The historic Dawn Theater in downtown Hillsdale will host free entertainment nights every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday throughout the fall.
The weekly events, open to all students, faculty, and community members, run from approximately 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., with karaoke on Thursdays, community open mic night on Fridays, and DJ dance parties or live band performances on Saturdays.
Events on Thursdays and Fridays give non-professionals and local talent a chance to perform, while shows on Saturdays can feature more experienced musicians and DJs from as far away as Grand Rapids and Toledo.
At each performance, the theater provides a full bar and discounts on food from local sponsors, such as the House of Pizza and BBQ. Theater manager David Semmler began hosting the entertainment nights in May to give local and regional musicians a venue for showcasing their talents.
“It’s mainly about the music,” he said. “That’s a lot of the reason I do it, to give these people a place to play and hone their craft.”
There is no cover charge for performing on karaoke and open mic nights, and all are welcome to contact the theater to sign up for a 15-minute slot.