 Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is making plans to add more artwork to the outdoor Art / Music / Sculpture Park.
The first phase of the park saw the completion of the TCA Street Art Trail with 33 beautiful, newly painted murals created by artists of all ages and skill levels. Come see the display of community-inspired artwork on our pole barn! The next phase of the Art / Music / Sculpture Park is The Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden, a memorial tribute to Charles, Hope and Mary Jo Mensing. The sculpture garden will be installed next to the TCA Street Art Trail, with works of art created once again by members of our community! The TCA is currently seeking artists who are interested in creating sculptures for the new area. Sculptures can be made from a variety of materials and are not limited to a specific theme. However, sculptures cannot be derogatory in nature, or promote discrimination or division. Interested artists should complete the Sculpture Submission Form on our website and submit it to the TCA. Sculptures must be completed and delivered to Tecumseh Center for the Arts by May 1, 2021. “We were so excited to see the wonderful variety of art that was created for the TCA Street Art Trail,” stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “I cannot wait to see the imagination of local artists expressed in sculpture.” Interested individuals can email boxoffice@thetca.org or download the Sculpture Submission Form from the theater’s website.
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 Looking for something safe to do for Halloween this year? Why not come to Halloween on Wheels? Bring your family on Saturday, October 31st from 12:00-4:00 PM for a drive thru Halloween event through the Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) parking lots! Come in costume and stay safe in your car while enjoying some trick-or-treating and live music hosted by the City of Tecumseh. Themed stations will be run by City of Tecumseh Departments and local businesses.
“Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year,” said Samantha Cushard, intern at Tecumseh Center for the Arts. “This project has been extremely fun to work on and I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the TCA.” The Lenawee County Health Department set out guidelines for celebrating Halloween this year. One of their recommended safe activities was a drive thru Halloween event, and that is exactly what the City of Tecumseh wanted to offer - a fun alternative to traditional door to door trick-or-treating. With themed stations, this is sure to be a fun, safe, family-friendly event! Economic Development Intern Jessica Polchinski stated, "This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to get event planning experience! I've really enjoyed planning the event, and am excited for Halloween on Wheels." The full list of stations will be published the week of the event on the Facebook event page - Halloween on Wheels: A Collaborative Drive Thru Halloween Event at the TCA. Are you interested in helping? Consider donating your extra Halloween decorations, pumpkins, and hay bales. Donations can be made October 26th and 28th, Monday and Wednesday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the TCA. The address is 400 N. Maumee St., Tecumseh, MI 49286. This event is a collaboration between Tecumseh Center for the Arts, Economic Development for the City of Tecumseh, and Tecumseh Parks and Recreation. 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.  ***Update: Event date has been changed to Sunday, October 25 at 8 PM EST.***
Before COVID, Drew De Four and his wife, Colleen (also known as Kin Curran) performed thousands of shows all over the world in a variety of formats, most notably their All-Request, Rock ‘n Roll, Dueling Pianos show. Over the past eight months, they've performed over 100 concerts out of their basement studio for tens of thousands of viewers around the world. Now they are performing for Tecumseh Center for the Arts once again, on Sunday, October 25, 2020 for free! Drew and Kin are looking forward to performing virtually for the TCA audience as they have had some of their favorite and most memorable live shows at the theater. They will be performing a variety of material, mostly requests from those in attendance on their YouTube Channel. All songs will be aimed at giving everyone a much-needed boost in this precarious time. “This is a great way for our patrons to interact with one of our more popular entertainers online,” stated Kelly Jo Gilmore. “It also gives the theater a chance to test our online, virtual software so we can begin to move forward with our re-opening plans that will offer both in-person and virtual options.” Please join us for a fun and interactive musical concert featuring Drew De Four & Kin Curran! This event will be performed live online on Sunday, October 25th, at 8 PM EST. Tips for Drew & Kin are not required, but appreciated: www.drewdefour.com/tipjar. Donations to Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) on the checkout page are also greatly appreciated and will help TCA continue to bring high quality entertainment to your community. 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.  Mary Jo Mensing was a dedicated and passionate member of the Tecumseh community throughout her entire lifetime. She was also an avid supporter of the arts, and specifically Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA). When she passed away in May 2019, Mary Jo wished the arts to remain a vital part of the Tecumseh community, which is why she left a Legacy Gift to the theater.
Mary Jo Mensing’s gift to Tecumseh Center for the Arts will allow the theater to move forward with Phase 2 of the Art | Music | Sculpture Park located on the theater property. The Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden, a memorial tribute to Charles, Hope and Mary Jo Mensing, will be unveiled during the summer of 2021 and will feature landscaping, flower beds, and community created sculptures. An official ribbon cutting is being planned for June 2021. “Mary Jo Mensing and her parents, Charles Henry and Hope (Hand) Mensing, were contributing members to the theater since its beginning,” stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “It is incredibly humbling to receive this gift on behalf of the theater and create The Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden in memory of Mary Jo and her parents.” Tecumseh Center for the Arts is currently working with F & S Landscape Inc. of Tecumseh to create the master plan for the new sculpture garden. The theater is also seeking artists who are interested in creating sculptures, benches, and pieces of art to be displayed in the outdoor sculpture garden. Anyone interested in creating a sculpture for The Mary Jo Mensing Sculpture Garden should contact TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore at 517.423.6617, email marketing@thetca.org or download the Sculpture Submission Form on the TCA website at www.TheTCA.org. 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. Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is partnering with F & S Landscape Inc. of Tecumseh on several projects this season. The company has been an annual business sponsor and donor for many years as well as currently providing snow removal services during the winter months. In August, F & S Landscape Inc. updated the large flower beds located in front of the theater marquee. The previous landscape had been designed and installed by local high school students’ many years before. Over time, the mulch and original flowers had deteriorated, become overgrown with weeds and needed replacement.
“We greatly appreciate the support in updating our flower beds,” stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “They turned out beautifully and will be a wonderful welcome to patrons when they arrive at the theater. We are thrilled to partner with F & S Landscape inc. for our landscaping needs at the theater.” The current pandemic and closure of concert venues like Tecumseh Center for the Arts has allowed the theater to move forward with several outdoor projects including the landscaping and the new TCA Street Art Trail. “The TCA Street Art Trail is Phase 1 of our new Art | Music | Sculpture Park,” commented Gilmore. “The next phase will focus on the Sculpture Garden surrounding the new Street Art Trail. We will be partnering with F & S Landscape, Inc. to develop a master plan for the gardens and community inspired sculptures.” The garden will be located on the north side of the property and will surround the pole barn. The theater will be seeking sculpture submissions over the next few months with the goal to plant the garden and install the sculptures during the spring of 2021. “It is a great opportunity to partner with Tecumseh Center for the Arts,” stated Craig Fulton, owner of F & S Landscape Inc. “The theater plays an important role in our community through its shows and now through its outdoor space as well. As a local business, we are proud to support the theater and its programs. “ Community members and visitors can enjoy the TCA Street Art Trail and view the new flower beds by visiting Tecumseh Center for the Arts located at 400 North Maumee Street in Tecumseh, Michigan.  The 39th season was unlike any other in the theater's history. The first six months saw record numbers of season ticket holders, individual ticket sales, an increase in renters, donations and business sponsorships. In fact, the theater was on track to have one of its best years in decades. Then the world as we know it completely changed overnight due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The months of March through June tend to be Tecumseh Center for the Art's busy season. In fact, nearly half of all TCA shows take place during those specific months each season. When the pandemic forced theaters to close across the State of Michigan in mid-March, the theater was looking at $60-80,000 in lost revenue by the end of the fiscal year (June 2020). It was at that time, staff made the difficult decisions to eliminate as many expenses as possible while implementing additional revenue streams during the shut down. From laying off employees to refunding tickets, canceling contracts to announcing the "Together We Can" Donation Campaign; the community and the theater's endowment rallied, allowing the theater to balance its budget for the 2019-2020 season.
"The end of our 39th season was incredibly challenging," Stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. "The theater takes great pride in balancing the budget each year and then all of a sudden we were looking at a rather significant decrease in revenue. It was then that the community came together and reminded us we are all in this together." Below are some highlights from the TCA's 39th Season Statistics Report:
 Long-time City of Tecumseh employee, musician, theater advocate and TCA’s Technical Director Karen Bunch has announced her retirement from Tecumseh Center for the Arts, effective July 1.
Bunch has been employed at the theater for over 35 years. During her tenure, she has worked in all areas of the theater including technical, box office, promotions, program ad sales, shop, set construction, and maintenance. Her most recent position as technical director was the role she enjoyed most. Bunch passionately assisted hundreds of local and professional touring groups during her career and provided support to thousands of performances and patrons. “Karen’s contributions to Tecumseh Center for the Arts are immense,” stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “She has a wealth of knowledge of the building, the TCA community, and internal processes. She will be sorely missed as an employee. We hope she will continue to be an active part of the TCA community in retirement; we look forward to welcoming her back to the theater as a musician, performer, patron and volunteer.” Bunch is a member of the TCA Big Band & VocalAires which performs twice a year at the theater and often assists Tecumseh Youth Theatre and Tecumseh Pops Orchestra and Community Chorus in various roles throughout the year as well. Tecumseh Center for the Arts will formally celebrate Bunch’s retirement at a future event once the State of Michigan reopens performing arts venues.  Tecumseh Center for the Arts receives Grant Award from Local Foundation
The Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation selected Tecumseh Center for the Arts as the grant recipient of $50,000 to go toward the replacement and repairs of the theater’s aging HVAC system. According to the Foundation, it had to approach grant requests differently than they have in past years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation recognized that performing arts centers and other highly impacted not-for-profit organizations were in dire need of assistance. The Foundation was also unable to support the TCA’s summer series and their annual camp scholarships due to closures from the coronavirus COVID-19. ‘We knew the boiler was on its last leg this past winter and we’ve been raising funds for the boiler for the past 12 months,” Stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “Then, when we switched the building from heating to cooling at the end of May, we were informed that at least one of the air conditioning units was no longer operational and several other units needed repairs. It was heartbreaking given the amount of money we have raised for the boiler to now have to find funding for the AC units as well.” When considering grant requests, the Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation strives to ensure their awards are in alignment with their mission statement and ultimately that the Foundation is living up to the legacy left by its founder, Elizabeth Wilson. “At our recent meeting, the foundation board reviewed a request from Tecumseh Center for the Arts that outlined their needs as well as the hard work they are doing to keep this community cornerstone operating,” stated Foundation President Theresa Powers. “Elizabeth was on the original board that built the TCA (formerly known as the Civic Auditorium). She believed that a community auditorium was essential to our community. With that in mind, the board unanimously approved awarding the TCA a grant of $50,000 to assist in the replacement of their HVAC system and other necessary repairs. The Elizabeth R. Wilson Foundation is and always will be dedicated to the cultural arts of this community.” An official presentation of the grant award will take place during Tecumseh’s City Council meeting on Monday, July 20, 2020. “The TCA staff is incredible grateful for this grant award from the Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation,” said Gilmore. “We believe in this theater and the role that it plays in the greater Tecumseh area. I am amazed and inspired by community members and local foundations like the Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation that continue to give back to Tecumseh in times of need.”  Tecumseh Center for the Arts strives to be a vital part of the artistic culture of Tecumseh and enrich people’s lives through art and music. As part of the theater’s Strategic Plan, the theater is moving forward with plans for an outdoor Art - Music - Sculpture Park. The first step in this process is the creation of the TCA Street Art Trail, a community inspired project. The Trail will be located on the North side of the property, surrounding the pole barn. The theater is currently in the process of preparing sheets of plywood for members of the community to paint, before installing them on the sides of the barn.  “Public Art is a growing expectation in progressive communities,” stated Tecumseh City Manager Dan Swallow. “Art contributes to a community's identity, fosters community pride and enhances the quality of life for its residents and visitors.”
Tecumseh Center for the Arts is reaching out to community members, local artists, youth programs and other organizations to participate in the creation of the Street Art Trail. Professional and amateur artists as well as interested community members are invited to participate in the community art project. “The new Street Art Trail provides an opportunity for the theater to engage the community through the arts during the shutdown,” stated TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore. “Since we’re currently unable to host indoor shows or events, we decided to shift our attention to the outdoors and the TCA property. We are thrilled to begin work on phase 1 of our outdoor strategic plan.” Tecumseh Center for the Arts will provide acrylic paint in primary colors, brushes, mixing plates and rollers. Interested individuals can email boxoffice@thetca.org or download the Street Art Trail Request Form from the theater’s website at www.TheTCA.org. Tecumseh Center for the Arts would like to have the boards painted and installed this summer with a ribbon cutting ceremony held later this fall.  As we enter the last six weeks of our 39th season, you may wonder what our next steps are for the theater? Our Together We Can Donation Campaign helped us reach our March and April goals. Your generosity was unbelievable and we are incredibly grateful. For May and June, we made the tough decision to layoff and reduce hours for employees. We're also working diligently on grants. In addition, we are actively promoting our 40th Anniversary season t-shirts that are on sale now, renting the TCA marquee, selling gift certificates and working on plans for next season. If you'd like to continue supporting the TCA during May and June, please see the links below:
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400 N. Maumee St., Tecumseh, MI | 517.423.6617 | boxoffice@thetca.org |
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