Student Mini-Grants Recipients

November 30th -0001
MUSIC Matters

Michigan's Got Talent, MUSIC Matters's 2nd annual DEI talent show event, featured performances from Michigan undergraduate and graduate students, with select performances receiving prizes from local Ann Arbor businesses.

Providing Art Supplies

September 21st 2021
MDraw

MDraw is the first visual arts club to be established at the University of Michigan and exposes its members to a wide variety of resources for observing and creating art. This project in particular aims to provide digital art supplies to members who are just becoming familiar with the medium, enabling them to embrace a new creative outlet and obtain new skills.

October 15th 2021
Abigail Anderson, Basement Arts

Abigail Anderson directs a theatrical performance in which five unlikely companions find themselves bonded for six short weeks in what can only be described as a crash-course for human connection disguised as a drama class. Relationships begin and end, revelations of self-discovery are made, and real people learn to cope and sympathize with their experiences by sharing them with one another.

October 28th 2021
Nina Scire, Arts in Color

Arts in Color hosts annual showcases that raise awareness for social issues and celebrate diversity. 2021's showcase, Close Is Never Close Enough, centers in on intersectional identities. The production team worked in collaboration with student choreographers and dancers to create a final show consisting of several original pieces to share with the community.

October 30th 2021
Celine Rajoulh , The Michigan Archive

The Michigan Archive is a history magazine intended for general audiences. Their main mission is to make history and art accessible (and exciting!) for those not already immersed in the field. This semester, they published two issues, the first of which is Continuity. This issue explores things that have stayed the same throughout history and features a plethora of art and other topics, ranging from the history of time, Japanese fashion, cultural exchange, and more.

November 5th 2021
Joselyn Quintana, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional holiday celebrated in Mexico that commemorates the lives of those who have passed. To honor this holiday, LTA held a ball with food, music, and dancing. Beginning with a small welcome, the event served an authentic Mexican dinner while a speaker discussed the traditions and history of Día de los Muertos. Then, they featured a performance by Grupo Demolición, giving guests the freedom to dance to Latin music, mingle, and learn more about the culture by observing altars made by LTA members for their own families.

Two Mile Hollow: Senior Thesis

November 6th 2021
Samantha Estrella

Estrella's senior thesis was a production of Leah Nanako Winkler's Two Mile Hollow. She chose TMH as her thesis as it was one of the few available texts which met her standards as an Afro-Latina director: a comedic BIPOC piece written by a BIPOC playwright rooted in abundance versus trauma. This production was an opportunity for all involved to be creative and to work in an environment held by laughter.

November 10th 2021
Blueprint Literary Magazine

Blueprint Literary Magazine is a student-produced literary magazine at the University of Michigan which annually publishes original writing and visuals from across the Ann Arbor community, including poetry, fiction, photography, and art.

Failure: A Love Story

November 13th 2021
The RC Players

Failure: A Love Story was a full-length in-person performance, with a production team and cast completely made up of University of Michigan undergraduates. Each student took upon various responsibilities, including acting, directing, production roles, and technical direction. Failure has a wonderfully unique tone with themes of grief and the passage of time. It asks the audience to be empathetic towards bizarre and surreal characters who are grappling with their own mortality.

November 20th 2021
Chieh-Wen Chen, Thus Spoke Ann Arbor

Thus Spoke Ann Arbor put on two productions titled Oppression and Saltimbank. Oppression revolves around the lives of a young man and woman trying to find their way as members of a new generation in a highly traditional world. Saltimbank's main characters are a couple who work in the circus, the circus dressing room serving as a lighthearted backdrop for their story of betrayal and conflict. Through these performances, TSAA works to tell stories of human emotion and the desire for freedom.

November 20th 2021
MEMCO

MEMCO hosted a 5-hour live DJ event hosted at Club Above, a local 18+ Ann Arbor music venue. They collaborated with fellow on-campus organizations such as Maize Collective and WCBN FM to bring out special guest DJ Shigeto. Shigeto is an internationally acclaimed electronic producer, DJ, and drummer from Ann Arbor. All proceeds from the event went to Groundcover, a non-profit that aims to create opportunity and a voice for low-income people while taking action to end homelessness and poverty.

Design Guest Speaker

November 21st 2021
CMYK Design

Stamps alum and founder of multi-disciplinary boutique creative agency MLTI NYC, Kristen Shenk, led an informative career workshop for students to gain insight into advertising campaigns, retail display design, branding, and how to map their path in the design field after graduation.

December 1st 2021
FTVM 421

"Weaksiders" is a pilot TV episode and a story of perseverance. The plot follows six ex-athletes participating in group therapy after career-ending injuries or events that derailed their careers. The aim of this project is to show the audience that it's okay not to be okay, as each character must swallow their pride and allow themselves to receive the help they need.

H.M.S. Pinafore

December 2nd 2021
University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society

The University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society put on a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore.

Pure Imagination

December 2nd 2021
BlueNote Vocal Jazz Ensemble

The BlueNote Vocal Jazz Ensemble put on a concert titled "Pure Imagination" inspired by the arrangements of co-directors Eric Banitt and Karen Ludwig. During quarantine, both directors wrote their own arrangements of the song "Pure Imagination," and these two arrangements served as bookends to a concert filled with student arrangements, classic jazz standards, holiday pieces, and two graphic scores written by Ludwig.

Much Ado About Nothing

December 3rd 2021
RC Players

The RC Players organization put on a production of Shakespeare's play, Much Ado About Nothing, set in a modern environment.

December 4th 2021
Emma Laible, Not Even Really Drama Students

Not Even Really Drama Students (NERDS) performed an original musical written by Emma Laible and Adrien Beyer, titled Legal Courtship. The story focused on two lawyers who, when confronted by a new foe, must face their past in order to resolve present issues.

also known as

December 4th 2021
Kristin Hanson

also known as was a dance concert highlighting the work of three graduating students in the Department of Dance: Kristin Hanson, Alexa Miller, and Alexa Guidotti. Through musical, athletic, and theatrical movement, the three students put on performances exploring the concepts of tenderness and memory and the intricacies of different styles of dance. (Photo credit: Zach Morris)

December 10th 2021
WolverineSoft

Project Balloon was WolverineSoft Studio's semester-long project. They did a case study of the game Balloon’s Tower Defense, where they recreated many of the games’ mechanics while coming up with their own theme and narrative.

Midnight Book Club Fall Shows

December 10th 2021
Midnight Book Club

Midnight Book Club, a long-form improvised comedy group, hosted a series of hour-long improv comedy shows. Following COVID-19's challenges, students at the University of Michigan are facing unprecedented mental and emotional challenges--Midnight Book Club seeks to help students find solace through humor by presenting these comedy shows.

OJEADA

December 11th 2021
Rebecca Herrera

OJEADA held their inaugural launch event and printed physical copies of their first issue.

Salto Dance Company's Winter Showcase

December 11th 2021
Salto Dance Company

Salto Dance Company, a contemporary ballet group, put on a winter show to showcase their innovation through their unique choreography and dance style. The show had two acts, each revolving around various classical and contemporary ballet pieces as well as several lyrical pieces. Through these performances, the group aimed to present people who are unfamiliar with ballet and contemporary dance with a positive, inspiring experience. (Photo: Kirk Donaldson)

Birdbath

December 11th 2021
Drake George

Birdbath is a play by Leonard Melfi that Drake George is using for their senior thesis as a Senior Directing major at the University of Michigan. In Birdbath, a young, unsuccessful poet meets a girl while they are both working at an all-night cafeteria in Manhattan. When he invites her home and tries to seduce her, she resists in the most devastating way imaginable, turning the evening into a nightmare for both of them. This play examines loneliness and how to find connection in the strangest of places.

A Whole New World: Đêm Việt Nam Culture Show

January 22nd 2022
Vietnamese Student Association

The Vietnamese Student Association put on a culture show where students were challenged to reflect on their own personal identities while creating their performances. They showcased singing, dancing, and skits that encouraged audience members to learn about Vietnamese culture by displaying cultural stories and narratives.

DOGFIGHT: The Musical

February 11th 2022
Allie Kench

In a reimagining of the musical DOGFIGHT, Kench produces a show exploring themes of camaraderie, forgiveness, tradition, and love set in the Vietnam War era. Through a unique multimedia approach to the musical, the cast navigated topics of PTSD and war while immersing the audience.

DOGFIGHT: The Musical

February 11th 2022
Allie Kench

Kench produced a reimagined staging of Pasek and Paul's musical, DOGFIGHT. Set in the Vietnam War era, DOGFIGHT follows the stories of Marines about to be deployed. The show explores themes of camaraderie, forgiveness, tradition, and love while also addressing PTSD, social stigma surrounding mental illness, and war.

February 12th 2022
Amelia Baumann

Baumann directed the 2019 Pulitzer Prize Finalist "Dance Nation" by Clare Barron as their senior thesis for a BFA in Directing. "Dance Nation" follows a team of preteen competitive dancers. Baumann directed three live performances and one filming of the production.

Candlelight Concert

February 12th 2022
Undergraduate Piano Performance Majors

In honor of Valentine's Day, this group put on a candlelit concert with pianists playing romantic and famous pieces inspired by love. The concert emphasized love's subjective beauty in a wide range of contexts through the different songs featured.

Color Cabaret

February 24th 2022
Chloe Cuff

The Color Cabaret is a cabaret featuring music, dance, and spoken word to tell various narratives of students of color in the Department of Musical Theatre, celebrating BIPOC identities and exploring the intersectionalities of being a person of color with sexuality, gender, and multiracial identities. Students from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures came together for two nights to perform songs and dance numbers from the musical theatre in combination with original monologues.

February 25th 2022
The Michigan Archive

The Michigan Archive is a history magazine intended for general audiences. Their first issue of the semester, titled Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n Roll, explores topics like the War on Drugs and misconceptions on the Kama Sutra.

February 26th 2022
SHEI Magazine

SHEI Magazine had a photoshoot for their 2022 Spring Issue. This publication promotes diversity, inclusivity, and personal expression among individuals.

Branch Out

March 1st 2022
Cortez Hill

Branch Out is a comedic-thriller written & directed by Andrew Otchere, produced by Cortez Hill, with collaboration by other amazing student artists at the University of Michigan. The story centers around what happens when three Black friends go to a house party at their predominately white college with hopes of expanding their social circle, but instead find themselves experiencing something very different.

Nyumba: African Students Association Culture Show

March 11th 2022
African Students Association

The African Students Association put on an exhibition of cultures from all over Africa, with performances from songs of various African languages to traditional dances. The show celebrated Africa's diversity, beauty, and influence on the rest of the world.

March 12th 2022
Northern Town Parody Musicals

Northern Town Parody Musicals conducted a performance of their newest parody, Scooby.

The 16th Annual Multicultural Greek Exhibition

March 24th 2022
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (Beta Omicron Chapter)

Formally known as the Latino Greek Exhibition, the purpose of the Multicultural Greek Exhibition (MGX) is to expose and educate students across campus to part of the Multicultural Greek culture. This event brought light to the unheard voices of minorities by giving them space to showcase their traditions such as saluting, strolling, stepping, and dancing, which encompass their unique Greek customs.

Next to Normal

March 25th 2022
We the People Representing Our Unifying Diversity

We the People Representing Our Unifying Diversity put on a production of "Next to Normal," a rock musical featuring the experience of a mentally struggling mother and the impact that her illness has on her family. Emphasizing the cultural context of the Asian family that the musical revolves around, We the People upheld a production process prioritizing Asian artists.

Azar

March 25th 2022
Persian Students Association

PSA's annual cultural show captures what it means to be Persian through music, dance, and skits. This year, the performances consisted of a blend of traditional and modern Persian music and choreography, musical performances with traditional instruments, and educational skits to instill a sense of heritage and community.

Psallant aethera: Songs of Spirit and Joy

March 29th 2022
Julia Bezems

Psallant aethera: Songs of Spirit and Joy was a recital featuring solo vocal music as well as chamber choral music surrounding the theme of overcoming trials and finding joy. Bezems sang the solo vocal repertoire and conducted the chamber choral music.

Chai and Chobi: Iraqi Culture Night

March 30th 2022
Iraqi Student Association

Chai refers to the traditional tea (or chai) that is served at Iraqi events or gatherings, and chobi is the name of the traditional dance performed at public events and weddings. The event was a way to celebrate Iraqi culture through the enjoyment of food, music, and dance.

April 1st 2022
Lauren Trail

Trail created a graphic novel titled What Flows Through Us. Drawing attention to water-related issues, this book compiles a variety of vignettes centered around narratives tied to Lake Michigan and water quality issues. Aimed at middle school to high school audiences, this book encourages the youth to think of their own lives and their relationships with the water that plays such a vital role in our lives and planet.

What If?

April 1st 2022
Josephine Burck

What If? is Burck's year-long IP project in which she aims to recreate her own current and childhood fantasies through a series of six large-scale self-portrait photographs. Using props, prosthetics, clothing, and accessories, she turns herself into a series of characters from her fantasies. By utilizing the uncanny, each photograph evokes the grotesqueness of femininity and glamour, expressing the confusing nature of being a young woman.

April 1st 2022
Xylem Literary Magazine

Xylem Literary Magazine released the 2021-22 edition of their publication.

April 1st 2022
Isis Joseph

Isis Joseph wrote and designed a book exploring the ways in which graphic design has been used in American history and Black identity. For Black Americans, throughout history, graphic design has contributed to death, healing, and resistance. Joseph's goal is that this book will provide context and history for graphic designers as they consider issues of race, racism, and the portrayal of Black identity in their work.

Oh, the Places Pops Goes!

April 2nd 2022
Michigan Pops

The Michigan Pops Orchestra put on their spring performance, with the theme being international cultures.

The Clean House

April 3rd 2022
Margaret Shea

Shea directed a performance of Sarah Ruhl's play, "The Clean House," for their senior thesis. This play explores language, class, comedy, cleanliness, and health.

New Movement Showcase

April 3rd 2022
Laurel Saxe, New Movement

New Movement hosted a dance showcase. Saxe's group performed eight group dances in addition to several solo, duet, and trio performances.

Witches

April 5th 2022
Macy Goller

Witches is a short experimental film that explores the magic of friendship. It bends genres and breaks narrative structure, portraying two witches who live in the woods and use their magic solely for fun.

April 8th 2022
Dana Pierangeli

Pierangeli created an original musical titled "growing pains." The show depicts two lifelong best friends who begin to drift apart as they enter their senior year of high school and must grapple with the turmoil of growing up.

King of the Tigers

April 8th 2022
Jack Weaver

King of the Tigers: A Tiger King Musical is a student-written musical that parodies the infamous docuseries in two acts.

Road Trip

April 9th 2022
Not Even Really Drama Students

Road Trip: The Musical is an original student-written and student-produced musical by B Dergis and Will McCleland. The musical follows 6 road trippers on their magical and mystical journey to Seattle to see an eclipse.

Shine Bright, Starlight

April 9th 2022
BlueNote Vocal Ensemble

Shine Bright, Star Light was a show in two parts. The first half was a set of somber pieces that pulled from different sub-genres within jazz music. The second half was a shift towards more upbeat pieces.

April 15th 2022
Vibrance Dance Company

Vibrance Dance Company is a student-led and choreographed jazz and contemporary dance group. This show was their annual showcase of choreographed and rehearsed pieces from the duration of the school year.

April 15th 2022
SHEI Magazine

SHEI published their Winter 2022 print magazine.

April 15th 2022
Ryan Espitia

Welcome to My F**king Brain is an installation piece that will be on exhibition in mid-April for the Senior Undergraduate Exhibition at STAMPS that dives into Espitia's personal experience with anxiety and depression as a queer Latino and exploring how these layers affect one another. Built into two components, the project is an immersive installation piece within the STAMPS studios that utilizes paper and text to mimic the obsessive and anxious behaviors of their brain by introducing the destructive physicality of writing, re-writing, ripping, rearranging, and collecting archives of thoughts and behaviors from the artist's life.

PWI

April 16th 2022
Shalini Roy

PWI is a short film. It's graduation night and Amara, Sanaa, and Kendra have the blues about what could have been and what never was. Spurred on by their friend, Leon, they cathartically express their feelings by singing about their experiences at a Predominantly White Institution as Black women. Some memories are good, some bad, and some just plain awkward, but the only constant through it all is their friendship, the hardest thing they have to say goodbye to.

That Brown Show

April 16th 2022
Michigan Sahana

Michigan Sahānā, a student organization aimed to promote and preserve Classical Indian Music and Dance, organized and hosted That Brown Show. This was a showcase of all the University of Michigan's South Asian Performing Arts groups (including Two Bollywood teams, Raas, Bhangra, Mayuri, Indian Classical Dance and Indian Classical Music).

April 18th 2022
Ariana Shaw

Shaw created a "Rave For One" for their Interarts Performance senior integrative project. A decorated U-Haul went around campus, allowing students to enter and find a brief moment of escapism from academics and Covid restrictions.

April 19th 2022
Nicole White

"Disrupted” is an experimental one-woman show about the loss of White's father to suicide. As a performer, visual artist, and theater-maker, White uses her interdisciplinary art practice to approach this multimedia collage that plays with the translation of live performance to film and vice versa.

Mentality Magazine Winter Semester Edition

April 19th 2022
Mentality Magazine

Mentality Magazine is a mental health magazine on campus dedicated to openly discussing and prioritizing mental health, with a focus on written content creation and visual design. Their mission is to educate the Michigan community about mental health, share stories of fellow Wolverines, and report on related campus news.

Darlings

April 19th 2022
Mitchell Salley

"Darlings" is a 30-minute short horror film that explores the poisonous relationship between two sisters and the obsession to reach artistic genius.

Undeclared

April 20th 2022
Logan Daitch, Undeclared

"Undeclared" is a web series revolving around the life of Ellie, a college junior who is unsure of what he wants to do with his life. The show is the story of a journey to transition into the real world. "Undeclared" is a modern satire on the stigma of mental health, and how the world is not what many expect it to be in their childhood.

April 22nd 2022
Rafaela Sabino Hasner

Sleeping 'Til Seattle was a musical organized by an independent team of students.

Midnight Book Club Winter Shows

April 22nd 2022
Midnight Book Club

The Midnight Book Club put on three hour-long, fully improvised comedy shows free to Michigan students and the Ann Arbor community.

Relevé Dance Company Annual Showcase

April 23rd 2022
Relevé Dance Company

Relevé Dance Company held their annual showcase in which they performed one large group dance with all members of the company along with multiple smaller group dances of various genres. Their show was completely student-choreographed, and included acts from other performance groups at U of M to create a celebration of the arts.

Nothing New to Say

April 24th 2022
Allison Bell

“Nothing New To Say” was a live student-produced musical concert fusing folk, jazz, acoustic, indie funk, and R&B genres in an engaging evening of musical dialogue.

April 30th 2022
Shannon Yeung

“In the Dark” is a series of four double-walled porcelain lamps that start a conversation about our human tendency to generalize. When the viewer approaches the lamp, a motion detector turns on the lamp and the inner volume — statistical prevalence — is revealed through the translucent porcelain. Without physically closing the distance, the viewer is left in the dark. As a series, each lamp looks similar from the outside but has drastically different inner volumes. prompting the viewer to question why different generalizations have the same truth status despite drastically different statistical prevalences and if this changes whether they want to endorse them.

Révérence

May 2nd 2022
FTVM 423

Révérence was a play aimed at viewers and fans of the mystery-thriller genre with a sting of raw teenage reverb. It dealt with themes of personal and professional competition, as well as abuse and manipulation.