In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by Fate—and an impromptu happy hour—and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years. Randa, a perfectionist and workaholic, is struggling to cope with a surprise career derailment that, unfortunately, reveals that she has no life and no idea how to get one. Dot, still reeling from her husband’s recent demise and the loss of their plans for an idyllic retirement, faces the unsettling prospect of starting a new life from scratch—and all alone. Earthy and boisterous Marlafaye, a good ol’ Texas gal, has blasted into Savannah in the wake of losing her tom-cattin’ husband to a twenty-three-year-old dental hygienist. The strength of her desire to establish a new life is equaled only by her desire to wreak a righteous revenge on her ex. Also new to town, Jinx, a spunky ball of fire, offers her services as a much-needed life coach for these women. However, blinded by her determination and efforts to get their lives on track, she over-looks the fact that she’s the one most in need of sage advice. Over the course of six months, filled with laughter, hilarious misadventures, and the occasional liquid refreshment, these middle-aged women successfully bond and find the confidence to jumpstart their new lives. Together, they discover lasting friendships and a renewed determination to live in the moment—and most importantly, realize it’s never too late to make new old friends.

Thu Fri Sat June 8 – 10 at 7pm
Sun June 11 2pm matinee
and
Thu Fri Sat June 15-17 at 7pm

Charlotte’s Web has been named “the best American children’s book of the past two-hundred years.” All the enchanting characters are here: Wilbur, the irresistible young pig who desperately wants to avoid the butcher, Fern, a girl who understands what animals say to each other, Templeton, the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed, the Zuckerman family, the Arables, and most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be a true friend and a good writer. Determined to save Wilbur, Charlotte begins her campaign with the miracle of her web in which she writes, “Some pig”. Its the beginning of a victorious campaign which ultimately ends with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte. This is a beautiful, knowing play about friendship that will give both actors and audience an evening of enchantment.

Sat April 1 7:00pm | Sun April 2 2:00pm

Every year Lena listens to her friends at the Curler and Chat talk about their vacations, but year after year she is disappointed. Ole’s idea of a vacation is going to the Muskrat Lodge’s Annual Convention, usually a camping event held in Potsdam, at a park only 2 miles from their farm! This year, Lena has decided that she and Ole are going on a romantic vacation, even if it kills him.

Meanwhile, Ole won the grand prize raffle at the Muskrat Lodge’s annual “Don’t get your tail caught in the trap” celebration. Ole and Sven didn’t even remember that there had been a raffle, let alone what he might have won. Rumor has it that the grand prize might be a cruise to exotic ports in the Caribbean: something Ole wants no part of.

Will Ole talk Lena into going camping instead of bobbing around on a cruise ship “like a fishing boat in a walleye chop on opening day,” or will Lena finally get the romantic vacation she has dreamt about? Join in the side splitting fun for the whole family in “Ole and Lena Win a Cruise”.

Friday, April 28 at 7pm

The Stringsmiths bluegrass band has produced its first album, and were going to celebrate with an album-release party at 7 p.m. Friday, April 28. Tickets, which are $10, will be available at the door.

Thu Fri Sat October 20,21,22
Thu Fri Sat October 27,28,29
All shows are at 7pm

When the Soady clan reunites for the opening day of deer season at the family’s Upper Peninsula camp, thirty-five-year-old Reuben Soady brings with him the infamous reputation of being the oldest Soady in the history of the Soadys never to bag a buck. In a hunting story to beat all hunting stories, ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT spins a hilarious tale of humor, horror, and heart as Reuben goes to any and all lengths to remove himself from the wrong end of the family record book.

Saturday, August 13 7pm

Dan has been writing his own songs for quite a while, and has organized them into a show. And as with most songwriters, for every song there’s a story that goes with it. The Simple Dan Show- it’ll be a fun night- come on down!

Wed Thu Fri Sat August 24-27 7pm

What happens when you mix the brilliant wit of Noel Coward with the intricate plotting of Agatha Christie? Set during a weekend in an English country manor in 1932, Death by Design is a delightful and mysterious mash-up of two of the greatest English writers of all time. Edward Bennett (Phil Warner), a playwright, and his wife Sorel Bennett (Chris Johansen), an actress, flee London and head to Cookham after a disastrous opening night. But various guests arrive unexpectedly a conservative politician (Kelly Duncan), a fiery socialist (Larry Werner), a nearsighted ingénue (Tia Duncan), a zany modern dancer (Chris Olson) each with a long-held secret. When one of the guests is murdered, it’s left to Bridgit (Sharai Hefty), the feisty Irish maid with a macabre interest in homicide, to solve the crime. Death by Design is more than homage it’s a new classic.

Friday, July 22 6pm Cake 7pm Show

Thanks to our generous donors, contractors and volunteers, we’ve been making the arts center a more convenient and comfortable place for almost a year. It started with the ADA restroom last fall, followed by new deck and entrance this spring, and new restrooms this summer. So -we’re throwing a grand re-opening party!

We’ll start with music on our new Shakespearean deck (Couldn’t you just see the balcony scene being played there?). We’ll have cake and ice cream social on the lawn at the same time. Then we’ll move in and listen to the music of nationally known John Beland- guitarist to the stars, and new country singer Dawn Marie.

Thank you, thank you!

Thu Fri Sat June 9-11 7pm
Sun June 12 2pm matinee
Thu Fri Sat June 16-18 7pm

Alice plunges down the rabbit hole and becomes involved in that madcap and deliciously satiric series of adventures immortalized by Lewis Carroll. Dramatized as a series of fourteen episodes from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, this play uses a mix of children and adults in the cast. A kaleidoscope of action and madness, suspense and frustration, color, pageantry, and magic!

Spring is a popular time for wedding celebrations. It’s also a good time to celebrate wedding anniversaries, which is what Ole & Lena plan to do – twice as a matter of fact – at the ETC Arts Center on April 23 and 24. And no anniversary party would be complete without a hot-dish supper, which will be available before two performances of Ole & Lena’s 50th Wedding Anniversary and Vow Renewal.

The legendary Scandinavian couple would like a good turnout for their celebration in the former church that is Cumberland’s performing arts center. The shows are at 7 p.m. on Saturday the 23rd and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, the 24th. The Saturday dinner is at 6 p.m. and the Sunday meal is at noon. Tickets are $20 for dinner and show and $10 for those who want to see the show without hot dish.

You can purchase tickets at Peter & Annie’s World Market or reserve them by calling Peter & Annie’s at 715-822-9959.

Ole and Lena are played by Michael and Julie Bateson, a husband-wife acting team from Rosemount, Minn. The Batesons have been performing Ole and Lena for more than 10 years for a wide variety of groups and theater audiences across the upper Midwest. The Batesons say the interactive play coming to Cumberland deals with tension over Lena wanting a vow-renewal like she saw on Dr. Phil’s show and Ole wanting to get out of town for a fishing tournament.
The Cumberland Arts Center is located at 1595 2nd Ave.