ALMA — The Alma College theatre, music and dance departments are taking a fresh look at their offerings for the 2024-25 academic year, with a full slate of performances at the Oscar E. Remick Heritage Center for the Performing Arts designed to inspire and excite.

The fun starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, with the college’s annual Homecoming Choir Concert in Presbyterian Hall. As in past years, alumni will be invited to perform with the current Alma Choir. Visit alma.edu/homecoming for details on rehearsal and more.

The college theatre schedule kicks off Thursday, Oct. 31, with a performance of “The Wolves,” a one-act play by Sarah DeLappe that was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The first college dance concert of the year is set for 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

For music, one of the major highlights of the year will be the Masterworks Concert: Jake Runestad’s “The Lighthouse Keeper” and Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna,” at 3 p.m. April 6. According to Nicole Mattfeld, assistant professor of music and director of choirs, both works are short and contemporary, exploring themes of love, loss and hope.

“’The Lighthouse Keeper’ will actually be a Midwest premiere,” Mattfeld said. “It is a powerful universal expression of a life shared in friendship, reminding us that all we really have, when all is said and done, is each other. ‘Lux Aeterna’ contains references to “light,” assembled from various sacred Latin texts. Lauridsen composed this in response to his mother’s final illness, using light as a universal symbol of illumination at all levels: spiritual, artistic, and intellectual.”

In theatre, “Storytime Scots” is one of the year’s standouts, said Kelli Crump, assistant professor and director of theatre. The show, which runs from 7:30 p.m. March 27-29 and 2:30 p.m. March 30 is designed to be “TYA,” or “theatre for young audiences” — a collection of Scottish folk tales and bedtime stories designed to be a destination for local families.

“We’re inviting the community to come over in their pajamas, relax and have a great time,” Crump said. “This will allow the audience to play with their imagination more, to explore in our sandboxes of imagination, while learning something interesting. Students who perform in this will tap into their imaginations, too. As young adults, we forget how to play sometimes. The joy — and the purpose — that comes from playing will be a big lesson about theatre and why we do it.”

In addition to a new slate of performances, Alma College theatre, music and dance features a new roster of leadership. Mattfeld steps into a role formerly occupied by longtime choirs director Will Nichols, who retired this summer after more than 40 years of leadership. Prior to coming to Alma, Mattfeld served as assistant professor of music at Bethel (Minn.) University and director of youth choirs for Minnesota Chorale, among other positions.

Crump takes over as director of the Alma theatre program. She previously served as visiting assistant professor of theatre at Oakland (Mich.) University and has worked with critically acclaimed professional theatre organizations, including the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. Her film, TV and stage credits include “Clyde’s,” “Hairspray,” HBO’s “Looking,” and ABC’s “When We Rise.” She steps into a role formerly occupied by Scott Mackenzie, who retired this summer after eight years of service to Alma.

Kayt MacMaster is the new director of the Alma College dance department. Her choreography has been presented nationally and internationally at venues including Arts on Site, Brooklyn Arts Exchange and Dixon Place in New York City; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Champaign, Ill.; MARSH and The Space Station in St. Louis, Mo.; RADFest in Kalamazoo, Mich.; and the Dagara Music and Arts Center in Medie, Ghana.

A full schedule of Alma College’s performing arts events follows below. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $7 for seniors (62+) and free for Alma College staff, students and children ages 1-18. Tickets can be purchased at alma.universitytickets.com and are also available at the box office.

For more information on the performing arts at Alma College, visit alma.edu/arts.

  • Choir Homecoming Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 7 p.m. Sept. 28
  • Chamber Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 3 p.m. Oct. 27
  • Percussion Ensemble – Presbyterian Hall – 4 p.m. Oct. 29
  • Theatre performance, “The Wolves” – Strosacker Theatre – 7:30 p,m. Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2:30 p.m. Nov. 3
  • Kiltie Marching Band Indoor Show – Presbyterian Hall – 8 p.m. Nov. 9, 3 p.m. Nov. 10
  • Dance Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16
  • Jazz Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 8 p.m. Nov. 19
  • Dance and Drum Presentation by the Saginaw-Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan – Strosacker Theatre – 6 p.m. Nov. 21. Free event, no ticket required.
  • Festival of Carols – Presbyterian Hall – 7 p.m. Nov. 23, 3 p.m. Nov. 24
  • Student Choreography Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1. Free event, no ticket required.
  • Chamber Orchestra Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 3 p.m. Feb. 16
  • Choir Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 7 p.m. Feb. 20
  • Dance Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 7:30 p.m. March 14, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 15
  • Highland Arts Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 8 p.m. March 22
  • Percussion Ensemble – Presbyterian Hall – 8 p.m. March 25
  • Storytime Scots – Strosacker Theatre – 7:30 p.m. March 27-29, 2:30 p.m. March 30
  • Jazz Ensemble – Presbyterian Hall – 8 p.m. March 31
  • Masterworks Concert – Presbyterian Hall – 3 p.m. April 6
  • Concert Band – Presbyterian Hall – 3 p.m. April 13