The arts at Michigan State University are a reflection of what is uniquely possible on this campus. They bring together students, faculty, staff, and our surrounding communities to experience the world through different perspectives, engage with the most pressing issues of our time, and foster deeper connections with one another.
Here are five opportunities to connect with the arts on MSU’s campus this month.
Lisa de Guzman as Elphaba in the national tour of Wicked. Photo: Joan Marcus
“Evil”
May 10-28, Wharton Center for the Performing Arts
Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz, but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy’s arrival, there is another young woman born with emerald green skin who is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessed of extraordinary talent. When he meets a champagne blonde who is extremely popular, their initial rivalry turns into the most unlikely friendship – until the world decides to call one “good” and the other “evil”. Tickets start at $64 for the public and $29 for MSU students (one ticket with valid ID, for select performances only).
A piano monster
May 14, 3 p.m., Fairchild Theatre
Get ready to immerse yourself in an unforgettable Mother’s Day musical experience when Piano Monster returns to the MSU campus. This unique, family-friendly concert features multiple grand pianos on one stage played by talented pianists from the MSU College of Music: Deborah Moriarty, Derek Polichuk, Zhihua Tang, Tamar Mikeladze, Gennady Zagor and Eric Zuber. Spend an unforgettable afternoon surrounded by the beauty and dynamic sounds of piano performances of the famous Mother Goose Suite by Maurice Ravel, Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by JS Bach and more. Tickets are $22 for general admission, $20 for seniors and $12 for MSU students (one ticket with valid ID).
Museum Tour: The Nightly News
May 21, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, MSU Broad Museum of Art
What do you remember about your dreams? Join MSU Broad Art Musuem Curatorial Assistant Dalina Perdomo Álvarez for an interactive tour of artist Candy Chang’s project “The Nightly News,” now on view through May 28. Experience and contribute to this interactive video installation that invites visitors to anonymously write a short line describing a dream they remember, which is then translated onto the screen. Registration is encouraged for this free event.
Visit Beale Botanical Gardens for the 150th Anniversary Celebration
On May 11, join Beal staff for a midday spring garden tour from noon to 12:55 p.m. Enjoy spring wildflowers, discover what garden staff are doing to restore native plants and habitat along the Red Cedar River, and see what do birds have started visiting the Botanical Garden. Bring binoculars if you have them. This event is free and open to the public. Tours meet at the Beal Garden shed/pond.
Beal Botanical Garden in bloom
A visit to the garden in May will also mean witnessing its collection of nearly 2,000 botanical plants in peak bloom, but will also provide access to a variety of self-guided mindfulness activities – incorporating the mental health benefits of poetry, music and more in your outdoor experience. Garden visitors can stop by one of the many “rooting stations” to pick up a pocket journal filled with these activities or access curated music via a QR code.
Beal Botanical Garden is free and open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset.
Explore art with artificial intelligence in the Rapid Response exhibit.
MSU Museum, exhibit on view through December 2023
Although generative AI models offer new methods of content production, they also raise complex questions. Who owns the rights to the content created by these models? Are these tools ethical and do they reinforce bias? What are the impacts of generative AI on the creative process and creative fields? Now on display at the MSU Museum, the interactive exhibit Rapid Response: Exploring Generative AI allows visitors to explore the impact of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E 2 on society. Visitors are invited to use these emerging technologies to create their own writing and artwork that can be included in the exhibit or displayed on various monitors across the MSU campus. The MSU Museum is free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m
All events, exhibitions and performances are open to the public. Learn more about art opportunities on MSU’s campus.