Press Release

2010 Summer Season

Date:3.01.10

COLDWATER, MI—

Two Tony award winning shows, a revue and the longest running comedy in London’s history opens the 47th professional season at the Tibbits Opera House.

The exciting 2010 Tibbits Summer Theatre (TST) season will open with “On Broadway: A Modern Songbook.” This is a new musical revue featuring Broadway’s best from the past 25 years. This show will include songs from the newer classics such as “Les Miserables,” “Miss Saigon,” “Starlight Express,” “Cats,” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

The revue style suits Tibbits, “the gem of Branch County.”  Tibbits Artistic Director Charles Burr said, “Lets face it. We will never be able to do a show for example like Miss Saigon. We will never be able to have a helicopter land on the Tibbits stage like the play calls for but we can perform the music and we can do it well.”

If a patron recognizes a song from a major show, chances are music from it will be part of the Tibbits production. “On Broadway: A Modern Songbook” is scheduled from June 24 through June 26 and June 30 through July 3.  Revised for Tibbits by Burr and Trinity Bird, director for the  revue.

“Crazy for You,” the 1992 Tony award winner for Best Musical, is the new Gershwin musical. This new musical showcases high energy, screw-ball comedy, mistaken identity, plot twists and fabulous dance numbers. It is an adaptation of the 1930 musical “Girl Crazy” featuring lyrics by the Ira Gershwin and music by George Gershwin. Well-known classic tunes include “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You” and “Someone To Watch Over Me.”

Scheduled to run from July 8 through the 10 and from July 14 through the 17, “Crazy For You” follows the character Bobby Child who dreams of dancing on Broadway, despite protests from his mother and wealthy fiancé.  Written by Ken Ludwig, who also wrote the Tibbits hit from 2009, “Leading Ladies,” he has provided an updated Crazy script, with “the original magic better than ever” according to Burr.

“Run for Your Wife” is a hilarious British farce written by Englishman and actor/playwright Ray Cooney.  The adult themed comedy features John Smith who has two wives, two lives and a very hectic schedule. When Smith is mugged and ends up in the hospital, his carefully orchestrated life runs amuck and mayhem ensues.

The play ran for nine years in London’s West End and was its longest running comedy. At Tibbits it will run from July 22 through the 24 and from July 28 through the 31.  “If you liked ‘Leading Ladies’ you’ll love this show,” Burr said. 

The season’s final production is the wonderful hit musical that is currently sweeping the country,  “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a delightful musical about a fictional spelling bee at Putnam Valley Middle School. Quirky teens compete in a spelling bee run by quirky adults. Dates are Aug. 5 through 7 and 11 through the 14.

Popcorn Theatre will return again at 10 am each Friday and Saturday starting June 18 and running through August 7.  Popcorn Theatre shows will be announced soon.

USA Today called Tibbits Summer Theatre one of “10 great places to see the lights way off Broadway.”

Group and season tickets are on sale now which means tickets for all four shows range between: $70 for balcony seating, $78 for matinees and $85 for evening shows. Individual tickets will go on sale April 1st and depending when and what time, prices range between $24 and $26 each. Five minutes before each show, Rush Tickets, $10, go on sale. Rush Tickets are limited balcony seating and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Tibbits is located at 14 S. Hanchett St., Coldwater, MI. Tickets are available from 10 am to 5 pm at the administrative office at 93 W. Chicago St., Monday through Friday, by calling 517-278-6029, or by visiting the web site at www.Tibbits.org.  Tibbits is air conditioned, handicap accessible and hearing assistance is available.