2016 Parade Marshal Introduced

2016 Parade MarshalThe Tulip Festival Steering Committee is pleased to honor Brian De Jong as the parade marshal for 2016, as announced at the  Tulip Festival Extravaganza on Wednesday, March 16.

A native and lifelong resident of Orange City, De Jong rode floats and carried cheese in the Dutch Heritage Walk as a young boy.

De Jong’s involvement with the festival since has proven significant, as he’s volunteered in a variety of capacities. He’s carried province flags in the parades, pushed “De Bloomenmarkt” cart in the Dutch Heritage Walk, assisted with the Night Show, Dutch danced, and guided city bus tours.

2016 Parade Marshal (2)

Photo courtesy of the Sioux County Capital-Democrat.

His longest-standing role as a Tulip Festival volunteer, however, is his time working in the Windmill Information Booth. “My favorite job at Tulip Festival? I loved so many, but if I were to narrow it down, it has to be the Windmill Information Booth,” says De Jong.

De Jong has sold tickets, given directions and answered Tulip Festival questions in the Windmill Information Booth for more than 20 years. “I love meeting the many visitors – finding out where they are from, how they heard about the festival, and seeing the excitement they have while visiting,” he says.

“Brian’s dedication to Tulip Festival is remarkable,” says Mike Hofman, Chairman of the 2016 Steering Committee. “He is a great ambassador for the festival, and we are grateful for the many ways he has served our community’s celebration.”

In addition to riding in each of the festival’s six parades as the 2016 parade marshal, De Jong will continue his role with the Windmill Information Booth, coordinating volunteers and greeting thousands of visitors.

2016 Tulip Court Costumes Revealed

vb-020-Edit-webQueen Ava Grossmann and her Court will wear the authentic 1880s Protestant dress from South Beveland for the 2016 Tulip Festival. Image courtesy of Generations – Portraiture and Weddings. 

The annual Orange City Tulip Festival Extravaganza was held Wednesday, March 16, at Prairie Winds Event Center. The event featured a luncheon and program during which the costumes for the 2016 Tulip Queen and Court were revealed and the 2016 parade marshal was introduced.

Members of the 2016 Tulip Court are Queen Ava Grossmann, daughter of Jonathan and Glenda Grossmann; Maddie Christy, daughter of Greg and Michelle Christy; Grace De Haan, daughter of Brent and Patti De Haan; Kelsey Lang, daughter of Chris and Sherry Lang; and Kaylee Puttmann, daughter of Shannon and Kristen Puttmann.

Queen Ava and her Court will wear the authentic 1880s Protestant dress from South Beveland for this year’s festival. Queen Ava is wearing the formal dress and her Court is wearing the informal dress. This is the first time the informal costume has been introduced at Tulip Festival, as the Tulip Courts of 1981 and 1993 wore the formal South Beveland costumes.

The Court’s costume is made of a black woolen fabric, while Queen Ava’s is made from a black flowered brocade fabric.  Queen Ava’s bib, or “buek” in Dutch, is made of a mulberry colored floral fabric, and the Court’s of a floral cotton fabric. The bib is covered by a scarf, or “doek,” made of the same fabric.

2016 Tulip Court in Costume (2)The costume’s skirts are covered by hand-shirred aprons, with Queen Ava’s apron made of a black woolen fabric and the Court’s made of a black and white striped cotton fabric. Queen Ava’s costume also includes a petticoat made of plain color flannel.

All five members of the Tulip Court wear an ear iron, or “oorijzer,” made of jewelry’s brass. A white under cap is worn over the ear iron. The most prominent piece of the hat is a rounded “hul,” held in place by pearl hat pins. Queen Ava’s is made of a white lace fabric and her Court’s are made from a white eyelet fabric.  The hats are also adorned with two large, gold-head hat pins.

The South Beveland dresses are accessorized with red, five-strand necklaces and black velvet purses. Queen Ava also wears knitted arm warmers and a gold broach.

The 2016 Tulip Court also presented their traveling road show titled “Tournament of Tulips” for the first time. The road show, which the festival royalty wrote and will present to various organizations, schools and residential care facilities this spring,  tells of the events and attractions at Tulip Festival and gives a detailed overview of their South Beveland costumes.

2016 Tulip Festival Extravaganza to be held March 16

Extravaganza Centerpiece

The annual Tulip Festival Extravaganza is set for Wednesday, March 16. The event will take place from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Prairie Winds Event Center, and will feature a luncheon and program.

 

The province of Queen Ava Grossmann and her royal Court’s costumes will be revealed and they will present their traveling road show. In addition, the Tulip Festival Steering Committee will introduce the 2016 Parade Marshal.

 

Tickets for the event are $15 each through March 4, and $20 each beginning March 5. Tickets can be purchased at the Tulip Festival office.

Craft Show to take place during 2016 Tulip Festival

 

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The Tulip Festival Steering Committee is pleased to announce that a craft show will return to this year’s list of events during the festival. The craft show will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, in the basement of Iowa State Bank.

 

Individuals who create handmade, original crafts are invited to apply for the craft show, and are encouraged to include Dutch items as a portion of their items to sell. Only handmade, original items will be accepted into the show, and no food or beverage items will be accepted.

 

Applications for the craft show are open until March 15. Applications from individuals meeting the craft show requirements will be accepted on a first come, first served basis as space is limited. Individuals accepted will be notified by April 1, and an entry fee of $35 will be due by April 15 following acceptance.

 

For more information or to apply, visit the Craft Show Application page.

2016 Tulip Festival ticket sales begin February 1

2016 Tickets on Sale

Tickets for the 2016 Tulip Festival Extravaganza, Night Show and reserved parade seating will go on sale Monday, Feb. 1. Ticket sales will begin at 9 a.m. at the Orange City Tulip Festival/Chamber of Commerce office. The 76th annual Tulip Festival will take place May 19-21.

The annual Tulip Festival Extravaganza will take place Wednesday, March 16, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The event will include a luncheon and program at Prairie Winds Event Center. Tickets are $15 each through March 4, and $20 each beginning March 5.

Tickets for the 2016 Night Show, “West Side Story,” are $20 each. The production will take place at the Unity Christian Knight Center May 18-21, beginning at 8 p.m.

Reserved parade seats are $4 each. Seats are reserved beginning at 1 p.m. each day of the festival, and are reserved for Straat Feest, street scrubbing and the afternoon volksparade.

Value ticket books will also be available for purchase Feb. 1. The books include tickets to eight festival attractions and hold a value of $26, but are sold for $15 each.

All tickets for the Night Show and parade are reserved, and all are sold on a first come, first served basis. Questions can be directed to the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510, and more information can be found at www.octulipfestival.com.

“West Side Story” is based on a conception of Jerome Robbins. Book by Arthur Laurents. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Entire original production directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Originally produced on Broadway by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens.

“West Side Story” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. Phone: 212-541-4684. Fax: 212-397-4684. www. MTIShows.com

2016 Tulip Festival Night Show leadership team introduced

2016 Tulip Festival Night Show Leadership Team

2016 Night Show Leadership Team (L-R): Rebecca Donahue, Todd Vande Griend, Tom Hydeen and Victoria Karssen

The Tulip Festival Steering Committee is pleased to introduce the leadership team for the 2016 Night Show production of “West Side Story.” The show will take place May 18-21 at the Unity Christian Knight Center.

WSS logo CMYK (vertical)Todd Vande Griend, director, started his Night Show career in 1998 at age 12, and has been involved ever since. This show marks his 17th Tulip Festival Night Show and his second time as director, previously directing “Fiddler on the Roof.” Todd has been on stage, behind stage, and in all aspects in-between, including as producer. “West Side Story” is quite challenging – full of raw emotion, wonderful music, and energetic dancing.  He looks forward to getting practices underway, then watching the show develop into a Broadway production. “West Side Story” is a show you do not want to miss! Todd and his wife Mandy live in Alton with their three children, Kooper, Kipp, and Kasee, and their two dogs, Jaz and Bella. He thanks them in advance for allowing the Night Show to be his home away from home.

Tom Hydeen, music director, has participated in Night Show productions for most of his 33 years of living in Orange City.  He has performed on stage, backstage, in the orchestra, and directed the orchestra.  As music director, he enjoys working with volunteer musicians who are committed to presenting the best performance possible.  Working with the music for “West Side Story” is not for the faint-of-heart: it presents some real challenges and opportunities.  When all is said, done and practiced, it will have been well worth the effort.  Tom and his wife Carla live in Orange City, and have three adult children and five grandchildren.  Tom is presently a part-time staff member of First Reformed Church.

Rebecca Donahue, dance choreographer, graduated from Northwestern College in 2005 and made Orange City home.  She is delighted to be choreographing her eighth Night Show, including “Bye Bye Birdie” which she also co-directed.   Rebecca supports the arts many ways: as a six-year member of the Orange City Arts Council, as coach for the MOC-FV Dance Team, as dance class teacher at Northwestern College and other studios in the Orange City area, and more recently by establishing and teaching the Just For Kix franchise for which her students won several awards at the Together We Dance competition.  Notably, she is founder of two annual events, Northwestern’s RUSH: A Student Dance Concert in 2005, and An Evening Of Dance – Orange City’s community dance event in 2010.  Above all, she cherishes her role as a wife and stay-at-home mom to her beautiful two-year-old daughter.

Victoria Karssen, producer, has found that assisting with the hair and makeup crew, painting sets, co-producing, and now producing Night Show productions has been a fantastic way to get to know local talent.  Favorites have been seeing her entire family in “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and husband Paul – who kissed Vic’s real-life best friend! – as Tommy in the delightful “Brigadoon!”  Victoria graduated from Northwestern College in 2006 and serves as a Chaplain at Mercy Medical Center, Sioux City.  She has served as committee chair for the Community Garden at ARC since 2009, and for the newly begun Meditation Garden at ARC.  Her best roles are as mom to Amanda (Gus), Libby (Chris), and Matt, and being Nonni to Elena & Noah.

Tickets for the Night Show will go on sale for $20 each on Monday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. at the Orange City Tulip Festival/Chamber of Commerce office. Questions can be directed to the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510, and more information can be found at www.octulipfestival.com.

“West Side Story” is based on a conception of Jerome Robbins. Book by Arthur Laurents. Music by Leonard Bernstein.  Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Entire original production directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Originally produced on Broadway by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens.

“West Side Story” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. Phone: 212-541-4684. Fax: 212-397-4684. www. MTIShows.com

 

2016 Tulip Festival Night Show Auditions Scheduled

West Side Story Auditions

Auditions for the 2016 Tulip Festival Night Show, “West Side Story,” are scheduled for three dates in January. Individuals age 16 and up are invited to audition.

Auditions for the Night Show will take place Jan. 12 and Jan. 14 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. All auditions will take place at the Orange City Town Hall. Those wishing to try out do not need to prepare any material prior to the auditions, but are asked to bring their schedules from February through May.

The cast of “West Side Story” will consist of 35 to 40 people, including Tony, Maria, Riff, Bernardo, Chino, Anita, Officer Krupke, Doc, members of the Sharks and Jets, and many more. Non-singing roles are also available for males in the production.

Tickets for the Night Show will go on sale for $20 each on Monday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. at the Orange City Tulip Festival/Chamber of Commerce office. The show will take place May 18-21 at the Unity Christian Knight Center. Questions can be directed to the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510, and more information can be found at www.octulipfestival.com.

“West Side Story” is based on a conception of Jerome Robbins. Book by Arthur Laurents. Music by Leonard Bernstein.  Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Entire original production directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Originally produced on Broadway by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens.

“West Side Story” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. Phone: 212-541-4684. Fax: 212-397-4684. www. MTIShows.com

2016 Tulip Festival Night Show Announced

tulipfestival-slides-1500x630-home-night-show1

The Tulip Festival Steering Committee has announced the annual Night Show musical production for May 18-21, 2016, as “West Side Story.”

WSS logo CMYK (vertical)A musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the story takes place in the streets of New York City, where two young people fall in love and face challenging social conditions beyond their control. The musical features well-known songs including “Tonight,” “Somewhere,” and “I Feel Pretty.”

“’West Side Story’ brings much raw emotion to the stage,” says Todd Vande Griend, 2016 Night Show director.

“The show is full of excitement to the end – and in the end, we find that love wins.”

Vande Griend is joined in the leadership of the 2016 Night Show by Tom Hydeen, music director; Becky Donahue, choreographer; and Victoria Karssen, producer.

The musical was performed previously during Tulip Festival in 1994, and Vande Griend looks forward to bringing it back to the Night Show stage. “It’s a show of great magnitude that brings a challenge to the actors and directors,” he says.

The cast of “West Side Story” will consist of 35 to 40 people. Auditions for the Night Show will take place on Jan. 12 and 14, 2016, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and on Jan. 16, 2016, from 9 a.m. to noon. All auditions will take place at the Orange City Town Hall. Those wishing to try out do not need to prepare any material prior to the auditions.

Tickets for the Night Show are on sale for $20 each the Orange City Tulip Festival office.

“West Side Story”  is based on a conception of Jerome Robbins. Book by Arthur Laurents. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Entire original production directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Originally produced on Broadway by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens.

“West Side Story” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. Phone: 212-541-4684. Fax: 212-397-4684. www. MTIShows.com

2016 Orange City Tulip Queen Crowned

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The 2016 Tulip Court (L-R): Kaylee Puttmann, Maddie Christy, Queen Ava Grossmann, Grace De Haan and Kelsey Lang

Ava Grossmann was crowned the 2016 Tulip Festival Queen on Monday, Nov. 16. Grossmann will reign over the 76th annual Tulip Festival, set for May 19, 20 and 21, 2016.

A senior at Unity Christian High School in Orange City, Grossmann is the daughter of Jonathan and Glenda Grossmann.

Grossmann is joined on the 2016 Tulip Court by court members Maddie Christy, daughter of Greg and Michelle Christy; Grace De Haan, daughter of Brent and Patti De Haan; Kelsey Lang, daughter of Chris and Sherry Lang; and Kaylee Puttmann, daughter of Shannon and Kristen Puttmann.

Grossmann and her court members spent Monday afternoon interviewing with judges Madison Mayberry Hofmeyer, Richard Buman and Juliana Else.

A pageant was held for the public in the evening. Each of the candidates answered questions on various topics and gave an individual presentation. Grossmann was crowned queen as a conclusion to the evening.

Grossmann and her court will serve as ambassadors for the Orange City Tulip Festival as they travel in the spring, making several media and public appearances

Orange City’s 2016 Tulip Court Elected

2016 Tulip Court

The 2016 Tulip Court (L-R): Maddie Christy, Kaylee Puttmann, Grace De Haan, Kelsey Lang and Ava Grossmann

The 2016 Tulip Court was elected on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015.

Tulip Court members for the 76th annual Tulip Festival include: Maddie Christy, daughter of Greg and Michelle Christy; Grace De Haan, daughter of Brent and Patti De Haan; Ava Grossmann, daughter of Jonathan and Glenda Grossmann; Kelsey Lang, daughter of Chris and Sherry Lang; and Kaylee Puttmann, daughter of Shannon and Kristen Puttmann.

A Queen’s Tea and Pageant will be held on November 16 to crown the 2016 Tulip Queen. The Queen and Court will serve as ambassadors for Orange City’s 76th annual Tulip Festival, slated for May 19-21, 2016.