Lake Michigan College receives Berrien Community Foundation grant for professional theater equipment

Lake Michigan College's Visual & Performing Arts Department has received an $11,800 For Good grant from the Berrien Community Foundation to create a professional stage for upcoming performances of the musical “Big Fish.” The grant will fund the rental of a suite of professional LED video wall panels and digital scenery that will enhance the performance and give the student performers a taste of the big stage.

According to an article on Lake Michigan College’s website, Shalico Sain, a theater instructor at the college, was quoted as saying of the grant, “We thank the Berrien Community Foundation for awarding this grant to the College. It allows us to present a professional-level performance on the Jenkins Theatre stage, on par with what patrons might expect from a nationally touring production. Beyond their stunning visual impact, the LED panels offer students hands-on experience with industry-standard technology. Access to advanced tools like LED walls allows students to stay current with evolving industry trends. These opportunities are usually only available to those attending four-year colleges or studying in larger metropolitan areas. This is a major advantage for our students.”

In addition to having the opportunity to perform on stage with these professional-grade lights and scenery panels, students will also learn how to program and operate them through training sessions with Technical Director Matt “Dolphy” Clark and a team from TPC Technologies, Inc, the college’s technical stage production partner. Students will be trained in a specific set of skills that will bolster their resumes for technical theater positions with a certificate of completion.

Clark said, “Students will get real-world production experience by assisting with the equipment load-in, installation, programming, and tear down. It’s an on-the-job learning opportunity that will be a resume builder for any of the students looking to get into the technical aspects of the performing arts.”

Berrien Community Foundation Program Director Susan Matheny said of the foundation’s donation to the college, “Providing a For Good grant that increases the artistic quality of the production and creates a valuable educational opportunity for LMC theater students was an easy decision for the Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of our community that contributes to the Community Endowment, we were able to fulfill this request that makes such a deep impact on the students served by Lake Michigan College.”

Lake Michigan College’s performances of “Big Fish” run from March 26 to March 29 in the college’s Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre.

For more information about Lake Michigan College, visit the school’s website.