COLDWATER – With the opening of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” Tibbits Summer Theatre extends its appreciation to Parrish Excavating for its sponsorship of the show as well as its overall support of the theatre.
Parrish Excavating began sponsoring Summer Theatre shows in 2017 but the company’s support of the theatre goes back decades. The company has been around since 1972 digging holes, trucking topsoil, fixing roads, adding to the water lines and sewer mains, building septic systems, rehabilitating driveways, building new lawns and fixing old ones, building new apartment complexes and subdivisions, and developing land for new manufacturing and commercial entities. These things and many more like them have kept the company busy.
Parrish Excavating is generously sponsoring Tibbits Summer Theatre’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” starring Rachel Schoenecker as Ariel and Aidan Eddy as King Triton.
Owner Brad Parrish says, “We are thankful to live in a community that trusts us and calls on us and uses us to supply these various needs. And we are thankful for the men and women who make up our team of service professionals. Without this team we don’t amount to much outside of a bunch of iron and engines, but with them we do some amazing work. That’s much like the Tibbits. From the Theater’s management team to the professionals that bring us the shows, they do amazing work. We are all tremendously blessed to have such a rich cultural icon here in Coldwater.”
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” follows the beautiful young mermaid Ariel as she longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. The show opens June 29 with 7:30 performances June 29, July 6, 7, and 8, 11 am performances June 30, July 1, 8 and a 2 pm performance July 5. Tickets and information are available at Tibbits.org or by calling 517-278-6029. All performances are held at the beautiful historic Tibbits Opera House, 14 S. Hanchett Street, in Coldwater.
Parrish Excavating is located at 65 Cole St, Quincy, MI (517) 639-4656. For more information visit Parrish-excavating.com
COLDWATER – From magical mermaids, to colorful dancing sea creatures, to a spurned sea witch with a magical shell, experience Tibbits Summer Theatre’s enchanting Under–the-Sea musical with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” June 29 through July 8 at Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater.
In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on a beloved Hans Christian Andersen story, Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, pursues the human Prince Eric. Bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, she trades her tail for legs with unexpected consequences. It takes Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to help Arial restore order under the sea. This fishy fable will capture audience’s hearts with irresistible songs like “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”
Ariel (portrayed by Rachel Schoenecker) and Prince Eric (portrayed by Neil Devlin)
Featuring music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright, this mainstage show isn’t just for the kids! Based on the popular Disney film produced by Howard Ashman and John Musker, it was written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.
Director and long-time Tibbits alum Dougie Robbins says, “One word kept rising to the surface again and again as I worked on ‘The Little Mermaid’: Freedom. Why were the characters of Ariel and Eric so inexplicably unhappy, when they were born into lives of ease? They do not have their freedom. The incredible writing team chose to teach us all about freedom by defining it in one of our deepest life experiences- choosing who we love. This sweet, buoyant musical asks us all to set aside our own prejudices and discover how it feels to be as free and open as the sea.”
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is directed and choreographed by Robbins with musical direction by Sarah Altenburg. The professional cast includes Rachel Schoenecker as Ariel, Neil Devlin as Prince Eric, Dominic Green as Sebastian, Aidan Eddie as King Triton, Stephanie (Hemker) Burdick as Ursula, Ephraim Takyi as Flotsam, Annie Ross as Jetsam, Tucker Gold as Flounder, Dennis Dizon as Scuttle, Chad Tallon as Chef Louis, and Brenda Sparks as Grimsby. The ensemble of sailors, mersisters, sea creatures, maids, seagulls, chefs and princesses includes Gianna Branca, Johnny Doty, Olivia Goodman, Carlie Jones, Cheyanne Marie, Cade Ostermeyer, Ethan Peterson, Annie Ross, Rachel Sarles, Megan Stier, Chad Tallon, and Kate Turner.
The design staff features Tanya Sweet as scenic designer, Marc Vital as costume designer, and Jamie Gresens as lighting designer with Tyler Evans as associate lighting designer. Props are by Ray Louise Sunshine, Luis Guzman Galdos joins as sound designer, with Aaron Bell as technical director, Ariel Sheets as production stage manager, and Olivia Goodman as dance captain.
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is sponsored by Parrish Excavating, a proud TST sponsor for seven years. Owner Brad Parrish says, “We are all tremendously blessed to have such a rich cultural icon here in Coldwater.” Parrish Excavating has been around since 1972 digging holes, trucking topsoil, fixing roads, adding to the water lines and sewer mains, building septic systems, rehabilitating driveways, building new lawns and fixing old ones, building new apartment complexes and subdivisions, and developing land for new manufacturing and commercial entities.
Ursula (portrayed by Stephanie Hemker Burdick)
Tibbits also receives grant funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tickets for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” range from $20-43 including fees. Discounts are available for Tibbits members, groups and students. Performances run June 29, July 6, 7, and 8 at 7:30pm with 11am
showings on June 30, July 1, and July 8, and a 2pm matinee on July 5. Tickets are available online at Tibbits.org, in person at the Tibbits Box Office located inside the theatre or at the Tibbits Admin Office at 93 W. Chicago Street Monday-Friday 9-5, by calling 517-278-6029. All tickets are charged a facility/ticketing fee whether in person or not; there are no additional fees for ordering online.
To add to the Tibbits experience, Tibbits Ghost Light Bar in the theatre’s art gallery is open before the show and at intermission. Patrons are also invited to view current art gallery exhibit or the historic exhibit displays throughout the theatre.
After “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” the mainstage fun continues with “Grease” and Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor.” Popcorn Theatre for families presents “Once Upon a Princess Storytime & Songs,” “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and Disney’s animated film “Encanto” Fridays and Saturdays July 14 through August 5.
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.
Prince Eric (Neil Devlin), Ariel (Rachel Schoenecker), and King Triton (Aidan Eddy)
COLDWATER – From nuns to mermaids, greasers to opera singers, the 60th consecutive season of Tibbits Summer Theatre will be sure to please audiences with a mainstage season featuring three energetic musicals and a play, along with the popular Popcorn Theatre.
Professional actors Cheyanne Marie, Brenda Sparks, and Kiersten Vorheis entertained Tibbits audiences in a performance of “Nunsense”last summer. Gift certificates for the 2023 Tibbits Summer Theatre are currently on sale. Tibbits’ 60th consecutive summer theatre season features three musicals: the hilarious singing nuns are back with “Nunsense II,” then a musical adventure under the sea with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and finally, the 50s rock ‘n’ roll hit musical “Grease.” The main shows close with Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor,” a hilarious farce of backstage mischief and mistaken identities!
Tibbits 2023 Summer Theatre Season begins with three musicals: The hilarious singing nuns are back with “Nunsense II,” then a musical adventure under the sea with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and finally, the 50s rock ‘n’ roll hit musical “Grease.” The main shows close with Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor,” a hilarious farce of backstage mischief and mistaken identities! The summer theatre lineup offers eight performances of each show, featuring a variety of matinee and evening performances Wednesdays through Saturdays. Tibbits Popcorn Theatre returns with four kid-friendly shows most Friday and Saturday mornings beginning June 9.
“Nunsense II” opens the mainstage season and runs June 15-24. Featuring book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin, the Little Sisters of Hoboken return…funnier, zanier and more lovable than ever! Having been “bitten by the theater bug,” the nuns present a “Thank You Program” dancing and singing for all who supported them in last year’s benefit. Amidst their high-spirited performance they deal with rumors of talent scouts in the audience and Franciscans who want to claim Sister Mary Amnesia as one of their own. With zany antics and catchy songs like “Winning Is Just the Beginning,” “The Padre Polka” and “What Would Elvis Do?” audiences will be rolling in the aisles!
Next, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright, the beloved Disney version of “The Little Mermaid” swims across stage with messages of kindness, tolerance and love at performances on June 29 – July 8. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on a beloved Hans Christian Andersen story, Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, pursues the human Prince Eric. Bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, she trades her tail for legs with unexpected consequences. It takes Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to help Arial restore order under the sea. This fishy fable will capture audience’s hearts with irresistible songs like “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.” No Popcorn Theatre performances will take place during the run of “The Little Mermaid.” There will instead be several 11am performances of this mainstage production.
The final musical of the season, “Grease,” will continue the fun on stage July 13-22. This show, rated PG-13, features a rollicking, rock ‘n’ roll score with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. With many recognizable hits like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin'” and “We Go Together,” “Grease” celebrates Rydell High’s class of 1959 in all its duck-tailed, bobby-soxed, gum-snapping glory. Full of sheer energy, charm and fun, this musical follows the romance between “greaser” Danny and the sweet new girl in town, Sandy. Audiences will definitely want to “shooby do wap” along with this iconic soundtrack of a generation.
The main season closes with farce and Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor,” which has performances July 27-August 5. This madcap, screwball comedy is guaranteed to leave audiences teary-eyed with laughter. Set in 1934, Henry Saunders, the General Manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is ready to welcome world-famous singer Tito Merelli for his starring role. Alas, Tito arrives late, his tempestuous wife Maria has a fit of jealousy, and it remains to be seen whether Saunders’ mousy but determined assistant Max can save the day.
Season tickets for the mainstage shows range from $126-$135 (including fees) and will be on sale mid-December. Evening summer performances begin at 7:30pm with matinees at 2pm with some special 11am performances for “The Little Mermaid.” Gift certificates are currently available at Tibbits.org for season tickets, individual shows, or in any denomination by calling 517.278.6029, visiting the administrative offices at 93 W. Chicago St., or going online to Tibbits.org. The historic Tibbits Opera House is located at 14 S. Hanchett St. in Coldwater, MI.
