly-and-billy-flynn-wmu-theatre-departmen/

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