2017 Season
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
"Our Town"
Written by Thornton Wilder
“Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York, NY”
Directed by Kelly Carlin
Production Sponsor: Dr. Patricia Moore
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday January 27th, 28th, February 3rd and 4th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday ,January 29th at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 5th, at 2:00 p.m. (Early due to Super Bowl)
Through the use of small town characters and the element of simplicity, Thornton Wilder creates universal themes about the cycle of life that reign eternal even today. The play Our Town tells the story of two simple families, the Gibbs and the Webb’s, living in the town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. In three acts, Wilder journeys through the cycle of life, from the birth of a new life, all way up to the inevitable. Throughout the play, the audience experiences the great milestones in life that they can relate to, such as new life, first love, long lasting love and the effect of death.
Winner! Pulitzer Prize for Drama
"While all of Wilder's work is intelligent, non-synthetic and often moving, as well as funny, it is Our Town that makes the difference. It is probably the finest play ever written by an American." —Edward Albee
MARCH
“Kitchen Witches”
Written by Caroline Smith
“Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York, NY”
Director Martha Branson-Banks
Production Sponsor: Anonymous Donor
Audition Dates:
Saturday, January 14th - 12 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 15th – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Monday, January 16th – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
At the Tin Shop Theatre
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday March 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday March 12th and March 19th at 4:00 p.m.
Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two "mature" cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for 30 years, ever since Larry Biddle dated one and married the other. When circumstances put them together on a TV show called The Kitchen Witches, the insults are flung harder than the food! Dolly's long-suffering TV-producer son Stephen tries to keep them on track, but as long as Dolly's dressing room is one inch closer to the set than Isobel's, it's a losing battle, and the show becomes a rating smash as Dolly and Isobel top both Martha Stewart and Jerry Springer!
"Canadian playwright Caroline Smith has whipped up a hilarious tale." - Simcoe Times-Reformer
"Take a handful of animated actors, add a lively and responsive audience, let the plot thicken and you get a savory show that's sure to please even the fussiest palate." - The Orangeville Banner
The Kitchen Witches was first produced at the Stirling Festival Theatre in Stirling Ontario in June 2003.
MAY
“Top Girls”
Sorry this production has been cancelled due to unforeseen
circumstances.
We are reprising one weekend of the successful production of "Kitchen Witches"
See above for details of the production.
Saturday, May 13th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 14th at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 14th at 6:30 p.m.
If you miss this production the first time around or see it for a second time.
JUNE
“We the People”
Written by Pat Cook
Music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur
“Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Co.”
Director Alice Kring
Music Director Judy Earnst
Production Sponsor: Redbud Insurance Services, LLC
Audition Dates
Saturday, February 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 28th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
At Buchanan Christian Church
112 W. Third Street, Buchanan, MI
Production Dates
Friday and Saturday, June 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 11th and 18th at 4:00 p.m.
There is no better way to celebrate America than with beautiful, patriotic music — from America’s favorite anthems to poignant and uplifting original compositions. This patriotic tableau begins as a committee discusses putting on a patriotic show for their town. Just what does America mean to them? One person pulls out the Preamble to the Constitution, and they decide to use it as a framework for their show. Through a series of sketches and songs organized phrase by phrase from the Preamble, they show not only how the Constitution applies to our past, but also to our present and future. Everyday life is showcased in both funny and touching vignettes, offering a variety of moods as it explores the deeper meanings of the language of the Constitution. From two neighbors arguing their constitutional rights to have crab grass to an immigrant’s heartwarming rendition of her coming to America, this Norman Rockwellesque review offers slices of life in America. Picnics... tributes to the military... letters home from war... all become part of this patchwork quilt of American life. This musical will serve as a fine reminder that the remarkable words written by our forefathers many years ago are still a living document, part of our lives each and every day.
JULY
"Alice Through the Looking Glass"
Based on the classic by Lewis Carroll
Book and lyric freely adapted by Seymour Reiter. Music by Lor Crane
"Produced by special arrangement with
THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois"
Director Kelly Carlin
Production Sponsor: Buchanan Floral Co. & Greenhouses, LLC
Chuck and Karin Falkenstein
Audition Dates:
Saturday, May 13th 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday, May 15th 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm.
Sunday, May 21st 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Production Dates:
Friday, July 21st and 28th at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 22nd at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 27th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 23rd and 30th at 4:00 p.m.
A musical buoyant with fun and wonder, alive with thought and feeling, that can be enjoyed by all ages. The folk-rock-pop music carries the audience through the looking glass with Alice, and the lively book unfolds what Alice found—the value of a dream. Her journey's reward is a golden crown of self-discovery
SEPTEMBER
“Leading Ladies (Ludwig)”
Written by: Ken Ludwig
“Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York, NY”
Director Chuck Shore
Audition Dates:
Sunday, July 9th – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 12th – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday, September 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 10th and 17th at 4:00 p.m.
In this hilarious comedy by the author of Lend Me A Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo, two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren't nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady's vivacious niece, Meg, who's engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there's a wide world out there, but it's not until she meets "Maxine and Stephanie" that she finally gets a taste of it.
"Look for Leading Ladies to become a staple of summer stock and community theatres. And, mind you, I mean that as a compliment." - Variety
"Ken Ludwig gives the audience something powerful and potent: laughter and a guiltless evening of Theatre-going." - Village News
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
“An Inspector Calls”
Written by J. B. Priestley
“Presented by Special Arrangement with Dramatists Play Services, Inc., New York, NY”
Director Jack Gannon
Sponsored by Hilltop Cafe
Audition Dates:
Saturday, September 9th – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 10th – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
At the Tin Shop Theatre
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday, October 27th, 28th, November 3rd, 4th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 29th and November 5th at 4:00 p.m.
The action of the play occurs in an English industrial city, where a young girl commits suicide and an eminently respectable British family is subject to a routine inquiry in connection with the death. An inspector calls to interrogate the family, and during the course of his questioning, all members of the group are implicated lightly or deeply in the girl's undoing. The family, closely knit and friendly at the beginning of the evening, is shown up as selfish, self-centered or cowardly, its good humor turning to acid, and good fellowship to dislike, before the evening is over. The surprising revelation, however, is in the inspector...
Fourth Annual Buchanan Ghost Walk
In cooperation with the Buchanan Public Library and the Buchanan Fine Arts Council
Note: this is not a part of the regular Tin Shop Season
DECEMBER
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
Written by Kari Prouty
Director Laura Widden-Wetterlin
Audition Dates:
Sunday, September 24th – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 26th – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday December 1st, 2nd, 8thand 9th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday December 10th at 4:00 p.m.
A small church bands together to help a struggling family at Christmas. Familiar carols and honest questions combine to create a meaningful holiday musical.
"Our Town"
Written by Thornton Wilder
“Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York, NY”
Directed by Kelly Carlin
Production Sponsor: Dr. Patricia Moore
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday January 27th, 28th, February 3rd and 4th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday ,January 29th at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 5th, at 2:00 p.m. (Early due to Super Bowl)
Through the use of small town characters and the element of simplicity, Thornton Wilder creates universal themes about the cycle of life that reign eternal even today. The play Our Town tells the story of two simple families, the Gibbs and the Webb’s, living in the town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. In three acts, Wilder journeys through the cycle of life, from the birth of a new life, all way up to the inevitable. Throughout the play, the audience experiences the great milestones in life that they can relate to, such as new life, first love, long lasting love and the effect of death.
Winner! Pulitzer Prize for Drama
"While all of Wilder's work is intelligent, non-synthetic and often moving, as well as funny, it is Our Town that makes the difference. It is probably the finest play ever written by an American." —Edward Albee
MARCH
“Kitchen Witches”
Written by Caroline Smith
“Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York, NY”
Director Martha Branson-Banks
Production Sponsor: Anonymous Donor
Audition Dates:
Saturday, January 14th - 12 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 15th – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Monday, January 16th – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
At the Tin Shop Theatre
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday March 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday March 12th and March 19th at 4:00 p.m.
Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two "mature" cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for 30 years, ever since Larry Biddle dated one and married the other. When circumstances put them together on a TV show called The Kitchen Witches, the insults are flung harder than the food! Dolly's long-suffering TV-producer son Stephen tries to keep them on track, but as long as Dolly's dressing room is one inch closer to the set than Isobel's, it's a losing battle, and the show becomes a rating smash as Dolly and Isobel top both Martha Stewart and Jerry Springer!
"Canadian playwright Caroline Smith has whipped up a hilarious tale." - Simcoe Times-Reformer
"Take a handful of animated actors, add a lively and responsive audience, let the plot thicken and you get a savory show that's sure to please even the fussiest palate." - The Orangeville Banner
The Kitchen Witches was first produced at the Stirling Festival Theatre in Stirling Ontario in June 2003.
MAY
“Top Girls”
Sorry this production has been cancelled due to unforeseen
circumstances.
We are reprising one weekend of the successful production of "Kitchen Witches"
See above for details of the production.
Saturday, May 13th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 14th at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 14th at 6:30 p.m.
If you miss this production the first time around or see it for a second time.
JUNE
“We the People”
Written by Pat Cook
Music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur
“Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Co.”
Director Alice Kring
Music Director Judy Earnst
Production Sponsor: Redbud Insurance Services, LLC
Audition Dates
Saturday, February 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 28th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
At Buchanan Christian Church
112 W. Third Street, Buchanan, MI
Production Dates
Friday and Saturday, June 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 11th and 18th at 4:00 p.m.
There is no better way to celebrate America than with beautiful, patriotic music — from America’s favorite anthems to poignant and uplifting original compositions. This patriotic tableau begins as a committee discusses putting on a patriotic show for their town. Just what does America mean to them? One person pulls out the Preamble to the Constitution, and they decide to use it as a framework for their show. Through a series of sketches and songs organized phrase by phrase from the Preamble, they show not only how the Constitution applies to our past, but also to our present and future. Everyday life is showcased in both funny and touching vignettes, offering a variety of moods as it explores the deeper meanings of the language of the Constitution. From two neighbors arguing their constitutional rights to have crab grass to an immigrant’s heartwarming rendition of her coming to America, this Norman Rockwellesque review offers slices of life in America. Picnics... tributes to the military... letters home from war... all become part of this patchwork quilt of American life. This musical will serve as a fine reminder that the remarkable words written by our forefathers many years ago are still a living document, part of our lives each and every day.
JULY
"Alice Through the Looking Glass"
Based on the classic by Lewis Carroll
Book and lyric freely adapted by Seymour Reiter. Music by Lor Crane
"Produced by special arrangement with
THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois"
Director Kelly Carlin
Production Sponsor: Buchanan Floral Co. & Greenhouses, LLC
Chuck and Karin Falkenstein
Audition Dates:
Saturday, May 13th 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday, May 15th 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm.
Sunday, May 21st 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Production Dates:
Friday, July 21st and 28th at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 22nd at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 27th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 23rd and 30th at 4:00 p.m.
A musical buoyant with fun and wonder, alive with thought and feeling, that can be enjoyed by all ages. The folk-rock-pop music carries the audience through the looking glass with Alice, and the lively book unfolds what Alice found—the value of a dream. Her journey's reward is a golden crown of self-discovery
SEPTEMBER
“Leading Ladies (Ludwig)”
Written by: Ken Ludwig
“Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York, NY”
Director Chuck Shore
Audition Dates:
Sunday, July 9th – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 12th – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday, September 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 10th and 17th at 4:00 p.m.
In this hilarious comedy by the author of Lend Me A Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo, two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren't nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady's vivacious niece, Meg, who's engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there's a wide world out there, but it's not until she meets "Maxine and Stephanie" that she finally gets a taste of it.
"Look for Leading Ladies to become a staple of summer stock and community theatres. And, mind you, I mean that as a compliment." - Variety
"Ken Ludwig gives the audience something powerful and potent: laughter and a guiltless evening of Theatre-going." - Village News
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
“An Inspector Calls”
Written by J. B. Priestley
“Presented by Special Arrangement with Dramatists Play Services, Inc., New York, NY”
Director Jack Gannon
Sponsored by Hilltop Cafe
Audition Dates:
Saturday, September 9th – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 10th – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
At the Tin Shop Theatre
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday, October 27th, 28th, November 3rd, 4th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 29th and November 5th at 4:00 p.m.
The action of the play occurs in an English industrial city, where a young girl commits suicide and an eminently respectable British family is subject to a routine inquiry in connection with the death. An inspector calls to interrogate the family, and during the course of his questioning, all members of the group are implicated lightly or deeply in the girl's undoing. The family, closely knit and friendly at the beginning of the evening, is shown up as selfish, self-centered or cowardly, its good humor turning to acid, and good fellowship to dislike, before the evening is over. The surprising revelation, however, is in the inspector...
Fourth Annual Buchanan Ghost Walk
In cooperation with the Buchanan Public Library and the Buchanan Fine Arts Council
Note: this is not a part of the regular Tin Shop Season
DECEMBER
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
Written by Kari Prouty
Director Laura Widden-Wetterlin
Audition Dates:
Sunday, September 24th – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 26th – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Production Dates:
Friday and Saturday December 1st, 2nd, 8thand 9th at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday December 10th at 4:00 p.m.
A small church bands together to help a struggling family at Christmas. Familiar carols and honest questions combine to create a meaningful holiday musical.
