Board Chair | Interview with an Acorn Artist | Board Spotlight | Acorn News | Highlights
Letter from the ACPA Board Chair
It was my great honor this past June to begin a term as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts. My 45 year career in broadcast television which included covering arts and entertainment has been an important training ground for helping guide this ‘jewel’ in SW Michigan.
I am committed to our mission of not only entertaining our patrons but serving this community. The esteemed group of fifteen other Board members are on the same page. It’s an exciting time to see the ideas imagined in past years gain momentum and growth. We will continue to present quality music performances from Mavis Staples to Jeff Tweedy to Steve Earle along with new music acts and popular tribute bands (loyal followings there!). Our children’s theatre camp (TADA), school JazzReach program, Art at the Acorn, Midwest Made series, Singer-Songwriter and Playwright Competitions are just a few of the very important projects which will expand and embrace our local population.
You may not know that ticket sales only cover 50% of operating and programming costs at The Acorn each year - making it even more important to donate to support programs like these continuing. You can support through a donation at acornlive.org, making reserved seat donations, and don't forget our fundraisers throughout 2025...one thing we know how to do at The Acorn is put the 'fun' in those.
I promise this term to follow the advice my mother once gave me.
“Take the stairs"
Thank you for your part in our vision. I can't wait to see what we will achieve together.
Janet Davies
ACPA Board Chair
Interview with an Acorn Artist
Sean Masterson
Sean Masterson 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 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.
Q: You are no stranger to The Acorn stage. How long have you been performing at The Acorn?
A: I’ve been performing at The Acorn since 2006.
Q: What is your favorite Acorn memory?
A: Being the opening act for Leon Redbone. It was an honor and a privilege and Leon is straight out of a Mark Twain novel.
Q: It has been said that you first became interested in magic when you received a deck of magic cards for your 7th birthday. By the time you were 12, you won Chicago’s Junior Magician Award. What do you remember about that time when you were first discovering magic as a young boy? And who gave you those fateful magic cards for your birthday?
A: My parents gave me the cards and I remember being amazed myself at how I could make magic happen right in my own hands.
Q: Who were your magical mentors or inspirations growing up?
A: I saw David Copperfield perform when he was 18 and I was 12 years old. He was in a magic play and I thought that that’s what I want to do, combine magic and theater.
Q: What are the biggest challenges you've faced as a magician, and what are the most rewarding aspects of your career?
A: My biggest challenge is being patient and persistent. The patience is to “enjoy the ride” and the persistence is to never stop driving forward despite the rocky road of show business. My biggest joy is seeing the genuine expression of wonder on people’s faces.
Q: How do you see the future of magic evolving, and what role do you hope to play in shaping it?
A: It seems the future has arrived and I’m enjoying the new insatiable appetite that audiences have for magic. My role is to present very original magic and create shared experiences that can only happen live and in person.
Q: What advice would you give to young people who are interested in pursuing a career in magic?
A: I recommend that young magicians get a variety of performance experiences. Before I turned 16 I had performed on parade floats, park picnic tables, at birthday parties, in libraries, church halls and restaurants and in a disco for a marathon dance contest. Because “the trick” is to be able to “wow” people in all kinds of circumstances and with each show I learned a little bit more about how to do that.
Q: You’ll be performing at The Acorn again on Saturday, November 30th. What can fans expect from you for this show?
A: I’m very excited about this year’s show. I have some new creations that I think will really amaze everyone. Plus, as always, they can expect a lot of audience participation. For those who arrive before 2 pm, I will be performing close-up walk around magic out in the audience.
Q: Anything else you think our Acorn audience would like to know about?
A: Buy your tickets early because we tend to sell out. Also, It’s truly an all ages show and a great way for several generations of one family to enjoy something together.
The Acorn thanks Sean for taking the time to be interviewed! Be sure to check out his next appearance at The Acorn when The Acorn Tree House presents Sean Masterson Magic on Saturday, November 30th at 2pm ET!
Board Spotlight
Jen Shoup
She is the longest serving Board member on The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors, and has been instrumental in crafting the vision of our mission to have nothing less than a profound impact on our community. Chair Elect Jen Shoup has served on our Board since 2016. She is a past Chair and our current Board Secretary.
Jen started attending performances at The Acorn in 2012 and says she “fell in love with The Acorn and the experience.” She attended a fundraiser at the theater when The Acorn became a 501(c)(3) non-profit and wanted to see the organization thrive and grow. She quickly began volunteering and then joined the Board.
Jen is vice-president and district manager for Horizon Bank in Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana. With over 20 years in retail banking leadership positions, Jen is now responsible for P & L, sales, employee development, community participation, and leadership. Jen is an active member of the Chamber in Michigan City and LaPorte and a Junior Achievement Advisory Board Member. Jen’s past nonprofit board experience includes the Michigan City Art League, Junior Achievement, Master Gardeners and the Chamber.
Jen is a passionate advocate for The Acorn. She describes the organization as being “an important part of the SWMI and NWI community for the performing arts, education, economic impact and tourism,” and says, “It is important for The Acorn to be a cornerstone of our community.”
The Acorn is grateful to Jen for all her years of service to the organization, and her enthusiastic support for and love of live music.
Q: What is your favorite memory from your time at The Acorn?
A: I have been fortunate to have many great experiences with family and friends at The Acorn so it is hard to choose but if I have to, I would say the Miles Nielsen and Rusted Hearts show the night I hosted an Acorn benefit in celebration of my birthday. My daughter performed with the band and Miles's father, Rick Nielsen, from Cheap Trick performed with the band as well.
Q: How would you describe The Acorn to someone you were meeting for the first time?
A: I frequently share how unique and memorable the experience is to see artists perform in our intimate space. I also share that artists fall in love with the performance space and the receptive audience.
Q: Who is your favorite musician you've seen perform at The Acorn?
A: Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts, many times.
Q: How do you define success?
A: Doing work that fulfills you and gives you energy, challenging yourself to learn and do more, helping and developing others and paying it forward.
Q: What would a typical Saturday morning look like for you?
A: Coffee, the weekend to do list, yoga, running errands and preparing for fun the rest of the weekend.
Q: What are your hobbies/pleasures in life?
A: I enjoy live music performances and theater. I enjoy spending time with family and friends going to dinner, shows, sports games and fun activities. I love to travel as well.
Q: Who inspires you?
A: I am inspired by many people I know and others from afar, my daughters for sure and people that have overcome great challenges in their lives that are servant leaders.
Acorn News
We Love Our Volunteers
Annual Appreciation Event Celebrated Our Fabulous Group of Volunteers
We LOVE our Volunteers! On a beautiful Sunday afternoon this past October we celebrated our wonderful volunteers at our annual Acorn Volunteer Appreciation party! We mean it when we say: We couldn't do what we do without our volunteers. THANK YOU!!
Thank you to each and every one of you who give us your time and energy to support The Acorn throughout the year! You truly are such a big part of what makes us "The One and Only" Acorn!
We recognized one particular group of volunteers with our Volunteer of the Year Awards, based on the number of hours spent volunteering with us this year:
- Basia Klincewicz: Newcomer Award (for a volunteer with us for less than a year who has logged the highest number of hours) - at 56 hours!
- Shelley Thomspon AND Lyn Romero (tied): 3rd Place - with 70 hours (each)!
- Tom Majerek: 2nd Place - with 86 hours!
- Kristen Robinson: 1st Place Volunteer of the Year - with 102 hours!
- …and Rasa Lakas: Winner of the RASA Award (she's Really Awesome, Special and Amazing)! Rasa gave us 186 hours of volunteer service this year!
We’d like to thank our Friends at Patellie's, Alapash, Drier's Meat Market and Vickers Theatre for helping us thank our volunteers.
Want to see why Acorn Volunteers have the most fun? Visit our website to learn more and sign up to join us!
Community Takes Center Stage
2024 Saw More Community Partnerships and Events at The Acorn than Ever Before
From upper left to lower right, Community Events at The Acorn: TADA Summer Camp performance of Alice In Wonderland, Art at The Acorn, Acorn Tree House, Dunes Theatre, Acorn Dance Showcase, Youth Open Mic Night performers.
Our commitment to our Community is an essential part of what ends up on our stage – from our monthly Open Mic Nights to our Art at The Acorn program to Blood Drives to our Acorn Tree House family fun series to our dramatic arts program for youth and so much more – and from partnerships with other local organizations like Harbor Arts, to School of American Music, Dunes Theatre and others, we are showing up for our neighbors and putting Community center stage at The Acorn.
2024 brought more community events than ever before to The Acorn!
Artists and Audiences of the Future Find a Home with Us
Throughout this past year, we have put the spotlight on young performers in a variety of ways. Local dancers dazzled us with their talent, showcasing the artistry of dance and why dance is said to be ‘music made visible.’ Area youth took to our stage to shine in the annual Three Oaks Flag Day Prince & Princess Pageant, and School of American Music students impressed at their recital. Young rising stars were the focus at two of our Open Mic Nights as we supported the growth of these emerging artists.
Our dramatic arts camp for youth was open to the community free of charge this year, providing area students with the opportunity to study all aspects of theater over four weeks, culminating in a final performance of Alice In Wonderland.
In addition to these performance opportunities, The Acorn Tree House series entertained kids of all ages and provided programs centered on family fun.
Local Artists Find a Deeper Level of Support from Us
Besides the ‘big-name’ stars that people have become used to seeing headline our stage, artists who live and work with us in the community have also had opportunities to shine on that same stage throughout this year. Whether it be a performance slot in an Open Mic Night, an opening gig for a touring artist, performing as part of this summer’s Music Festival, or headlining a show of their own, we have prioritized opportunities for local and regional artists to support their growth and celebrate their artistry, including in the third season of our Midwest Made summer concert series.
Community Organizations Find a Partner in Us
Our commitment to our neighbors is also seen in the partnerships we make with those who are working for the good of our community. Throughout this past year, we have opened our doors to many organizations and causes within our community, including the American Red Cross, River Valley Schools, School of American Music, Art Attack, Paws for Humanity, Harbor Country Pride, Harbor Arts, Dunes Theatre, and Neighbor by Neighbor.
If you would like to support the work we do to support our community, please consider a tax-deductible gift.
Julie Schwarz and A Symphony of Polaroids
Art at The Acorn Continues to Invigorate the Theater
Art at The Acorn transforms the theater into a visual art space. With Julie Schwarz’s new exhibition, A Symphony of Polaroids, we experience a connection between visual art and music along with a unique artform developed by the artist using vintage Polaroid cameras.
After years in a career of caring for others, Julie decided it was time to care for herself. So several years ago she took a major leap of faith and embarked on an adventure that would change her life. Julie decided to study photography at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana. Upon arriving back home to Harbor Country, she was thrilled with the education she had received at RMSP, but disappointed to find herself feeling that her photographs looked like ones she had already seen before. Julie then found an old Polaroid camera at a garage sale and came up with a style of photography that was all her own.
Julie recently sat down with Janet Davies to answer questions about her background and artwork at a reception celebrating her exhibition on October 29th. Julie’s work remains on view at The Acorn through December.
Know an artist you think would be the perfect fit for a future Art at The Acorn exhibition? Interested artists should fill out an Art at The Acorn Artist Submission Form.
JazzReach at The Acorn
Music Education Enrichment and Community Programs
Earlier this month, we were proud to partner with JazzReach to present free educational programming to local students and the community. JazzReach is a nationally recognized New York City-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, performance, creation and teaching of jazz music. Through the presentation of innovative, widely acclaimed live multi-media educational programs for young audiences, captivating main-stage concerts for general audiences and informative clinics and master-classes for student musicians and ensembles, JazzReach is steadfastly dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation, awareness and understanding of this rich, vital, ever-evolving American art form.
Over the course of the four-day JazzReach residency, over 500 students from River Valley Elementary and High Schools, Bridgman Elementary School and New Buffalo Elementary School participated in interactive music enrichment programs. For the elementary-aged students, we presented JazzReach’s Get Hip!, a fun, interactive introduction to jazz that illuminates the art form's cultural origins, concepts about improvisation and creative self-expression. Select River Valley High School Band students went deeper, working with JazzReach’s Metta Quintet for three days as part of the Sittin’ In and Groovin’ Out program, which culminated in a joint concert on Friday night at The Acorn.
In addition, a free community concert was held to kick off the residency on Wednesday, November 6th, and we closed out our time with JazzReach on Saturday for another free event – Stolen Moments: The First 100 Years of Jazz.
The Acorn’s partnership with JazzReach was made possible through the generous support from program sponsors: Live Music Society, Berrien Community Foundation, and Tom and Mary Ives.
Program Recap
Highlights
Check out some of these recent moments at The Acorn.
The Acorn’s inaugural golf fundraiser – Swing for the Arts – was a hole-in-one! We are grateful to all who came out to play. Over $11,000 was raised to support our community programs and initiatives. Thank you to Briar Leaf Golf Club for being the perfect setting for our event! Pictured (left to right): Pat Burke, Kellie Burke, Zach Hackett, Susan Flynn, and Ted Buzby.
photo: Debra Gunderson
Supporters of The Acorn ‘boo’gied to the tunes of Expo ‘76 at our annual Halloween fundraiser party, Boo Ball, on October 25th. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the event, to Classic Catering for the freaky fabulous food, and to our generous sponsors who donated spookily spectacular items for our live and silent auctions. You can mark your calendar now (and start planning your costume early) for our 2025 Boo Ball, planned for Friday, October 24, 2025!
Grammy-winner Dave Alvin and Grammy-nominee Jimmie Dale Gilmore, together with their band The Guilty Ones, delighted a packed house on November 1st with their unique blend of blistering blues and honky-tonk guitars, philosophical lyrics, and sweetly sentimental storytelling. For more than two hours they played many of the songs from their latest musical offering "Texicali" which honors their very different home states. A special encore brought back show-opener Paul Cebar for a singalong of The Youngbloods classic tune "Get Together," offering a timeless message of choosing love and togetherness over fear and hate. These Americana folk heroes had high praise for our theater and offered, to thunderous applause, that they'd love to come back to play The Acorn again.
photo: Chuck Osgood
Lucinda and Mark Moriarty performing “The Bench” by Romney Humphrey on Saturday, November 2nd during the finals of the 2024 Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. This 10-minute play was voted in as the winner of the competition this year, and was directed by Tucker Curtis, who joined us from the Beckwith Theatre Co. in Dowagiac.
What's Next
photo: Evan Margol
Learn more about upcoming events at The Acorn at our website. Highlights include:
Friday, December 14
Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute
New Year’s Eve! Tuesday, December 31
Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Heart
New 2025 show announcements are coming very soon! Join our email list to stay connected and hear new show announcements first.