 Why Support the TCA?
We believe Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) plays a vital role in making our city a great place to live. Only through the generosity of individuals and businesses like yours is the TCA able to provide great entertainment to thousands of patrons a year, a home to numerous local arts groups and professional support of their presentations, as well as provide a key service to our Public Schools as a high-class venue. As a Business Sponsor, we share our advertising reach with you! Patrons see TCA content on our website, social media, posters, playbills, and more! As a sponsor of the TCA, your business content will also be shared, reaching individuals in our community as well as out of state. How Can I Be Involved? Sponsor the TCA at one of the following levels: Producer's Chair | $3,000+ CLAIMED - NO LONGER AVAILABLE Director’s Circle | $2,000+ CLAIMED - NO LONGER AVAILABLE Leading Player | $1,000+ Supporting Player | $600+ Ensemble Player | $350+ Cast Member | $200+ Friend of the TCA | $100+ How Will the Funds be Utilized? All of the financial support that the TCA receives helps us provide high quality entertainment to our patrons. It helps pay for the National Touring Acts that are booked as well as the upkeep of the building. It purchases ticket stock, stage lights, and cleaning supplies. It helps in the yearly maintenance of the building and upgrading of our systems. Every aspect of the theater is vital and your sponsorship ensures that we provide the community with not only entertainment, but also education and a home for local performers of every age. Become a TCA Sponsor! You can become a TCA Business Sponsor by completing the sponsorship packet and submitting it to marketing@thetca.org. For more information, contact TCA Director Gilmore.
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 The Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation selected Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) as the recipient of three grant awards during their July board meeting.
The first is a $12,000 matching funds grant award in support of this year’s season that will feature six National Touring Shows from October 2022 – April 2023. This year’s season includes performances by Three Men and a Tenor, Barron Ryan, TCA Comedy Show, Fantastick Patrick, The Moxie Strings, and Drew and Kin featuring Danny K! The second matching funds award is for $2,500 and will fund the free Veterans Day concert on Friday, November 11. The event will feature guest speakers and a performance by the Dodworth Saxhorn Band. The Dodworth Saxhorn Band (DSB), headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is America's Premier 19th Century Brass Band and recreates the music and atmosphere of a 19th Century community brass band. The third matching funds grant award is for $20,000 for the creation of the TCA Music Park. The theater had previously received a $10,000 award from the Stubnitz Foundation for the park. The park is a collaboration between Tecumseh Center for the Arts, City of Tecumseh Parks and Recreation, and F & S Landscaping. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the “walk through the woods” as they encounter a large variety of sound sculptures from a harp to lily pad shaped cymbals. Musicians of all ages and skill levels will be able to create music surrounded by specifically designed landscaping that cohesively combines art, music, and nature. Construction for the Music Park will begin this fall. "Receiving even one grant from the Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation can make a significant impact on the theater and our programming each year – but when you receive three grant awards for three very different projects, you realize how incredible this local Foundation is for our community," stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. "The Foundation’s ongoing support for the arts and music has greatly improved the quality of life for residents and we feel honored that they chose to support us in our programming and upcoming projects. We are incredibly grateful and beyond thrilled to partner with the Foundation for all three projects this season.” Confident that music and the performing arts positively enhance people’s lives, the Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation seeks to enrich the Lenawee County region’s cultural life through its support of, education in, performance of and appreciation for the performing arts. The foundation’s primary focus is on music and performing arts programs that benefit the Lenawee County community and/or students in the County’s primary and secondary education programs (including post-secondary scholarships in music and performing arts).  The TCA Music Fest returns to Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) this summer. The two-day, outdoor music festival or TCA Music Fest will take place Friday, August 19 from 5 pm until 10 pm and Saturday, August 20 from 3 pm until 10 pm. Sponsored by Vision Performance Group, Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh, Robert Fox – Howard Hanna and Kirchhoff Automotive, the event features a professional, outdoor stage on the TCA property. Tickets are just $10 for the day or $15 for the weekend. Patrons will receive a wristband to wear as they come and go throughout the event. The TCA Music Fest features musicians and bands from NW Ohio and SE Michigan including:
Friday, August 19
Saturday, August 20
 Summertime is a wonderful opportunity at Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) to regroup and prepare for the upcoming season of shows. From the local and regional performances and events we host, to the national touring shows, audiences far and wide have only to purchase a ticket to participate. But have you ever wondered what was involved behind the scenes?
For over 40 years, the TCA has been a place of education, both onstage and behind the scenes. Our staff has taught students (and adults too) the craft of live performance and the various aspects of bringing a show to life. To that end, we created the Student Technical Corps. Though informal at first, TCA’s Student Tech Corps program has always been a part of who we are. The Corps, which is in its fourth decade, has seen more than 140 students participate. Each season, we employ 4-6 high school-college aged students to provide tech services for every show that is put onstage. They receive hands-on training with the lighting control board and lighting instruments, the sound control board and audio equipment, as well as the backstage crew positions. New “techies” also job-shadow older tech students and adult staff to gain more experience, and most are assigned to run the lighting or sound board for a basic show within a short period of time. From something as “simple” as a movie or business meeting requiring one or two people, to the more complicated shows when we need 8-10 theater technicians to bring our shows to life. Through the TCA’s tech program, students have worked with community members on local and regional productions, such as Tecumseh Youth Theatre, Tecumseh Pops Orchestra and Community Chorus, TCA Big Band & VocalAires, Tecumseh Players, and Tecumseh Public Schools’ events; but also the opportunity to learn about the world of live professional productions, working with a wonderfully diverse group of artists including Davy Jones, The Irish Rovers, Feld Ballet NY, The Acting Company, The National Theatre of the Deaf, Lightwire Theater, Second City, Capitol Steps, Broadway and film star Franc D’Ambrosio, The Toledo Symphony, Rhythm of the Dance, and Le Cirque Espirit! For most of our student techs, this introduction and training into the world of live performance is the first “real” job. We are honored to have been the starting point for many students who continued using their skills beyond high school, and for several that have entered careers in the industry. Former students have worked across the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, and East Asia, with such companies as Disney on Ice, ETC Lighting Controls (who provided lighting expertise for events like the Olympics in Vancouver and London), Washington, DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, Michigan State University, The University of Michigan, Bowling Green University, Cobo Hall, Comerica Park, and many, many more. All had their start at Tecumseh Center for the Arts and are making a living in the entertainment industry today. Regardless of their future careers, Student Tech Corps members learn teamwork, discipline, cooperation, and focus - all important qualities that will last a lifetime. Currently, Tecumseh Center for the Arts is looking to grow our Student Tech Corps program for the 2022-2023 season. We are looking for high school and college age students (ages 14-22 years) who are interested in learning about the technical side of theater. If you know a student who is interested, or you are an interested student, apply online! All applications must be submitted by August 1 to be considered for this upcoming season.  Another season has come to an end for Tecumseh Center for the Arts!
The theater’s 41st season was one of our more challenging seasons to date and we could not have accomplished it without the support of the Tecumseh community. It was our first season back from the pandemic and we spent nearly six months in a hybrid model with various restrictions still in place while trying to move forward with our season. I want to personally thank staff, volunteers, and ushers who worked tirelessly to bring the performing arts and live music back to our community this past year. I also want to thank local businesses that supported us once again by sponsoring shows, donating services, and helping us financially. (You can find a full list of sponsors, here.). Of course, we couldn’t have accomplished this season without the financial support of foundations like Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation and Michigan Arts and Culture Council It truly is a collaborative effort that has kept our programming going over the past few years. Thank you to the City of Tecumseh, local elected officials, performers, patrons, donors, and artists for continuing to celebrate the arts during a very challenging time and making it a vital part of the Tecumseh community. We are already planning our 42nd season and hope you will join us when we kick off another season with our outdoor music festival on August 19-20. Stay tuned for more information and follow us online at www.TheTCA.org (or on our Facebook page) as we prepare for another season at Tecumseh Center for the Arts! Sincerely, Kelly Jo Gilmore TCA Director  Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is wrapping up its 41st season this month. The theater only has a few events remaining including dance recitals with local studios, a movie premiere, and Fireside Stories.
The last indoor event will take place on Friday, June 17, and is a fundraiser for Tecumseh Center for the Arts. The theater is welcoming popular dueling piano artists Drew and Kin back to Tecumseh, as we premiere their movie on the TCA big screen. The movie was filmed on the TCA stage last November and is an immersive, cinematic experience highlighting the adversity that many artists faced during the pandemic when the entertainment industry came to a screeching halt. After two years, theaters are open once again and moving forward with “normal” seasons, with performers returning to our stages. Musicians and artists Drew DeFour and Kin Curran wanted to produce a movie that reflected the struggles of empty theaters while also staying positive for their fans and producing uplifting songs to help us all get through those challenging times. “Drew and Kin – Alive in Tecumseh” does just that. On Friday, June 17, community members can see the movie on the TCA big screen before we take it off the theater’s streaming platform and submit it to independent film festivals. In addition to the movie, Drew and Kin themselves will be present to answer questions; plus we’ll roll out the baby grand piano and guests might be lucky enough to hear a few live songs as well. Tickets for this event are by donation, which means you can pay as little or as much as you want – with a starting price of $1. All ticket sales will support the TCA. Since it is the last event of the regular season, the TCA Tavern (beer and wine) and concessions will also be available (cash only). Don’t miss your chance to relax in the air conditioning and enjoy this unique movie experience on Friday, June 17, starting at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheTCA.org, through the Box Office by calling 517-423-6617, or at the door on June 17. Photo Credit: Andrew Potter andrewpotterphoto.com  Photo Credit: Freenotes Harmony Park Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is the recipient of a $10,000 grant award from The Maurice and Dorothy Stubnitz Foundation for partial funding to create the TCA Music Park on theater property.
As part of the theater’s Strategic Plan, the theater created an outdoor Art - Music - Sculpture Park during the summer of 2020. The three-phase project includes the TCA Street Art Trail unveiled in 2020, Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden in 2021, and now the third phase, TCA Music Park, will connect Douglas Bird Kiwanis Memorial Park to the TCA property through the Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden. The Music Park will feature outdoor, handicap accessible musical instruments, a trail through the woods, and decorative landscaping. The design for the new Music Park will feature instruments by Freenotes Harmony Park. The TCA Music Park is a collaboration between Tecumseh Center for the Arts, City of Tecumseh Parks and Recreation, and F & S Landscaping. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the “walk through the woods” as they encounter a large variety of sound sculptures from a harp to lily pad shaped cymbals. Musicians of all ages and skill levels will be able to create music surrounded by specifically designed landscaping that cohesively combines art, music, and nature. “Tecumseh Center for the Arts is incredibly grateful to receive this grant award from the Stubnitz Foundation,” stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “This funding allows us to move forward with the park’s construction beginning this fall. Lenawee County organizations are fortunate to have local foundation support like The Maurice and Dorothy Stubnitz Foundation to help make projects like the TCA Music Park possible.” Adding the musical component to the theater’s outdoor Art - Music - Sculpture Park, combines the mission of the City of Tecumseh Parks and Recreation Department to foster opportunities and resources necessary to provide quality recreation facilities and activities with the vision of Tecumseh Center for the Arts’ vision to enrich people’s live through art and music.  Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is moving forward with the installation of a new, outdoor Music Park. As part of the theater’s Strategic Plan, the theater created an outdoor Art - Music - Sculpture Park during the summer of 2020. The three-phase project includes the TCA Street Art Trail unveiled in 2020, Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden in 2021, and now the third phase, TCA Music Park, will connect Douglas Bird Kiwanis Memorial Park to the TCA property through the Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden. The Music Park will feature outdoor, handicap accessible musical instruments, a trail through the woods, and decorative landscaping. The design for the new Music Park will feature instruments by Freenotes Harmony Park. The TCA Music Park is a collaboration between Tecumseh Center for the Arts, City of Tecumseh Parks and Recreation, and F & S Landscaping. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the “walk through the woods” as they encounter a large variety of sound sculptures from a harp to lily pad shaped cymbals. Musicians of all ages and skill levels will be able to create music surrounded by specifically designed landscaping that cohesively combines art, music, and nature. “The TCA is thrilled to begin this next project on theater property,” stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “We are currently in the design and fundraising stage, with the goal to begin construction this fall and install the instruments during 2023.”  The estimated project cost is over $100,000. Tecumseh Center for the Arts is currently submitting grants to local foundations, seeking financial support from area organizations, and reaching out to interested donors.
“We have already received verbal support from several area foundations and interested community members,” stated Gilmore. “The dedication and support of the local community and its citizens is what makes all these projects possible. We are incredibly grateful to the community’s ongoing support of the theater and our goal to enrich people’s lives through art and music.” Tecumseh Center for the Arts choose Freenotes Harmony Park instruments because they are passionate about uniting communities with authentically handcrafted, perfectly tuned sound sculptures that provide scalable fun, aesthetic elegance, and muti-generational sensory experiences. Adding the musical component to the theater’s outdoor Art - Music - Sculpture Park, combines the mission of the City of Tecumseh Park and Recreation Department to foster opportunities and resources necessary to provide quality recreation facilities and activities with the vision of Tecumseh Center for the Arts’ outdoor space. Founded in 1981, Tecumseh Center for the Arts is a vital part of the artistic culture in Tecumseh, Michigan. The TCA is a 572-seat, fully equipped indoor performance facility that provides a wide variety of events that light up the stage. Tecumseh Center for the Arts aims to be a contributing entity of influence toward the creation of artistic direction for the City of Tecumseh through both the performing and visual arts.  The TCA Big Band & VocalAires present their 2022 Spring Concert, Cole Porter & Friends, on Sunday, May 15 at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts. The annual performance begins at 4 p.m. with doors opening one hour prior for day-of-concert ticket purchases.
Come join your friends and neighbors for an afternoon of great music, featuring songs such as I Get a Kick Out of You, It’s DeLovely, Anything Goes, Night and Day, and I’ve Got You Under My Skin. Listen as the Lady VocalAires are highlighted with their three-part harmonies on The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe, and The Lullaby of Broadway. Band Leader Mark Felder joins the fun, as he is featured on clarinet with favorite, Begin the Beguine. These and many more Porter tunes await you and your friends! Tickets for the 4 p.m. concert are available in advance at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts’ Box Office, 400 N Maumee, or by calling 517-423-6617, Tuesday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are also available online 24/7 at www.TheTCA.org . Tickets can be purchased the day of the show beginning at 3 p.m. Price is only $10 per person. Come enjoy some of Cole Porter’s most memorable tunes with the TCA Big Band & VocalAires, Sunday, May 15 at 4 pm. Hope to see you there!  Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is welcoming Phase 5, Motown tribute band to their stage on Saturday, April 23.
Two years after originally contracting with this musical sensation, the TCA ends its 2021-2022 National Touring Season with the #1 R&B Vocal Group in Detroit (2016). Phase 5 brings you their authentic re-creation of Motown’s greatest hits on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 7:30 PM. One of the most electrifying acts to come out of Detroit in a long time, Phase 5’s smooth jazz mixed with a slamming “in your face” style of today’s Hip Hop and R&B leaves the audience wanting more! Known for their flashy well-choreographed dance moves and glittery eye-popping stage attire – you don’t want to miss Phase 5 at Tecumseh Center for the Arts. Tickets are $30 for adults; $25 for seniors, youth, and military. Concessions, beer, and wine are available for purchase in the lobby and can be taken right to your seat! Unable to leave the house? They’ll bring the entertainment to you! Live streaming tickets are also available. Purchase one $20 ticket and the whole family can enjoy the performance from the comfort of your living room. Live streaming tickets are accessible through email, so you can watch the show on a laptop, tablet, or web browser app on a smart tv. A special thank you to this year’s sponsors: Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Vision Performance Group, Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh, Robert Fox – Howard Hanna, and WLEN 103.9 fm. Tickets for this performance can be purchased online at www.TheTCA.org, by calling 517-423-6617, or stopping by the TCA Box Office located at 400 N. Maumee Street in Tecumseh, Michigan. The Box Office is open Tuesday – Friday between noon and 5 pm. |
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400 N. Maumee St., Tecumseh, MI | 517.423.6617 | boxoffice@thetca.org |
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