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Acorn Anywhere at Fernwood — The Bergamot

Saturday, Jul. 13 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Indie/AltRock/Pop

Acorn Anywhere! returns to the lush, verdant grounds of Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles, MI with Acorn fan-favorites The Bergamot featuring Jillian Speece and Nathaniel Hoff.

About the Artists:

The Bergamot is an award-winning band comprised of husband-wife duo Nathaniel Hoff and Jillian Speece. These indie-folk-rock songwriters offer rich harmonies with ‘60s coastal rock vibes. People magazine said The Bergamot is “The hottest emerging music talent” and “has a gorgeous sound” (Daily Mirror UK).

The Bergamot recently released their critically acclaimed new album Far Out alongside their self produced multi-award winning documentary State of the Unity. Variety Magazine said that "State of the Unity is heartwarming!" You can listen to The Bergamot's new album and songs from the original motion picture soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music and you can catch State of the Unity on Apple TV and on Amazon Prime. Hoff and Speece are blazing a new trail in the music and film industries combining their skills for crafting uplifting music and award winning feature films.

Bring your own chairs to this event, but nothing more!

No outside food or beverages permitted. There will be a cash bar and food available from Wood, Stock & Grill.

THIS EVENT IS RAIN OR SHINE
*In the event of severe weather, this show will be moved to The Acorn, 107 Generations Drive in Three Oaks.


 

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $35 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $35 Donation per ticket holder in your group. BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR.

 

Turn your show experience into a memorable stay! The Loft at The Acorn offers a spacious, industrial-chic apartment above The Acorn theater. Click here for photos and rental information.

 

Location: Fernwood Botanical Garden, Niles, MI
Get Directions
Starts 7:00pm, doors open 6:00pm

Artistry, Up Close

The intimate, acoustically-rich Acorn environment encourages interaction between the artists and audience.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

Metropolitan Jazz Octet - The Bowie Project

Friday, Jun. 28 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

JazzRock/Pop

Metropolitan Jazz Octet performs the music of David Bowie re-imagined for voice and jazz octet featuring vocalist Paul Marinaro. With a career-spanning selection of songs such as Space Oddity, Changes and Let's Dance along with early, deeper cuts including Conversation Piece and Letter to Hermione, The Bowie Project presents universal themes that resonate throughout the ages: love, loss, disillusionment, division and trying to find hope in a changing and unfamiliar landscape.

About the Artists:

Metropolitan Jazz Octet is the reawakening of a group originally started in the 1950’s by Chicago saxophonist and arranger Tom Hilliard. In 2011, Tom gifted his entire MJO library to his former students. An idea was born: To reshape the ensemble for the 21st Century. The group is a talented collective of creative artists led by Chicago-based saxophonist and composer Jim Gailloreto. The ensemble's history helps shape its trajectory and mission by creating new works and collaborating with distinguished guest artists, garnering high profile appearances and praise from the jazz community.

Vocalist Paul Marinaro has been called “one of the most beautiful vocal instruments in the business today” by Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune. With Chicago as his home base, Paul has become one of the most in-demand and respected vocalists and has “taken his place among the top five male jazz singers active today.” (Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene)

 


 

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

 

Turn your show experience into a memorable stay! The Loft at The Acorn offers a spacious, industrial-chic apartment above The Acorn theater. Click here for photos and rental information.

 

Box Office opens at 4pm ET
Starts 8:00pm, doors open 7:00pm

An Experience to Outlast Any Performance

No two Acorn performances are exactly the same.  Thoughtful curation brings a diverse mix of top talent to The Acorn, exposing audiences to both renowned and soon-to-be-discovered stars.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

2024 Singer-Songwriter Competition Finals

Friday, Jul. 19 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

CompetitionsSinger-Songwriter

Perennial Acorn fan favorite Singer-Songwriter Competition Finals returns for its 12th consecutive year to The Acorn. A panel of esteemed judges and our beloved Acorn audience will participate as six finalists take the stage for this thrilling performance, with the field narrowing to the 'top three' artists over the course of two rounds.

Acorn favorite Peter Carey will be our host and emcee for the evening.

The final vote and ultimate champion is audience choice, so be prepared to be dazzled, choose a favorite and cast your vote.

This concert serves as our next recording partnership activity with 88.1 WVPE Public Radio which will air in a future "The Sauce Live from The Acorn" broadcast on WVPE! We'll be capturing LIVE footage at the show - come get in on the action! 

The Finalists

Alex Austin
Alex Austin
Alex Austin is a singer-songwriter hailing from Wayland, Michigan.  Also the leader of the West Michigan band, Deerfield Run, Alex writes and sings strong original songs designed to pull at the heart strings and make you think.  His debut solo album, Nobody's Home, was released in February 2024, with a live EP scheduled for release in April 2024.

Hannah Baird
Hannah Baird
Hannah Baird is a songwriter from St. Joseph, Michigan. She’s been writing in some capacity (poetry, stories, songs, etc.) for the past 10-15 years, but really started pouring into music in college. Hannah credits music as being mainly her way of processing life and the journey of growing and healing and discovering and becoming.

Emily Barnes
Emily Barnes
With a voice that cuts to the bone and songs that pull on the heart strings, Emily Barnes has the ability to turn any room into a listening room. With a diverse four albums and many miles under her belt, Barnes is a seasoned singer-songwriter who continues to build a grassroots following from city to small town, one new believer at a time. For the past 10 years Barnes has been touring nationally performing her original songs and has had the honor of performing stages such as Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition, Showcase Artist for Folk Alliance, Blast on the Bay Emerging Songwriter, and Whitefish Songwriter's Contest finalist.

Sadie Gustafson-Zook
Sadie Gustafson-Zook
Every time Sadie Gustafson-Zook carves a linoleum block, sews a pencil case out of scraps, or admires the way the ink in her Pilot G-2 glides over her journal, she thinks, “I should be doing this all the time.” The act of creating something tangible is the air Sadie breathes. Her songwriting is the same- weaving an internal dialogue, the stories she tells herself, warm melodies and clever chords into something real, something she can physically feel with her hands and her throat. And chances are that you’ll be able to feel them too. Based in Goshen, Indiana, Sadie’s songs have been endorsed by some of the most respected songwriting contests from across the country, winning Kerrville Folk Festival’s 2022 New Folk Contest (as well as placing as a finalist in 2020), earning second place at the Rocky Mountain Folk Fest’s Songwriter Showcase, and winning first place at the NewSong + LEAF Songwriting Contest. Sadie has been featured on the Basic Folk podcast and on Folk Alley.

Sam Robbins
Sam Robbins
Sam Robbins is often described as an "old soul singer songwriter." A nationally touring musician whose music evokes classic singer songwriters like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. An avid performer, he has gained recognition from extensive national touring, as one of the six 2021 winners of the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, and as one of the four Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s “Most Wanted” in 2023. Leading songwriting workshops and exciting performances across the country, Sam Robbins has gained a reputation as one of the brightest rising stars in the national folk music community.

Andy Sydow
Andy Sydow
Americana/folk singer-songwriter Andy Sydow is a jack-of-all-trades. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist who's lyrics paint a picture of poetic realism, the Nashville based, Colorado native tours consistently both solo and with a backing band. Throughout the course of a show he’s known to croon an audience with acoustic guitar ballads, sing a few numbers on his lap steel, and even sit down at the keys to show off his surprising boogie-woogie piano chops. Andy has had the chance to open for acts such as Chuck Prophet, Lucero, Brett Dennen, Shane Smith & The Saints, and Anders Osborne. He was also named a finalist in the Telluride Troubadour Contest (2024), LEAF Songwriter Contest (2024), Kerrville New Folk Songwriter Competition (2023 & 2021), Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Songwriter Competition (2023), and International Songwriting Competition (2021). This fall, Sydow will release Night Skin, a full length album produced by Anders Osborne. Recorded at Dockside Studio in Maurice, LA, Mike Dillon and Casandra Faulconer contributed percussion and bass.

The Judges

Donnie Biggins
Donnie Biggins
Donnie Biggins is a singer/songwriter from Oak Park, IL. He is a member of Chicago’s The Shams Band and owner/operator of Chicago music venue, Robert’s Westside. Donnie is also the Talent Buyer for The Acorn in Three Oaks, MI. Donnie has been writing songs and performing live since 2005. He released his debut solo album, Profiles, in November 2016. The album received press and airplay from the Chicago Tribune/Chicago Now, Glide Magazine, WGN Radio, WXRT, CHIRP Radio and Radio One Chicago.

Jayne Kelli & AJ Swearingen
Jayne Kelli & AJ Swearingen
With their siren harmonies and prolific songwriting, AJ Swearingen & Jayne Kelli's body of work has cemented them into the Americana scene, being hailed by Red Line Roots as artists “others would do well to emulate down the road." The duo achieved critical success with their independently released albums, The Marrying Kind and Cold-Hearted Truth , earning features on Gretsch Guitar, Americana Highways, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, and NY Country Swag. With songs heavily nodding to the folk and country of the '60s and '70s, they've shared the stage with legends ranging from Crystal Gayle and Kenny Rogers to folk icons Tom Rush and David Bromberg.The husband and wife duo’s original music is described as very song-driven and vocal-forward — an Americana acoustic blend of both folk and country. Their latest offering, Build Myself Up From the Ground, evokes nostalgia for the folk and country music of a bygone era, while forging a path distinctly its own.

Maggie Kubley
Maggie Kubley
Maggie Kubley is a solo performer, songwriter, comedian, writer, storyteller, and video artist. She has been making her uniquely midwestern multimedia performance works for the better part of the last two decades. Kubley’s music, comedy, video works, and evening-length multimedia performance pieces have been presented at various music venues, (Lincoln Hall, Metro, Subterranean, Schubas, Constellation, Donald E Stevens Convention Center), listening rooms, storytelling events, performance salons, (Salonathon, Chicago Home Theatre Festival, CHIRP Radio’s First Taste, Chicago Cultural Center, David and Reva Logan Center for the Arts) and theatre/music events (The Fly Honey Show, Taste of Chicago) throughout Chicago. The music of Celine Neon, Maggie’s feminist-forward pop duo, has been featured in national commercials and has performed in venues throughout Chicago and Los Angeles. The Chicago Tribune described Kubley as “compelling and one-of-a-kind” and The Chicago Reader hailed her “boisterous production and infectious pop melodies.”Kubley currently serves as the owner and lead educator at Noteworthy Music School, a community-minded music school in Plymouth, IN.

Guest Performer

Dylan Reed Leavitt
Dylan Reed Leavitt
Dylan Reed Leavitt is a twenty year old singer-songwriter hailing from Valparaiso, Indiana. Since the age of thirteen, Dylan has deeply involved herself within the local music and theatre scene, and is soon to take her passion for songwriting to Berklee College of Music. Her passion for music lies not only in an appreciation for expression through sound, but in the paramount scope for advocacy that lies within it. Her original style and natural audience rapport has built her a significant following, which she strives to wield as a weapon for change. Dylan is known for poignant lyrics and tongue-in-cheek banter, and was the Winner of the 2020 Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition.

 


 

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Turn your show experience into a memorable stay! The Loft at The Acorn offers a spacious, industrial-chic apartment above The Acorn theater. Click here for photos and rental information.

 

Box Office opens at 4:00pm ET
Starts 7:00pm, doors open 6:00pm

An Experience to Outlast Any Performance

No two Acorn performances are exactly the same.  Thoughtful curation brings a diverse mix of top talent to The Acorn, exposing audiences to both renowned and soon-to-be-discovered stars.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

The Acorn Tree House presents Deep Fried Pickle Project

Saturday, Aug. 31 | 12:00pm ET (11:00am CT)

Family

Our Acorn Tree House series of shows is fun for the entire family! The music and entertainment continues in August with the Deep Fried Pickle Project.

In 2002 a mysterious green iceberg was discovered by a band of pirates in Lake Michigan . Frozen inside were the Pickles, cold solid in a chunk of sour brine. The DFPP were hoisted aboard, chiseled free and re-animated by the ship's crude pirate scientist chef using a combination of spirits and pickle juice. As the DFPP awoke from their icy slumber they started singing and have never stopped. Where the Pickles came from and where they are going remains a mystery!

From outhouse to henhouse to waffle house to public house both hither and yon the Pickles have caused a rafter-shaking ruckus wherever they roll, dreaming a hobo's knapsack of stories and songs along the way.

These Pickle people have wobbled their magical musical gypsy medicine wagon from one end of this here country to t'other, with stops including Lollapalooza, Delfest and Telluride Bluegrass Festival along the way.

Armed with a frankenstonian array of homemade monster instruments, the Deep Fried Pickle Project's recipe is flavored with jug band, hokum and honkytonk spices. What fanciful fuel powers this bubbling band of minstrels you ask? Why, it is Pickle Power- the power to create mutant musical instruments and sea shanties. The power to shatter a bar full of whisky glasses with sonic ferocity one night, then serenade a giggling group of kids the next morning. From the Great Depression to the Great Recession, the band runs the gamut of old timey styles while grabbing an occasional 80's pop tune and turning it into a flap happy chicken scratchy 78 RPM tune.


Box Office opens at 11am ET
Starts 12:00pm, doors open 11:00am

Artistry, Up Close

The intimate, acoustically-rich Acorn environment encourages interaction between the artists and audience.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

The Acorn Tree House presents Sean Masterson Magic

Saturday, Jul. 27 | 12:00pm ET (11:00am CT)

Family

Sean Masterson Magic is a one-of-a-kind thrill featuring sleight-of-hand, audience participation, and highly deceptive but rarely seen 19th century magic effects that are sure to delight young and old.

Sean became interested in magic when he received a deck of magic cards for his 7th birthday. Five years later, at the age of 12, he won Chicago’s Junior Magician Award. He went on to study theater and French in college which explains his interest in combining magic with storytelling and his appearances in France. Sean’s passion for performing is equal to his fascination with magic history and its larger than life characters.

“Sean Masterson’s Timeless Magic, an homage to 19th Century magic and prestidigitation that features the personable Masterson taking us on a journey through classic illusions from magicians such as Harry Blackstone and Chung Ling Soo.” - Chicago On Stage

Sean has been entertaining Chicago audiences with his close-up and stage magic for 25 plus years. He performed at Governor Pritzker’s inaugural ball and recently the Chicago Tourism Bureau flew Sean to Paris to perform for French journalists. Sean has produced dozens of shows in Chicago Theaters to rave reviews:

“Masterson has performing chops for sure, but he also has a sly sense of humor, and some riveting non-illusory theater storytelling techniques that focus our attention on his most beloved magical objects.” - Third Coast Review

“Highly Recommended **** If you love magic and watching magicians, Sean Masterson is a wonderful magician to watch. If you love great story-telling, Sean Masterson is a perfect one to watch.” - Around The Town Chicago

"Masterson's sleight-of-hand tricks, with tales to boot, are spellbinding." - The Chicago Tribune

“Very skilled and highly entertaining.” - Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune

"Prestidigitation for the Harry Potter generation, with a minimum of flash and a maximum of understated showmanship." - Kerry Reid, The Chicago Tribune

“In a world of serial stings and contagious fraud it's a joy to see deception you can believe in.” - Lawrence Bommer, The Chicago Reader


Box Office opens at 11am ET
Starts 12:00pm, doors open 11:00am

Artistry, Up Close

The intimate, acoustically-rich Acorn environment encourages interaction between the artists and audience.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

The Acorn Tree House presents Mr. Dave

Saturday, May. 25 | 12:00pm ET (11:00am CT)

Family

Our Acorn Tree House series of shows is fun for the entire family! Music and entertainment for all ages! Bring the family to the kickoff of our 2024 Family Fun Summer Series with Mr. Dave!

Little rock stars are immersed in the magic of Mr. Dave's captivating musical performances! Infusing original and classic tunes, storytelling, and interactive activities, your child will be gleefully engaged in his live show. With hands-on instrument exploration and seamless transitions, the energetic atmosphere is tailored for children yet enjoyable for adults ears.


Box Office opens at 11am ET
Starts 12:00pm, doors open 11:00am

Artistry, Up Close

The intimate, acoustically-rich Acorn environment encourages interaction between the artists and audience.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

Romantic Journeys: Dunes Broadway Cabaret

Sunday, Aug. 18 | 1:00pm ET (12:00pm CT)

cabaretMusical Theater

Presented in partnership with Dunes Theatre, join us as we travel through the great musicals of the past and present, exploring the often-fraught, sometimes hilarious and beautifully satisfying road to romance.

About the Cast:

Max DeTogne appeared in the Dunes’ productions of Working, Next to Normal (Dan), A Grand  Night for Singing, tick...Tick...Boom! (Jon) and two previous editions of the Broadway Cabaret.  A three-time Jeff Award nominee, his notable Chicago/regional credits include the title role in  Jesus Christ Superstar and a member of the company in the Sondheim Tribute Revue (Theo  Ubique), Rob in High Fidelity (Refuge Theatre Project) and Clyde in Bonnie and Clyde (Kokandy Productions), and just finished playing Oscar Jaffee in the Blank Theatre production of On the Twentieth Century

Lili Galluzzo appeared in the Dunes 2023 productions of Boeing Boeing (Gloria), tick...Tick...BOOM!! (Susan) and the Broadway Cabaret. Chicagoland credits include Theo/Ensemble in Pippin (The Towle Theatre), Ensemble in On the 20th Century (Blank Theatre) and Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Big Noise Theatre). 

Sheree Gudeman appeared in Dames at Sea (Ruby), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide, NIETF Award), Jekyll and Hyde (Lucy), Sideshow (Daisy), Evita (Eva Peron), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Prudie Cupp; also co-director), Company (Jenny) and Man of La Mancha (Aldonza). Other favorite roles include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Maria in West Side Story, Sarah Jane Moore in Assassins and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Sheree is the recipient of five NIETF awards for her work in the Great Lakes region, most recently for her portrayal of Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County

Emma Radtke is no stranger to the stage, and has been performing for many years. Notable roles include Natalie in Next to Normal (Chicago Street Theatre), Annabeth in The Lighting Thief (Art 4), Anna in Spring Awakening (Art 4) and many other shows in Northwest Indiana. 

Gabriel Reitemeier is a recent transplant to Chicago. He received his B.A. from Grand Valley State University and his M.M. from Michigan State (both in Voice) and his M.F.A. in Acting from the University of South Carolina. Professional credits include Miranda: A War-Torn Fable and Footholds: Volume 5  (Imposters Theatre Company, Chicago) and Montgomery (Trustus Theatre, Columbia, SC); other credits include Don Pasquale, La Traviata, La Cenerentola, Amadeus,  Urinetown, Company and his original one-man show 5 Dollar Ticket, among many others. 

Khyel Roberson’s previous  productions include Little Shop of Horrors, Hair, Rent and Dreamgirls and Boeing Boeing, tick,  tick…BOOM! at the Dunes 2023 season. An MFA graduate of Western Illinois University, he is also a playwright and web series creator through his own production company, Blous’e Entertainment. His latest musical, The Artist Musical, just completed a successful run at the Holdcraft Center in Michigan City. 

Peter Stielstra appeared in 2022 in Next to Normal and two editions of the Broadway Cabaret. A Chicago-based actor and singer, he has most recently appeared in The Threepenny Opera at Theo Ubique and Girlfriend with Pride Arts (Jefferson nomination for Performer in a Leading Role). A graduate of the University of California/Berkeley, he has also worked with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and the Oakland Theater Project. 

Kate Turner appeared in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Broadway Cabaret. She is a senior at the University of Notre Dame studying Theatre and Voice. Favorite roles include Sandy in Grease, Ella in Cinderella, Marian in The Music Man, Cinderella in Into the Woods, Nora in A Doll’s  House, and Shelby in Steel Magnolias. 

About the Directors:  

Steve Scott (Broadway Cabaret Director) has directed several past Dunes productions  including The Spitfire Grill, Working, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Next to Normal, Vanya and  Sonia and Masha and Spike and three Broadway Cabarets. A Producer of Chicago’s Goodman  Theatre for over thirty years, he is now a Goodman Artistic Associate and a member of the  board. He has directed over 300 productions in his fifty-year career (most recently The  Outgoing Tide at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time at MadKap Productions at Skokie Theatre), receiving six Jefferson Award nominations, an  After Dark Award, and numerous Broadway World nominations; he is also a faculty member of  the College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and has taught at Loyola University of  Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, Northwestern and the Theatre School at DePaul  University. Honors include the Illinois Theatre Association’s Award of Honor, the Lifetime  Achievement Award from the League of Chicago Theatres, and a special Jefferson Award for  his contributions to the Chicago Theatre Community. 

Andrew Flasch (Music Director) is a theatre music and vocal director, keyboardist, composer,  arranger and music educator; he returns to the Dunes for his fifth season, where his work  includes Working, Next to Normal, A Grand Night for Singing, Forever Plaid, tick…TICK… BOOM! and three previous Broadway Cabarets. Since his introduction to the theater a decade  ago, Andrew has worked on over 30 productions in schools, universities and community and  professional theaters. For his work he has received a Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre  Foundation (NIETF) award for Vocal Direction. His work at the Dunes was the subject of a 2023  feature article in Michigan City’s Beacher, “The Man Behind the Music.” Andrew is currently  the staff Music Director for the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration at  Southern Utah University; before joining SUU he worked by day as an actuary specializing in  pensions. He holds a B.S. degree in Actuarial Science from Valparaiso University.

About Dunes Theatre:

The Dunes Arts Foundation, which operates Dunes Summer Theatre and Education Programs, was incorporated in the State of Indiana in 1951. The theatre is located in Michiana Shores, nestled on a scenic wooded site, about a half mile from the Indiana Dunes and the Lake Michigan shore. The theatre campus has 8 cabins for summer actors and interns. Dunes Summer Theatre has been revitalized with much needed structural and grounds improvements in an effort to bring patrons a quality and comfortable experience.


 

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Turn your show experience into a memorable stay! The Loft at The Acorn offers a spacious, industrial-chic apartment above The Acorn theater. Click here for photos and rental information.

 

Box Office opens at 11am ET
Starts 1:00pm, doors open 12:00pm

Artistry, Up Close

The intimate, acoustically-rich Acorn environment encourages interaction between the artists and audience.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

The Chicago Experience

Saturday, Aug. 03 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Classic RockRock/Pop

The Chicago Experience is just as it sounds – a group of musicians who call Chicago home, and who share a love for the music of one of the greatest rock n’ roll bands of all time... Chicago. Together, the band recreates the sound and feel of Chicago’s music, whose hit songs have touched generations of fans spanning several decades.

The Chicago Experience invites you to relive memories of the music that captured everyone’s hearts – from the early hits off Chicago Transit Authority’s 1968 self-titled album, such as “Beginnings” and “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” through the 1980s, with Chicago’s hits “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” and “You’re The Inspiration,” you will share in the joy these songs bring.


 

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Turn your show experience into a memorable stay! The Loft at The Acorn offers a spacious, industrial-chic apartment above The Acorn theater. Click here for photos and rental information.

 

Box Office opens at 4pm ET
Starts 8:00pm, doors open 7:00pm

Artistry, Up Close

The intimate, acoustically-rich Acorn environment encourages interaction between the artists and audience.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

Second Hand News – A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac

Friday, Jul. 26 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Classic RockRock/Pop

Second Hand News returns to The Acorn. Second Hand News recreates the music of Fleetwood Mac with spot-on vocal harmonies, careful attention to detail, and an electric live show.

About the Artists:

Second Hand News recreates the experience of seeing Fleetwood Mac in their heyday. Made up of veteran Chicago musicians, the band features spot-on vocal harmonies, careful attention to detail, and electric live shows. Through the talents of these seasoned performers, the spirit and musicianship of Mick Fleetwood, John and Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham come to life on stage. Audiences are energized by dynamic deliveries of favorites from the band’s extensive catalog of hits as well as deep cuts beloved by superfans. The fun these musicians have recreating these classic songs together is infectious, and will bring you to your feet in shared appreciation for one of the greatest bands of all time.


 

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Turn your show experience into a memorable stay! The Loft at The Acorn offers a spacious, industrial-chic apartment above The Acorn theater. Click here for photos and rental information.

 

Sold Out

Box office opens at 4 PM ET
Starts 8:00pm, doors open 7:00pm

Artistry, Up Close

The intimate, acoustically-rich Acorn environment encourages interaction between the artists and audience.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More

Swearingen & Kelli w/ The Music of Simon & Garfunkel

Saturday, Jul. 20 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Classic Rock

With their siren harmonies and prolific songwriting, Swearingen & Kelli's body of work has cemented them into the Americana scene, being hailed by Red Line Roots as artists “others would do well to emulate down the road."

About the Artists

Nashville duo Swearingen & Kelli recreates the sound of legendary Simon & Garfunkel with two voices and one guitar, in impeccable harmony. Delivering an evening of nostalgic hits from the 1960s and Simon & Garfunkel's biggest album of 1970, Swearingen & Kelli channel these works in the true form of the Greenwich Village, NY coffeehouse performances, along with a set of all original music from the husband-and-wife duo.

Bethlehem born AJ Swearingen and Lapeer, Michigan's Jayne Kelli are on a mission to share this iconic music with new audiences around the country, along with stories and insight that will make you laugh.

With their siren harmonies and prolific songwriting, Swearingen & Kelli's own body of work has cemented them into the Americana scene, being hailed by Red Line Roots as artists “others would do well to emulate down the road." The duo achieved critical success with their independently released albums, The Marrying Kind and Cold-Hearted Truth, earning features on Gretsch Guitar, Americana Highways, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, and NY Country Swag. With songs heavily nodding to the folk and country of the '60s and '70s, they've shared the stage with legends ranging from Crystal Gayle and Kenny Rogers to folk icons Tom Rush and David Bromberg.

"Jayne Kelli finds her way to the heavenly highs of Art Garfunkel with a soaring and effortless soprano delivery, while AJ Swearingen displays his dexterity with Simon's well-ensconced guitar riffs." -The Capital Gazette


RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Turn your show experience into a memorable stay! The Loft at The Acorn offers a spacious, industrial-chic apartment above The Acorn theater. Click here for photos and rental information.

 

Box Office opens at 4:00pm ET
Starts 8:00pm, doors open 7:00pm

An Experience to Outlast Any Performance

No two Acorn performances are exactly the same.  Thoughtful curation brings a diverse mix of top talent to The Acorn, exposing audiences to both renowned and soon-to-be-discovered stars.

About The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts

The Acorn brings great known performers and amazing new ones to southwest Michigan.  Located in the historic featherbone factory, The Acorn’s friendly staff and volunteers, and an acoustically rich sound system combine for memorable experiences. We’re located in Three Oaks, Michigan …  just over an hour from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from South Bend, IN.

The Acorn, a nonprofit organization, annually hosts a singer songwriter competition and a Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our Open Mic nights showcase a variety of strong talent and our educational workshops include songwriting and master classes in performance.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.


Learn More