Performing arts series season kicks off Friday with the Yellow Room Gang.

Performing arts series season kicks off Friday with the Yellow Room Gang.

HART — The Hart Community Performing Arts Series begins its 2022-2023 season with a concert by the Yellow Room Gang Friday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m in the Hart Public Schools Auditorium.

Season tickets for the 2022-23 series are on sale now. Individual tickets for this concert will be $15 at the door.

In December of 2005, a group of Michigan songwriters gathered in the brilliantly yellow living room of David Tamulevich’s Ann Arbor home for the first time. They’ve been meeting monthly ever since to share dinner, conversation and the newest song they have in the process for critique. Each an accomplished songwriter and performer in their own right, they create a unique atmosphere of respect and support, friendship and generosity finding new and unexpected ways to explore beyond their previous personal boundaries. 

It wasn’t long before they began performing together and presenting workshops in various configurations. What began as a casual excuse to get together with friends has evolved into one of the most exciting ‘super groups’ to ever join forces on one stage. 

Five of those musicians will appear in Hart. 

Kitty Donohoe is an award-winning songwriter with three critically acclaimed albums to her credit, who successfully merges her Celtic and American roots in her music. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Michigan Chapter, Presented Kitty with an Emmy in June 2002 for her 9-11 song “There Are No Words.” Her songwriting clearly reflects both her Irish and her American roots. Her natural sense as a storyteller merges with a love of language and an ear for melodies to create songs about the aspects of life that move most of us, from everyday “to the rarer moments we encounter.”

Jan Krist is a Detroit-area songwriter who has garnered lots of national attention. In 1991, Jan made a splash at the Kerrville Folk Festival. In addition to being a four-time Detroit Music Award winner, Entertainment Weekly praised her “breathtaking vocal leaps” and said that she “makes soul-searching more enjoyable than it has any right to be.”  Billboard Magazine called her “Unreservedly recommended.”   

Jim Bizer loves to make music — his masterful performances and award-winning songs bear this out. Combining a vast musical knowledge with thoughtful and humorous lyrics, he concocts songs that are both beautiful and startling. You never quite know what will come out of his mouth, or his guitar, next.

Matt Watroba sings and writes songs of compassion, inner strength, humor, and everyday living. He sings songs that you will feel and remember for a long time. You will love his music; you will love the journey that his music takes you on; and you will love the place that his music takes you to. 

Michael Hough grew up outside of Detroit in a very musical family in which everyone sang and played. When he came to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan, his Dad did not want him to take a guitar along – but, again it was inevitable, he just had to play, write and perform. Michael performed as part of the well-known folk duo Mustard’s Retreat for over 40 years.

The Hart Community Performing Arts Series is a presentation of the Hart Community Performing Arts Association, a non-profit organization headed by a volunteer Board of Directors, in cooperation with Hart Public Schools. The series is funded by its many local patrons and sponsors. Further information about the series is available at hartseries.org or by contacting Artistic Director Tom Kirk at tomkirk@hartseries.org.

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