Grants reach new audiences

COLDWATER – Tibbits Summer Theatre’s production of “Peter Pan” reached new audiences through grants from the Stanley Godfrey Endowment Fund for the Arts and the Irv & Kathryn Harris Memorial Fund both through the Branch County Community Foundation.

The grant funds were used to bring children and families who would not otherwise have had the opportunity, to the theatre to experience a full scale professional musical production. According to Tibbits Audience Outreach Director Tammy Barnes, “We wanted as many children as possible to be able to enjoy this magical production and through this grant we were able to.” Barnes added, “It was precious to see some of these children sit in awe of the entire production. I know it was their first time attending such an event.”

Groups who received tickets were the Arab American Society of Coldwater, Bronson Hispanic Ministries and Bronson School, the Beginning Care for Life Center, Family Promise, and foster families through the Department of Human Services.

Tibbits has traditionally offered community tickets in the name of the show sponsors to many of its productions but never to the number of people reached through these grants. The grants allowed 69 people to attend the show.

The mission of the Tibbits Opera Foundation is to engage all in arts, culture and the preservation of the historic opera house. For more information on Tibbits and its programs go to Tibbits.org or call 517-278-6029.

Cutline: Families from the Arab American Society of Coldwater were among those enjoying Tibbits Summer Theatre’s performance of “Peter Pan.”

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