Friday, September 24 at 7 p.m.

Country Classics Cabaret

You'll hear a few new voices (SouthBound) as well as some past favorites (Jeff Nelson Trio and Augie & Al), all singing classic country tunes. There'll be plenty of food, familiar faces and a festive atmosphere! The last few cabarets have sold out well in advance, so be sure and get your tickets in advance.

$12 for Members, $15 for Non-members

Saturday, November 6 from 10 to 4 p.m.

Holiday Arts Fair

It's one day, and one fine juried art and craft sale at the Bonifas. Space is limited, and a limited number of exhibitors in each medium will be selected. For a $65 booth fee you can show off your work, make some money and enjoy the Arts Center. Applications will be out in July. Call Beth Cox at 786-3833 x 16 for information.

Wednesday, August 18, 25, & September 1

Trunk Shows
In celebration of Studio Arts Quilts Associated and Fabrications II: Art Quilts of the U.P.

Quilted Memories with Maureen Lapinski
Wednesday, August 18 at Noon.
Every quilt has a memory. During her trunk show Maureen will share memories and tales for her quilts and those of her friends. She will also talk about the changes that have occured in the quilting world over the last 30 years.

The Quilter's Tool Box with Rose Peltier
Wednesday, August 25 at Noon
Rose is a professional Longarm Quilter, she will discuss the many tools and techniques used by quilters today, including the longarm machine. She will also have quilts available for viewing which were made using the various tools and techniques.

Quilted Jackets with Sally Zimmer
Wednesday, September 1 at Noon
Sally will talk about quilted jacket construction. This will include how to get a good and comfortable fit, construction tips, color choices and embellishment techniquis.

Trunk shows are sponsored by Bay do Noc Quilt Guild and are Free to the Public.

Saturday, Aug. 28 from 10 to 5 p.m.

4th Annual "Big Bang!" Benefit Fun Shoot

Held at the Great Lakes Sports Club in Escanaba

Join us for another fun day in the outdoors while you help support the Arts. The 4th Annual "Big Bang!" Benefit Shoot will take place this year at the Great Lakes Sports Club in Escanaba. This is a 50 target fun shoot where one ticket is given for each target shot. Prizes are awarded at 5 p.m. and are chosen luck-of-the-draw from a drum of tickets. And a special award will be given to the high scoring shooter.

Entry fee is $40 for the course, $10 for the 5-stand and $1 for 2 shots at the long shot and does not include ammo.

Equipment and friendly assistance will be available for those who have never tried this fun sport. For more information call the Arts Center at 786-3833 or Great Lakes Sports Club / Matt Gay at 906-241-2670.

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 24, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Sock Hops

          Every other Tuesday night in June, July, and August, from t to 9 p.m. Beginning June 15 and ending August 24. A free-will donation gets you in, and you can rock on the hardwood floors.
          There are many great tunes on the jukebox, from big band swing, to classic country or rock and roll - great dancing music. So, prepare to put your best sock forward and swing on by the Arts Center to enjoy the air conditioning and the tunes. 

The jukebox is free, the door is a donation. If you want a snack or soda, bring it. We'll have glasses of water available. Come have fun!

Wednesday, Aug. 4 at Noon

Brown Bag Lunch

Brown bag lunches return in July, when a series of videos will be offered each Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. Bring your lunch and enjoy learning about watercolor. Issues addressed will include brushwork, clean color, watercolor washes, and color mixing. A complete list of titles will be available by July 1. There is no charge.

Saturday, July 24 at 7 p.m.

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble is bringing its brand of Django Reinhardt inspired swing to the Theater - get your dancing shoes ready! Guitar and bass lead the Madison based trio through a repertoire that is influenced by jazz, swing, traditional Latin music and Parisian waltzes. We'll be dancing in the aisles for this one!

click here for website

Show starts at 7 p.m.

Concert will take place at Ludington Park Bandshell

Free (free will donations will be accepted and encouraged)

Tuesday, July 20 at 7 p.m.

Red Tail Ring

On Tuestay, July 20, Laurel Premo and Michael Beauchamp, performing as Red Tail Ring, will present original and traditional music in the Arts Center Studio.  Premo has performed in the area as part of her family's group, Whitewater.

Tickets are $12 for the general public and $10 for Bonifas members.

Saturday, June 26 at 7 p.m.

Kitty Donohoe
Kitty Donohoe has performed in classrooms, libraries, concert halls, at the Pentagon.  She won a Michigan Emmy for the song "There Are No Words", which was her personal response 
to the events of 9/11/01.
Merging her Irish and American roots, Kitty has a fine 3 - Octave voice, and accompanies herself on guitar, cittern and keyboard.  She's one of Michigan's own, a compelling entertainer who writes and performs superbly.
click here for website

Saturday, May 22

Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m.

Jeff Nelson Trio
Eclectic Folk music.
     You've heard them in Cabarets and area events - now enjoy them in our comfortable Theater. Fine picking, lots of grinning at no extra charge!
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. - concert starts at 7. Open seating.

Sunday, March 21 at 3 p.m

Harps N' Harmony
Join us for an afternoon of heavenly music when Nancy Redfern, Sandra Seppanen and Tammy Naze take the studio stage with their beautiful harps.  These three very talented women will present an afternoon of harp solos, duets and trios highlighting harp music of the French School.

Saturday, February 12 at 7 p.m.

Love Those Musicals!
Cabarets are held in the studio. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 6 at 6 p.m.

The Hilarious Hillbilly Massacre

SOLD OUT 

at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 6, at the Arts Center. Area chefs Mark Cardinal, Kristina Peltier, Gina Rodeghiero, and John Shepich, will serve up outstanding food to accompany the play.

MENU:

     Inbred Sausage with Jack Daniels Ketchup (Sausage Wellington)

     Ketchup Soup (Roasted tomato and red bell pepper soup)

     Moonshine Sorbet

     Pork and Beans (Braised pork shank with white bean ragout)

     Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie

The evening will be limited to sixty patrons, Larsen said.  Director Bridgette Brady will lead the cast through five interactive scenes, with a tongue in cheek script that’s just for fun. “It will be an intimate evening in our Studio, with an interactive play where you get to talk to the characters, and fantastic food,” Larsen said.

Saturday, January 9 at 7 p.m.

Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys visit the Bonifas Theater on January 9 – what a great gift idea a couple of tickets makes. Be sure to get tickets for your own stocking as well. Reverend Raven’s group is from Wisconsin, and frequently plays Buddy Miles’ blues club in Chicago because they’re that good. Don’t miss a chance to see them in friendly surroundings, without paying gas and lodging.

Motown Cabaret

  50 Years of Motown - Friday, November 20; 7 p.m. -   SOLD OUT
 Some of our area's best performers bring their most soulful side to the Arts Center Studio stage.

Holiday Arts Fair

Saturday, November 7; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Enjoy crafts and arts from over 24 sellers
Buy holiday baked goods
Participate in the Holiday Art Walk
  The Arts Fair is part of the Holiday Art Walk, with participating merchants below, and a blood drive at the First Presbyterian Church runs from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Addresses are below.
 The event is sponsored in part by the Downtown Development Authority.   

HOLIDAY ART WALK PARTICIPANTS

Earthly Creations, 1221 Ludington (rear entrance)

East Ludington Gallery, 619 Ludington

Leigh's Garden Winery, 900 Ludington

Morrison Shop, 1000 Ludington

Nyman's Jewelers, 911 Ludington

Sviland's, 1414 Ludington

Wickert Floral, 1006 Ludington

William Bonifas Fine Arts Center, 700 1st Ave. South

Woerpel Images/Nookaa Media, 1007 Ludington

First Presbyterian Church, 819 1st Ave. South

..

 It's a live radio program designed to take us all back to the days when media was simpler, and the colors were inside our own heads. From the Theater seats you can watch the actors work and be part of the recording, for re-broadcast at a later date. Musical acts, bad jokes, and "News from Upper Inwood" round out this new two-hour show. 
You'll hear music from the women's barbershop quartet Mood Swing, Bay's production of The Lawnchair Man featuring Travis Dubord and Tom Knoll, John Beck, 'SKI, and the Bonifas Belles, as well as a cameo from Augie and Al.

Elinor Benedict - accompanied by Miriam White - presents a preview of her new book Late News from the Wilderness in
Conversation in Poetry and Piano
Friday, October 23, 7:30 p.m. in the Studio
No Charge
Benedict, an award-winning poet, will preview her upcoming book with Main Street Rag Press of North Carolina. Her strong, accessible and literate poetry celebrates her own wildernesses, interior and exterior. 

 RED HOT -   
September 30, 7:30 p.m. in the Studio 
 Tim Thompson from NashvilleTim is the 2008 Walnut Valley International Finger-style Guitar Champion. Come see why - and meet his 15-year-old son Myles, who is one hot fiddler! 

      CLAUDIA SCHMIDT -
    A Michigan Musical Treasure
     AUGUST 15 - 7 p.m.
     A DARN FINE SHOW! 

  Let Legacy remind you how captivating Celtic music can be! This power trio from the South returns to Michigan for the sixth summer (wonder why??) bringing 
toe-tapping tunes to our cool Theater. 

Lynn Soderberg Celebrates 60 - sold out
 Sunday, June 28; 7:30 p.m. 
Join Lynn, actress, singer and comedienne, and a cast of friends from her years in the Theater, right here at the Arts Center.
With a resume that includes singing with the Bright Spots, acting in EVERYTHING, teaching drama at Escanaba Area High School, and more - much more - we can't wait to discover what extravaganza she'll offer us! 

MISSOULA CHILDREN'S THEATRE
presents THE PIED PIPER
Saturday, June 20, 3 & 7 p.m.
See what happens when a little red truck brings theater to Escanaba youth. Enjoy the singing, choreography, and clever show. It's a definite win-win!

  Love Gone Bad....a good thing??? 
What's given us more to sing about?
LOVE GONE BAD CABARET
Friday the 13th 
(February, the day before Valentine's Day)
7 p.m. - doors open at 6:30