Last week, Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) kicked off the new season with our Season Preview event with live music, a sneak peak at this year’s line-up, door prizes and more.
We cannot express our gratitude enough to all the individuals, organizations and volunteers who helped make this night a success. First, we want to thank our dedicated volunteer ushers who oversaw the concessions and assisted patrons to their seats. Second, the donated baked goods were amazing thanks to Big Boy of Tecumseh (Sheri Tuckey) and Sharon Baker. We also want to recognize the groups who performed throughout the evening including the Jim Rice Group, TCA Big Band Sax Quartet, VocalAires singer Mike Ratz and Tecumseh Youth Theatre. Last but certainly not least, thank you to our partners who set-up informational booths in our lobby and shared information on their upcoming events to our guests including Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh, Dance Steps Studios, Tecumseh Youth Theatre, TCA Big Band and VocalAires, Carnegie Studios and Tecumseh POPS Orchestra and Community Chorus. It’s such a pleasure to work with each and every one of you throughout the year. Thank you for volunteering your time and your talents while showcasing all the wonderful things going on at the TCA! ~ TCA Staff
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 The TCA staff would like to thank the five dedicated choreographers from four area dance studios who took time out of their busy schedules to evaluate each dancer who auditioned for this year’s Nutcracker Ballet. The panel of choreographers has been planning for this year’s auditions since springtime. They have spent countless hours preparing for the auditions and selecting this year’s dancers.
Each and every role is an essential piece in this beloved holiday ballet; the parents and families of the dancers should be extremely proud! This year’s audition was our largest ever as we continue to see amazing talent both locally and from all over SE Michigan! The TCA is excited for this year’s performances of the Nutcracker Ballet and are thrilled at the amount of talent displayed during the auditions. We are extremely proud to bring this holiday classic to the community every other year! ~ Tecumseh Center for the Arts Staff 
What does a trolley, a group of youth theater members, a big band, and an MDOT Welcome Center have in common? Plenty! The Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) took the show on the road this past weekend and performed a sneak peak of this year’s TCA season at the MDOT Welcome Center, located at Exit 10 on I-75 in Monroe, Michigan.
Cars, vans and even a Tecumseh Trolley were full of TCA Big Band instruments, sound equipment, singers and dancers from the Tecumseh Youth Theatre, as well as members of several community musical groups. The TCA set-up smack dab in the middle of the Welcome Center and entertained travelers and local residents throughout the afternoon. From to Detroit to New Orleans, from Broadway to LA, music and dance was the order of the day. Vocal solos, ensembles and dances from TYTers, saxophonist Dale Chadderdon, The Dixie Cups Dixieland band, Big Band Sax Quartet, and the TCA Big Band & VocalAires all kept the joint jumpin’! All of the groups who performed will take part in the upcoming 2015-2016 season at the TCA. A special thank you goes to Tecumseh Trolley for driving the kids from Tecumseh Youth Theatre and big band members to the Welcome Center. Riding “The Jolly Trolley,” as it was named by one passenger, was a unique experience, and made the afternoon just that much more special for the kids and adults alike. Thank you also to everyone who participated, from the Big Band and Dixieland musicians, youth, parents, TCA and TYT staff, and set-up crew, and to all who came out and enjoyed the afternoon. Last but definitely not least, thank you to Karen Bunch (TCA Tech Director) who coordinated this massive outing and made it an event to remember.  This summer, the TCA brought Pure Michigan to the stage with a Native American documentary made by Michigan film-maker Audrey Geyer, a comedy routine featuring a retired Marine from Sand Lake and a musical duo from Kalamazoo.
Guests in June left the TCA with more understanding of Native American tribes, their sacred rites and the daily challenges that many Native Americans still face today. The opportunity for patrons to ask the film-maker about her experiences while filming the documentary provided invaluable insight into the many mysteries surrounding Native American culture. We hope our guests who watched “Our Fire Still Burn: The Native American Experience” learned something new about the Native American tribes right here in Michigan. Local comedian Steve Smargon brought several of his friends to the TCA in July for an event called Steve Smargon and Friends. Steve was the winner of the Tecumseh Center for the Arts’ "So You Think You're Funny?" Comedy Open Mic Night in 2014 and joined local comedians Khurum Sheikh and Mike Neubecker on the TCA stage. One thing is certain, the comedians definitely had guests laughing in the aisles, with many people saying they can’t wait to see them again. The Black Box Summer Series ended in August with an Americana musical duet called Red Tail Ring. The collaboration blends the loving attention of revivalist fervor with the playful creativity of starting from scratch. The pair delivered both established ballads and original compositions with a clear, authentic ease that managed to transcend traditional form while honoring its legacy. Our Black Box Summer Series is a great way for patrons to see Michigan acts while enjoying the comfort of an air-conditioned theater. Tickets to our summer series range in price from $5-$10, providing an opportunity for all to come out and enjoy the show. In addition, the TCA offers concessions and cash bar– providing a more relaxed and casual approach to the theater. The TCA is a great place to meet up with friends and family for an end of the week outing with our Black Box Summer Series always being held the fourth Thursday in June, July and August. Stay tuned for more information on the summer line-up for 2016! |
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Tecumseh Center for the Arts
400 N. Maumee St., Tecumseh, MI | 517.423.6617 | [email protected] Box Office Hours Thursday | 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Friday | 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm and 1 hour prior to show times |
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