Novelist and Memoirist Ann Patchett Ann Patchett burst on the literary scene with her first novel, The Patron Saint of Liars, which was named a New York Times Notable Book for 1992. She followed this novel with Taft in 1993 and The Magician’s Assistant, which was short-listed for England’s Orange Prize, in 1994. Her next novel, Bel Canto, won both the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize in 2002, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. It was named the Book Sense Book of the Year. It sold over a million copies in the United States and has been translated into thirty languages. In 2004, Patchett published Truth & Beauty, a memoir of her friendship with the writer Lucy Grealy. It was named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Entertainment Weekly. Truth & Beauty was also a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and won the Chicago Tribune’s Heartland Prize, the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Alex Award from the American Library Association. Ms. Patchett’s latest novel is Run, which was a New York Times bestseller. Friday, May 15, 2009 Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center 57028 Riverside Dr. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Upper Level, $20; Main Floor, $25; and Private Reception w/ Premium Seating, $60 www.annpatchett.com Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Roger McGuinn and John Sebastian Roger McGuinn gained fame as the lead singer and co-founder of the Byrds. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1991) for his work with the Byrds. As the group’s lead guitarist, McGuinn was responsible for the “jingle-jangle” guitar sound featured on the Byrds’ hits Mr. Tambourine Man and Turn! Turn! Turn! Since leaving the group, McGuinn has remained a vibrant voice in folk music and has been recruited to appear onstage with rock superstars Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.  John Sebastian is best known as a co-founder, lead singer, and primary songwriter of The Lovin’ Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. The Lovin’ Spoonful dominated the airwaves in the sixties with the hits Summer in the City, Do You Believe in Magic?, Daydream, and scores of others. After leaving the Spoonful, Sebastian had a successful solo career. In the ’70s, Sebastian reached the top of the charts with the song Welcome Back, the theme song of the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter. Since then, Sebastian has continued to be a potent force in music. Saturday, May 16, 2009 Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center 57028 Riverside Dr. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25, $35, $50 www.rogermcguinn.com www.johnbsebastian.com Storyteller Willy Claflin Willy Claflin has mesmerized audiences from California to Cape Clear, Ireland to Jakarta, Indonesia, and beyond accompanied by his faithful sidekick, Maynard Moose. Claflin touches people of all ages with his incredible wit, clever use of language, and musical talent. Prepare for an evening of storytelling, puppetry, music, and mirth with this master storyteller. Hawaii’s legislators passed a resolution proclaiming, ”Wherever he performs, Willy Claflin leaves behind the memory of a committed, talented, life-loving, philosophical, and creative man through his storytelling and song-making.” Tuesday, May 12, 2009 — Master Class Dogwood Festival Headquarters 207 Commercial St. 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Tickets: $10 Wednesday, May 13, 2009 — Family Performance Dale A. Lyons Building Theatre Southwestern Michigan College 58900 Cherry Grove Rd. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $6 www.willyclaflin.com Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers is southwest Michigan’s only professional modern dance company. This extraordinary company of poetic and athletic dancers is committed to revealing the language of modern dance to adults and children alike with works by Ms. Terry, artistic associate Michael Miller and guest choreographers. This special evening doubles as Dowagiac’s first dance competition, “Dancing with the Dowagiac Stars!” Come see the who’s who of the community compete for the title. Complete with a panel of judges and live audience voting, come be part of the fun! Special guest performers include the Encore Dance Company. Saturday, May 9, 2009 Dale A. Lyons Building Theatre Southwestern Michigan College 58900 Cherry Grove Rd. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10 adults, $8 students/seniors www.wellspringdance.com Dance Master Class with Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers Encore School of the Arts 405 E. Division St. 12:00 p.m. Tickets: $10 For information and registration call the Dogwood Festival headquarters at (866) 490-2847. Visual Arts Day Sculptor John Mishler American sculptor John Mishler has created a powerful body of work. Working with welded stainless and painted steel, copper and aluminum, Mishler explores color, form and materials in his abstract sculptures. Mishler, a prolific artist, has devoted his life to making art. Born in Ethiopia and growing up in Elkhart, Indiana, Mishler received his B.A. from Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana and his M.F.A. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mishler’s signature artworks are kinetic, using elements with movement which seem on a collision path. However, the abstract shapes slice through the air with the seemingly effortless precision of the ballet. Monday, May 11, 2009 Sculpture dedication Wind Song, a stunning 15-foot-high stainless steel kinetic sculpture will be unveiled at noon. The sculpture is a gift from the family of John F. Smith, D.D.S., and is dedicated in his memory. Dowagiac Middle School 57028 Riverside Dr. 12:00 p.m. Lecture and reception Mishler will present a slide lecture of his work. His talk will include photos of the fabrication of Wind Song. Dale A. Lyons Building Theatre Southwestern Michigan College 58900 Cherry Grove Rd. 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.johnmishler.com Beckwith Theatre presents Cemetery Club Three Jewish widows meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husband’s graves. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life, Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun, and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher enters the scene. He meets the widows while visiting his wife’s grave. Doris and Lucille squash the budding romance between Sam and Ida. They are guilt stricken when this nearly breaks Ida’s heart. ”Funny, sweet tempered, moving.” — Boston Globe ”Very touching and humorous. An evening of pure pleasure that will make you glad you went to the theatre.” — Washington Journal Newspapers Friday, May 8, 2009 Beckwith Theatre 100 New York Ave. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $12 www.beckwiththeatre.org The Dogwood Tea: Tea, Crumpets, and Cobwebs The Tea Committee presents Tea, Crumpets, and Cobwebs, a unique visual and musical walk down memory lane. Teas, savories and sweets of the time will be served in true Dogwood Tea fashion. So dust off those pesky cobwebs and join in the fun. Saturday, May 16, 2009 Southwestern Michigan College, Mathews Conference Center 58900 Cherry Grove Rd. 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Tickets: $18 Toast ‘n’ Jam featuring Lake Effect Winds A creative introduction to great music, this event is designed especially for children ages 3 to 12. Toast ‘n’ Jam presents Lake Effect Winds, a woodwind quintet from the St. Joseph, Michigan area. Enjoy this “hands on,” interactive approach to classical music with your children. Saturday, May 9, 2009 Beckwith Theatre 100 New York Ave. 2:00 p.m. Tickets are free but limited. Reservations suggested. Youth Fine Arts Night This celebration of youthful talent showcases student artwork, and hearts will beat to the music of choirs, choruses, and bands. Especially rousing are the jazz band and the marching band. Topping off Youth Night is the presentation of the Dogwood Festival’s student scholarship for summer courses in the arts. Thursday, May 14, 2009 Dowagiac Union High School 701 West Prairie Ronde St. Exhibits open at 6:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Up Front Art Walk May 4 –17, 2009 Works from area artists will be on display 24/7 during the Up Front Art Walk. Artists from across Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana will be featured during this two week display. Original artworks in oil, watercolor, stone, metal, glass, mixed medium, photography and others will be on display in downtown Dowagiac merchant windows. All works are available for purchase from this juried show. Stroll the downtown streets of the Grand Old City and enjoy the show at your leisure.