The critically acclaimed vocal trio MOIPEI is coming to the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center for two performances. On Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Grand Upton Hall it’s a Valentine Dinner Cabaret with MOIPEI. The following evening, Thursday, Feb. 15, it’s An Evening with MOIPEI on the Hanson Theatre stage.
Composed of Kenyan-born triplets Mary, Maggy, and Marta, MOIPEI dazzles audiences with an eclectic mix of their own acclaimed vocal arrangements of Broadway, pop and jazz hits, sacred pieces, and Kenyan folk songs. They interpret some well-known selections from the great American songbook. Throw in a dash of Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman to swing and a flash of pop to provoke. Then cash it all in with some gospel for salvation and bring it all back home with a traditional Swahili children’s song. Their program is as unique as their talents.
MOIPEI has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., sung “The Star-Spangled Banner” in front of thousands of NBA fans at a San Antonio Spurs game, presented a program for the President of Kenya in the iconic Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center, and made their New York City debuts at Lincoln Center, the renowned Birdland Theatre, and the acclaimed 54 Below.
On Wednesday, Feb. 14, an elegant Valentine’s Day date night will take place when the Mendel Center Grand Upton Hall transforms into a cabaret. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a served, gourmet dinner, dessert, and cash bar. At 7 p.m., MOIPEI steps onto the stage to perform an evening of well-known selections from the great American songbook and beyond. Tickets for this special engagement are $100 and include dinner and the performance.
The following night, Thursday, Feb. 15, the trio will perform at 7 p.m. in the Mendel Center Hanson Theatre. The performance titled “From the Land of the Lion to the Big Apple” features a few favorites from the Valentine’s Day concert plus many new selections, making this another not-to-miss night of vocal magic. Tickets are $50.
Stephen Mosher, writing for Broadway World exclaims, “The simple and economic truth is that the MOIPEI triplets sound sensational when they sing – at times mind-blowing, others endearing, but always enjoyable, something that originates with the actual sound of each individual voice being presented within their three-part harmonies.”
Tickets for the Valentine Dinner Cabaret with MOIPEI and An Evening with MOIPEI are available for purchased online 24/7 at www.TheMendelCenter.com/events, by calling 269-927-8700 option 1, and through the Mendel Center box office at 269-927-8700 option 1 or in person weekdays from noon – 2 p.m. and 4 – 6 p.m. The box office is also open two hours before show times in the Mainstage lobby.
This activity is supported in part by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.
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Mendel Center 2023-2024 Season Sponsors
Stage Side Sponsors: Meijer, Sturgis Bank, TPC Technologies, Wales Wealth Management Group,
Platinum Sponsor: CK Catering, Forte Coffee
Media Partners: 97.5 Y Country, 98.3 The Coast, The Herald Palladium, The Lake 95.7 MailMax, News/Talk 94.9 WSJM, Rock 107 WIRX, SuperHits 103.7
Preferred Partner Hotels: The Boulevard Inn & Bistro, Hilton Garden Inn Benton Harbor/St. Joseph
Artistic Partners: Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Twin City Players
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About the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center
The Lake Michigan College Mendel Center raised the curtain on its first Mendel Center season performance in the fall of 1992. Since then, it has presented performances and guest speakers to more than half a million patrons in the 1,559-seat Mendel Center Mainstage Theatre. Grand Upton Hall, first opened in 1979 and fully renovated in 2019, is a 13,700-square-foot venue serving the community as the host site for meetings, banquets, trade shows, weddings, and other celebrations. The 229-seat Hanson Theatre, which was renovated in 2020, hosts numerous Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department performances as well as a variety of Mendel Center and community events.
The Mendel Center is 30 minutes from Niles and 40 minutes from the Kalamazoo and South Bend areas. It is located on the Lake Michigan College campus at 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan, one mile east of I-94 (Exit 30) and one mile west of the US 31 Bypass (exit 24). Its GPS mapping address is 1100 Yore Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI.
Posted December 11, 2023