COLDWATER – Cast members of Tibbits Young Audiences musical “The Secret Garden” are ready to show off months of hard work when they take to the stage March 27 and 28 at 7pm and March 29 at 2pm at Tibbits Opera House.
Everyone will love this charming, upbeat adaptation of a literary classic. Mary Lennox is sent to live in England after her parents die in India. Misselthwaite Manor turns out to be a gloomy fortress. Her uncle is rarely home and his young son, Colin, never leaves his room, convinced he’s an incurable invalid. Mary discovers a strange walled garden that has been locked up for years. With the gardener’s apprentice, Dickon, a lad who can talk to the animals, Mary coaxes the garden back to life. The garden seems to have a wonderful, magical effect on all who come into it, allowing Mary to help restore Colin to health and a reunion with his father.
The cast is made up of 43 students fourth through eighth grades and includes cast members from Coldwater, Quincy, Union City, Allen, Sturgis, Bronson, and even Angola and Fremont IN. Cast members include Saylor Fraley as Mary Lennox; Jeffrey Harvey as Archibald Craven; Jonah Pentecost as Dr. Craven; Malachi Payne as Colin; Logan Foster as Dickon; Bree Tappenden as Martha; Alison Christopher as Mrs. Medlock; Ivy Witmer as Mrs. Sowerby; Isabel Christopher as Miss Wiggin/Lilias; Hannah Heitger as Mrs. Crawford; Micah Lee as bellboy; Drey McGlothan as cook; Crysta McGlothan, McKinley Kirk, and Cady Fillmore as Indian Servants; Brianna Barle, Olivia Harris, and Nakota Dayton as kitchen maids; Molly Foster, Lyric Shuerman, and Madelynn Grife as housemaids; Colton LaFountain and Logan Kirk as footmen; Emma Tennyson as Betty; Alana Houtz and Lily Witmer as daughters; Ashlyn Caswell as Jane; London Elkins as nurse; and Kristian Thornton and Allison Sherman as nursemaids. The cast is rounded out with Marissa Dornbush, Sierra LaFountain, and Jackie VanEvery as Sowerby girls; Joel Miller and Athena Benedict as stable hands; and Kacey Thorton, Ciaira Paul, Samuel Carpenter, Adira Jaros, Brock Stoner, Destiny Stoner, Aislee McGlothan, and Isaac Lee as chorus.
“The Secret Garden” is directed and choreographed by Julia Littley, with musical direction by Jayne Lillis, and produced by Tirsha Odisher. Alison Harvey serves as assistant stage manager. Laura Odom has designed costumes with Betsy Tappenden as her assistant, with set design by Leon Kriser, props by Stacy Guertler, and makeup design by Tammy Nohr. This production is generously sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Coldwater.
Tibbits Young Audiences offers programs both for and by area youth to develop their interest in the arts. Two shows yearly, a non-musical in the fall and a musical in the spring, provide students an enjoyable introduction to the world of theatre. By putting on a show, they learn teamwork, discipline, theatre skills, self confidence and an appreciation for the arts.
All shows will be held at Tibbits Opera House, 14 South Hanchett Street, Coldwater, Mich. All tickets are general admission. Tickets are available from cast members, at the door, or online. Tickets are $7 each. For a complete listing of shows at the theatre, to purchase tickets, or for more information, go online to Tibbits.org or call 517.278.6029.
