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.

March 17, 18, 19, 2016 7:00 P.M.
Matinee 2:00 P.M. Saturday, March 19

The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” – after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent towards global domination!

Saturday, February 27 6pm BBQ, 7pm Show

On Feb. 27, ETC will present some hot music for a cold night in our second annual Barbecue & Bluegrass event. The Stringsmiths, our local bluegrass group, will play after a pulled-pork dinner served by Vickie Komarek, owner of Peter & Annie’s World Market. Tickets are $20 for the dinner and concert and $10 for the concert only. Dinner is at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7. Last year’s B&B was a full house. If you want to reserve tickets, call Peter & Annie’s at 715-822-9959.

Break out your old instrument, brush up on your dance moves, grab your buddies to form a singing group, or practice your karaoke. Then come to auditions Saturday, January 9 from 9-11AM. Rehearsal will be Friday, January 22 with the show on Saturday, January 23 at 7 PM.

For performers, the theme we’re going for this year is a coffeehouse, (think beatniks and folk music) so see if you can work that into your act. We can help you find accompaniment and costumes, if needed – just show up to auditions with your ideas.

Sunday, December 13, 2015, St Anthony’s Catholic Church

Friday, and Saturday, November 6 & 7 2015
Show Time: 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 8 2015
Show Time: 4 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Advance Tickets available at Peter & Annie’s World Market
Tickets sold at the door
Ticket Price: $8.00

PG 13
Parents strongly cautioned
Strong language, not suitable for young children

Neil Simons comedy The Odd Couple has been produced for the stage, for the big screen and for two network series on television.
The original Odd Couple, which is about two mismatched guys whose marriages have broken up, was written by Simon in 1965. In 1985, the famous playwright wrote a female version featuring Florence Unger, instead of Felix Unger, and Olive Madison, rather than Oscar Madison.

The names and genders have changed from the original play about roommates Felix and Oscar, but the plot is the same: Olive, a slob who concedes she is so sloppy that she leaves a mess after reading a book, takes in Florence, who is compulsively neat and, unlike Olive, always on time and proper. They are separated from their husbands, and they try to coexist in a New York apartment
Upstairs are two brothers, Manolo and Jesus Constazuela, who have moved to New York from Spain, and Olive arranges a dinner date that — to say the least — doesn’t turn out as Olive had planned.

Other characters in this comedy are four women friends of Olive and Florence who gather regularly to play Trivial Pursuit and get caught up in the drama as Florence deals with depression after her husband asks for a divorce, and as Olive deals with a roommate who is constantly cleaning everything, including the telephone. Don’t wipe the telephone, Olive shouts at one point. Some of my favorite fingerprints are on that telephone.

Leads in the play are two veterans of ETC productions Chris Johansen as Olive and Dorene Weltzin as Florence. It is directed by Eva Srubar.

Performances will be at the Cumberland Arts Center
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, June 4,5,6,11,12, and 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday June 7 and 14th at 2:00 p.m.
Ticket $14.00, and are available at Peter & Annies (715-822-9959)

Charles Peterson sings the part of Jesus, Jeremy Westin portrays
Judas, and Mary Magdalene is played by Kiara Conners.
Other soloists include Albin Peterson, Randy Skow-Anderson, Ron Ruppel, Amy Lundgren and Jim Schweiger.
Many other local actors play multiple parts- disciples, money-changers at the Temple, the sick and bereaved, and the angry mob at the trial. John Westin is Musical Director, and Dave Evenson directs the production.