Save 10% off your stay at the Stuart Avenue Inn when you join us in celebrating the 325th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. Attend either or both of the Early Music Michigan concerts exploring JSB’s music for voices (Saturday, March 20 at 8pm); and for solo organ (Sunday, March 21 at 4pm.) Both concerts at St. Luke's Episcopal Church 247 West Lovell Street, Kalamazoo.

So you’re on a budget. Here are a few of the FREE activities to get you out of the house for a fun afternoon or evening of history, theatre, music, art, or dance.

ARTbreak: King of Masks, Part 1, March 9, 12 pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Set in 1930s China, King of Masks is the beautifully filmed story of an aging street performer and master of Sichuan Change Art, (where a succession of masks is changed instantaneously). The master longs to adopt a son to pass on the secrets of his art. Yet when the right child suddenly appears, the outcome is far different than what he expects. Roger Ebert called King of Masks "a film of simplicity, beauty, and surprising emotional power."

ARTbreak: King of Masks, Part 2, March 16, 12 pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Conclusion of King of Masks. Set in 1930s China, King of Masks is the beautifully filmed story of an aging street performer and master of Sichuan Change Art, (where a succession of masks is changed instantaneously). The master longs to adopt a son to pass on the secrets of his art. Yet when the right child suddenly appears, the outcome is far different than what he expects. Roger Ebert called King of Masks "a film of simplicity, beauty, and surprising emotional power."

Kirk Newman Art School Hands-on Open House: March 26, 6 - 9 pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Try your hand at a variety of mediums, and create your own masterpiece. Some of the projects include wheel throwing, raku firing, watercolor painting, jewelry creation, indigo dyeing, printing black and white photos, printing woodblocks, creating wire sculptures and creating images with Photoshop. Dress to get messy. Free - nominal supply fee for some activities.

Woodcuts in Modern China, 1937-2008: Towards a Universal Pictorial Language through April 18. Tues. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm: Sun. 12 - 5 pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Chinese artists adapted the Western-style woodcut to create a pictorial language that resonated with the illiterate masses. They also created the beginnings of communist art in China and, in the most general sense, laid the foundation of modern Chinese art. The exhibition is the first organized in the U.S. to present a comprehensive overview of the beginnings and development of this important art form. This exhibition features 65 Chinese woodblock prints.

Fear & Folly: The Visionary Prints of Francisco Goya and Federico Castellon through May 23. Tue. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm; Sun. 12 - 5 pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Though separated by about 150 years, Francisco Goya and Federico Castellon often appear closer to one another than to their contemporaries, as they both turned their attention to the human condition. Many artists have been drawn to things dark and fantastic, but few have probed the human condition with the insight and truthfulness found in these images.

All Ears Theatre - Parole to Panic, March 6, 6 pm First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan Ave. A man becomes concerned when the people he used to hang with think he has been talking too much about them to the wrong people. Now what is he going to do - run, or face up to them?

All Ears Theatre - The Adventures of Alice , March 20, 6 pm First Baptist Church - 315 W. Michigan Ave. This two-part story, with both parts performed on the same evening, brings you a classic re-telling of the popular Lewis Carroll story featuring Alice, Humpty Dumpty, The King and Queen of Hearts and many other popular characters found in this popular children's story.

All Ears Theatre - War of the Worlds April 3, 6 pm First Baptist Church 315 W. Michigan Ave. 1938 was a pivotal year for radio when Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre performers presented the classic H. G Welles, story. People panicked throughout the east coast and country, not initially realizing that the broadcast was a radio play. All Ears Theatre will be performing the original science fiction play in its entirety. Close your eyes--if you dare.

Wellspring's Spring Dance Day, March 7, 2 - 4 pm Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center. Join us for Dance Day, our annual family event designed for dancers and non-dancers of all ages. Enjoy a performance by Wellspring company members, try a mini-dance class and sign up for spring classes (scholarships available). Dance Day is free fun for the whole family!

Works in Progress: Wellspring's Spring Concert Open Rehearsal, April 2, 6 - 7 pm Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center. Catch a sneak peek of Wellspring’s latest choreographic works at this open rehearsal during the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo’s April Art Hop.

Imprisoned at Home: Internment Stories March 25, 7 pm Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S Rose St. In 1943, some 120,000 Japanese-Americans were forcibly incarcerated in war relocation camps. Iwao Ishino and Sadayoshi Omoto, both camp internees, will share their remarkable stories. Takashi Yoshida, Western Michigan University professor of history, will moderate.

Korematsu v. United States: The Constitution's Dark Hour, March 31, 7 pm Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S. Rose St. Mark S. Hurwitz, associate professor of political science at WMU will discuss the internment of Japanese-American citizens during WWII, the landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court upholding that internment, regarded as one of its darkest hours, and Fred Korematsu's courage and ultimate vindication, culminating with his award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Rhythm of My Soul, March 27, 1 pm Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The Rhythm of My Soul is a performance documentary that tells the story of country, gospel, mountain and bluegrass - Kentucky roots music. With rare and historic film clips of Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn and Ricky Skaggs, featured picking mandolin at eight years old, the film documents the music by featuring the people who live it.

2010 Fretboard Contest , March 5, 6 pm Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Local Fretboard talent compete for a performance spot during the festival. University Trombone Choir, March 10, 8:15 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall Steve Wolfinbarger, Director Enso String Quartet, March 11, 7 pm Kalamazoo Public Library. Enjoy the athletic, crisp, and expressive style of the Enso String Quartet. Enso will weave informative talks with its performance. Appearance courtesy Fontana Chamber Arts.

AMPHION Men's Ensemble, March 11, 8:15 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall Ken Prewitt, Conductor

5th Annual Fretboard Festival, March 20, Sat. 11 am - 8 pm; Sun. 1 - 4 pm Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Celebrate the string instrument and Kalamazoo's musical heritage with live music, lectures, and luthier displays. Sunday will have family music, lectures and activities. 72nd Annual Southwestern Michigan Vocal Festival, March 18, 7 pm Miller Auditorium Jeffrey Ames, Guest Conductor. Featuring the high school festival chorus, honors choir, and WMU's Gold Company.

University Symphony Orchestra, March 21, 3 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall Bruce Uchimura, Conductor "Broadway Pops"

WMU Drum Choir, March 24, 8:15 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall Keith Hall, Director

Brothers Kalamazov, March 24, pm Kalamazoo Public Library. Musicians and songwriters Nathan Durham, Jay Gavan, and David Teske are The Brothers Kalamazov. This lively group performs an eclectic range of original and traditional songs on a wide range of instruments, from guitar and bass to banjo, flute, and saxophone. Musical influences include jazz, Celtic, bluegrass, and Tin Pan Alley.

Collegium Musicum , March 30, 8:15 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall Matthew Steel, Director