Cemetery Club – Summer Theatre 2017
Cemetery Club Opens Tibbits Summer Season
Coldwater—A funny, touching play “The Cemetery Club” opens Tibbits Summer Theatre’s 53rd season with an inspirational message of starting life a-new, June 15 and running through June 24 at Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, Michigan.
Both humorous and poignant it’s the story of three widows who meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husband’s graves. Ida played by Debbie Culver is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life. Lucille played by Gloria Logan is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun. Doris played by Joylene Taylor is priggish and judgmental. Life and routine are toppled when Sam the butcher played by Alan Elliott meets the widows while visiting his wife’s grave. Also in the cast is Diane Long.
Written by Ivan Menchell, “The Cemetery Club” is directed by Jeremy Littlejohn. Tibbits Summer Theatre features a professional company from across the United States. The design staff features set design by Frank Blackmore, costumes by Mark W. Vitall II, and lights by Catie Blencowe. Opening on Broadway in May 1990, the play was later made into a film starring Ellen Burstyn, Dianne Ladd and Olympia Dukkakis.
Tibbits Artistic Director Charles Burr remembers seeing the premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC before it went to Broadway. He says, “I have to agree with the Washington Journal: ‘Very touching and humorous. An evening of pure pleasure that will make you glad you went to the theatre.’”
“The Cemetery Club” is presented with the support of Parrish Excavating. Based in Quincy, Michigan, the family owned company was formed in 1972 and has built a solid reputation for quality and outstanding service. Parrish Excavating serves individual and corporate developers and investors as well as commercial, industrial, and municipal entities. They provide site development and utility excavation in southern lower Michigan, northern Indiana, northwestern Ohio, and northeastern Illinois.
According to Brad Parrish, “We love the Tibbits for what it brings to our community. It’s hard to say just how much value there is in the arts but we can easily say that it is significant. It is significant as a means of education and entertainment. Tibbits is significant as it offers identity and meaningfulness to our sense of community and oneness. Tibbits brings laughter and relief, it provides opportunities for pleasure and entertainment. There’re just so many good things about the Tibbits. Its value to our community is tremendous.”
Tickets for “The Cemetery Club” are $34 including fees for reserved seating. Discounts are available for members, groups and students. General seating in the upper balcony is available for $13. Performances are June 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 at 7:30 with matinees on June 15 and 21 at 2 pm. For the best value season tickets are available for all four shows: “The Cemetery Club,” “Damn Yankees,” “Footloose” and “The Fox on the Fairway.” Also, passbooks offer the option of six tickets to be used throughout the summer and offer nearly a ten percent discount. Passbooks must be purchased in advance and are designed for seeing multiple shows.
Tickets are available online at Tibbits.org, through the Tibbits Box office at the theatre 9 am to 6 pm weekdays or by calling 517-278-6029. All performances are held at the beautiful historic Tibbits Opera House, 14 S. Hanchett Street, in Coldwater. For more information call or visit Tibbits.org. To learn more about the cast members go to Tibbits.org/blog.
[The Cemetery Club art] The touching and humorous story about moving on opens the 53rd season of Tibbits Summer Theatre at the historic opera house in Coldwater June 15. Artwork by Joe Ramos
