Meet Wilbur and Charlotte! Charlotte's Web will open this Friday July 20th and Saturday July 21st at 10am and will also play the following week July 27th and 28th. Paul Warren Smith and Altamiece Ballard-Cooper play Wilbur and Charlotte. Both of these cast members are in our main stage production of Chicago as well. Paul plays several roles, my personal favorite being the defunct bailiff, and Altamiece stars as Mama Morton.

This is Paul Warren Smith's first summer at Tibbits. Paul is another student from SUNY Cortland University joining us this summer, entering his Junior year as a BFA Musical Theatre major. Originally from Albany NY, Paul began performing in elementary school, but began in professional theatre his senior year in high school.  During his senior year, he interned at an equity theatre called NY State Theatre. While there, he worked all different jobs from on stage to tech work learning the craft. He explained to me that this was an incredible experience for a kid his age. His grandfather was a musician and always loved hearing him and his sister sing, which led him to musical theatre in the first place. Paul has worked at other summer stocks such as Fort Salem Theatre and Park Playhouse, all near his hometown of Albany. Paul mentioned how gorgeous he thinks Tibbits theatre is, and his dream role to play one day is Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. Paul advises acting hopefuls that "dreams exist for a reason, go out and do it, pursue your dreams." He hopes young hopefuls have as much support as he has received from family and friends as well.

This is Altamiece Ballard-Cooper's fourth summer at Tibbits.  She is from Battle Creek, MI. She loves returning to Tibbits, partly because it is in her backyard, and stated that she is treated so well at Tibbits, you just want to return.  Altamiece played Charlotte in Charlotte's Web here at Tibbits in the summer of '05 and is happy to give the part another whirl. Altamiece started performing at age 3 in the play "Amen Corner."  Her father is a performer as well, and said that she grew up watching him and was inspired by him to do theatre.  She attended Western Michigan University for Musical Theatre Performance, and since then has worked for Derby Dinner Playhouse, Music Theatre of Wichita, and was on the National Tour of Rent.  One of Altamiece's dream roles is being checked off her list this summer, Mama Morton in Chicago.  Another dream role of hers is to play one of the Church Ladies in The Color Purple.  Her advice to people wanting to enter the theatre profession is "if there is anything else you think you might want to do, do that.  You have to be thick skinned in this profession."  It is not for the faint of heart.

The director of Charlotte's Web is also our Master Electrician and Light Board operator Dan Janes. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, he designs the lights for the Popcorn shows and has to rewrite cues each week, as the new Mainstage show changes, and Dan has to figure out what he has to left to use. He describes lighting design here at Tibbits similar to figuring out a puzzle.  He has directed one acts and full plays in college, but this will be his first professional directing piece.

Jeff has just graduated from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL with a BA in Theatre and Dance with a Design Technical Concentration. In 2009, he was here at Tibbits as our ME and Light Board Operator position. He returned stating he likes working here with the supportive community at Tibbits.

Dan, originally from Crystal Lake, IL, began in sound work his freshman year of high school and broadened his focus to lighting in college. His older brother was an actor, and his ride home, so when he stuck around at rehearsals, he got sucked into the theatre world. Dan has worked for Circus Flora and many other freelance gigs around the St. Louis area. His dream show to light is We Will Rock You but also loves to direct farce comedies. His advice to upcoming people on technical theatre is to do your best and learn how to get along with people, "it makes life easier."

Costume Pieces for Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web is a classic tale, which most of us remember from our childhood.  Bringing a child to a live version of the tale creates memories you can share for a lifetime.  We hope to help make those memories for your family. 

See you at the Show!!!

Angelica Golden and Samantha Rey are both very busy girls here at Tibbits this summer. This week they have closed their On Broadway 1956 review on Saturday, they have rehearsed and opened The Frog Prince, for Popcorn Theatre, and all the while been rehearsing to open Chicago soon. Whew! Like I said, busy gals.

Sam and Angel both just graduated from SUNY Cortland with BFA degrees in Musical Theatre.  Angel is originally from Albany and Sam is from Syracuse, NY.  They even travelled here together, from NY to Tibbits, via Sam's car.

This is both of the girls' first summer here at Tibbits. It is Angel's first summer stock experience, but Sam spent last summer at Northern Lights Playhouse in Hazelhurst, WI.  Angel, however, has worked for Auburn Public Theatre with an original children's theatre show, "The Littlest Witch."

Angel said she most likes how welcoming people are here in Coldwater. For example, employees at Northwoods know the cast members by name.  Sam said she really enjoys working with new directors and actors, learning new things outside of college by working with new people.

Angel began in theatre when she was in 6th grade, she played Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Angel is a triplet, with two brothers. She remembers her mother always singing to them and says her mother inspired her love for music and then the theatre.

Sam was a jock all her life. Her uncle is in the theatre business, so she grew up seeing shows he was involved with often. Then in 9th grade she joined friends doing musicals and got cast in Beauty and the Beast. Sam said she was hooked, she quit sports and now, here she is.

Angel tells me her dream role to play is Kathy in The Last Five Years, and Sam tells me her top three dream roles would be Fantine or Eponine in Les Miserables, and Charlotte in Little Night Music.

Both of these girls have good advice for young people seeking a life in the theatre.  Angel said, "Never stop trying, even when it is hard.  Stay faithful to yourself and you will have the strength to make it.  It's hard to be real in a phony world."  Sam definitely added to this wisdom by stating, "in theatre, with all its drama, baggage and pressure to be something cookie cutter, just stay true to yourself."

These girls have done just that.  Make sure to catch them in The Frog Prince next Friday and Saturday at 10am, July 13th and 14th, and soon in Chicago opening July 12th, playing thru July 21st.

In preparation for Chicago, our costume designer Theresa Hartman, is hard at work as well.  This is Theresa's 3rd year returning to Tibbits, this year she will design Chicago and Nymph Errant.  Theresa is originally from Milan, MI, she holds an undergraduate degree from Wayne State and an MFA in costume design from Virginia Tech. 

Theresa began in fashion design which then led her to Theatre Costume Design at Wayne State.  She interned at Seattle Children's Theatre and says that children's theatre and musicals are her favorite to design for, because of the heightened reality and the freedom of design within those styles of theatre.

The challenges Theresa faces this summer, with the two shows she is designing, is that there is limited time to build and lots of people in Chicago, each playing several parts in the show as well.  In Nymph Errant, one person has to change into another character in the matter of seconds or a few lines. 

Theresa's advice to young people interested in costume design is to learn about as many different time periods, cultures and styles of theatre as possible.  She believes acting experience is a plus in order to understand what works for actors.  Theresa stated that good costume design, "is not just about pretty drawings, but the right designs for the the show." 

You will see the fabulous designs by Theresa next week as we open Chicago and then again during our last show of the season, Nymph Errant.

See you at the show!!!

Joining us for his first summer at Tibbits, as the Frog Prince himself, is T. Chad Henke. Chad has just finished his freshman year at SUNY Cortland, next year he will be attending University of Buffalo pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre.


I interviewed Chad after just getting off an overnight train ride from Poughkeepsie, NY, which is how he arrived in Coldwater. Chad said that his first impression of Coldwater was the size of it reminded him of his own hometown, Diver Plains in the Hudson Valley, NY. This is Chad's first time away from the east coast and he was struck by the awesome beauty of the theatre, upon entering Tibbits.


Chad has worked the past three summers at a summer stock called Tri Arts Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, CT. He began working there after his sophomore year in high school, which is when Chad says he began to get serious about doing theatre for a living. He began tap and theatre dance classes during that year, but his love for ballet began in college.

At 19 years old, he laughed when I asked his advice for young people interested in performing theatre. Chad said he is one of the odd ones who loves to be in the chorus, he is a singer first, but loves to dance, and as a tall Bass/ Baritone he gets a lot of work filling out the voices in the chorus. He advises young theatre people, "if you love the theatre, you will love to do anything in the show, from onstage to backstage, do as much as possible." He mentioned a summer he rehearsed for 3 weeks for a 30 second appearance onstage, and said, "I had the time of my life." Chad's dream roles include Link in Hairspray and Greg in A Chorus Line. Chad will also be joining us here at Tibbits this summer in Chicago and Charlotte's Web.

Our Technical Director and designer of all our Popcorn Show sets is Rudy Schuepbach. Originally from Hoodriver, OR, Rudy has his AA degree from Lower Columbia College, BA in Performance and Direction from Central Washington University and has just completed his MFA in Theatre Scenic Design from Wayne State in Detroit. This is Rudy's 2nd year in the TD position at Tibbits.

When asked why he returned, he said he enjoyed the balance between life and work here at Tibbits. He is in search of a year long position now, but for the moment, Rudy is enjoying his return to Tibbits, along side of his girlfriend, our Popcorn Costume Designer Clare Hungate-Hawk.

Rudy has been performing since he was 2 years old, first as the "Changeling Child" in Midsummer Night's Dream at his local high school. His mother told him that at one performance, he got caught in the curtains during an exit and continued to bow his way off stage. Rudy's older sister was involved in theatre, and by 8th grade, Rudy was involved in high school productions as well.

Back When the Animals Walked designed by Rudy Schuepback

After graduating from undergrad with a performance degree, Rudy crossed paths with someone who seemed very happy designing sets. Rudy's father was a general contractor and Rudy had already been building sets on scholarship at his undergrad university, so the shift to technical theatre for Rudy was an easy transition. He hopes that his transition to scenic theatre design will aid his passion for both acting and designing. He wants to be an "every man," design and build sets from 9 to 5 and then go perform theatre at night.


Rudy's advice to those who want to "do it all," is "don't let people tell you you can't."  Classmates of Rudy's told him he was wasting time acting instead of working on his scenic design skills, the summer after his 1st year of grad school.  Rudy likes to say, but joking all in fun, that he has creative ADD, he wants to do it all and doesn't see why he shouldn't get to.  

Rudy has worked for Coho Theatre in Portland OR, Seattle Musical Theatre, Performance Network in Ann Arbor MI and Hilberry Theatre in Detroit.  Rudy also worked for 10 summers as a director, acting teacher, camp counselor extraordinaire for a theatre camp called Columbia Gorge School of Theatre in Portland, OR for middle and high school kids. He loves the camp's motto that if kids feel safe and feel comfortable, they are able to make strong acting choices and grow as actors.

These are the just a few gifts children's theatre brings to kids.  We hope to see you at The Frog Prince, opening Friday July 6th at 10am, and also playing July 7th, July 13th and 14th.

See you at the show!!!

Following our successful Tibbits Popcorn Theatre show Pinocchio, The Frog Prince, will open Friday July 6th at 10am, and will run also July 7th, 13th and 14th. 

Returning to Tibbits this year for her second "wonderful" season, as she put it, Katherine Lozon, will be playing the evil Snake Queen in The Frog Prince, and says she loves the "fun" of children's theatre.

When asked why she wanted to return to Tibbits, she stated that this was her first professional job out of school, and the environment here at Tibbits was so respectful and encouraging.  She likes how Tibbits is "family oriented" amongst its staff, with everyone from tech to actors working as a team.  Katherine also likes how fast paced the work at Tibbits is, for example, a Popcorn Theatre show rehearses for one week before opening for an audience.

Katherine is originally from Floyd Knobs, IN and holds a BA in Theatre and Dance from Ball State University.  She got her start in theatre, following in her sister's footsteps, as something fun they could do together.  When she was in 8th grade, their high school did Les Miserables, they needed kids for the show and Katherine's sister was also in the production.  So Katherine got to start performing at her high school a year early and continued throughout her time at Providence High School. 

Katherine started dancing at age 6, after being in gymnastics since she was 3.  Her gymnastics teacher told her parents she wasn't very stiff, and that dance may suit her better.  Well, Katherine took to dance quite well.  Since graduating from Ball State, Katherine has been teaching dance at a dance academy in South Bend, where she was also a part of their dance company, specializing in Jazz and Contemporary Dance.  Now Katherine plans to move to Florida, is creating her ties to that theatre community, and aspires to work for Disney in the near future. 

Some dream roles of Katherine's are Bombalurina in Cats (with the original choreography), Mimi in Rent, Elle in Legally Blonde and just about any role in Hair.  When asked what advice she would give aspiring young actors she said, "Don't take no for an answer, your time will come, just be patient.  It is not an if, it is a when."

Another second year returning crew member at Tibbits, our Props Assistant, and Props Master for the Popcorn shows, Graham Rowe-Bultnick.  Graham is a local resident, born and raised in Coldwater, and is a great asset to the theatre.  Graham helps to guide a new Props Master around town, considering where to go in order to gather things, or borrow props needed for the shows.  Graham's job makes it a lot easier for someone new in town to get lent things for the theatre, especially if they are accompanied by someone, like Graham, which most people in town know personally.

Graham just graduated from high school this year and will attend Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie this fall.  He is majoring in Fishing and Wildlife Management but hopes to minor in Theatre as well.  Graham started helping as a grip for the Popcorn Shows at Tibbits 2 years ago during Goldilocks and the Three Bears, he also helped with load in and load out of sets that year as well.

Graham's advice for young people who want to enter the technical field of theatre, whether in Props or other specialties, is to work on their organization skills, this is what will get things done.  He also stressed that by lending a hand when needed, and by building a reputation of trustworthyness, these qualities will help you be the one who gets the job.

Graham has been highlighted in the paper often here in Coldwater for his running acheivements.  He has just finished his second half marathon and has completed a full marathon in the past as well.  He believes Charlotte's Web will be his greatest challenge of the Popcorn season with designing and building the handmade spider webs, but enjoys the challenge and looks forward to the rest of the season.

We hope to see you all at our next Popcorn Show, The Frog Prince, playing July 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th. 

See you at the show!!!

Meet Pinocchio!!!  This Friday and Saturday, June 22nd and 23rd, at 10am mark the opening of Popcorn Theatre here at Tibbits with Pinocchio!

Joining us for his first summer as a Tibbits actor is Matt Haupert, playing the title character in this children's classic written by Kathryn Schultz Miller.  Miller co-founded ArtReach Touring Theatre and served over 20 years as Artistic Director for ArtReach.  This is one of her 44 plays, for which most have won countless awards. 

Matt Haupert is originally from La Crosse, WI and is entering his senior year at Drake University in Des Moines, IA earning a BFA in Acting, and will also be graduating with a BA in English.

Matt mentioned how impressed he was walking into Tibbits for the first time, especially with the restoration going on.  Matt is a very driven young man.  He started college as an English Education major, and after his first semester, he changed to a Performance major.  Last summer, Matt performed at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in Holland, MI. 

Matt is already a co-founder of a theatre company in Chicago, called Dirty Thatch Theatre Company, which is producing three plays this summer in the Studio Theatre space of the Apollo Theatre.  One piece they are producing this summer, is an original play written by one of his professors at college, and that he enjoys to write for the theatre and screen as well. 

Matt loves improv and sketch comedy.  When asked what his dream role would be, Matt answered without hesitation, Elder Price in The Book of Mormon.  A sketch comedy dream role indeed.

With his many projects, Matt aspires to create theatre that educates people, is more than just entertainment, and promotes social chance.  He loves how children's theatre teaches lessons and even plans to expand his theatre company into hosting a day camp for kids in the suburbs of Chicago by next summer.

When asked what advice he would give to others pursuing theatre, he said "I only have advice for about a 5 year old.  Have fun, don't try to be a big shot, enjoy it and the relationships you create with people in theatre." 

Well said Matt.  Come meet Pinocchio in person this Friday and Saturday, June 22nd and 23rd, along with the following week June 29th and 30th, all at 10am. 

See you at the show!      

Where will you be this next weekend?  I know where many others, including myself will be, at Tibbits' Popcorn Theatre opening!

We open with with Pinocchio this Friday June 22nd!  Running Friday and Saturday mornings at 10am, starting the 22nd and also playing the following weekend of June 28th.

Don't miss this incredible classic tale playing for only two weeks! Helping us bring to life this tale, is a new costume designer to Tibbits this summer, Clare Hungate-Hawk.  Clare comes to us after just finishing her 1st year of Grad school at Wayne State University in Detroit. 

Originally from Seattle, WA, Clare will be designing all three of our Popcorn Theatre Shows: Pinocchio, Frog Prince and Charlotte's Web.  Clare explained to me that costuming for children's theatre utilizes her strong crafting skills, included in her masks and hat pieces for this particular show, as you can see by the few shown in the above photo.

Clare has an undergraduate degree from Willamette University in Salem, OR.  She began performing theatre during middle school, but by high school she knew she wanted to be involved on the tech side.  By her Junior year in college, Clare had decided costuming was where her passion resided.

After graduating from college, Clare taught English abroad for 3 years in Japan.  When she returned, she began applying to grad schools, while working for small Seattle theatres, which included stitching for Tap Root.

Clare was accepted to Wayne State and the rest is history.  Clare has a great love for detail work especially in period piece work.  Claire may miss the tall trees and weather of the Northwest, but is excited at what this summer holds for her in Coldwater.

An interesting side note about Clare, at her old high school, her father has taken the position of leading their theatre department and is rebuilding it.  This statement made Clare's face light up.  Even though her father wasn't her theatre teacher, she explained that this was a great thing he was doing for the kids at her old high school.

The gift of theatre is amazing for children.  We hope we see you in the audience at Pinocchio and experience it for yourself.  Take a look at the clip below, a sneak peek into the rehearsal of Pinocchio.

Don't forget to stay afterwards for autographs from the actors!  See you at the show!