8 things to do before you graduate WMU

No Western Michigan University student experience is complete without attending a hockey game at Lawson or grabbing a pop at the Den. And every Bronco must make their rounds to all the unique restaurants and watering holes in Kalamazoo like Crow's Nest, Roadhouse, the Beer Exchange and of course Bell's. But as you round out your WMU bucket list, you might be missing a few things. Consider this your addendum.  

The College of Fine Arts at WMU hosts over 800 events each year, ranging from student theatre productions and dance recitals to gallery exhibits and performances by various musical ensembles. These events are fun and entertaining experiences to enjoy with your friends, but there's more good news for you: many are free while others offer significant student discounts. So as you begin checking things off your Western bucket list, don't overlook the following key additions: 

The Play That Goes Wrong scene showing a dead actor in the foreground, an upset mistress through the window and the entire crew revealed behind a broken set door.

1. Attend a student theatre production

WMU Theatre offers professional-caliber productions with student actors as well as student designs in set, costumes, lighting and sound that have been recognized again and again for their excellence. In fact, Western's Department of Theatre is known for graduating top-notch theatre artists who go on to delight audiences on Broadway, television, film and in regional theatres. Come to a show and you might just be witnessing the making of a future household-name celebrity.  

From Shakespearean tales and Broadway classics to crazy comedies you've never heard of, the Department of Theatre presents 6-8 faculty-directed productions each season in three different theatres, and the subject matter and genres span a vast spectrum. See this season's line-up and buy tickets at a discounted student rate. 

2. Visit the Richmond Center for Visual Arts

You don't need to be an art aficionado to find something that interests you at the Richmond Center for Visual Arts. Between its four different gallery spaces, there's a lot to take in and appreciate. The Albertine Monroe-Brown Gallery features temporary exhibitions of national and international artists, the Rose Netzorg and James Wilfrid Kerr Permanent Collection Gallery showcases works from the University Art Collection and other special exhibitions, the Atrium Gallery is used primarily for sound and video art and the Eleanor R. and Robert A. DeVries Student Art Gallery is dedicated to work by Frostic School of Art students. 

Exhibitions are free and open to the public throughout the academic year, and the works on display are always changing. Visit the Frostic School of Art website to see what's currently on display, and make your way through the Richmond Center to gain exposure to regional and national topics in modern and contemporary art.  

3. Sit in on an open dance rehearsal

Several times throughout the year, the Department of Dance opens its doors to the public for an informal showing of choreography and works-in-progress by WMU dance students. These open showings are a free peek into the life of the dancer and a behind-the-scenes look at a choreographer's creative process.  

It's quite common for an artist's work to evolve based on audience response, especially early in the choreography and rehearsal stages. That said, your presence at an open dance showing may actually play an important role in the development of a new piece. View the Department of Dance's calendar to find an open rehearsal that fits your schedule.  

Members of the Marching Band smiling in Waldo Stadium.

4. Sing the Alma Mater with the Bronco Marching Band 

The clock has run out and the score is final, but don't leave your seats just yet! After each home football game at Waldo Stadium, no matter the score, the Bronco Marching Band gathers in front of the student section and plays the WMU Alma Mater, "Brown and Gold." 

Arm in arm, football players on the field sway and sing to the university they love. Meanwhile, students, alumni and passionate Bronco fans chime in from the stands. It's a moment of pride and camaraderie that no WMU student should leave campus without experiencing. 

Psst... Don't know the words to the Alma Mater? Find lyrics to the Alma Mater and the WMU Fight Song at the athletics website.

5. Attend a Gold Company performance

Jazz has been a part of the Kalamazoo music scene since the early 1900s, and the innovative jazz studies program at WMU is keeping it alive. Gold Company, Western's internationally regarded and award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, is widely recognized as one of the most successful and prestigious collegiate vocal jazz programs in the world. Comprised of both undergraduate and graduate students, this select ensemble maintains an active performance schedule. 

The next time Gold Company is performing at Miller Auditorium or another venue on campus, you'll want to be there. Their music is not only high-caliber and professional, but it's also hip, contemporary and full of energy. Cedric Dent, Co-producer of the 10-time Grammy Award-winning vocal group, TAKE 6, said it best when he described Gold Company as the  “gold standard among university jazz choral programs.” 

6. See a show at Miller Auditorium

The third largest theatre in Michigan is right here on our campus. Bringing in a series of premier Broadway shows each year and hosting a variety of other performances and activities, Miller Auditorium is a destination to definitely include on your Bronco bucket list. 

Visit the box office and you'll learn that there's no shortage of shows to choose from at Miller. Mainstream pop artists, stand up comedians, music ensembles, ballet companies and symphonies all take the stage at Miller Auditorium throughout the year.  

7. Go to Art Hop

Western Michigan University is lucky to be located in what has been named a top-40 arts-vibrant community and the third best metro area for college grads. So while you're in Kzoo, take advantage of all that this vibrant, artistic community has to offer! Art Hop, a free arts event held on the first Friday of every month, is one classic Kalamazoo event that you don't want to miss. 

Make your way to various different Art Hop venues in Kalamazoo's downtown area and the Park Trades Center, a converted manufacturing facility that now houses a large creative community, and you just might see some WMU art, dance, music or theatre students and faculty showcasing their work! 

8. Take a fine arts course

Even if you're not an arts major, there are many benefits of taking a class or two in the fine arts. In addition to providing you with credits necessary to graduate (score!), classes in the arts can afford you a creative outlet and serve as a welcomed shift from your usual coursework. Plus, the skills practiced and lessons learned in the arts will prove applicable in your life and future career no matter what field you're in after graduation. 

For example, taking an acting course may equip you with improvisational skills that allow you to better think on your feet in a business situation. Similarly, a dance class might make you more comfortable in front of an audience, while a studio arts course may prepare you with the principles of visual communication so that you can collaborate with creative colleagues in a more informed and effective way.  

So dabble with design or experiment with acting. Dip your toes into ballet or try your hand at piano. There's a wide array of non-major arts courses available to you, and who knows, you might just find a new passion or hobby! 

 

While watching a sunrise at Heritage Hall and checking out the view from the top of Sprau Tower are important items to check off your Western Michigan University bucket list, don't forget about all the arts opportunities available to you on campus and in Kalamazoo.