Arts and Culture

Northern Michigan University will present the comedy "Puffs" Feb. 22-24 and Feb. 29-March 2. The play parodies the book and movie series about “a certain boy who attended a certain school of wizardry and conquered evil,” but from the perspective of the students who sat next to him in class. 

Marquette native and Northern Michigan University music education student Jaymes Winn will perform her senior recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at Reynolds Recital Hall. This performance is being presented in collaboration with NMU Department of Music faculty members Theresa Camilli and Barbara Rhyneer. Admission is free.

Northern Michigan University English Professor Emeritus John Smolens' latest novel, A Cold, Hard Prayer was selected by the Library of Michigan for the 2024 Michigan Notable Books list. This work of historical fiction is his 12th novel. Smolens previously made the list for Wolf's Mouth in 2017 and Day of Days in 2022.

Three Northern Michigan University musical theater majors scored major achievements at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival's (KCACTF) Region 3 conference in Flint. Junior Maya Moreau of Dearborn made history as the first NMU student to win the $500 Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship and advance to the national KCACTF festival competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Liam Fisher of Grand Rapids and John Thomson of Marquette were among 18 finalists selected for the regional Musical Theater Intensive, out of nearly 70 who auditioned.

Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota artists who reside north of the 45th parallel are invited to submit works for the annual “North of the 45th” juried exhibition at Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum. Artists 18 and older may enter up to five images of their work across all media created within the past three years to be considered for the summer 2024 show. The submission deadline is Wednesday, March 13.

Northern Michigan University's CO/LAB Dance Company will present “Carnival of the Animals: A Short Ballet” for the young and young at heart, set to the renowned musical score by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The ballet will be followed by a choreographic showcase by NMU students and faculty. The production begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 through Saturday, Feb. 3, in Forest Roberts Theatre. A sensory-friendly Theatre for All matinee will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum will soon unveil the 2024 installment of its UP Focus exhibition, which highlights artists living and working in, or inspired by, the Upper Peninsula. This year's featured artists are connected to the Copper Country: Catherine Benda and Carrie Flaspohler VanderVeen. An opening reception with artist talks is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. The event is free and open to the public.

Ladislav Hanka, the Kalamazoo-based artist behind the label designs for Bell's Two Hearted Ale, recently donated three illustrations of the late judge, author and avid fisherman John Voelker to the permanent collection of Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum. Voelker was the original subject on the labels before Hanka created the now-iconic trout image. The artist and his work for Bell's are featured in the documentary, A Two Hearted Tale, now screening at the museum. A special showing followed by a virtual Q&A with the filmmakers is scheduled at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, in Art & Design room 165.

Northern Michigan University's Spanish Club took a recent trip to Chicago, where students visited the National Museums of Mexican Art and of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.

Northern Michigan University's music department will hold two concerts to close out November. Both concerts are free and open to the public.