College of Fine Arts

College of Fine Arts
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5421 USA
(269) 387-5810

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College of Fine Arts Events

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In Our Wildest Dreams - Sara Strong Glupker

Date: Oct. 21, 2025 — midnight
"In Our Wildest Dreams" is a celebration of WMU alumni Sara Strong Glupker's 20th year working as an artist since her graduation from WMU in 2005. Glupker uses bold colors, dream-like imagery and representational images within abstracted grounds to invite the viewer into a world full of joy, peace and optimism.
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Faculty & Staff Exhibition

Date: Oct. 21, 2025 — midnight
In a biennial display, the faculty and staff of the Frostic School of Art present their work to the students of Western Michigan University and to the Kalamazoo community as a whole.
Death and Data written in an eclipsed circle with digital rays shining off of it.

Death and Data

Date: Nov. 3, 2025 — midnight
Location: Resonant Gallery
Death and Data, on view at the Resonant Gallery, is a compelling group exhibition that explores the deep connection between our ephemeral bodies, digital life, and the mystery of death. Featuring the work of fifteen contemporary artists, the show confronts how technology attempts to define us while examining the primal data encoded in our flesh, experiences and hard drives.
Blue Neon text says CATS with pink neon cats outlines.

WMU Theatre Presents CATS

Date: Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 — 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Gilmore Theatre Complex
Western Michigan University’s production of CATS brings this beloved musical into the intimate Williams Theatre, placing the audience right in the heart of the Jellicle Ball. The show plays October 24 through November 9 in the Williams Theatre.
Recital Hall stage with purple backlights and piano in the middle.

Student Composers I

Date: Nov. 10
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
A showcase of original works by WMU student composers.
Visiting Artist Program: Lynn Sures. November 11, 2025 at 5:30 pm.

Visiting Artist Series: Lynn Sures

Date: Nov. 11
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Richmond Center for Visual Arts
Lynn Sures is a Washington, D.C.-based artist recognized for her innovative work in handmade paper and pulp painting, which she uses for drawing, artist books, printmaking, and sculpture. 
Title The House That Will Not Stand on top of a purple and green background.

WMU Theatre Presents The House That Will Not Stand

Date: Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 — 2 to 4 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 — 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: Gilmore Theatre Complex
Marcus Gradley's The House That Will Not Stand, blends poetic language with sharp, unexpected humor to tell the story of a Creole family facing a world in transition. It performs at the Gilmore Theatre Complex November 14-23.
Purple and pink swirl graphic with text WMU STUDENT DANCE CONCERT.

Connect: WMU Student Dance Concert

Date: Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
Our student ensembles take over the stage with a diverse and exciting performance of dance. Expect sincerity, bold choices, and glimpses of tomorrow’s dance artists in an intimate setting.  
purple and orange swirl graphic with BA Senior Capstone Presentation November 21-23.

WMU Dance BA Senior Capstone Presentation

Date: Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
In this capstone event, BA Dance seniors share the choreography and performances that define their WMU journey, blending personal vision with the craft they’ve built over their years of study.
A light-skinned woman with curly hair wearing a sleeveless white top.

WMU Theatre Presents Lana Gordon In Next Stop, Broadway!

Date: Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Gilmore Theatre Complex
This annual cabaret showcases our senior musical theatre majors performing with Broadway's LANA GORDON! 
Blue neon background with text Kalamazoo Art Hop December 5.

WMU Dance Downtown: Kalamazoo Art Hop

Date: Dec. 5
Time: 6 to 7 p.m.
Location: Epic Center, Wellspring Cori Terry Theatre
Kalamazoo’s Art Hop gets a rhythmic upgrade: Presentations of art scattered throughout downtown Kalamazoo invite you to bump into movement (and WMU dancers) between shops and gallery stops. Join us for this hour long performance featuring WMU students and celebrate dance in Kzoo!
Text of THE COAST STARLIGHT in yellow and a blue train setting background.

WMU Theatre Presents The Coast Starlight

Date: Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 — 2 to 4 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 — 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: Gilmore Theatre Complex
WMU Theatre presents The Coast Starlight: One morning, a young man boards the Coast Starlight, the long-distance train that runs from Los Angeles to Seattle. He’s got a secret that can land him in terrible trouble, and he has roughly one thousand miles to enlist the help of his fellow travelers – all of whom are reckoning with their own choices in search of a way forward. The show plays at the Gilmore Theatre Complex January 30-February 15.
Recital Hall stage with purple backlights and piano in the middle.

Student Composers II

Date: Feb. 5
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
A showcase of original works by WMU student composers.
orange and pink swirl graphic with Winter Gala Dance Concert February 13-15.

Winter Gala Dance Concert

Date: Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 — 2 to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 — 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: Gilmore Theatre Complex
The annual Winter Gala Dance Concert is the highlight of the year, featuring a broad variety of work by faculty and guest choreographers, performed by WMU’s talented dance students in a full-stage production. This year's concert features original work by Great Works choreographer Peter Chu.
A symphony orchestra, mid-performance. Strings, woodwinds, brass, and harp all playing. and

University Symphony Orchestra

Date: Feb. 15
Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Miller Auditorium
Under conductor Bruce Uchimura, the University Symphony performs orchestral masterworks, features internationally recognized and WMU faculty soloists, and collaborates with the WMU Grand Chorus and Department of Dance to present their season in Miller Auditorium and the Dalton Center Recital Hall. Orchestra members perform with WMU opera and musical theatre productions, and the orchestra has performed at high schools, colleges, and various performance venues throughout Michigan.Bruce Uchimura, Music Director.
Western Winds on the Dalton Center stage.

Western Winds

Date: Feb. 17
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
The Western Winds at Western Michigan University consists primarily of students in the graduate winds program and their studio faculty mentors. This ensemble performs a wide variety of large chamber works spanning the literature of the past 500 years.Scott Boerma, Conductor.
pink swirl graphic with Ebony Vision Student Dance Concert February 27-March 1.

Ebony Vision – Student Dance Concert

Date: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, March 1, 2026 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
An inspired student-produced concert from student organization Ebony Vision, showcasing choreography and performance that centers creative voices and experiences of students of color.
Text that reads "WMU Dance 25-26 Season" with a orange and purple swirled graphic background.

Spring Noon Dance Showing

Date: March 20
Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
Another dose of midday inspiration - short-form dance performances by WMU students that challenge your senses and wake up your day. All the energy of the studio, in a bite-sized lunchtime performance.
Text reads MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING in gold on a purple background.

WMU Theatre Presents Much Ado About Nothing

Date: Friday, March 20, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2026 — 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 26, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Friday, March 27, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, March 28, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, 2026 — 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Gilmore Theatre Complex
One of Shakespeare’s most enduring and beloved comedies is being presented by WMU Theatre, March 20-29! In this play full of mistaken identities and unexpected revelations, love and loyalty are tested in the aftermath of war. 
green swirl graphic with Junior Jury Presentation March 22.

WMU Dance BFA Junior Jury Presentation

Date: March 22
Time: 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
Bachelor of Fine Arts juniors in dance present their Junior Juries, a key milestone in the program showcasing their technical and artistic growth.
Text with blood reads Sweeney Todd with a graphic of a pie.

WMU Theatre Presents Sweeney Todd

Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 11, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2026 — 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 2026 — 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 2026 — 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Thursday, April 23, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Friday, April 24, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 25, 2026 — 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Location: Gilmore Theatre Complex
Attend the tale of a barber who returns from unjust exile, driven by vengeance and a hunger for justice. When he joins forces with Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful pie shop owner, the results are both horrific and strangely compelling. The show runs April 10-25 in the Gilmore Theatre Complex at WMU. 
neon blue background with dark blue text BFA Senior Graduating Presentation April 10-19.

BFA Senior Graduating Presentation

Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, April 11, 2026 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 11, 2026 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2026 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17, 2026 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 2026 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 2026 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 2026 — 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
A culminating celebration of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance students, this event showcases seniors’ capstone works and solo performances, marking the transition from student to professional with artistry that is both deeply personal and performance-ready.
A choir performing on stage, accompanied by a pianist.

Choral Showcase

Date: April 18
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
A showcase of WMU choirs, including Amphion, Anima, and University Chorale.Amanda Quist and Jacob Berglin, Conductors.
colorful neon yellow graphic with Western Dance Project Concert April 23-24.

Western Dance Project Concert

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Friday, April 24, 2026 — 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Location: Dalton Center
The season’s final concert celebration from Western Dance Project, WMU's preprofessional student dance company, featuring repertory works by faculty and guest choreographers.