Summerfest 2017 Celebrates Discovery and Entertainment

Grinnell College's third annual Summerfest — a free, daylong celebration of learning, discovery, and entertainment for all ages — will take place on campus from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 17.

The headliner will be New York City's Broadway's Next Hit Musical, an improvised musical comedy that will start at 7 p.m. on the Central Campus Stage. This interactive, unscripted theatrical award show features master improvisers who gather hit song suggestions from the audience and incorporate the songs into a spontaneous evening of music, humor, and laughter.

Broadway's Next Hit Musical has been performed at numerous festivals and received positive reviews. The New York Times called the show "Hilarious!" and Time Out NY proclaimed: "At last! A musical of, for, and by the people."

The cast will also host a Musical Improvisation workshop designed for older kids, teens, and adults at 1 p.m. in Flanagan Theater in the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts.

In addition, there will be a Theater Improv workshop for older kids, teens, and adults taught by Sandy Moffett, professor emeritus of theater. Kathleen Hurley of Batts Dance Studio will lead a workshop for the same age groups on Modern Dance Contact Improvisation for Beginners.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase on campus. Vendors will include Dragon Wagon BBQ, Kona Ice Truck, The Outside Scoop, Tacos Don Diego, and Island Vybz. Peace Tree Brewery will offer beer tastings to adults 21 and older.

Summerfest events will be held both outdoors and inside campus buildings. Attendees are asked to come prepared to be outdoors throughout the day. In the event of rain, events will be moved inside. For more, see the Summerfest campus map.

Festivities also will include engaging workshops, creative performances, and family-oriented activities presented by area organizations and Grinnell faculty. Offerings include:

• Building Blunders and Earth Plays Rough with the Science Center of Iowa
• Music lovers can learn to write songs in the Composition Crash Course led by Grinnell Professor of Music Eric McIntyre.
• Show & Tell with creatures from the Blank Park Zoo
• Performance by Poet and Storyteller Awki Nji
• Biology and the Basics of Brewing Beer with home brewer Joshua Sandquist, assistant professor of biology

Summerfest will also showcase musical performances by the NOLA Jazz Band, Omaha Street Percussion, Pink Neighbor and Too Many String Band. Music lovers can learn to write songs in the Composition Crash Course led by Grinnell Professor of Music Eric McIntyre.

• "Diamonds of the Prairie" quilt show, raffle, and craft sale