Cirque du Soleil presents: Quidam
Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
May 30-June 3, show times at 1, 3:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m.
$37.50-$97.50
vanandelarena.com, (616) 742-6600

Cirque du Soleil is back with the stunning production Quidam. The show premiered in 1996 under the Big Top and has recently undergone a remarkable transformation into a travelling arena show. Fabrice Lemire, artistic director and renowned dance master, who led the remount of the new show, discussed revamping a venture of incredible proportions and the magical appeal of live entertainment.

"Sixty percent of the cast is brand new," Lemire said.

While the arena shows last a few days, Big Top shows set up camp in one location for five to six weeks, providing a stable setting for circus families. But putting on a production in arenas has benefits despite the added workload.

"I find it magical, because [of the fabric of the] Big Top, the sound of the piece sometimes gets lost in the space," Lemire said. "In this venue, we have surround sound and the sound quality is a lot better. And we can isolate different musical moments, something we couldn't do in the Big Top."

While the story of Quidam is the same, Lemire said basically everything had to be redesigned. But, the artistry of Cirque du Soleil persists and continues to capture audiences.

"[It's] very unique, [possessing] a wow factor with a high level of acrobatics and a high level of emotion and peaks and valleys," Lemire said.

Quidam is the fanciful world that a young girl named Zoë dreams up as means of escape.

"For me, she is in her own head, she never leaves home. She is thinking outside the box," Lemire said.

The appeal of her character is the transition she goes through that everyone can relate to.

"She sees these people [acrobats, aerialists, etcetera] and they could be her," said Lemire. "Which way is she going to go?"

"I think we always go back to the entertainment" Lemire added. "[With] performing art, you take [the audience] on a journey, something they don't do every day. That's what Cirque has created for 25 years, you go there and dream."

Chairmania: Fantastic Miniatures
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Launches March 31
Free with general admission
grmuseum.org, (616) 929-1700

Perhaps in honor of the notable furniture history of Grand Rapids, the world-renowned designer, George Beylerian, gifted his collection of miniature chairs to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Described as "miniatures possessing a monumental presence," these wee objects highlight the artistry and the potential of a practical, everyday object like a chair when presented as a unique form. More than tiny, wooden versions of human sized chairs, these miniatures are crafted out of various miscellany including ticket stubs, playing cards, buttons and even gum wrappers. Beylerian has a coffee table book, bearing the same title as the local exhibit. But, photos generally pale in comparison to experiencing the real thing up close. Take a gander and rethink where you rest your booty.

Latin Americans United for Progress Fiesta
Holland Civic Center, Holland
May 4 - May 5
Free
laup.org, (616) 392-5058

The annual Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP) Fiesta brings a rollicking 20,000 event goers each year celebrating Latin American culture in the Holland area. This two-day event celebrates culture with many food and entertainment offerings. Live music and dance performances showcase local talent, the car show boasts snazzy lowriders and of course, the crowning of the annual King and Queen is always a point of interest. The non-profit serves the Hispanic community along with anyone who may benefit from the Spanish language, employment and cultural services. Information about these services will be available at the fiesta.

Disease Detectives
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Jan 21 - May 28
Free
kalamazoomusuem.org, (269) 373-7990

If you happen to think Ebola is cool (blood oozing from every orifice ... what's not to like?), then this exhibit is for you. This hands-on exhibition lets you dive into the world of infectious disease fighting, albeit safely. Interact with ailing mannequins, take their temperatures and diagnose them. Explore enormous 3-D microbes, wield giant cotton swabs and test your pathetic hand washing skills. Yes, you! Flip books, case studies and other activities provide insight to the world of disease usually discussed only through sensationalist news stories. Bird flu! Swine Flu! Mosquitoes from hell! Become commander of your viral universe and relax a little.

Chris Danner is excited to bring the national tour of The Addams Family to Grand Rapids in May. That's in part because Danner has called Grand Rapids home for many years.

"Grand Rapids is one of my top 10 favorite cities in the country," Danner said. "I can't wait to bring everyone and show off the city."

Danner, who serves as the company manager for the production, is also excited because he says The Addams Family is one of his top three favorite productions and audiences across the country have been enjoying the musical tremendously.

The show features an original storyline written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice -- of Jersey Boys fame -- that centers on the cartoon drawings by Charles Addams, creator of The Addams Family. It also includes original music by Andrew Lippa.

Danner said fans of the television series or the 1990s films will likely be introduced to aspects of the ghoulish family they may not have seen before if they are not familiar with the cartoons.

Still, Gomez, Morticia, Fester, Pugsley and Wednesday, will live up to the audiences' expectations for kookiness and morbidity.

The Addams Family DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids May 22-26, show times at 2, 7:30 and 8 p.m. $37-$67 broadwaygrandrapids.com, (616) 235-6285

"Wednesday falls in love with a ‘normal' boy and she wants to introduce him to the family," Danner said. "Obviously she wants to introduce him, but they're not a normal family, per say. So the storyline is about Wednesday inviting the Beineke family and her boyfriend, Lucas, to dinner where the families can meet for the first time. Chaos happens from then on out."

The main setting for the story is inside the Addams family mansion, which is located in Central Park. There will also be scenes outside of the family's home, in the park, as well as in a cemetery.

The costumes keep with the familiar Addams family attire, but Danner said there are some cool and unique costumes worn by the ancestors who have several musical numbers in the show.

"The ancestors come up from the crypt. They are all in period costumes, from caveman all the way up to Amelia Earhart . . . it really offsets the Addams family and the Beineke family."

Addams created The Addams Family in 1938 and the characters have continued to find an audience decade after decade. Danner thinks one reason is because as off the wall as this family is, people are able to identify the characters with their own family members.

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Other Performing Arts Events

"La Boheme"
DeVos Performance Hall
May 4 & 5, 7:30 p.m.
$20-$94
operagr.com, (616) 451-2741

Travel back in time with the Grand Rapids Opera to Christmas Eve in Paris' Latin Quarter and watch as the painter, the poet, the musician and philosopher struggle to survive the winter. As a romance sparks between two of the original bohemians, they fight to stay together until the tragic ending. "La Boheme" is one of Giacomo Puccini's most known operas, an enticingly emotional tale of love and loss.

Black & White
Peter Martin Wege Theatre 
May 4-6 & 11-13
$40
grballet.com, (616) 454-4771

The exciting story of Swan Lake's dueling black and white swans has inspired everyone from scholars to Hollywood. The Grand Rapids Ballet presents a contemporary look at the classic tale in their production of Black and White as a close up to their 40th anniversary season. Mario Radacovsky's original choreography explores one of ballet's most famous duals and as one of the most revered ballets of all time, the exciting story will captivate every dance lover.