about Master Arts

Beginning

In 1985, nine people, sitting in a living room, had a dream: A community arts organization that could provide preparation and opportunities for local Christian artists to serve the church and community through the visual and performing arts.

With a typewriter on a card table for Ev Beyer, whose home this dream began, and a sectional sofa as a working area for Pris McDonald, Master Arts Company began its unique ministry.

Touring Troupes

During the first year, two touring troupes were formed. The first was called “The Parable” performed by Dave Taylor, Nancy Goodrich, Dan Denk, and Pris McDonald and made its debut at Grace Youth Camp near Hart, Michigan. The second troupe was a Readers Theatre Christmas production entitled “Emmanuel” which was performed in several churches that first year.

Touring Troupes still active today.
Click Here for More Information on the Touring Troupes

Street Theater

First Street Theater troupe performed.
Street Theater still very active today.
Click Here for More Information on Street Theater

Workshops & Classes

First monthly “Workshop Training Session” for interested artists. 
Master Arts still provides Fall and Winter Classes in Drama.
Click Here for More Information on our Fall and Winter Class Schedules

Master Arts Festivals

First of three annual area wide Master Arts Festivals was held.
First stage play produced by Master Arts as part of the Festival:

The Book of Job
arranged for the stage by Orlin Corey
designed by Irene Corey
and directed by Pris McDonald

Arts Day Camp

First five-day Arts Day Camp held for youth. These camps have been offered each year since, introducing children to the joys of participation in Mime, Drama, Praise Dance, and Visual Art.

Arts Day Camp has be held every year since.
Click Here for More Information on Youth Summer Schedule

Fiddler on the Roof
book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, music by: Jerry Bock,
based on Sholom Aleichem's stories by special permission of Arnold Perl
and directed by Pris McDonald

One or more productions offered yearly ever since.
Click Here for More Information about What is in Current Production

or Click Here to see the list of plays produced since 1989

Grand Village Mall

Moved to Grand Village Mall – performed

J.R.R. Tolkein's
The Hobbit
dramatized by Patricia Gray
directed by Pris McDonald

The Hobbit was performed to full houses with additional performances needed. 

Youth Summer Stock

First two-week Youth Summer Stock program by and for youth. These two week summer stock programs, offering training in all aspects of the production, including box office, costuming, make up, lighting and sound, as well as performing in a full length stage play. The first was

Winnie-the-Pooh
dramatized by Kristin Sergel
from the stories of A.A. Milne

Youth Summer Stock now offered yearly.
Click Here for More Information on Youth Summer Schedule

Season One

First year for a schedule of four productions per year
– special rates for Season Subscribers.

Fall - The Music Man
Christmas - Amahl and the Night Visitors
Winter - Tartuffe
Spring - Shadowlands

Click Here for More Information about Season Subscriptions

75 - 77th St SW

Renovate a facility located at 75 Vee Street SW in Grand Rapids, MI. Open new theater with

Snoopy!!!
based on the comic strip "PEANUTS" by Charles M. Schulz
music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Hal Hackady
directed by Pris McDonald
assistant director/choreographer Cassie Holmes

Eventually the street name was changed to 77th St SW

Summer of 2003, Master Arts started Second Stage. Second Stage was designed to do things we would normally not do on the main stage. Perform pieces we would like to use as traveling teams, repeat shows Master Arts has done in the past and would like to do again, to experiment with something new and to train new directors. The first Second Stage was Leslie Nadwodnik's directorial debut

The Sunshine Boys
written by Neil Simon
directed by Leslie Nadwodnik

20th Anniversary Celebration
with Jeannette Clift George

Jeannette Clift George is the founder of A.D. Players. Her film debut was in the World Wide Picture The Hiding Place, portraying Corrie Ten Boom. Ms. George is equally well-known as an author, playwright, Bible teacher and national speaker.
Special Guest Speaker: Diet Eman

Winter Youth Production

Noticing the growing interest by youth to perform in a play and the choice of plays with minimal youth parts, Master Arts decided to began a Winter Youth Production, March 2009.  The goal of the Winter Youth Production is to involve as many youth as possible. The first was

Doctor Dolittle
by Hugh Lofting
dramatized by Olga Fricker
directed by Walter Williams

25th Anniversary

Master Arts celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a three day event, August 28 - 30, 2010.

Saturday
Pig Roast, Games and Special Performances:

Highlights:

Family Feud, where the categories were Master Arts oriented. i.e. How many Master Arts productions used live animals.

A special performance of "The Parable" by Dave Taylor, Dan Denk, Nancy Goodrich and Pris McDonald. This was the first piece ever performed under the umbrella of Master Arts and these were the four who performed it then.

Sunday
Praise Celebration

Special Guest Speaker: Paul Patton, Spring Arbor University

Monday
Challenge Golf Tournament

Highlights:

At the Highlands!

Winner of our first Golf Challenge: Team of Jim Rummil, Randy Mietland and Roy Black