From GRAND RAPIDS TOWN HALL COMMITTEE
The Grand Rapids Town Hall Committee is sponsoring a comedy night in the historic Grand Rapids Town Hall on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. The high-energy comedic juggler and ventriloquist Mike Hemmelgarn will be in the house.
Tickets are $10 and available at The Village Orchard or at the door.
Hemmelgarn is a familiar face in Grand Rapids because he performs each year at the Applebutter Festival, and he always has large crowds of all ages enjoying his antics.
Hemmelgarn has been fascinated with the art of ventriloquism since the age of eight and juggling since the age of sixteen. He went door to door selling newspaper subscriptions to earn enough money to purchase his first “dummy,” a hardwood puppet named “Bob.”
Hemmelgarn currently uses mostly sculpted foam and latex puppets: Butterball, the paranoid turkey; Casey, the ballistic duck; or Spud, a quick-witted puppet who loves to turn volunteers into real live puppets.
Hemmelgarn first learned to juggle with tennis balls, but he has evolved to bowling balls, knives, machetes, torches, and other ridiculous things. He also incorporates magic and balloon sculpting to complement one of the most unique acts in the business.
Hemmelgarn, his wife and their children reside in Springboro.
To support the historic Town Hall renovations and programming by enjoying a very enjoyable and entertaining evening.
