It is difficult to imagine that it was the 1980s when Circle Theatre last presented the light-hearted but laugh-out-loud botanical tale of love and murder, "Little Shop of Horrors."

The musical, based on the 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name, is a fast-paced story about a down and out skid row floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood.

Soon the plant, "Audrey II," grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!

And if you think this is going to be just another revival, think again.  The entire production is beefed up with the three street urchins assuming a much larger role as evident in the 2005 revival staged on Broadway.

Circle Theatre has retooled this show to fit the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center's thrust stage as they reunite the wildly successful Altar Boyz production team with director Chris Grooms, Scott Patrick Bell as music director and brand spanking new choreography provided by Mary Lohman.

"Little Shop of Horrors" is one of the longest running Off-Broadway shows of all time.  This affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies became a house-hold name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney's "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty And The Beast," and "Aladdin."

But if you think this is just another cute Disney production, you'd better think twice before bringing the kiddies.  Unless you are prepared to deal with visions of a flesh-eating monster devouring those sweet memories of the Little Mermaid, it may be wise to keep the little ones at home.

Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, "Little Shop Of Horrors" never fails to entertain.

When asked to put it in layman's terms how the show has been retooled, Grooms says, "Think 1960's doo-wop with a hint of Beyonce at points!"

Admission: $25. Also, half-price rush tickets are available the day of the show after 5pm (subject to availability)

One of the highlights of a local beer hall in the center of your city is that it often becomes a community space where lively conversation can take place.

Within the course of their operation, Founders Brewing Co. has highlighted many causes.

This Saturday is one that we can all agree on as a good thing: supporting the good work Crash's Landing does within our community as a cat rescue and placement center.  According to their website, Crash's Landing has rescued 2404 felines and adopted 1810 since opening in October 2002.
Saturday night, fans of Crash's Landing 5th annual event will pack Founders to drink their internationally award-winning brews, all the while enjoying the live the music of the The Total Blam Blams, Ozenza, Casey Stratton, and The Four Lincolns at Rock for Crash's.  

There will even be a nice local showcase of gifts you can win just by attending this event.  Area sponsors included (but not limited to) will be Armenta Studio, Beat Goes On, Bistro Bella Vita, Brick Road Pizza, Clothing Matters, Gilmore Collection, Literary Life Books, Mos Eisleys Tattoos & Piercings, Stella's Lounge and many more.

All proceeds to benefit Crash's Landing Cat Rescue and Placement Center (www.crashslanding.org).

Admission: $5.

It seems like there is no shortage of fashion events this month and the popular East Hills neighborhood shop, Lamb, hosts of the Lambtini events located downtown over the past couple years, will create a special new temporary concept store that will transform all your preconceived ideas about the pop-up shop.

But even this description of a space that will, for one week, will feature a solid Tokyo theme and then a few days later arrive in Barcelona-chic, is beyond definition.

According to Lamb's Abigail Berry,  downtown's Now Boarding, is really a "fashion shop, meets runway show, meets pop-up shop, meets special event" that just happens to be set in the former Photography Room space -- a space that will be transformed into an airport terminal for two weeks.

If your head is spinning, then join me at the bar where special themed drinks will be served to more easily transport you to a time when flight travel was glamorous and attire for jet setters was more than just flip flops and saggy sweat pants with douche bag T-shirts.

The front part of the space is a shop with a bar that will not only offer an array of options just like an airport terminal, but will also be the place to sample and purchase a very special limited edition blend of Rowster's Coffee.

To attend any one of the diverse events, you will want to visit Lamb's site where they have a complete schedule.  There are plenty of public events, but if you want to crash a list on one of the private nights, you'd better be dressed to impress and be able to drop names like the best of New York.

My favorites?  I am really looking forward to the Tokyo Karaoke Night on Friday, September 10 -- the very same night as Fashion's Night Out -- and also the chance to see Pat Perry's graffiti inspired artworks the following week.

Lamb has always been a leader in their neighborhood, but now they are proving they can sashay on the world stage as well.


Admission: Free

In 2008, Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific "swept the 2008 Tony Awards, winning seven honors including Best Musical Revival and Best Director for Bartlett Sher.

Critics lauded this breathtaking new production as "Simply Wonderful! Beguiling Theatrical Magic!" (New York Post), "Ravishing and Overwhelming," (Variety) and "Rapturous and Revelatory!" (The New York Times).

But you know the real reason you will want to be there is to hum along to the classics from the American Songbook like "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," and "There is Nothin' Like A Dame." Oh, and the lead is pretty dang hot, too! (I'll let you guess which one that is.)

Yes, this is not your parent's "South Pacific," but one revived for today's audience with a quick-paced production and plenty of Broadway creative flash to make this show a real winning ticket.

Based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize winning book, Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's "SOUTH PACIFIC" is scored by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.

The musical is set on a tropical island during World War II, and tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples -- US Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque, and Navy Airman Joe Cable and Liat, a young native girl -- and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and their own prejudices. Considered by many the finest musical ever written.

If you ever wondered what a community would look like if it not only embraced its artists, but also actively sought to promote the commerce (and good) these activities can bring for the artists' benefit, look no further than the return of ArtPeers' 2nd annual Fall Festival.

This annual event where local art is paired with local businesses seeks to create an outcome where the benefits to the art community as a whole are felt immediately.  Instead of groups that just pass through collecting dollars, the money raised over the three-day period ends up being recycled back into our local economy.

And as evident by the 2008 Local First study, even a small migration will make a huge impact on the  region for the greater good.

This "pro-artist" festival event involves 120 artists showcased in over 17 businesses and venues up and down Wealthy Street between Fuller and Union.  

But it is more than just about the visual arts. Fall Festival will be featuring live musical acts, original cinema programming from local filmmakers and, one of the more intriguing events, a special Saturday behind-the-scenes look at the tech rehearsal for "Salmagundi" (approximately 11 AM – 6 PM). The evening performance of "Salamagundi" at Wealthy Theatre is a paid event.  Please see ArtPeers' website for all the artists and details.

One spot to make sure you visit is the Furniture Store, next door to The Meanwhile Bar, where Rachel Lee will be exhibiting very rare images of Grand Rapids' past including many familiar places on our city's landscape.  It is an impressive collection of over 150 images and artifacts ranging from the 1880s to present day.  This is a history buff's must-see stop along the street.

In a few weeks, ArtPrize will dominate and dazzle our city, but for three days, you will get to see up close, and on a manageable scale, the local first creative model that needs to discussed in dining rooms across our region.  Art is truly an economic engine that cannot be ignored because it does have a positive impact and mutual benefits for our community.

Admission: Free (Except some performances are paid events.)

The AIGA of West Michigan continue to feed not only the design community with some of the most exciting speakers in their on-going series, but these leaders of design also provide inspiration for other fields of study as well.

This month, AIGA of West Michigan welcome publishers Metcalf and Grady who'll speak on the topic of "Long Live Print!" which is sure to be a lively topics since they are the as the creative force behind the popular award-winning pop-culture magazines "Lemon" and "Gum."

According to AIGA West Michigan's Gwen O'Brien, they choose Metcalf and Grady because "they are a very eclectic duo with a thoroughly modern and youthful approach to design."  If you visit their site, you will quickly see what she means.  The imagery right from their home page engages the viewer.

The local chapter of the AIGA is just under a year old, but has already grown to an impressive 212 members.  And that is cool by design!