Brian Hilbrand

Coming to Grand Rapids, Michigan, on December 7th, 2025, for 2 shows at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, the multi-platinum rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) returns with the exciting details of their highly anticipated 2025 Winter Tour. This year, the rock powerhouse will bring back their legendary holiday show, 'The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO & More', to life with a special production,  featuring a second set of hits and fan favorites, including a 25th-anniversary salute to Beethoven’s Last Night. Kicking off on November 13, the tour will span 64 cities with 106 performances before concluding on December 30, continuing TSO’s tradition of delivering an unparalleled fusion of rock, classical, and theatrical spectacle — complete with pyros, lasers, and the powerful storytelling that has captured the hearts of generations.

LionHeart Productions is presenting Roald Dahl's Matilda.   Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Matilda is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With a book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages worldwide. Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. Her cruel parents dislike her but impress her schoolteacher, Miss Honey. During her first term at school, the two forge a bond as Miss Honey begins to recognize and appreciate Matilda's extraordinary personality. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves to punish those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! Broadway World Michigan sat down with Caleb Kohler, who plays Bruce, to get his thoughts on the show, cake, and more!

LionHeart Productions is presenting Roald Dahl's Matilda.   Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Matilda is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With a book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages worldwide. Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. Her cruel parents unlove her but impress her schoolteacher, Miss Honey. During her first term at school, the two forge a bond as Miss Honey begins to recognize and appreciate Matilda's extraordinary personality. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves to punish those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! Broadway World Michigan sat down with Luke Lewis, who plays Miss Trunchbull, to get his thoughts on the show!

Farmers Alley Theatre is presenting Come from Away.  Come from Away is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It is based on the events in the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11 attacks, when 38 planes, carrying approximately 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. The characters in the musical are based on actual Gander residents and stranded travelers they housed and fed. Come From Away at Farmers Alley Theatre runs September 25th- October 26th, with an American Sign Language interpreted performance on Saturday, October 4th at 2:00pm.  We had the chance to interview the Director and Costume Designer for Come From Away, and see what Kathy Mulay had to say, as well as her thoughts on Come From Away.

Farmers Alley Theatre is presenting Come from Away. We had the chance to interview an Actor from the show who plays Claude, and see what Curt Denham had to say, as well as his thoughts on Come From Away. Come From Away at Farmers Alley Theatre runs September 25th- October 26th, with an American Sign Language interpreted performance on Saturday, October 4th at 2:00 pm.

What did our critic think of PICKNIC POPS: “PATRIOTIC POPS” at Grand Rapids Symphony? The Grand Rapids Symphony is reviving its most iconic and popular summer tradition. The Family Fare Picnic Pops has moved to Secchia Meadows at Millennium Park, and a unique concerts for every music lover!  Picnic Pops debuted at Cannonsburg Ski Area in 1995 and quickly became a family-friendly West Michigan summer favorite. The series was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and since then, the Symphony has been working to bring Picnic Pops back to the community.

Broadway favorites come to life in Grand Rapids this summer with Tony Award-winning stars Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara, in a one night show with the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Picnic Pops Series: “A Night of Broadway with Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara”  The celebrated duo will pay homage to icons of stage and screen, including Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett, as well as fan favorites from their Tony Award-winning and nominated shows. This is a show that the Broadway fan will not want to miss, and it is already the buzz in the theatre community!   Broadway World Michigan had the chance to interview the Tony Award winner, Emmy and Grammy-nominated actress Kelli O’Hara, ahead of the show in Grand Rapids, discuss the show, and get a taste of what we might see!

Farmers Alley Theatre is presenting Ride the Cyclone, a hilarious and outlandish story, in which the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other, the chance to return to life. Written by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, this popular musical is a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived! Ride the Cyclone at Farmers Alley Theatre runs May 29th-June 15th, with an American Sign Language interpreted performance on Thursday, June 5th. We had the chance to interview the Director of the show and see what Leonard Sullivan had to say, as well as his thoughts on Ride the Cyclone.

What did our critic think of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD at Broadway National Theatre? Songs For a New World is a different show because it has a musical revue feel more than a traditional musical. It works as the music flows one song right to the next, allowing for a four-person cast to tell so many different stories through various roles. The Actors and Actresses were not short of talent musically, with such great harmonies and storytelling by song, and I could have listened to them along with the live orchestra all night long! The set was unique with rotating photos and minimal pieces of furniture and props, as well as frequent costume changes to bring you seamlessly along to each character's journey in their “New World”.

Farmers Alley Theatre is presenting Ride the Cyclone, a hilarious and outlandish story, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other, the chance to return to life. Written by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, this popular musical is a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived!

Avenue Q is being performed by a new Grand Rapids Group, Making its Grand Rapids debut. National Broadway Theatre is a non-profit, which pays actors for their work, a first for West Michigan and one of few in the state.  We have a Professional Opera Company, a Professional Symphony/ Chorus, and a Professional Ballet, just no professional paid local theatre outside of the tours that come through town.  We have a great group of community theatre in the West Michigan area and the founder wanted to bring something new to the area and make a place where actors could be compensated for their art.    Avenue Q currently playing through Sunday, Dec 1st, 2024 at Ambrosia Theater.

The Premier performance of GEARHEADS, playing at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre at the University of Michigan, is an original musical comedy, that follows the goings-on at an auto repair shop on a Saturday, when the shop’s owner and service manager are away, leaving the mechanics to run things. When a customer shows up needing a simple repair, she can’t get anyone to help her, because the guys would rather be anywhere else than at work. They turn their break room into a pseudo-frat house, and over the day, love is lost and found, the youngest mechanic has a coming-of-age experience, and the shop becomes a place where everyone belongs.

Have you ever wondered where the story of “Rent” or “Love Story” came from? Puccini’s classic opera has inspired generations with its true-to-life story of Rodolfo and Mimi — star-crossed lovers. With the romantic score and soaring melodies of Puccini, La Bohéme is the perfect opera for opera fans and newcomers alike.  Broadway World Michigan had a chance to interview the Director of this wonderful production in advance of the show and see what she had to say about La Bohème.

LionHeart Productions is presenting Bright Star, a beautiful story about faith, hope, love and forgiveness. Written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. This Tony nominated show (nominated the same year as Wicked)  will have you tapping your toes to it’s country/bluegrass sound.   We had the chance to interview one of the male leads of the show and see what Megan had to say about playing the lead role of Alice, and her thoughts on Bright Star.

LionHeart Productions is presenting Bright Star, a beautiful story about faith, hope, love and forgiveness. Written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. This Tony nominated show (nominated the same year as Wicked)  will have you tapping your toes to it’s country/bluegrass sound.   We had the chance to interview one of the male leads of the show and see what David had to say about playing the role of Jimmy Ray, and his thoughts on Bright Star.

What do you get when you have a ballet dancer who dreams of making it professionally and showing the world that guys can dance too?  You have a real-life Billy Elliot story, which is happening to someone who played the titular role of Billy on the West End back home in the UK, and is now here in the US studying and training in professional ballet making his dancing dreams a reality! Not only does he dance, but he has done a few acting roles as well and even participated in a professional opera as a dancer. He is taking the role, and making it his real-life story!   At the end of the musical, we see Billy leaving his home and family to head off for training at the Royal Ballet School, so this is like getting to see the story continue beyond the stage!  Broadway World Detroit got a chance to catch up with Brodie Donougher, the last person to play the role of Billy, and see what he’s up to since his days on the West End stage 7 years ago!

Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple is a classic comedy in which a group of guys assembles for cards in the apartment of divorced Oscar Madison. And if the mess is any indication, it's no wonder that his wife left him. Late to arrive is Felix Unger, who has just been separated from his wife. Depressed, and none too tense, Felix seems suicidal, but as the action unfolds Oscar becomes the one with murder on his mind when the clean freak and the slob ultimately decide to room together with hilarious results as The Odd Couple is born.

“The Voice” herself, Miss Sandi Patty winner of five Grammy® awards, and four Billboard Awards joins Grand Rapids Symphony for a one-night-only special Christmas concert Thursday, December 22, 2022, at 7:00 PM at DeVos Performance Hall. “Christmas Blessings” will feature classics such as “Silent Night,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “O Holy Night, and Winter Wonderland.” Sandi, as well as her pianist and musical director Steve Potts, join the Grand Rapids Symphony and Assistant Conductor Duo Shen for this must-see event!   We got to talk to Sandy ahead of her stop in Grand Rapids about music, career influences, as well as what we will hear in Grand Rapids.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella opens at the Grant Fine Arts Center this week, bringing back Lion Heart Productions’ first large-cast musical since Mamma Mia! In 2019.  The show is running 2 weekends, through November 12th, and is the new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical. This contemporary take on the classic tale features Rodgers & Hammerstein's most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It's Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago”.   BroadwayWorld Michigan had a chance to speak with Director Ron Jenkins and one of the show's stars, Avery Mills playing Ella, in this classic and delightful show. Enjoy our chat and their fun answers to get you excited for the performance tonight and in the coming weeks!

What did our critic think of: Grand Rapids Symphony Season Opens With Beethovens-Fifth, Sarah Change, and The World Premier of Immortal Beloved! I was fortunate enough to kick off another season with the Grand Rapids Symphony. The 2022-2023 season marked the anniversary season conducted by Marcelo Lehninger, the symphony presented Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Brunch Violin Concerto No. 1 with special guest Sarah Chang.  They also presented the world premiere of Immortal Beloved, a piece composed by Grand Rapids Symphony musician oboist Alexander L. Miller.