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!