A mainstay of the two-day fest is the musical acts. This year’s headliner, a performance co-produced by the Ten Pound Fiddle, is singer/songwriter Cris Williamson (pictured left). When she started, the men ruled the folk singing scene, but Williamson’s stepping into the center stage set an example for all women.
“Wherever I wanted to be, that’s where I stepped up,” she said by phone. Although Saturday is full of musical acts, including Abigail Stauffer and the Sistrum Women’s Chorus, the stage is all Williamson’s on Friday night. Williamson, 66, plans to perform a song or two from “The Changer and the Changed,” her fifth album. Appropriate for the fest, as Williamson said it knocked down a lot of doors for women.
It seems Williamson was destined to take the stage. She was born into a family of musicians and grew up singing and playing the piano. At age 16, Williamson released her first album, “The Artistry of Cris Williamson.” “Artistry” was released in 1964, an era that inspired and paved the way for Williamson’s career in folk music.
“Folk music was so available,” Williamson said. “Everyone could play it.”
Williamson also will hold a workshop Saturday morning for beginning and advanced songwriters, which she sees as a duty to the craft.
“Once I learned, there was no stopping me, (and) in teaching it, the satisfaction is amazing,” Williamson said.
In addition to the songwriting workshop, there will also be four other workshops covering a variety of themes and topics. Festival-goers can dip their toes in Shamanism, explore the tools to abolish negative self-talk, discover information and resources on dementia and find empowerment through a “Sing in the Sacred Circle Playshop.”
And while the warm weather East Lansing festivals are known for their Melting Moments chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, “Women in the Arts” is known for the Sistrum Caf. This year’s menu offers a wide variety of gourmet options for omnivores and vegetarians, including Spanakopita, spring rolls, quiche and more.
But the festival is meant to be nourishing in more ways for women than just an awesome meal. Perhaps the events and activities will lend themselves to an enriching self-reflection. If so, Williamson is already prepared with her contribution, saying that she uses her music to stay alive and to reflect on her heart and life.
“My favorite place to be is on stage,” she said. “I’m at home there.”
Women in the Arts Festival
5-9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov.15 $5-$20 (songwriting workshop with Cris Williamson: $20-$35, includes day pass) Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn, East Lansing witafestival.com
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 19-23 >> ‘COSI FAN TUTTE’ BY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY OPERA THEATRE
The plot for the comic opera “Cosi Fan Tutte” sounds like it could have been taken from an episode of the early 2000s reality show “Cheaters,” but coming from the mind of a genius storyteller/composer, expect something a little more sophisticated. Michigan State University’s Opera Theatre presents “Cosi Fan Tutte,” Mozart’s comic masterpiece about two young officers who go all out to test their lovers’ faithfulness with an elaborate scheme that yields an unexpected outcome. The performance boasts more than 40 members of the MSU Symphony Orchestra joining the 27 singers to bring the opera to life. The performances will be sung in Italian; for those who aren’t fluent, there will be English surtitles. $20/$18 seniors/$5 students. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-22; 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. Fairchild Theatre, 542 Auditorium Road, MSU Campus, East Lansing. (517) 353-5340, music.msu.edu.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY, NOV. 13-15 >> ‘DARK NIGHTS IN BILLTOWN’ AT WILLIAMSTON THEATRE
Williamston Theatre continues its annual Dark Nights experience this weekend, utilizing unusual spaces within the theater as performance spots on nights without a show on the main stage. Entertainment will consist of three one-act plays: “Summer Retreat,” “Okay, Bye” and “The Road to Appomattox.” Each was designed to stimulate thought on political and social issues. To maintain the intimate experience of the performances, there will only be 25 seats sold for each show. 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Williamston Theatre, 122 S. Putnam St., Williamston. (517) 655-SHOW, williamstontheatre.org.
FRIDAY, NOV. 14-SUNDAY, NOV. 16 & TUESDAY, NOV. 18-WEDNESDAY, NOV. 19 >> ‘LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES’ BY MSU DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE
This witty, erotic play explores the scheming, steaming sexual games in French high society in 1780. Two well-to-do men, the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil, have their respective crosshairs focused on seducing two separate women who are spoken for. Together, they set down intertwining paths of collaboration and betrayal. The source material was the basis for both movies “Dangerous Liaisons” and “Cruel Intentions,” and some claim it’s responsible for coining the phrase “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday. $10. Arena Theatre, 542 Auditorium Road, MSU campus, East Lansing. (800) WHARTON, whartoncenter.com. (Continues Nov. 20-23)SATURDAY, NOV. 15 >> ‘WHATS GOING ON IN AMERICA’
Standup comedians Dick Gregory and Paul Mooney join forces for a thematically mixed set on Saturday night. Mooney started out as one of Richard Pryor’s joke writers, and created the “Negrodamus” character that he brought to “Chappelle’s Show.” His new book is “Black is the New White.” Gregory, meanwhile, will lean more toward the PC side of comedy. He incorporates humor about peaceful activism and civil rights to his act, giving audiences something to think about when they’re laughing. 8 p.m. $30/$40 premium/$50 VIP. Fahrenheit, 6810 S. Cedar St., Lansing. (517) 272-2337, neptix.com
SATURDAY NOV. 15 >> ‘DANCING PROS LIVE’ AT WHARTON CENTER
The stars will be out in East Lansing Saturday night as the Wharton Center gets a little Hollywood glitz and glamor with “Dancing Pros Live.” Alan Thicke from “Growing Pains” (and father of “Blurred Lines” singer Robin Thicke) hosts this professional dance competition featuring “Dancing with the Stars” performer Edyta Sliwinska and Chelsie Hightower from “So You think You Can Dance.” Audience members will be given electronic remotes allowing them to vote for the best dancer of the night. 8 p.m. $32/$25 students. Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 353-1982, whartoncenter.com.
SUNDAY, NOV. 16 >> A DAY OF ART AT MSU
The Department of Art, Art History and Design at Michigan State University offers a tour of all things white, green and creative with its “Day of Art” event. It begins at the Broad where guided tours will be offered from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Guests can get the inside scoop on the works the Broad has to offer, including the new exhibit “Future Returns: Contemporary Art from China.” The day continues at the Kresge Art Center where the new exhibit “Interrupt” will open. It features works by second- and third-year MFA candidates enrolled in the newly offered MFA professional seminar. “Interrupt” will be up until Friday, Nov. 21 for those who can’t swing a whole “Day of Art.” FREE. 11 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, 547 E. Circle Drive; Kresge Art Center, 600 Auditorium Road, East Lansing. sulli357@msu.edu, art.msu.edu.
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