Press Release

"Patricia Polacco's Christmas Memories" Come to Live at Tibbits

11/27/07

COLDWATER, MI—

Tibbits’ Professional Company joins with Branch County Community Theatre at 7 p.m. on Thursday – Saturday, December 6, 7, and 8, for a special holiday production of “Patricia Polacco’s Christmas Memories”. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children.

This exciting original production written by Charles Burr, Tibbits Artistic Director, and Bobb James, professional actor, is adapted from “An Orange for Frankie” and “Christmas Tapestry” by Patricia Polacco with the kind and express permission of the author. This beloved author’s gift for storytelling translates to the stage in a beautiful celebration of the love, warmth and humor of the holidays.

Charles Burr is directing this production which is made possible through the generous support of Taylor’s Books and More. Patricia Polacco’s books will be available for sale each night. The author will be on hand to sign books Thursday, December 6, following the performance and again on Friday, December 7, prior to the performance.

“An Orange for Frankie” has the Stowell family abuzz with holiday excitement and Frankie, the youngest boy, is the most excited of all. But there is a cloud over the joyous season: Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and Pa hasn't returned yet from his trip to Lansing. He promised to bring back the oranges for the mantelpiece. Every year there are nine of them nestled among the evergreens, one for each of the children. But this year heavy snows might mean no oranges and, worse, no Pa!

This is a holiday story close to Patricia Polacco's heart. Frankie was her grandmother's youngest brother, and every year she and her family remember this tale of a little boy one Christmas long ago who not only learned, but also taught, an important lesson about giving.

When a bad leak ruins the sacristy wall in her father’s church, Bethany Weeks, in “A Christmas Tapestry”, thinks her family’s first Christmas Eve in Detroit will be ruined too. Luckily, she and her father find a beautiful tapestry for sale in a second-hand shop and think it is just the thing to cover the damaged wall and give the church a festive look.

But there is more to the tapestry they discover when an elderly Jewish woman, who is visiting the church, recognizes the lovely old cloth. It is her discovery that leads to the real miracle on this unforgettable Christmas Eve. Master storyteller and artist Patricia Polacco has outdone herself in this poignant holiday tale of two families, two faiths, and two lonely people united by a beautiful twist of fate.

Tickets for Patricia Polacco’s Christmas Memories on December 6, 7, and 8 are $12 for adults and $8 for children and are available by calling 517-278-6029, online at www.tibbits.org or at Tibbits administrative offices on 93 West Chicago Street. Performances each night begin at 7:00 p.m.