Student field trips to the Detroit Opera House are a rewarding learning experience! Tour the magnificently restored Detroit Opera House, including backstage areas not accessible to the public.

With the largest stage in Michigan, the Detroit Opera House is equipped to handle grand opera, classical dance, pop concerts, Broadway shows and even ice shows. You will be amazed to learn the techniques used to restore this historic venue!

Your students will learn about many careers in the arts, such as Stage Management, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Ticketing, Marketing, Public Relations and House Management.

The MICHIGAN PHILHARMONIC, under the direction of Nan Washburn, now looks forward to its exciting 70th Anniversary Season, the fifth since the organization changed its name. For 65 years, the orchestra was known as the Plymouth Symphony, and also Orchestra Canton for its smaller presentations. Now, as the Michigan Philharmonic, we continue offering exciting new opportunities to provide culturally enriching and educational programming in Plymouth, Canton and surrounding communities.

The orchestra plays a full season of concerts from September to May, with several special concerts and events throughout the year. A unique feature of the Michigan Philharmonic is the adventuresome programming which has garnered the orchestra 6 ASCAP awards.

By highlighting new music at each concert, our audiences have the opportunity to meet composers and gain an appreciation of the wonderful, new repertoire in the classical music genre. The Philharmonic also sponsors the Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, providing a unique, enriching and exciting musical experience for aspiring young players throughout Southeastern Michigan. In 2013, the orchestra was awarded the prestigious Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Grant and 2nd Place honors from The American Prize, professional orchestra division.

The Michigan Science Center offers the Explorer program which has exploration time in the hands-on exhibit galleries, a Chrysler Science Stage show, a DTE Energy Sparks Theater presentation and a Toyota Engineering Theater show. Also available is a video in the IMAX theater dome.

THE PURPOSES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARE:

To offer undergraduate and graduate programs of recognizable excellence

To promote drama and theatre as civilizing agents within society

To provide the auspices for enhanced understanding of current issues through theatrical expression

To serve as a source and contributing partner for the enhancement and expansion of theatrical expertise

To preserve and perpetuate theatrical traditions

To educate and train future practitioners of performing arts

To provoke and sustain interest in the theatre as a source of truth and insight into the human condition

To present new plays which reflect the present condition of society

To encourage and promote the exchange of ideas, research, and creative production in all aspects of theatre including related fields; and,

To address the redefinitions of dramatic and theatrical styles, forms, and structures as they emerge as artistic responses to the changing world.

The Michigan State University Museum offers a variety of self guided tours. The self-tour of Hall of Animal Diversity allows students to observe, compare and contrast the structures and behaviors of different animals which help them survive in a variety of environments.

The self- tour of Habitat Hall allows students to observe, compare and contrast the structures and behaviors of different animals which help them survive in a variety of environments. This Hall features a significant display of dinosaur fossils and casts.

The self-tour of Hall of Evolution allows students to observe, compare and contrast plants, animals and non-living features in the different geological periods. The MSU Museum also offers long-term exhibits that allow students to explore the nature of culture, Michigan history, current research in the study of evolution as well as temporary exhibits on a range of topics related to the museum collections and university research.

The Michigan Theater proudly presents amazing live family-friendly shows! The theater also partners with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra for wholesome live shows perfect for the entire family. Season packages are also available.

The Michigan Theatre, the last and largest theatre built in downtown Jackson, opened April 30, 1930. It was built for the mainstream popular entertainment of the day — vaudeville and movies. For just pennies, the public was treated like royalty as it passed under a glittering marquee into a Hollywood Fantasyland. The building’s exotic Spanish style, lavish interior plasterwork, ornate polychrome terra cotta facade, carved walnut furniture, plush wool carpeting, heavy damask draperies, stained glass light fixtures, and oil paintings entertained the patrons as much as the attractions on the stage and screen. It was the first air conditioned building in downtown Jackson and offered a place to escape the summer heat.

The Midland Center for the Arts provides guided educational experiences in the areas of science, history and visual art both on and off site. MCFTA always welcomes preview visits by educators and have an educator e-newsletter to share information about upcoming programs.

The Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum is committed to building the future through nurturing learning experiences, encouraging family relationships, and serving as a resource for both the communities and educational systems throughout the region.

Each of the MMCM exhibit galleries has been tied directly to the Michigan Department of Education Curriculum and National Early Learning standards. For details on the correlations of exhibits and Michigan Curriculum Framework, please click on the PDF links below.

At Miller Auditorium, we are committed to assisting local, 501(c)3 non-profit, agencies who are meeting the needs of our valued community. Our community voucher program is designed to put ticket vouchers toward Miller Auditorium shows into the hands of organizations within Kalamazoo County that serve children and youth who normally would not have access to them. This program also provides vouchers for fund-raisers to organizations who are trying to meet the needs of underserved segments of the community. Your requests mean a great deal to us, so all are reviewed and given serious consideration.