Chinese New Year Celebration ft. Storyographers and Jacob Bullard

On Thursday, February 17 from 6:00pm-7:30pm the Playhouse Performers Series celebrates the Chinese New Year at Deanna's Playhouse with performers the Storyogrographers, musician Jacob Bullard, and a dragon dance parade. Come see Deanna's Playhouse transformed into a Chinese Lantern Festival, dragon dance with us and enjoy the performances. Imagination will run wild!

Combining the art of storytelling and dance, the Storyographers create an engaging and interactive performance well suited for children of all ages. The Storyographers are mother-daughter team storyteller Grace Wolbrink and dancer/choreographer Andrea Nightingale. They are also joined by their young performers dance troupe the Muffin Dancers.

Jacob Bullard is a Michigan-based singer-songwriter. He recently released the EP "Late July." He describes his music as songs that are "steeped in a family living room" full with the "the steady breathing of Lake Michigan" and the "quiet peace of late July."

Between the performances, children and parents alike will be invited to join the parade and dragon dance. Children have the chance to become part of a giant dragon puppet and parade around the playhouse. All are welcome to make a paper lantern or dragon puppet in the arts and crafts room to take a piece of the celebration home with them.

Come enjoy this festive event in the vibrant play environment of Deanna's Playhouse. Treat yourself to complimentary coffee provided by Lemonjello's Coffee, a Playhouse Performers Series sponsor. The performance will take place in the play area itself, which will be open for children and parents to enjoy all that Deanna’s Playhouse has to offer throughout the event.

Admission: $3 per person, children under 1 free, and all members free! For more information, including how to book yourself as a Playhouse Performer, please visit www.playhouseperformers.com.

PPS Presents: Kevin Kammeraad!

On Thursday, November 4 from 6:00pm-7:30pm the Playhouse Performers Series welcomes Kevin Kammeraad to Deanna's Playhouse. Author of The Tomato Collection and A Curious Glimpse of Michigan, Kammeraad turns his stories and poems into a fun-filled musical performance with his singing companion and puppet, Jacob. Special guest, 6-year-old Isaiah Stam, will open the evening with an animated reading and puppet act. The illustrator, singer-songwriter, poet, author, and creative wunderkind Kevin Kammeraad will be available to sign books and CDs after the show.

Kevin loves to write, draw, sing, make things, and wonder about possibilities. His newest collaborative CD, “…And a Happy New Year,” received four national awards and his newest collaborative book, This is a square., continues to generate a lot of creative thinking. His most popular book, The Tomato Collection is an all-ages book of playful and thoughtful poetry. Kevin lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife, son, daughter, a cat, a turtle, and a lot of books and tortilla chips. A glimpse into Kevin Kammeraad's imaginative works, as well as performance schedule and ordering information, can be found at www.tomatocollection.com.

Isaiah Stam first met Kevin when he saw him perform at the Downtown Holland Street Performers Series. Kevin's performance inspired him to follow suit. He saved enough money to purchase a puppet of his own, which he named “Jacob” in honor of Kevin's performing companion. Isaiah will read and act out "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" with his puppet Jacob.

Come enjoy this engaging and interactive performance in the vibrant play environment of Deanna's Playhouse. Treat yourself to complimentary coffee provided by Lemonjello's Coffee, a proud Playhouse Performers Series sponsor. The performance will take place in the play area itself, which will be open for children and parents to enjoy all that Deanna’s Playhouse has to offer throughout the event.

Admission: $3 per person, children under 1 free, and all members free! For more information, including how to book yourself as a Playhouse Performer, please visit www.playhouseperformers.com.

A PPS Halloween with Maciek's Magic Show & The Overheaters

 

Tonight at 6:00pm the Playhouse Performers Series celebrates Halloween with magician Maciek Biezunski and The Overheaters band. The evening will begin with Maciek's Magic Show, followed by a performance by The Overheaters.
 

Back by popular demand, Maciek joins us this week to present a special Halloween magic show. Maciek's Magic Show is an interactive and engaging performance for all-ages. Children and adults alike will enjoy Maciek's energetic show full of surprises. Don't miss it!

The Overheaters are Jake Kalmink, Sam Slager, Josh Mann, Logan Wilson and Nick Richardson. The Zeeland/Holland based band are excited to join PPS. "We think the interest at Deana's Playhouse in teaching kids creativity at a young age is fantastic!" says Jake Kalmink. The Overheaters love playing music and having a good time. Their music is kid and family friendly.

Come in your best Halloween costume and enjoy a fun family night out with magic, music and free Lemonjello's Coffee. Admission: $3 per person, children under 1 free, and all members free. For more information, including how to book yourself as a Playhouse Performer, please visit our website: www.playhouseperformers.com. 

Join us tonight for Penny Hill + Matt Gabriel!

 

On Thursday, October 21 at 6:00pm the Playhouse Performers Series welcomes singer-songwriters Penny Hill and Matt Gabriel. Children will have a chance to sing and play along with two talented musicians, both happy to be back in Michigan.

Penny Hill is a folk-rock wonder. She has only been playing for two years but already people are asking for the next album. She's played music festivals, coffee shops, libraries and meadows. A former student at Hope College, she's back in Michigan on tour from Oklahoma. On Friday, October 22 she shares the stage with Bella Ruse and Daniel & the Lion at Lemonjello's Coffee, a proud Playhouse Performers Series sponsor. Her debut album, "Unbutton Your Heart" will be available for purchase.

Matt Gabriel wrote his first solo album "Embrace the Change," after moving from West Michigan to Seattle, Washington in 2008. Spending the next two years in Fort Collins, Colorado, he recently finished writing his sophomore album, “People and Places,” which is due to come out at the end of the year. He moved home to record it in the comfort of his home in the Grand Rapids area. Now a 22 year old singer/songwriter, he's ready to show his hometown what he's been working on for the past three years out west. “I'm very happy to be able to call myself a local again,” says Gabriel. “It's been a while since I could do that.”

Come enjoy Penny Hill and Matt Gabriel's performance in the vibrant play environment of Deanna's Playhouse and treat yourself to complimentary Lemonjello's Coffee. The performance will take place in the play area itself, which will be open for children and parents to enjoy all that Deanna’s Playhouse has to offer throughout the musical event.

Admission: $3 per person, children under 1 free, and all members free! For more information, including how to book yourself as a Playhouse Performer, please visit our website: www.playhouseperformers.com.

Playhouse Performers Series continues with magician - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel

Playhouse Performers Series continues with magician - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel

Deanna's Playhouse to kick off performance series Thursday night - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel

Deanna's Playhouse to kick off performance series Thursday night - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel

The Playhouse Performers Series at Deanna's Playhouse

Do you have a song to sing? An instrument or a talent to share? 
Come share it at Deanna’s Playhouse!  
Join the Playhouse Performers Series beginning this September on Thursday nights from 6:00-7:30pm.  
 Free admission for you and your family when you perform! Members free!

At Deanna'’s Playhouse, we constantly brainstorm ways to reflect our motto “Creativity is Key" in creating programs that engage children and parents alike. The Playhouse Performers Series, a community music initiative, promises to be a program that reflects the best of our creative vision.

Why a community music night? To quote music educator Pam Matthews, "In our present society, families seldom participate in music-making and less often gather with other families to make music together as a community." We believe Deanna's Playhouse will become a center where families make and celebrate music together as a community, but only with your help.

Studies show that young children who participate in an active music and movement program go on to perform better in reading, math and sports. Engaging music at a young age stimulates brain development by enhancing spatial reasoning and fine motor-skills. Music and movement programs also contribute to children's emotional, social and cognitive growth.

Who is a Playhouse Performer? Anyone who graces the Deanna's Playhouse stage! Every Playhouse Performers event will include a segment called "Open Stage," opening the playhouse stage as a space for children to explore their gifts via a variety of performance and musical instruments. Depending on the week, Open Stage may be a time of open mic, all-ages performance, group music and movement dance or an all-ages jam session. The Playhouse Performers Series is packed full of family fun.

Admission: $5 per person, children under 1 free, second parent/guardian free, all members free!

Support for the Playhouse Performers Series will help defer costs for future programming, fund supplies in the arts and crafts room, and defer the overall cost of running the play center.                             
 We welcome a variety of music and performance. 
Come create with us!