Concert association presents award-winning trio
“America’s Got Talent,” “American Idol” and “Postmodern Jukebox” fans will remember Branden & James and Effie Passero, who will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 21, in the Grand Island Senior High auditorium.
The Grand Island Concert Association’s season closer will feature cello and vocal duo Branden & James teaming up with singer/songwriter Effie Passero. Single admission is $15 at the door.
Tenor Branden James was a contestant on “America’s Got Talent” during the show’s eighth season. James Clark is an Australian-born cellist and pianist. The award-winning trio brings Broadway favorites, desirable classics and modern pops to the stage with a soothing sound combination of vocals, piano and cello.
Concert information for 2024-25, videos of performers and season memberships can be obtained at giconcerts.org or by calling Vincent Boudreau at 308-583-2961.
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The Grand Island Concert Association was organized in 1931 and contracts most performers through Allied Concert Services Inc., of Plymouth, Minnesota.
Springfest set for Sunday at Prairie Loft
HASTINGS — Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning will host its 17th annual Springfest from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21.
The center is located at 4705 DLD Road, just west of Hastings. The event will take place rain or shine.
Activities for all ages will include family activities; farm animals with Adams County 4-H; modern and antique farm machinery displays and demos with Landmark Implement and Platte Valley Antique Machinery Association; a kids areas with farm-based activities, games, art and a mud kitchen; local products and art vendors featuring jewelry, clothing, textiles, woodcraft, pottery, jams, baked goods, face painting and more; a farmers market with local produce, meats, jams and salsa, and baked goods; food trucks and more.
Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated.
Details, directions and other program information is available at www.prairieloft.org and on Facebook.
Prairie Loft’s mission is to teach agriculture appreciation, outdoor education, cultural connections and the wise use of natural resources.
For more information, call 402-463-0565.
‘My Broken Doll’ closes out performing arts season
WOOD RIVER — Celebrate Wood River Performing Arts Series will close out its 2023-24 season with Circle Theater’s “My Broken Doll” at 7 p.m. Monday, April 22, in the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater.
“My Broken Doll: The true childhood story of NE Holocaust survivor Bea Karp” begins as teenage Beatrice Karp learns she must leave post-war London to begin life anew in the United States. As Bea packs for the journey, each object she places in her suitcase floods her with memories of her life during the war.
Audiences are instantly transported to the train rides, concentration camps and Nazi guards of Bea’s memory. Though tragic, this is also a story of acceptance, love and resilience. The play illustrates to audiences the importance of standing up for what they believe is right.
“My Broken Doll” is based on the memoir of the same name written by Deborah Pappenheimer and adapted by Ernie Nolan. The play is produced in collaboration with the Institute for Holocaust Education in Omaha.
An extra performance will presented for Wood River middle and high school students at 2 p.m.
Celebrate Performing Arts Series programs are free to the public due to the support of the Donna Lee Moyer Performing Arts Gift, Wood River Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment and Humanities Nebraska Freewill donations are welcomed to continue this series into the future.
For more information on this series, contact Vince Boudreau at 308-583-2961.
Get your beer ‘poked’ at Bockfest 2024
The Liederkranz will host its annual Bockfest celebration from 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 27, with special music from the Polka Police.
Gates open at 2:30 p.m. for this family friendly event.
The Polka Police will take the stage from 4 to 8 p.m., performing what its members describe as “stupid awesome polka-themed rockin’ parodies, covers and originals.”
Originally, Bockfest was created by the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Company of Ohio to celebrate the brewery’s introduction of Christian Moerlein Bock beer after prohibition, Liederkranz member Ryan Rozendal noted in a 2023 Independent article.
Rozendal said Bockfest is a northern German religious tradition, as it is meant to be the last party before Lent. However, the Liederkranz pushed Bockfest back due to the weather, as they like to have the party in the courtyard.
Bock beer is traditionally brewed for special occasions, though it is historically associated with the springtime and the religious festivals of Lent and Easter. Bock beer is also associated with the tradition of beer poking, when a metal stick that is heated to around 600°C and dunked into the beer, caramelizing malt sugars in the beer.
In addition to the beer poking and the Polka Police, Bockfest includes food served from 3 to 8 p.m. and a full bar. Don’t worry about the weather if it’s a bit chilly, heaters and fire pits will surround the courtyard for comfort. Feel free to bring lawn chairs.
Tickets are $10 for non-members 21 and older; children and youth will be admitted free, but must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information, call the Liederkranz, 401 W. First St., at 308-382-9337 or check online at giliederkranz.org
Hastings College presents annual youth production
HASTINGS — “The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza,” the annual Alpha Psi Omega production for youth, will be presented April 25-28 at Hastings College.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, in the Scott Studio Theater.
“The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza,” by Don Zolidis, features battling narrators who attempt to cover the entirety of Greek mythology using audience participation, cross-dressing, and general theatrical insanity. Creation myths such as Pandora’s Box and Cronos and the Titans jostle for space with other famous myths like Jason and the Argonauts (the original Super Friends). Culminating in a heart-pounding, five-minute, version of “The Iliad,” this fast-paced, free-wheeling play is wild, silly, and a complete blast for all ages.
Tickets at the door are $5; reserve by emailing tickets@hastings.edu.
‘Into the Woods’ opens April 26 at Hastings Community Theatre
HASTINGS — Hastings Community Theatre’s spring musical, “Into the Woods,” opens Friday, April 26, with performances spanning two weekends.
“Into the Woods” features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It offers a fresh perspective on familiar fairy tale characters, exploring themes of longing, sacrifice, and the pursuit of happiness.
“This rendition of ‘Into the Woods’ promises to be a mesmerizing theatrical experience, blending classic fairy tales with a contemporary twist,” says Berice Rosenberg, the show’s director. “The production promises to be a theatrical event not to be missed, combining dazzling performance with an unforgettable story that will leave audiences enchanted and inspired.”
Erik Nielsen is the music director.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26-28 and May 3-5, at the Hastings Community Theatre, 515 S. Fourth Ave., Hastings (inside Good Samaritan Village).
Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. Tickets are available online at www.hctheatre.org and will also be available at the door on performance nights (if the performance is not sold out).
This weekend at the Grand …
“Dune: Part 2” is showing this weekend at the Grand Theatre, 316 W. Third St. Showtimes are 7:15 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
This film is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language. Running time is two hours, 46 minutes.
Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children and seniors.
For more information, call 308-381-2667 or visit grandmovietheatre.com.
Arts and entertainment briefs are published every Thursday in The Independent. To submit announcements, submit to Terri Hahn at terri.hahn@theindependent.com at least two weeks prior to the event. No information will be accepted over the phone. There is no charge for publication, but announcements must follow newspaper style and policy.
Arts and entertainment briefs are published every Thursday in The Independent. To submit announcements, submit to Terri Hahn at terri.hahn@theindependent.com at least two weeks prior to the event. No information will be accepted over the phone. There is no charge for publication, but announcements must follow newspaper style and policy.