Have you been seeing bursts of glitter out of the corner of your eye or rainbows peaking around each corner? Are you intrigued by the faint scent of cupcakes or sweet and tangy sounds of a ukulele lingering in the air? Be honest, are you being serenaded by melodious neon flowers at this very moment? Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) can explain! First, we would advise you to cut back on your caffeine intake. Second, we are happy to inform you that the rumors are in fact true – the trolls are on vacation from Troll Village and are taking over Tecumseh! Join trolls Poppy & Branch on Saturday, January 12 from 2 – 4:00 pm as the theater is transformed into the land of adventure, happiness, creativity, and dancing!

Adventure is inevitable at the TCA. Participants will travel to various stations throughout the building, visiting areas of the theater that they might not have seen before. They will experience what it’s like to be onstage, in the dressing rooms, scene shop, rehearsal room and more! They will even travel down into the orchestra pit and through magic lands with our ever-popular Story Time station. Mrs. Susan Gilmore will once again be the narrator and tour guide in the land of books. As the Trolls song ‘Get Back Up Again’ says, there is a “…super fun surprise around each corner...”at the TCA. 

Happiness abounds at the Troll Takeover. In addition to the previously mentioned stations, kids will enjoy some delicious snacks, have fun at the new selfie station, and meet the one and only Poppy & Branch! Young ones can explore the TCA stage, complete with Troll Bridge and slide created by TCA Technical Director Karen Bunch and Tecumseh Youth Theatre (TYT) board member Sue Berthelson. They can also interact and pose with Poppy & Branch. Be sure to bring your camera or smart phone to capture the memories! There will be many delicious snacks available in the lobby. Karri’s Cookies will once again be providing cookies and mini cupcakes are being prepared by Shelby Simpson, Administrative Services Manager of the City of Tecumseh. Lemon cake is again being graciously donated by Tuckey’s Big Boy. All this and more will “…put a smile on blast…” as the trolls sing in ‘Move Your Feet / D.A.N.C.E. / It's A Sunshine Day,’ because “…that's the troll life.” 

Creativity can be seen everywhere in Troll Village. As one would suspect, it is most evident at the craft station. This year, participants will get to weave a rainbow to take home with them. We will also have a mosaic heart, tissue paper lightning bugs in a jar, or a fun animal scratch mask available to create. Kids can also express their own brand of creativity. They are encouraged to come dressed in their own troll attire. Each troll is unique, with diverse style, talents, and interests. Bright colors, flowers, stripes, glitter, polka dots – we encourage it all! Before making their way on stage, participants will visit the dressing rooms to have their face painted. To help complete the troll outfit, you can also purchase troll hair from the Friends of the TCA for $10 each. Just like the trolls, each child can express their ‘True Colors’ at this event, because “…True colors are beautiful.” 

Dancing is a new element featured in this season’s January kid’s event. Young troll attendees will learn some new moves in a special troll dance. Teaching these sweet moves is Mollie Cardella, from Infusion Performing Arts Academy. Young trolls are all invited to follow the advice from the Trolls song ‘Hair Up’ and “…put [their] hair in the air.”

We hope you and your family will join us at the theater on Saturday, January 12 for the Princess Day – Troll Takeover. Take a page from the book of the trolls and embrace your uniqueness. Wear socks without shoes. Fart glitter, poop cupcakes. Ok, the last two might be exclusive to just trolls. Please join us in following the four step Troll How-To Guide: Sing. Dance. Laugh. Repeat! Most importantly, we hope you find your Happy Place – right here at Tecumseh Center for the Arts. 

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This year’s Troll Takeover is recommended for boy and girls 3 - 10 years of age and is limited to the first 100 trolls, so get your tickets today! Tickets are $30 each, which includes one Troll and one Adult. Additional Trolls are $10 each and additional adults are $5. Tickets can be purchased online anytime at www.TheTCA.org. The TCA Box Office will reopen after the holidays on January 2; Box Office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 pm (Noon) until 5:00 pm. Stop by 400 N. Maumee Street in Tecumseh, or call 517.423.6617.
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Do you have a passion for Tecumseh Center for the Arts? Are you interested in being part of the ongoing conversation about the future of the theater? Would you like to help promote theater events and campaigns?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, we'd like to invite you to attend a monthly meeting of the Friends of the TCA. The Friends of the TCA is comprised of community members who want to see the theater continue to be a successful venue in the Tecumseh area. Each month, members discuss upcoming events, ticket sales, fundraising efforts and marketing practices. 

"Serving as the current president of the Friends of the TCA has taught me a lot about the history of the theater, and how easily Lenawee County community members can help support the theater," stated Heather Marks of Blissfield. 

Friends of the TCA serve as ambassadors for the theater by sharing news and information about the theater to the community and local businesses. They help promote events by distributing posters, brochures, sharing posts on social media and talking to family and friends about upcoming events. 

"I love the TCA and enjoy being part of the TCA family and season ticket holder! It's such an amazing venue for a community the size of Tecumseh. I hope to see even more friends and community members at upcoming shows," said Michelle Swallow. 

Involvement with the Friends of the TCA is completely voluntary. Friends meet once a month at the TCA, typically on Friday mornings.

"We've been long time members of the Friends of the TCA," said Thomas and Jeanette Meyer. "We love being part of the theater. It truly is a gem for the Tecumseh community. It's a beautiful facility that is used by  many organizations from Tecumseh Pops and the TCA Big Band to Tecumseh Youth Theatre and local dance studios."

If you'd like to learn more about the organization, simply contact TCA Director Kelly Jo Gilmore at [email protected] or call 517-423-6617.

The next Friends of the TCA meeting takes place on Friday, January 11 at 10 am in the TCA lobby. We'll be holding our monthly meeting and putting some final touches on the troll hair the group will be selling at Princess Day Troll Takeover. We hope to see you there!