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Nutcracker Ballet Auditions 9/17/2017

9/13/2017

Come be part of the 2017 Nutcracker Ballet taking place December 7-9, 2017. Auditions for ballet dancers will take place Sunday, September 17.

All dancers must enter through the Green Room located in the back of the south parking lot of Tecumseh Center for the Arts. Auditions are broken down into age groups as follows:

Ages 8 - 10 .............................. 1:00 pm
Ages 11- 13 .............................. 2:15 pm
Ages 14 and over .....................3:30 pm

All dancers must report 1 hour prior to audition time for fitting and cast photo.

Female dancers must wear pink tights, black or blue leotard, ballet shoes or pointe shoes, hair in a bun and absolutely no jewelry. Male dancers must wear tights, leotard, ballet shoes, absolutely no jewelry and long hair pulled back.

All dancers must currently be enrolled in a ballet or pointe class at any dance studio. For more information, call Tecumseh Center for the Arts at 517-423-6617 or see the nutcracker_auditions.jpgaudition flyer.

Spirit Week at the TCA

9/8/2017

In celebration of Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) and its upcoming Season Preview event taking place Saturday, September 23, the TCA is hosting Spirit Week -- where everyone who participates wins free tickets. The TCA Spirit Week campaign takes place the week of September 18-22, 2017. During each day of Spirit Week anyone who dresses-up in the daily theme will win show tickets.

DAILY THEMES:

• Monday, September 18:
Wear neon colors to support Musician Matt Beilis as he performs his Soul of Pop concert on November 4, 2017, sponsored by WLEN 103.9 fm.

• Tuesday, September 19:
Dress up in the funniest outfit you own as we get ready for The Second City on January 20, 2018, sponsored by Carpet on Wheels.

• Wednesday, September 20:
Make sure you wear a music themed outfit or have your picture taken with an instrument for Dueling Pianos coming to the TCA on February, 17, 2018, sponsored by Robert Fox, Howard Hanna Realtor.

• Thursday, September 21:
This is your chance to don your country clothes including a cowboy hat and boots for Country Music Singer John King on March 17, 2018, sponsored by Handler Funeral Home.

• Friday, September 22:
Join us as we dress up in black and magic themed attire for Master Illusionist Mike Super on April 21, 2018, sponsored by Tecumseh Big Boy.

Every person who stops by the TCA dressed in the daily theme or posts a picture on social media while tagging Tecumseh Center of the Arts will receive one ticket to each of our 2018 TCA Summer Series performances taking place June, July and August 2018! Those using social media can also use the hashtag #IlovetheTCA.

In addition, TCA staff will pick one winner who went above and beyond in the daily theme and that person will win one ticket to the affiliated touring show.

For more information, contact the TCA!

Comedy Showcase on August 25

8/16/2017

Small town, Big laughs Comedy Showcase brings eight (8) top comics from around the area to Tecumseh Center for the Arts for a night of laughter you will never forget on Friday, August 25 at 7:30 pm.

Hosted by Tecumseh's own Dustin Burwell as a send off before he heads on tour with the “Make me laugh Comedy Tour 2017” where he will perform with comedians featured on ABC, BET, and Comedy Central in cities throughout the east coast. Dustin has been a comedian in the Detroit circuit for nearly 2 years. He is a reoccurring headliner for the Maidstone Theatre Comedy Showcase in Ypsilanti. He uses both his everyday life as a husband, father of two and daily observations to bring relatable laughs.

The featuring comedians for the night are a group of diverse and experienced talents. John Campbell is the host of the “BFE Comedy Showcase” in Milan, MI. He has been featured in a number of showcases, along with a commercial for the Ford Motor Company. Christian Royce is a rising star in the Detroit comedy scene. He's a regular at one of Michigan's top comedy clubs (Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase). Christopher Burlew has been featured in the “Big Little City Comedy Festival” in Cleveland, Ohio, and his comedy has been featured on ESPN. Andrew Yang is a talented new comer, with a stage presence that rivals comedy veterans.

Our headliners are three heavyweights who've opened for well known comedians, world renowned comedy festivals, and television. Samantha Rager has opened for Rhea Butcher and Cameron Esposito. Her set is relatable yet twisted in the best way possible. Diego Annistasio has been featured in the “Memphis City Comedy Festival” and plans to record an album in the next year. Mike Geeter has been well known in the Detroit area for years, and is gaining national recognition including his upcoming appearance on “Hart of the City 2 hosted by Kevin Hart” on Comedy Central. He is currently recording a comedy special “But you know I'm right!” in Windsor, Ontario.

Tickets on sale now for $10! The lobby opens at 6:30 pm with a variety of refreshments including beer and wine. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, Tecumseh, Michigan, or on-line at www.thetca.org.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Boogie Woogie Kid on Stage at the TCA

8/9/2017

Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) will close out their Black Box Summer Series on Thursday, August 24 at 7 pm with pianist and songwriter Matthew Ball. A world class talent, Matthew Ball is already described as “Michigan’s leading boogie-woogie pianist!” by The Farmington Patch, "A boogie-woogie master!" by The Romeo Observer, and “A rising giant in the field!” by Metroland. A graduate of Oakland University and The University of Detroit, Matthew holds degrees in Music, History and Law. He trained classically at Oakland University with the internationally renowned classical pianist Flavio Varani, a graduate of The Paris Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music, who traced his own pedigree of study back to Chopin himself!

Recently welcomed twice on Fox 2 News Detroit's 'The Nine Show' and also on Channel 20 News Detroit's 'Concert on the Qube,' Matthew Ball has established himself as one of the leading entertainers around Detroit. Just this year, he performed his children's program with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra! Featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition as well as Michigan Public Radio’s Ann Delisi's and Rob Reinhart's Essential Music Programs, The Craig Fahle Show and WMUK’s The Art & More Show, Matthew performs a fast-paced program of Boogie-n-Blues, Jazz & Ragtime piano favorites from the Swing-dancin' era of the 20’s 30’s & 40’s, with arrangements of American classics like Ain't Misbehavin, When the Saints Go Marchin In, Over the Rainbow, Basin Street Blues, Bumble Boogie, The Entertainer, Glory of Love, and more!

Remarkably Ball's start in Jazz only began in 2001. A former attorney, Matthew left the practice after he attended a hometown boogie-woogie festival. He was so awestruck by the performances he saw that night, he left his career as an attorney to become a blues & boogie-woogie performing artist. With a lot of time, work, and effort over the next few years Ball would reach a breakthrough in 2005 with a career launching performance at the exclusive Arches Piano Stage in Cincinnati where he shared the stage with some of the same musicians that first inspired him to play back in 2001. Now with over 3.7 million YOUTUBE views of past performance footage he has distinguished himself as an internationally recognized practitioner and authority on these treasured American art-forms.

Boogie Woogie Kid is the final show for TCA’s Black Box Summer Series. The lobby opens at 6:00 pm with a variety of refreshments including beer and wine. Tickets are $10 each. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, Tecumseh, Michigan, or on-line at www.thetca.org. Like the TCA on Facebook and keep up to date on the cultural entertainment and live performances scheduled this summer and beyond!

This year’s Black Box Summer Series part of the TCA Michigan Homegrown Project and is sponsored in part by Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Art Gallery, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Looking for Business Sponsors!

7/26/2017

It’s been an exciting 12 months at Tecumseh Center for the Arts. In addition to record breaking ticket sales last season, we’ve also been making important upgrades at the theater to keep it in tip top shape for many years to come. Some of the upgrades include:

New auditorium and lobby roofs (Replacing the original ones from 1981).
A new ticketing program (A new single system cloud platform).
Wi-Fi and cabling upgrade (Helping us keep up with the technological needs of our performers).
Installing Koala Care changing stations in both men and women’s bathrooms.
Booking an entire new season with even more shows!

To say exciting things are happening at the TCA would be an understatement. The TCA staff and volunteers have been hard at work over the last 12 months to make these things a reality. However, we cannot accomplish the updates and upgrades without the financial support of local businesses and individual donors.

To keep the theater thriving and moving forward, we have set a couple of hefty goals this year and we’re looking for support from local businesses to help us reach our business sponsorship goal of $20,000.

The money raised from Business Sponsorships help us book amazing talent at Tecumseh Center for the Arts through our National Touring Season. It also helps fund our homegrown events like The TCA Nutcracker Ballet, WTCA Radio Show, Princess Day, Cabin Fever Film Fest and Junk to Funk that keeps money right here in our community.

Business Sponsors help us reach our annual goals and in turn we gladly promote them to the thousands of people that visit the theater each year. Business Sponsors are promoted in our playbills, in our lobby, through our website and social media channels. Business Sponsors who support us at the highest levels are also promoted through our radio and television commercials throughout the year as well.

Throughout August and September, TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore will be out promoting the theater and looking for local businesses to partner with us this year. If you're interested in sponsoring the theater as a business, please call 517-423-6617 or email kgilmore@thetca.org.

To review our sponsorship packages this year, please click here.

Birds of Prey Take Flight at the TCA

7/19/2017

Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is bringing Michigan Avian Experience to the theater as part of their Black Box Summer Series on Thursday, July 27 at 7 pm.

Michigan Avian Experience is a family- friendly event that aims to educate and entertain guests with birds of prey. Created to capture our innate fascination with birds and flight, Michigan Avian Experience uses non-releasable, wild native Michigan raptors (owls, eagles, hawks) as teaching partners. The non-profit organization will give an educational and entertaining show to patrons. Some of the birds will actually fly above patrons’ heads through the auditorium.

Michigan Avian Experience is the second of three shows for the TCA’s Black Box Summer Series. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the summer months with the TCA while experiencing amazing events in a cool atmosphere. The lobby opens at 6:00 pm with a variety of refreshments including beer and wine. Tickets are $10 each.

Tickets can be purchased by phone at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, Tecumseh, Michigan, or on-line at www.thetca.org. Like the TCA on Facebook and keep up to date on the cultural entertainment and live performances scheduled this summer and beyond!

This year’s Black Box Summer Series part of the TCA Michigan Homegrown Project and is sponsored in part by Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Art Gallery, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Calling all High School and College Students

7/13/2017

An Intensive Workshop is all new this year at the TCA. Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) and Tecumseh Youth Theatre (TYT) wanted to offer a more challenging and rewarding format to our older youth. The Workshop will incorporate classes on audition techniques, casting, character development, choreography and theater production. Rudy Gauna-Belleau will be instructing the high school and college aged Intensive Workshop for TCA and TYT this summer.

Rudy returns to the TCA after having the opportunity to work in a wide range of venues across the United States. He is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy of New York and a former student of the Goodman Theater of Chicago. Rudy’s training and education has afforded him the opportunity to tour with national production companies like Troika, American Family Theater Company, The Road Company in shows such as The Will Rogers Follies, West Side Story, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease, Fosse and Aladdin. He has been featured in national and regional commercials ranging from Frito Lays, Head and Shoulders and a Guess commercial with the late Anna Nicole Smith. Rudy has a background in theater education and has taught across the state of Michigan. He is a resident company member of the What A Do Theatre in Springfield, Michigan where his has appeared in multiple productions from Sweeney Todd to The Laramie Project. There he served as the director of volunteers and education.

Attendees will leave the workshop with a certificate of completion for their professional resume plus updated biography, new acquired skills and a more comprehensive understanding of live theater.

The Workshop begins Sunday, July 23 at 4 pm with a live audition at the TCA. Anyone currently enrolled in high school or a college who registers for the workshop and auditions is automatically enrolled in the Workshop. The audition will provide the instructor with the opportunity to see each participant and cast them accordingly before Monday morning. Participants should prepare 16 measures of two songs including one up tempo song choice and one ballad. An accompanist will be on hand for all auditions.

This year’s workshop is themed “Don’t Stop Believin’!” and will incorporate songs from Journey, Jon Bon Jovi, Survivor, Police, Queen, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Madonna and so much more! The storyline will take place in an inner city setting with characters overcoming obstacles and relationship struggles while finding their individual strength and courage all while rocking out to some upbeat rock-n-roll music.

The cost for the workshop is $120 per person. ($100 for each additional student in the same immediate family.) Workshop attendees should wear comfortable clothes and bring dance shoes each day along with lunch.

The intensive Workshop will take place Monday, July 24 – Friday, July 28 from 9 am – 4 pm with a final performance on Friday, July 28 at 7 pm. The final performance is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Tecumseh Center for the Arts or visit their website at www.theTCA.org to download the registration form.

Superhero Themed Middle School Camp

7/10/2017

Tecumseh Center for the Arts and Tecumseh Youth Theatre are getting excited about their second week of Drama Camp featuring middle school students.

Middle School Drama Camp is geared for students entering 5th - 8th grades in the fall. The camp will take place July 17-21 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday. Middle School youth will learn all about live theater during the week while they prepare for the final performance on Friday evening.

This year's camp is Superhero themed with campers learning songs, skits, dances, and student-created original work incorporating Broadway tunes like "Defying Gravity," Suberboy & The Invisible Girl," "Be the Hero," and more! They'll also be incorporating current pop songs such as "The Climb," "Don't Stop Believin'," etc. The theme will incorporate strength, overcoming obstacles,and encouraging youth to perform at their fullest potential. Look out Marvel; Drama Kids are taking over the universe.

The cost is $120 per student and $100 for each additional student in the same family. Youth attending camp will receive their own drama shirt and should bring their sack lunch each day.

Space is limited, so register as soon as possible! Registration forms can be printed from the website or picked up at the TCA Box Office, Tuesday-Friday from 12-5:00 pm. All camp materials will be provided by TCA/TYT.

For more information, visit TCA’s website at www.thetca.org. #TheTCA #tecumsehmi #comeseetecumseh

Broadway Themed Elementary Camp

7/7/2017

Tecumseh Center for the Arts and Tecumseh Youth Theatre are joining together once again to offer Summer Drama Camps and Intensive Workshops.

Elementary Camp is geared for students entering 2nd - 4th grades in the fall. The camp will take place July 10-14 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday. The youngest of our performers will learn about live theater from on stage performances to behind the scenes with a final performance on Friday evening.

This year's camp is Kids on Broadway themed with youth learning songs, skits, dances, and creative stage work inspired by musicals like Annie, Peter Pan, Newsies, and Oliver. The theme will celebrate strength, courage and overcoming adversity through well-known Broadway songs and performances. The goal of Elementary Drama Camp is to celebrate each child's individuality, creativity and diverse background in a safe and secure environment while encouraging campers to realize their own gifts and talents through theater.

Get ready to see their sewing skills when they stitch together costumes and have fun singing some of Broadway's best kid songs like "Food, Glorious Food," "It's a Hard Knock Life" and many more!

The cost is $120 per student and $100 for each additional student in the same family. Youth attending camp will receive their own drama shirt and should bring their sack lunch each day.

Space is limited, so register as soon as possible! Registration forms can be printed from the website or picked up at the TCA Box Office, Tuesday-Friday from 12-5:00 pm. All camp materials will be provided by TCA/TYT.

For more information, visit TCA’s website at www.thetca.org. #TheTCA #tecumsehmi #comeseetecumseh

A Cappella and Ice Cream

6/21/2017

Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is welcoming Voices in Harmony to the stage to kick off their Black Box Summer Series on Thursday, June 22 at 7 pm.

Voices in Harmony is an award-winning, 50-member, women’s a cappella chorus from Ypsilanti, Michigan, singing 4-part barbershop harmony. Under the direction of Lynne Peirce, Voices in Harmony is well known for excellent singing and fun and innovative performances. Voices in Harmony competes annually and is the current 5th place medalist in Great Lakes Harmony Region 17 which encompasses 23 choruses from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Voices in Harmony is a non-profit chorus affiliated with Sweet Adeline’s International, a highly respected worldwide singing organization for women.

In addition to the concert, Tecumseh Center for the Arts will be hosting an ice-cream social during intermission to start the summer series off on the right foot. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the summer months with the TCA while experiencing amazing talent in a cool atmosphere. The lobby opens at 6:00 pm with a variety of refreshments including beer and wine. Tickets are $10 each or you can buy tickets for all three Black Box Summer Series shows for just $25; a $5 savings.

Tickets can be purchased by phone at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, Tecumseh, Michigan, or on-line at www.thetca.org.

This year’s Black Box Summer Series is part of the TCA Michigan Homegrown Project and is sponsored in part by Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Art Gallery, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.