The GhostLight Theatre officially begins its 2026 Theatre Season Saturday, April 4th with “Brighten The Corner Where You Are”- a Spring Jazz Kickoff Fundraising Event. The concert features a homecoming for Jazz vocalist Emily Perkins who grew up in SW Michigan, and joining her jazz trio will be the amazing jazz pianist Matthew Fries, Ivan Torres on bass, and Glenn McFalrand on drums. This will also serve as the kickoff event of The GhostLight Theatre’s 7th season, and it will be presented in the GhostLight’s Black Box Theatre space Saturday, April 4th beginning at 7:30 pm. Doors will open at 6:30 and hors d’oeuvres will be served from the Mason Jar Café and a cash bar with wine and beer will also be available. General Admission tickets are $35 and a few 2-person VIP tables are available at $150. Tickets can be reserved online purchase at www.GhostLightBH.com/events.
Soprano Emily Perkins invites the GhostLight audiences on a joyful journey through the rich tapestry of jazz, tracing its roots from early New Orleans to the Golden Age and into the vibrant sounds shaped by today’s leading artists. As the featured vocalist with the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, Emily Perkins blends timeless tradition with contemporary storytelling in a performance that celebrates the depth and diversity of America’s greatest art form. Saturday night’s concert will feature upbeat jazz favorites including “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive”, “Happy Talk”, “On The Sunny Side of the Street”, and much more!
Matthew Fries is a joyful voice on the piano with a unique and recognizable style that is authentically rooted in the tradition of the classic jazz pianists, while still looking forward to the future of the music and the instrument. As a composer and leader he has performed his own music extensively, recording ten albums of mostly original compositions. His music has been described as playful and hopeful, introspective, full of joy and wonderment, and awash with tonal colors. But it is his deeply swinging piano style and collaborative spirit that have also made him an in-demand sideman for both instrumentalists and vocalists. He has toured worldwide, appears on scores of recordings, and his work has been described as “the best jazz accompaniment I’ve seen in a cabaret in years” (The New York Times), and “the crispest rhythm section imaginable” (The London Times).
Ivan Torres, bass is a versatile electric and acoustic bassist from Monterrey, Mexico, now based in the Michiana area. With a background spanning jazz, rock, pop, folk, ska, and Latin music.
Glenn McFarland, drums has been playing professionally for over 10 years now as a multi-instrumentalist and Private lesson teacher. A student of the late Christopher Keech, while also studying with Dr. John Korzun. Glenn is currently on staff at the Citadel Dance and Music Center teaching both Drum set and Saxophone.
This concert will mark the official opening of the 7th season of Benton Harbor's GhostLight Theatre and is open to the public. 100% of all proceeds will go directly towards supporting the GhostLight's 2026 Youth Arts Initiatives.
Season Sponsors include Chicago Records Management, Timothy’s Restaurant and On Base Productions. We would also like to thank Tom and Mary Ives for their generosity in planning for this event.
The GhostLight Theatre mainstage season will consist of seven (7) additional 2026 mainstage productions:
• Our Town – a play by Thornton Wilder– directed by Ashley Coia -April 16-26 & May 1&2 at The Acorn Theatre in Three Oaks
• Next To Normal – the musical – directed by Paul Mow - June 11-28
• The Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940s – a play directed by Jodie Wilson - July 16-19
• Little Shop of Horros – the musical – directed by Lari Lawrence-Gist - August 13-30
• What The Constitution Means to Me– a co-production play with the University of Notre Dame– directed by Matthew Hawkins - September 18-27
• One Party Consent – a **2026 Jeff Award winning play by Omer Abbas Salem – directed by Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble member Caroline Neff - October 15-25
• Avenue Q – the musical by Jeff Marx & Bobby Lopez– directed by Paige Mulick- December 3-13
General admission theatre Tickets range from $20-$32 and can be purchased at https://www.ghostlightbh.com/
Show Sponsorship information is available at: https://www.ghostlightbh.com/
