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.
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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?
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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:

Tecumseh Center for the Arts, like many organizations and businesses are experiencing financially challenging times and we, too, are worried about meeting our financial obligations this season.

In the past, the theater has been able to hold fundraising events to offset expenses at the end of our season. With the Executive Order from Michigan’s Governor to “Stay Home, Stay Safe” this means the “Show Will Not Go On” for the first time in our history.

It is true that Tecumseh Center for the Arts is owned by the City of Tecumseh; however, this does not mean the City of Tecumseh has specific tax dollars allocated to support the theater each year. At a time where our Police Department, Fire Department, Water Department and City Hall are essential, the theater knows we need to help make sure these other departments have the resources they need to take care of the community. The theater has worked incredibly hard over the past few years to decrease expenses and raise revenue so we’re not a financial burden on the City’s General Fund.

Unfortunately, even though we had a very positive start to our 39th season and we reached many of our goals (thank you!); the next few months are going to be incredibly challenging. March – June are usually our busiest times of the year and lost revenue from ticket sales, fundraisers, renters and donations is going to be difficult to overcome. To date we have lost $20,000 in revenue and if the Executive Order stays in place through the remainder of our season that loss will be closer to $60,000. Coupled with the loss of $20,000 in our endowment due to the stock market means we will have an $80,000 deficit.  

This type of deficient can seem overwhelming. With less than three months remaining in our 39th season we are asking our community for help. We know that many of us are struggling. We know that many of us are worried about lost wages, lost jobs and our small businesses but we are asking the community to help us raise $20,000 to support baseline operations. We will reach out to other foundations and grant organizations to see if we can raise the remaining $60,000. However, being owned by a municipality can be detrimental because municipalities are usually exempt from applying for state and federal grants. This puts us in a unique situation where the theater can’t apply for grants that other theaters can. It also means that we are often the first to be cut as a non-essential department within the City.

This is why we are launching our TOGETHER WE CAN Donation Campaign and asking the community to help us raise $20,000 to help offset the immediate financial burden. We believe that:

TOGETHER WE CAN raise $20,000 for the theater!
TOGETHER WE CAN make sure the TCA is here for another 40 years!
TOGETHER WE CAN keep moving forward and plan for next season!
TOGETHER WE CAN make it through this crisis!

We know how important the arts are to this community. The role the TCA plays in supporting economic development, local businesses and quality of life. We are asking 1,000 people to donate $20 through the end of April. We are hoping that if you have $20 extra dollars this month – you will consider supporting Tecumseh Center for the Arts.

You can make a donation directly to the TCA by sending a check made payable to Tecumseh Center for the Arts located at 400 North Maumee Street, Tecumseh, Michigan 49286 or by donating online at https://www.thetca.org/donations.html.
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TOGETHER WE CAN do this!
 
Sincerely,
 
Kelly Jo Gilmore, TCA Executive Director 

#togetherwecan #isupporttecumseh #ichoosetecumseh #mytecmseh #mytca #thetca #downtowntecumseh #ilovethetca
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Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is welcoming breathtaking circus artistry with live music to their stage on March 7. This new show is based on the Greek Mythological tale of Talos, “The First Machine.” The show features live orchestrations by the contemporary group CORDIS.
 
Le Cirque Esprit is a spectacular tapestry of lights, acrobatics and aerial work, backed by alt-classical/electronic/percussive music pioneers CORDIS. The show tells the story of the “Spirit of the Machine,” a thrilling, family-friendly tale, where machines become heroes in the middle of the night, and everyone can expect the unexpected! The thrilling show takes place at 4 pm on Saturday, March 7 and is packed with breathtaking acrobatics and aerial acts paired with classic steampunk-era circus artistry. Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors, youth and military members. 
 
In addition to the matinee performance, guests can attend the morning workshop at 10 am on Saturday, March 7 for just $5. This event offers an overview of LCE’s production, Spirit of the Machine, by featuring an introduction to each of the show’s primary themes, scenes, and characters – with a focus on pivotal characters, primary thematic elements in the show’s original musical score, set design, and costumes. The artists also discuss behind-the-scenes performance preparations, which work together with the onstage production to make the magic come alive! This workshop is co-led by members of The Boston Circus Guild, CORDIS, and the LCE Technical team.
 
3 Dudes and Dinner will be preparing a breakfast buffet for anyone who attends the workshop on Saturday morning. For just $5, patrons can get a behind-the scenes look while enjoying a delicious breakfast. Patrons can attend just the workshop or just the performance or both! 
 
The workshop and performance are sponsored in part by the Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Foundation. A grant award from the foundation is providing the opportunity for Tecumseh Center for the Arts to host both events at reasonable prices so many families can enjoy this high-caliber show right here in Lenawee County.
 
Tickets to the workshop and/or performance can be purchased at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, or on-line at www.thetca.org. Tecumseh Center for the Arts’ 39th season is sponsored by 3 Dudes and Dinner. The National Touring Season is sponsored in part by Tuckey’s Big Boy and Carpet on Wheels. Le Cirque Esprit Show Sponsor is Kirchhoff Automotive.

​Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) is welcoming back New York, NY Dueling Pianos for its 2019-2020 National Touring Season! This comedy-based dueling piano show is always a fun, high-energy party-in-a-box! Join pianists and Michigan husband and wife team Drew and Kin as they return to the TCA stage on Saturday, February 15, 2020.
 
New York, NY Dueling Pianos is a high-octane fiesta that’s part rock show, part comedy show and all sorts of craziness rolled into one big outrageous party. The audience becomes part of the show in a request-driven sing-along, dance-along, thump-the-tables-along extravaganza!
 
Tecumseh Center for the Arts is offering several seating options for this year’s performance of New York, NY Dueling Pianos. Patrons can purchase individual seats in the house for $30 (adults) or $25 (seniors, youth and military members). Patrons can also purchase seats onstage for $40. Seating onstage includes a catered dinner by 3 Dudes and Dinner, own wait staff, complimentary concessions (popcorn, nuts, etc.) and a cash bar so you don’t have to miss one second of the show. Tickets are going fast, so grab your friends and purchase your tickets today!
 
Dueling Pianos will take place at Tecumseh Center for the Arts on Saturday, February 15 at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Both concessions and the TCA bar will begin serving at 6:30 pm. Beer and wine available for just $6 per bottle of beer or glass of wine.
 
 Tickets can be purchased at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, or on-line at www.thetca.org. Tecumseh Center for the Arts’ 39th season is sponsored by Three Dudes and Dinner. The National Touring Season is sponsored in part by Tuckey’s Big Boy and Carpet on Wheels. New York, NY Show Sponsor is Visit Lenawee.
 

Join Comedians Norm Stulz,  Bill Bushart, Dave Landau, and Bryan McCree for a night of laughs at the TCA on January 25. The Legends of Michigan Comedy show is being emceed by local favorite Steve Smargon.

Norm first encountered the love of laughter in the second grade at Lodge Elementary in Detroit Michigan. It was after he wrote a funny little story and turned it in to his teacher who found it funny, and much like a coach recognizing athletic ability she saw his humor and encouraged him to tell the story in front of the classroom and as the laughter flowed over him it became clear that this feeling would be a part of the fabric of his life. Performing the routine for the school assembly solidified the response was not just from childhood friends but from strangers as well. Norm was a part of each years assembly every year and grew to include costumes and props.

While attending Murphy Junior High school in the seventh grade, one of the students running for class president asked Norm to write and perform a skit as part of his campaign. A rule was put into place stating that if Norm Stulz wrote and performed for one candidate, he would have to do so for each candidate if so asked. And asked he was. One memorable skit was a send up of Ben Casey, a popular physician based television show at the time who had a mentor character named Dr. Zorba, the elderly, wise and a little funny side kick.  Norm used a bathing cap and wig along with a small white lab coat to transform himself into the good Dr. Zorba, and included his trademark posters of Life, Death, and Infinity.  Norm added a poster “And this is my Kitty Cat Whiskers.” Funny juvenile humor appreciated at that level. It was also at this time he met a girl who would go on to share the rest of his life.  Sharon Marie Shepherd was asked to go steady and presented a gold band which she wears behind her diamonds to this day.

While attending Redford High School Norm played in the concert and marching band and noticing that the office had “office aids” talked  his band director into allowing him to start a group of “band aids,” who had the hall pass ability to fetch friends out of other boring classes to come to the music room for jam sessions. While serious about the music the laughter accompanied each note. The concert band was challenged by director Jerry Burns to play the 13 major scales up and down within 60 seconds. The hallways were strewn with young musicians practicing, not Norm, he simply asked a friend to play them when needed as Norm pretended (first lip sync ever) to play them, the band was so shocked at the notes coming out of his baritone  horn that when he finished (Tom Orton finished) they broke into applause and Norm stood and raised his horn above his head and smiled down to Mr Jerry Burns. The next morning Norm walked into the band office and told Mr. Burns he had a confession about his scales, the director looked up and said “Orton played them, I saw you take two breaths while the tone was still coming out.  It was just too funny and perfectly timed to spoil the moment!” It was with the Redford High School marching band that Norm attained his first national television credit as they performed for Bob Barker on his hit show Truth or Consequences. A Vietnam veteran returning surprised his wife by dressing in a band uniform and marching past his wife till she recognized him. Norm was never the Class Clown the student who interrupted class, he was the class comedian who embellished the points. All of his teachers enjoyed having him in the class, and the classmates seemed to enjoy it as well.

In 1981 Norm took his first step onto the professional comedy stage at The Castle.  Back stage, which was really just the back of the room, Norm met numerous comedians awaiting their turn to the stage. Norm met Hey Hey Danny Grey, Willy Tyler and Lester, Tim Lilly, Jerry Elliott, and Tim Dick who went by the stage name Tim Allen.

After his first 10 minute set to a sold out Monda night open mic audience and watching the other comics work on their sets Norm felt he was in the right place. As the weeks turned into months of open mic sets at the Castle and Bea’s Comedy Kitchen in downtown Detroit, Mark Ridley asked if Norm would stop by and do 20 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday. At this time of his life any  extra money was big money for Norm as his wife Sharon had presented him with another son and a daughter and that money paid the grocery bill for the week.

It was Bob Saget who contacted Norm and asked him to come to California to film a spot for the CBS Morning Comedy series he was hosting at the time. It was 1987 and Norm took to the sky to find Hollywood for the first of many times.

Bud Freidman from the Improv in Los Angeles was a judge in Detroit for The Johnny Walker Comedy Competition. This was the midwest regional finals, before televised shows, and “producers” having a word on who was the best. Just a good old live comic verses comic throw down. Norm not only won the competition, Bud himself asked Norm to come to Los Angeles to film an episode of An Evening at the Improv for the A & E Network.

As winner of the Johnny Walker contest, Norm and other regional winners were sponsored by National Lampoon and flown to Las Vegas to film the National Competition for Showtime Network. Norm worked with Leslie Neilsen.The award winning CBS television show filmed a documentary entitled “Survival of the Funniest” and Erin Moriarty followed Norm through a normal day in his life.  The film crew followed Norm as he shopped, ate and prepared for the evenings competition in Detroit. Norm won that competition and the show aired before the Showtime special. Norm has appeared on many local television commercials and comedy specials.

While making a living is important Norm has always felt that giving back was the most rewarding part of the entertainment business. Norm has received awards from Jerry Lewis, Gilda’s House, The American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Awareness, The Johnny Burke Children’s Foundation, The Easter Seals, Toys for Tots, Pancreatic Cancer, Make A Wish, Children’s Miracle Network, and many private fundraising  performances for needy families.

Corporate America has found Norm Stulz as well. Norm has performed for hundreds of corporations such as  General Motors, General Foods, Westinghouse, Dow Chemical, the FBI, National Sheriff’s Convention, along with numerous others. The ability to hit any language parameter allows Norm to perform for audiences in any setting, from a fourth grade schoolroom to a gated senior center.

As always there is more to the story, come to a Norm  Stulz performance and let him fill in the blanks while at the performance, breath as often as you can and watch the amount of eye makeup you are willing to see streaked down your cheeks. He will tell you the rest of the story.
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Norm is living his Happily Ever After & enjoying it with laughter.

​The Legends of Michigan Comedy Show will shake the winter chill off on Saturday, January 25 at the TCA. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and military members (Adult Content – Not Recommended for Youth). Tickets can be purchased at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, or on-line at www.thetca.org. Tecumseh Center for the Arts’ 39th season is sponsored by Three Dudes and Dinner. The National Touring Season is sponsored in part by Tuckey’s Big Boy and Carpet on Wheels. The Legends of Michigan Comedy Show Sponsor is TLC Community Credit Union.

Join Comedians Bryan McCree, Norm Stulz, Bill Bushart and Dave Landau for a night of laughs at the TCA on January 25. The Legends of Michigan Comedy show is being emceed by local favorite Steve Smargon and is sure to have you rolling in the seats.

Bryan McCree - Don’t forget the name because you’ll be screaming it in the morning! The comedic act will astound you with his astute observations on life which are on the edge and simply hilarious. Bryan’s life is the epitome of diversity.

Caught between two worlds, one black, one white. The two worlds collide in a hilarious romp of attempting to decipher black slang and trying to fit in with white family members and neighbors. Their antics are brought to life right before your eyes.

Born into a show business family performing is in his genes. His father a jazz virtuoso, his Great Aunt a Broadway legend, hi Mother the best damn cosmetology instructor ever to wear a smock. Legend has it that she was responsible for giving her son the first jherri curl in American history, but that’s a whole other story.

Bryan is a nationally known comedian, seen on Mad TV, Comedy Central and most recently Comic’s Unleashed with Byron Allen. In 2006 Bryan earned honors as a best of NBC’s Stand UP for Diversity finals. (One of ten handpicked comedians from all over the country.)

He has shared the stage with the likes of Sinbad, George Wallace, and the Isley Brothers. He has a natural charm on stage, and his infectious giggle often incites laughter among the masses. His natural acting talent shows through in his act, as he plays his funniest character: Himself. 

The Legends of Michigan Comedy Show will shake the winter chill off on Saturday, January 25 at the TCA. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and military members (Adult Content – Not Recommended for Youth). Tickets can be purchased at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, or on-line at www.thetca.org. Tecumseh Center for the Arts’ 39th season is sponsored by Three Dudes and Dinner. The National Touring Season is sponsored in part by Tuckey’s Big Boy and Carpet on Wheels. The Legends of Michigan Comedy Show Sponsor is TLC Community Credit Union.