Opening Thursday July 12th, with a matinee and evening performance, Chicago, has been the long awaited show of the Tibbits season. Back to direct, is Kevin Halpin, who directed Fully Monty last summer, and has been returning on a regular basis to direct the big musical of the summer since 2005. 

Two summers ago, Kevin's daughter, Aisling Halpin, joined us as a performer here at Tibbits.  Since then, she has graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and is now living in NYC.  She worked last summer at Merry Go Round Playhouse in Auburn, NY, but is back to join us this summer at Tibbits as Roxie Hart in Chicago.  Aisling will also be in Funny Money this summer at Tibbits, on top of that, she is choreographing Nymph Errant, her first professional choreography credit, and will also being in the show as well.

As a father and daughter team, Kevin told me he couldn't be more proud of the person and performer Aisling is, "she isn't just a beautiful, very talented girl, but a real team player as well."  He is excited to return to Tibbits at the end of the season to see Aisling's first professional choreographed show. 

Kevin and Aisling went to the same undergraduate school for their BFA's in Musical Theatre, Syracuse University.  Kevin then attended Brooklyn College for his MFA degree in Directing.  His first professional directing job was here at Tibbits as well, The Music Man, in 1991, where my husband, Paul Kerr, played the music man himself, Harold Hill. 

After grad school, Kevin taught at Millikin University for 3 years, and then created the musical theatre program at SUNY Cortland, where he continues to lead the program today.  His wife Cindy also teaches at the college, but after they outgrew the dance facilities at their university, they opened a Performing Arts Institute, with two studio spaces in downtown Cortland, NY. 

Kevin's connection to Tibbits goes back even further than directing.  He and his wife were performers here in the summer of 1985, and Aisling grew up hearing of this magic place called Tibbits.  She visited Tibbits the summer of 2007 while touring colleges, while her dad was directing us in Sweet Charity.  Fast forward three more years, Aisling was now an acting company member of Tibbits, and this summer is a returning company member.

Kevin began performing in 8th grade, as Charlie Brown in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.  He began dance training in college, performed and choreographed at many theatres before returning to grad school for his MFA in Directing. 

Aisling has been dancing all her life, her first performance was at 3 years old in her mother's ballet based off the movie "Hook's" soundtrack, she was baby Michael.  This was just the beginning for Aisling.  She performed many roles throughout her childhood for surrounding theatres like Gateway Playhouse and Cortland Rep.  She even played "Dainty June," at SUNY Cortland in her father's production of Gypsy.

Kevin states that his dream shows to direct are West Side Story and A Chorus Line.  Aisling's dream roles to perform are Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Natalie in Next to Normal, and Sherrie in Rock of Ages.  While Roxie Hart is one of Aisling's dream roles as well, she gets to fulfill that dream this summer, along side of her very proud father/director.

Aisling, when asked why she wanted to return to Tibbits, she said she loves Tibbits for the quality of shows that we do, and that everyone who works here loves what they are doing. Kevin's advice for young people wanting to direct is to study at a good program and build your skills such as play analysis, technical theatre, movement, and communication skills with actors. Aisling advises young actors, "if you love what you do and are willing to work hard, you can do it."

Kevin has many of his students or former students from SUNY Cortland here this summer.  He has included auditioning for Tibbits, by video reel, a part of his curriculum for his upper level musical theatre class.  However, he does offer this audition opportunity to all his students.  The final casting decision is up to Tibbits Artistic Director, Charles Burr, but Kevin has always stressed to his students the value in pursuing professional connections.

One such student, who did just that, is first year Tibbits company member Catherine Skojec.  She has just finished her freshman year at SUNY Cortland, pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre.  Catherine has been seen highlighted in our On Broadway 1956 review and will appear as Go-To-Hell Kitty in Chicago.  Catherine is originally from Binghamton, NY.  She began dancing at age 4, but continued to alternate dance with sports until high school, when she began doing shows.  Catherine is delighted to be spending the summer here in Coldwater and we are delighted to have her.

Come see Chicago opening July 12th and playing until July 21st. 

See you at the show!!!

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"Roxie Rocks the Tibbits"

Chicago, the musical opens this week.  It is the most requested production in the history of Summer Theatre.  It has a long history on stage and screen.  Former Chicago Tribune reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins (left) took a play-writing course and decided to base her play on two real life murderesses in Chicago who she had reported on.  Both women had gotten off with a false pregnancy defense.  Her play, Chicago, opened on December 30, 1926 with the famed director George Abbott at the helm.  The play ran 172 performances, a very respectable run in the 1920's.  





Roxie Hart, as Watkins named the anti-heroine, was played by Francine Larrimore  (right).  These pictures are from a few years earlier, a play called Nobody's Business.  She appeared in more than 20 Broadway productions, including plays by Noel Coward and S.N. Berhrman.



The play was immediately purchased by Cecil B. de Mille's production company.
The movie, a silent, came out in
1927.  Directing credit is given to Frank Urson, but many believe de Mille himself directed the picture.  Here Roxie is played by Phyllis Haver (left and right).  While a slightly more moral tale than the play, it is not as sanitized as the next time Hollywood used the play....




It took almost twenty years for Hollywood to get back to Chicago.  This time they called it Roxie Hart and she was played by Ginger Rogers.  Here are two posters for the film:

The story is basically the same but the production code was in full effect and it is at times barely recognizable as the same story-- it's worked around to prove Roxie is truly innocent of the murder....









John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse bought the play for a musical and started to refashion the story to give equal weight to the other murderess, Velma.  She is a minor character in all the other versions.  Here are the original "merry murderesses"  Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon as Velma and Roxie (left).  It opened on June 3, 1975 and ran for 936 performances.  The original poster art is on the right.

Chicago, was revived in 1996.  It is still running on Broadway.  It has racked up 6496 performances.  

 So far.

The very successful movie version was released in 2002.

Don't miss Chicago at the Tibbits--July 12 through July 21, 2012.

                                                                                                                                  Charles Burr

                                                                                                                                  Artistic Director

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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!!!

Inspiration for the set of On Broadway--1956

After the performance of On Broadway--1956 this last Saturday, we had our talk back with the audience--a glorified question and answer session.  One of the questions posed that night, was about the idea for the set.  Brittany Elias, the Set Designer, volunteered that pretty much all Trinity Bird, the Director, had told her was "New York in the 1950's."  She began searching for images and found the TWA advertisement from that era.

For all of you who have seen the show, you can instantly see how she incorporated elements of the ad into the design.

On Broadway--1956 still has four more performances this week

--singing and dancing over 30 great songs from the top Broadway shows of the 1950's--

in front of Brittany's beautiful set inspired by a magazine ad...... 

See you there.

Charles Burr

Artistic Director

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!!!

On Broadway 1956 opens this Thursday June 28th with 8 talented actors, performing pieces from Broadways shows that opened on Broadway in 1956.  This cast includes a few
returning actors to Tibbits and several new faces as well. Two new faces amongst the cast are Tyler Whiteman and James Bleecker. 

Tyler Whiteman (on the right, wearing a green shirt), is originally from St. Louis, MO.  He is entering his Junior year as a BFA Musical Theatre student at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO.  Tyler will also be joining us in the musical Chicago this summer here at Tibbits.

Tyler landed into theatre in a very interesting way.  When attending a community college for a general studies degree, not sure of his career path, several friends of his persuaded him to audition for a show at the college, Footloose.  After being cast in the show, he never looked back, but raced forward in pursuit of a performance degree.  Since then, he has worked for Citilites Theater and Stray Dog Theater in St. Louis, he has performed three summers at Six Flags around the St. Louis area and also performed shows at Missouri Baptist University.  His dream acting role is Jamie in The Last 5 Years, and when asked what his advice would be of people wanting to enter the theatre world, he stated, "It's never too late." 

Another new actor at Tibbits this summer, James Bleecker (pictured above in the blue shirt), is originally from Fort Myers, FL.  He now is entering his Junior year as a BFA Musical Theatre student at Western Illinios University in Macomb, IL.  James will also be seen this summer in Chicago and Funny Money. 

James told me that he took a break before attending college, and believes that his time spent co-founding Harrison Hilltop Theatre in Davenport, IA from 2007-2010, educated him in a way that has now prepared himself much more for college than after leaving high school.  James started performing at age 6, when his mother realized he needed a creative outlet for his talent of impersonating TV personalities and reenacting commercials back to his family. 

Even though this is James' first summer here at Tibbits, he had his first summer stock experience last summer working for Gaslight Theatre in St. Louis.  He was nominated for a Kevin Kline award for his performance that summer in Thrill Me, the Leopold and Loeb Story.  James' dream role is Alan in Equus, which he may have a chance to perform next year.  His advice to aspiring actors is to develop a thick skin, make sure you realize what you want out of life, what kind of theatre you want to do, and go after it. 

It looks like both of these gentleman are doing just that, come see them in person in the On Broadway 1956 review playing for two weeks at Tibbits, opening Thursday, June 28th and closing Saturday, July 7th.

On Broadway--1956: The Composers

On Broadway—1956 contains songs pulled from this impressive list of shows (all were  playing in 1956) written by many of the great Broadway composers and lyricists.

Bells Are Ringing               Jule Styne/Betty Comden/Adolph Green

The Boy Friend                   Sandy Wilson

Can-Can                              Cole Porter                             

Candide                               Leonard Bernstein/Richard Wilbur/Lillian Hellman

Damn Yankees                    Richard Adler/Jerry Ross

Happy Hunting                    Harold Karr/Matt Dubey

Li’l Abner                             Gene DePaul/Johnny Mercer

The Littlest Revue               Sheldon Harnick

The Littlest Revue               Vernon Duke/Ogden Nash

The Most Happy Fella         Frank Loesser

Mr. Wonderful                    Jerry Bock/Larry Holofcener/George Weiss

My Fair Lady                        Frederick Lowe/Alan Jay Lerner

New Faces of 1956              Murray Grand

The Pajama Game              Richard Adler/Jerry Ross

Pipe Dream                         Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein

Plain and Fancy                   Albert Hague/Arnold Horwitt

Silk Stockings                       Cole Porter

The Threepenny Opera       Kurt Weill/ Bertolt Brecht/Marc Blitzstein

I find this list impressive.  We have Cole Porter right at the end of his amazing career with his last two shows running concurrently.  Frank Loesser is right in the middle of his career—with Guys and Dolls behind him and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying still to come.  Oscar Hammerstein would be dead in four years—all the great shows with Richard Rodgers were written except for The Sound of Music.  Both (and the only) hits by Adler and Ross had opened in previous seasons, but were still doing excellent business.  Lerner and Lowe only had one more Broadway production to come with Camelot.  And the excellent songwriting team of Bock and Harnick (Fiddler On the Roof, She Loves Me, Fiorello) are both represented here—but they had not yet begun to write together.

Quite an amazing collection.   You can hear songs from all these shows in our season opener-- On Broadway—1956.

Charles Burr
Artisitic Director
Co-compiler of On Broadway--1956

A slight history of Pinocchio

Some interesting fact I learned while researching Pinocchio:

·        Pinocchio means “little pine.”

·        Carlo Collodi was the pen name of Carl Lorenzini  (November 24, 1826 – October 26, 1890.)

·        He was born in Florence.

·        Famous novelist of the 1850’s and political activist.

·        Collodi translated Perrault into Itlaian.

·        Le adventure di Pinocchio was serialized weekly in Il Giornale dei Bambini, the first Italian newspaper for children, beginning in 1880.

·        Originally the story ended after the debacle at the Marionette theatre, with Pinocchio being hung for his misdeeds.  The publishers begged for a happy ending , so Collodi wrote the next 15 chapters.

·        Pinocchio was translated into English, for the first time in 1892.

Our adaptation is by the famed children’s theatre author Kathryn Schultz Miller.

We’ve had a blast rehearsing the show---We’ll see you there!

Charles Burr—Director.

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!

Kiersten Vorheis for Tibbits Summer Theatre

Hello Tibbits Opera House fans.  It is about that time that our summer theatre will begin.  My name is Kiersten Vorheis, I have been an actor at Tibbits for several years now.  I began my first summer in 2005 along side my husband, Paul Kerr, another Tibbits alumni, and have returned the summers of '06, '07 and '10.

I am about to begin my 5th summer as an actor here in the magical place known as Tibbits, in Coldwater, MI.  There is just something about this place, for many of us, a home away from home, where we are free to explore, create great art, and feel like we can really "work."  Often I feel like I did back in college, at Indiana University Bloomington's Theatre Program.  Here at Tibbits, you have to give your all and act from the gut.  The work here is as much about the process as the product, which is a rare and welcomed thing these days in professional theatre.

I consider myself one of the "lucky ones."  I have had the great opportunity, since graduating from IU, to make my living performing in theatres all over the country, and on a few National Tours as well.  I now am based out of the Louisville, KY area, but continue to work throughout the country as well. 

This year, I am returning to Tibbits after just finishing CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES, playing Mavis the "Hot Flash Queen," in Dickson, TN at the Renaissance Center's Gaslight Dinner Theatre. It was a "hoot" and a "holler!"

Take a look at our Broadway World review here.

Throughout the summer, I will be posting clips from our Tibbits Summer Theatre rehearsals, interviews of cast and crew, along with write ups about our upcoming shows.  We have some very exciting projects ahead of us this summer at Tibbits!  

We hope to see all your smiling faces in the audience, and don't forget to stick around for our talkbacks or outside the theatre after our performances to say "hi."  We love to meet our audience members as you like to meet us, and I promise we don't bite...much.  Thank you for your continued support of live theatre, see you at the show!!!

Tibbits Summer Theatre countdown is on...

3 days  before the tech crew arrives and starts work in the Tibbits shops

6 days before the first actors arrive for "Pinocchio" rehearsals

9 days before the next group of  actors arrive and begin rehearsals for "On Broadway 1956"

14 days until the opening of Popcorn Theatre with "Pinocchio"

20 days until "On Broadway 1956 opens"

Don't let too many days pass before you get your tickets. The summer will be gone before you know it and you don't want to catch yourself at the end of the summer saying "I had wanted to see that!" 

Stay tuned on this blog for the summer for more posts, interviews, and inside stories on the company and the productions. 

Loss of a Friend to Tibbits

When you enter the theatre through the main doors, you are greeted by the face of a jester or a symbolic "T" in the stained glass windows. This craftsmanship dates back to the renovation efforts of the 60s and 70s. The windows were created by Ed Geishert, Sr.

You may also have noticed, on the main floor in row 'G,' four seats with tartan plaid covers over them. Theses seats proudly recognize the theatre's Barton S. Tibbits sponsor, an honor sold each year at the annual auction: four seats to EVERY performance for an entire year. For a dozen years these special seats have been purchased by and reserved for the same special Tibbits supporter, Ed Geishert, Sr. He and his lovely wife Norma have enjoyed seeing the shows and sharing their tickets with many dear friends over the years. At this last auction Ed made what turned out to be his final appearance at his beloved theatre. We celebrated his 95th birthday with a song and cake, and he honored us by again purchasing the BST seats but this year for a record setting price. Ed has supported the Tibbits in so many ways for so many years. We are grateful.

Ed passed on Friday. While he will be dearly missed, we are confident he is at peace. I am certain many will agree he has touched many people and made a difference in many ways; he has made our theatre as well as our community a better place. Thank you Ed and may eternal light shine upon you.

Edwin C. Geishert, Sr.

COLDWATER — Edwin C. Geishert, Sr., 95, of Coldwater, passed away Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 at The Laurels of Coldwater.

Edwin “Ed” was born Nov. 5, 1916 in South Bend, Ind., to Oliver and Mildred (Hawkey) Geishert, and graduated from Niles High School in 1934.

He began training as a tool and die engineer, a profession he would continue throughout his life. Ed became the chief engineer for several air conditioner and water heater manufacturers in Chicago, Ill., Houston, Texas, Evansville, Ind. and finally settling in 1955 with General Processing in Quincy. He held several patents and was the successful owner/operator of various business ventures during the 1970s, 80s and 90s, including Quincy Reel, Geishert’s Truck Stop, Insul-Roof, Ed-de’s Restaurant and Anchor Enterprises specializing in stained glass. Some of his well-known projects include stained glass windows at the Coldwater Elks Lodge, Tibbits Opera House and the Old Firehouse Restaurant (now Siren’s). When the front doors at Tibbits are restored, they will have the stained glass windows framed and hung in the theatre in honor of Ed. Working with his son, Edwin Jr., they designed, built and distributed various medical devices for Miles Laboratories of Elkhart, Ind. Their electrophoresis machines were used in the early stages of RNA and DNA research throughout the world.

Ed’s greatest passions were traveling, hunting and fishing with family and friends. He pursued these activities across the U.S., Alaska and Canada.

Ed became a member of Tibbits in 1976 and was a Barton S. Tibbits sponsor for 12 years. He was also a member of the Coldwater Noon Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow, Past President of the Quincy Rotary Club; a life member of Mount Vernon Lodge #166 F & AM; and was a member of Mizpah Shrine, the Coldwater Eagles Aerie 1907 and 63-year life member of the Coldwater Elks. He was one of a group of seven who founded the Quincy Golf Course. He offered more than one Sunday sermon during a match on the fourth hole of the course, his signature hole known as “bean hill.” Ed, with friend Barney Stempien, also originated the Quincy Tip-Up Festival.

Survivors include his wife, Norma (Lenon) Geishert, whom he married Sept. 20, 2002; son, Edwin (Penny) Geishert, Jr. of Quincy; nieces, Amy Geishert of Lansing and Elizabeth Englert of Cadiz, Ky.; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two step-daughters, Beth (David) Hoppe of Battle Creek and Sandra (Brian) Sexton of Coldwater; five step-grandchildren; and one special step-great-grandson, Brock Sexton.

Ed was preceded in death in 2001 by his wife, Sylvia, of 54 years; parents; brother, Charles; and three sisters, Dorothy, Helen and Betty.

Visitation for family and friends is scheduled for Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at the Eagle Funeral Home-George White Chapel in Quincy, including a Masonic Service of Remembrance at 7 p.m.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Coldwater, with Father Stephen Bartlett officiating. Visitation at the church will be from 3 p.m. until time of service.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (bell tower restoration fund) or Tibbits Opera House Restoration Fund.