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!!!