Northern Valley Youth Orchestras 
Winter Concert: Connections  
4:30 pm Sunday, March 2  2025
Empire Arts Center
415 Demers Ave. Grand Forks 
Tickets: Pay what you can, $5 suggested minimum.

Northern Valley Youth Orchestras concert, “Connections,” on March 2nd, 4:30 pm at the Empire Arts Center, features over 90 string, wind, brass and percussion students from dozens of regional cities and schools in Minnesota and North Dakota. Performances include an exciting variety of symphonic favorites and lesser-known masterpieces by living and historic composers, including a North Dakota premiere. Tickets at the door, general admission: audience members are invited to pay what they can, suggested minimum of $5.
NVYO Symphony, conducted by Dr. Kevin Sütterlin and assistant Devon Tucker; and Philharmonic, conducted by Kara Hartten with assistant Katie Stermer, rehearse weekly, with professional teacher and mentor support.  NVYO  provides challenging symphonic opportunities for young musicians aged 9 to 21, within a supportive setting. Please support these amazing young people as they make music, make friends, and use their talents to make a difference in the community!

As part of the ND Museum of Art’s Women at War Exhibition, underwritten by the University of North Dakota, the Museum will host a film screening of new films produced by two of the artists included in the Women at War exhibition, followed by a reception.

        The film screening will include:

–Alevtina Kakhidze’s film All Good (2024) (19 min 57 sec). This event will represent the North American Premiere of this work. In addition to being one of Ukraine’s most recognized contemporary artists, Alevtina holds the title of UN Ambassador for Tolerance since 2018.

–Dana Kavelina’s Marc Tulip, Who Spoke with Flowers (2018) (15 min 19 sec). Kavelina is an artist of international stature. Letter to a Turtledove, which is featured in the exhibition at NDMOA, was recently purchased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

–Dana Kavelina’s Monuments (2022) (34 min 35 sec).

–Artists Kakhidze and Kavelina will be brought in during NDMOA programming via Zoom to participate in the discussion. The screening will be followed by a reception at the Empire Arts Center.

Free and open to the public. For more information about the Women at War Exhibition and all the activities, please visit the exhibition website at NDMOA Women at War.

BLACK PANTHER

After the death of his father, T'Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T'Challa's mettle as king -- and as Black Panther -- gets tested when he's drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people.

All seats $5 (includes fees and tax). Tickets available at the door.

Join us at the Empire Arts Theater in Grand Forks, ND, for an evening of exceptional music featuring Pert Near Sandstone and the MoonCats. Prepare to dance and sing along to their folk and bluegrass melodies under the winter moon. This in-person event promises to be a memorable night filled with good vibes and great music. Don't miss this opportunity to have a blast with friends and fellow music enthusiasts. See you at the North Country Hootenanny on Saturday, February 22nd, at the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks. Tickets are now available. Link in comments

Poster design by Dan Augustine.

Empire Arts Theater, Grand Forks, ND

February 22, 2 pm - Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” with Kathy Coudle-King, playwright & Associate Teaching Professor, English Department, University of North Dakota

Saturday Salons are informal discussions, free and open to the public, in the Empire’s gallery. We hope you will join us for these events focusing on a wide variety of topics on Saturdays throughout the year.

HAIRSPRAY

In 1960s Baltimore, dance-loving teen Tracy Turnblad auditions for a spot on "The Corny Collins Show" and wins. She becomes an overnight celebrity, a trendsetter in dance, fun and fashion. Perhaps her new status as a teen sensation is enough to topple Corny's reigning dance queen and bring racial integration to the show.

All seats $5 (includes fees and tax). Tickets available at the door.

The International Center would like to invite you to the “Grand Forks Through My Lens Photography Exhibition.”

This exhibit features 40 original photographs taken in Grand Forks by UND international students from 17 different countries, This event is to highlight international students as newcomers to the U.S. and to share their unique perspectives and personal experiences through photography.

Friday, February 21, 2025

4 to 6 pm

Free & Open to the public

Light refreshments served

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN

Beginning during the racial turmoil of 1960s Louisiana, 110-year-old ex-slave Jane Pittman (Cicely Tyson) grants an interview to a persistent journalist and relates the remarkable story of her life. Orphaned early, she toils on a plantation until a chance meeting with a white Union soldier named Brown changes her outlook. Jane's emancipation marks only the beginning of an arduous and heartbreaking odyssey, framed by the horrors of slavery and the justice of the civil rights movement.

All seats $5 (includes fees and tax). Tickets available at the door.

Lighting the Way Home!

Frost Fire Summer Theatre 40th Anniversary Showcase & Fundraiser!

Enjoy a special evening consisting of a retrospective from previous Frost Fire favorites featuring original cast members and a sneak peek from the upcoming show... FAME! the Musical. Don't miss this memorable evening of entertainment and celebration on Monday, February 17. Join us for a social hour with cash bar and hors d'oeuvres from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, main stage show from 7:30 to 8:30 pm, and the Acoustic Night Cap in the gallery with entertainment from select cast members, complimentary champagne, and dessert, from 8:45 to 9:30 pm.

If you wish to purchase tickets over the phone, please call the Empire at 701-746-5500. If you would like to purchase tickets at the box office, the Empire box office hours are Thursdays from 2 pm to 7 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Box office will also be open one hour prior to the event time on the day of the show.

Join us for a screening of The Crucible (1996) on the Empire’s big screen!

After married man John Proctor (Daniel Day-Lewis) decides to break off his affair with his young lover, Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder), she leads other local girls in an occult rite to wish death upon his wife, Elizabeth (Joan Allen). When the ritual is discovered, the girls are brought to trial. Accusations begin to fly, and a literal witch hunt gets underway. Before long, Elizabeth is suspected of witchcraft, and John's attempt to defend her only makes matters worse.

All seats $5 (includes fees and tax). Tickets available at the door.

Interested in live, local music?

Check out the Empire’s Music Box concert!

PERFORMANCES BY:

• DUROW

• NORA LEE

• BUILD A BAND PERFORMANCES

Join the Empire and Rosenquist Law Office for a Family Film!

THE CAT IN THE HAT (2003)

In this live-action film based on the favorite children's tale, the trouble-making Cat in the Hat (Mike Myers) arrives at the home of bored young Sally Walden (Dakota Fanning) and her brother, Conrad (Spencer Breslin), while their mother (Kelly Preston) is out. The family's pet fish (Sean Hayes) objects to the Cat's presence, but that doesn't stop the hat-wearing giant feline from trying to have fun, no matter how much destruction is left in his wake.

Cash $2, Card $2.50. Tickets available at the door.

Build A Band Session 6 - Taking the Stage

Learn how to approach venues, book gigs, and navigate the music industry. Explore the future steps for your band's success.

STAND UP @ THE EMPIRE

Get ready to laugh your socks off at STAND UP @ THE EMPIRE! Join us for a night of hilarious stand-up comedy at 415 Demers Ave. Come and enjoy a lineup of talented comedians ready to tickle your funny bone. Don't miss out on this evening of laughter.

SOUL

Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz -- and he's good. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.

All seats $5 (includes fees and tax). Tickets available at the door.

Nine & Numb Presents: No Time For Valentine's
A Love Letter to Singlehood

Who needs roses and chocolates when you’ve got laughs and improv? Join Nine & Numb as they celebrate the joys (and woes) of a Valentine’s Day-themed comedy show.

Date: Sunday, February 11
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Empire Arts Center

Whether you’re single, taken, or it’s complicated, this show is for you!  

The Empire Arts Center & The Amish Gallery Present:

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward, described by the author as "an improbable farce in three acts". The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his willful and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

Build A Band Session 5 - Shine on Stage

Develop your stage presence and finalize your press kit. Learn tips on engaging the audience and promoting your music.

The Empire Arts Center & The Amish Gallery Present:

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward, described by the author as "an improbable farce in three acts". The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his willful and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

The Empire Arts Center & The Amish Gallery Present:

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward, described by the author as "an improbable farce in three acts". The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his willful and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

The Empire Arts Center & The Amish Gallery Present:

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward, described by the author as "an improbable farce in three acts". The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his willful and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

The Empire Arts Center & The Amish Gallery Present:

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward, described by the author as "an improbable farce in three acts". The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his willful and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

The Empire Arts Center & The Amish Gallery Present:

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward, described by the author as "an improbable farce in three acts". The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his willful and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

*ASL interpreter available for this performance

Build A Band Session 4 - Mastering Your Sound

Dive deeper into sound engineering, stage setup, and refining your playing style to perfect your band's sound.

The Empire Arts Center & The Amish Gallery Present:

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward, described by the author as "an improbable farce in three acts". The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his willful and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

Get ready to laugh your socks off! 
Join Nine and Numb Improv Troupe for a night of hilarity and surprises! 

When: Sunday, January 28
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: Empire Arts Center

Expect quick wit, unpredictable scenes, and a whole lot of laughs. Don't miss the comedy magic—grab your friends and make it a night to remember!

She Kills Monsters tells the story of high schooler Agnes Evans as she deals with the death of her younger sister, Tilly. When Agnes stumbles upon Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. The plot takes place in reality and in the imaginary game world; In the game world Agnes embarks on an action-packed quest to save her sister's soul, coming face to face with homicidal fairies, raunchy ogres and blood thirsty cheerleaders, learns about Tilly's exploration with her sexuality and discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. This high-octane dramatic comedy by acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

Zimney Foster is sponsoring a Legal Film Series in January 2025 featuring classic legal films from the top legal/lawyer films of all time. These films are:

January 5 - To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

January 12 - Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

January 19 - Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

January 26 - 12 Angry Men (1957)

All seats $8 cash or $10 credit card. Tickets available at the door.

She Kills Monsters tells the story of high schooler Agnes Evans as she deals with the death of her younger sister, Tilly. When Agnes stumbles upon Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. The plot takes place in reality and in the imaginary game world; In the game world Agnes embarks on an action-packed quest to save her sister's soul, coming face to face with homicidal fairies, raunchy ogres and blood thirsty cheerleaders, learns about Tilly's exploration with her sexuality and discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. This high-octane dramatic comedy by acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.