Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College

Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo College's production company: Festival Playhouse, and FP's season productions.

Dedicated to the liberal arts tradition and innovations of Kalamazoo College, the department of Theatre Arts offers students access to the collaborative nature of drama through the integration of both creative and analytical courses, production laboratories, internships, and individualized projects. By studying the wealth of worldwide theatre traditions reflecting pluralism in our society, and the

interdependence of all peoples and cultures, students gain the research tools for self-discovery; informed, critical thinking; the ability to take action on their ideas and responsibilities; and the development of the kind of self-esteem and values that will lead them as artists toward enjoying a lifelong journey of personal growth and inquiry in a climate whereby each may learn to speak with his or her own voice.

02/07/2025

When it's cold outside the Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College, but Friday still has you feeling fabulous.

BIG NEWS!Farmers Alley Theatre, in partnership with Kalamazoo College, Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College and our e...
02/06/2025

BIG NEWS!

Farmers Alley Theatre, in partnership with Kalamazoo College, Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College and our esteemed panel of judges, is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Lumen Playwriting Project!

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the talented writers who submitted their work. The caliber of plays we received was truly impressive, showcasing a wealth of creativity, vision, and inventiveness.

First-place winners will have the distinct honor of seeing their plays presented as part of a special Staged Reading event at Farmers Alley Theatre in February. More info on that coming soon.

These powerful plays will serve as valuable tools to inspire, educate, and entertain young people throughout Kalamazoo County and beyond. Our hope is to include these plays as part of the Farmers Alley Educational Series to bring the transformative power of theatre to local schools.

For this year's project, we sought plays that shed light on the experiences of marginalized populations and addressed underrepresented issues. We believe that theatre has the unique ability to foster empathy, spark dialogue, and challenge perspectives.

We are incredibly proud of the work produced by this year's playwrights and are eager to share these impactful stories with the community.

Special thanks to our core LUMEN team: Dr. Quincy Thomas, Bannon Backhus, Kirsten Sluyter, Jeremy Koch and Heather Jach Turner.

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Congratulations to Professor Lanny Potts on earning his sixth Wilde Award for Lighting Design for Farmers Alley Theatre’...
01/23/2025

Congratulations to Professor Lanny Potts on earning his sixth Wilde Award for Lighting Design for Farmers Alley Theatre’s The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee this past summer at the Playhouse. How lucky are we!

For the sixth time, Theatre Arts Professor Lanny Potts has been selected as the recipient of a Wilde Award for Best Lighting.

01/18/2025

Social Media Ambassador Bernice Mike '26 says "Sunset Baby," on stage at the Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College this weekend, is a complex story about loss, love and family. 🎭 Learn more about the show and find out how to get tickets: https://ow.ly/LN4q50UIXZw.

Please join us this weekend for Dominique Morisseau’s Sunset Baby, and celebrate the start of Face Off Theatre Company’s...
01/17/2025

Please join us this weekend for Dominique Morisseau’s Sunset Baby, and celebrate the start of Face Off Theatre Company’s tenth anniversary season! Sunset Baby is a driving, powerful exploration of love, parenthood, and the tensions between one generation and another as they grapple with seemingly different ideas of what liberation looks like. To learn more, buy tickets, and read an excellent interview with director and Face Off Face Off Theatre Company founder Marissa Harrington, check out the article below.

A local theatre company’s full-circle moment will come to fruition when it presents "Sunset Baby" at the Nelda K. Balch Festival Playhouse.

Despite the cold outside, things have been heating up at the Playhouse with technical rehearsals for Sunset Baby. Today,...
01/13/2025

Despite the cold outside, things have been heating up at the Playhouse with technical rehearsals for Sunset Baby. Today, we are celebrating the extremely talented cast of Dominque Morisseau’s poignant drama, Sunset Baby, which is being presented in partnership with .
First, the powerhouse Chicago-based actor Mikaela Johnson lights up the stage as Nina. Mikaela was born and raised in Detroit, and a recent graduate of Western Michigan University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Her previous shows with Face Off include Pipeline and Jar the Floor. Some of her favorite credits include, Black By Popular Demand (The Second City Chicago), The Play That Goes Wrong (Western Michigan University) and She Persisted (Farmers Alley Theatre).
Next, we are pleased to introduce Ron Ware, who powerfully portrays Kenyatta. Ron is a Kalamazoo favorite, and has graced stages and screens from here to Los Angeles and back again. He has acted with the Kalamazoo Black Civic theatre group, the Western Michigan University Theatre Department, and notably at the Stella Adler Theatre, where he depicted Malcom X in the play “The Meeting”. Ron has also had many guest star and co-star roles on shows like Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Detroit 187.
And last but certainly not least, we are excited to introduce Delanti Hall, who portrays Damon in Sunset Baby, and is a FOTC Acting Cohort member. He made his Face Off debut portraying Omari in Pipeline in 2021, and most recently was seen at Face Off in Bambiland, an original play by FORC co-founder Kendra Ann Flournoy. Delanti is a Detroit native who has studied his bachelor’s in fine arts at Western Michigan University, where he has been in several productions such as Blood at the Root and Sweat.
Come see what these fantastic actors bring to the stage this weekend! Ticket information can be found at the link in our bio.

11/20/2024

We are excited to announce the first Lumen Playwriting Competition with our friends at Farmers Alley Theatre! Submissions are now open for short theatre for young audiences works that focus on lifting up marginalized voices and stories! Visit our website to learn more, and good luck!

Happy opening night to the company of The Importance of Being Earnest! Tonight is the first night of performances after ...
11/08/2024

Happy opening night to the company of The Importance of Being Earnest! Tonight is the first night of performances after a semester for the books. See what our students have to say about the process getting here in the article below!

The Festival Playhouse says the show must go on this fall, even with building maintenance displacing “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Congratulations, Lanny! Professor Lanny Potts will be receiving the Community Medal of Arts Award from the Arts Council ...
11/01/2024

Congratulations, Lanny! Professor Lanny Potts will be receiving the Community Medal of Arts Award from the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo this December. For more information on Lanny’s work and the award itself, check out this lovely article from Andy Brown!

The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo announced that Professor of Theatre Arts Lanny Potts will receive the Community Medal of Arts Award.

Brilliant as the sun and guided by a wild heart, you only have two chances to see August Wilson’s How I Learned What I L...
10/18/2024

Brilliant as the sun and guided by a wild heart, you only have two chances to see August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned this weekend! Senior Michael Robertson II plays the legend himself, tracing the steps of Wilson’s life and the development of his identity, both as a Black man in a changing America, and as an artist. The Senior Performance Series is free and open to all, so make sure to get to the Olmsted Room early to secure a spot.

What does it mean to be an artist? And how do you know what you know? In August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned, s...
10/14/2024

What does it mean to be an artist? And how do you know what you know? In August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned, senior Michael Robertson II explores these questions and more as he journeys through the playwright’s footsteps, from growing up in Pittsburgh’s Hill District to the pinnacle of the American theatre scene. This SIP performance is free for all to attend, so make sure to arrive early to secure your seat! This is a can’t miss show.

Congratulations, Lanny! This week, Festival Playhouse Artistic Director and Professor of Theatre Arts, Lanny Potts was a...
10/04/2024

Congratulations, Lanny! This week, Festival Playhouse Artistic Director and Professor of Theatre Arts, Lanny Potts was awarded the Lucasse Fellowship for Excellence in Scholarship, which honors and recognizes his contributions in creative work, research and publication during his time at K. We can't wait to celebrate with you again in the spring!

Professor of Theatre Arts Lanny Potts received the Lucasse Fellowship. Office Coordinator Kelly Killen Ross was granted the Ambrose Prize.

After tonight there are only 3 more chances to join in on the fun and stick it to the man before class is dismissed! Vis...
07/25/2024

After tonight there are only 3 more chances to join in on the fun and stick it to the man before class is dismissed! Visit Farmers Alley Theatre to learn more about the show, tickets, and the amazing cast and crew that put it all together!

Gordon Bolar reviews "School of Rock"

Rock got no reason, rock got no rhyme, you better get to the theatre on time!Class is back in session yet again at the F...
07/16/2024

Rock got no reason, rock got no rhyme, you better get to the theatre on time!

Class is back in session yet again at the Festival Playhouse with Farmers Alley Theatre's production of School of Rock! Running July 17-28, this is one dynamite musical you don't want to be tardy for. Check out the article below to learn more about the show!

One more weekend to catch the Bee!
06/20/2024

One more weekend to catch the Bee!

Don’t miss out! Tickets are on sale now for Farmers Alley’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee here at the Playh...
06/13/2024

Don’t miss out! Tickets are on sale now for Farmers Alley’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee here at the Playhouse. Check out this exciting article below to learn a little more about the show!

The Playhouse at Kalamazoo College spells entertainment as the "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" takes the stage for a limited run beginning Thursda

Address

129 Thompson Street Light Fine Arts Building Rm. 74
Kalamazoo, MI
49006

Opening Hours

Monday 1pm - 5pm
Tuesday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+12693377333

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