Aug. 22: Mark Twain, will be at the Thomas St. Angelo Library, at 2:30 p.m., portrayed by Mike Clay and Jim Kerr as Stephen Foster. Music by John Ostrem (guitar) and Dave Evenson (Bass viol).

The cast in the front row, from left to right is Jake Richie, Troy Lynch, Jim Richie and in the back Chris Steinburg, Sara Peters and Samantha Hammes.

SYNOPSIS
The ‘Pump Boys’ sell high octane on Highway 57 in Grand Ole Opry country and the ‘Dinettes’, Prudie and Rhetta Cupp, run the Double Cupp diner next door. Together they fashion an evening of country western songs that received unanimous raves on and off-Broadway. With heartbreak and hilarity, they perform on guitars, piano, bass and, yes, kitchen utensils.

THE MUSIC
Music and Lyrics by Jim Wann. “Menu Song” by Debra Monk and Cass Morgan.
Songs from the hit Broadway show including:

Highway 57; Serve Yourself; Menu Song; The Best Man;

Mamaw; Be Good or Be Gone; The Night Dolly Parton Was Almost Mine;

Sister; No Holds Barred; Farmer Tan; Closing Time

Pump Boys and Dinettes
Directed by Trol Lynch and Ann Ethen
Friday June 10th, Saturday June 11th (7:00 pm)
Sunday June 12th (2:00 pm)
Thursday – Saturday June 16 – 18th (7:00 pm)

Tickets $12.00 available at Peter and Annie’s

From left to right: Vonnie Schell, Meg Atkins, Dan Hoffmann, Diane Thorp, and Dorene Weltzin.

THE CEMETERY CLUB By Ivan Menchell
Three Jewish widows meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husband’s graves. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life, Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun, and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher enters the scene. He meets the widows while visiting his wife’s grave. Doris and Lucille squash the budding romance between Sam and Ida. They are guilt stricken when this nearly breaks Ida’s heart. The Broadway production starred Eileen Heckart as Lucille.

Performances:
Friday – Sunday, April 29, 30 (7:00P.M.)& May 1(2:00P.M.)
Thursday – Saturday May 5, 6, 7(7:00P.M.)
Tickets $8.00
Available at Peter and Annie’s or at the door.

Kneeling are Lucas Graf and Walter Herrman II.
The back row, left to right are Micah Weltzin, Corey Graf, A.J. Becker, Ben Stone, Zack Foss and Brian Keeler.

Fruitcakes is a comedy/ drama, by Julian Wiles.
December 4th, 9th, 10th 7:00 pm
December 5th, 11th 2:00 pm
Tickets are $8.00, sold at Peter and Annie’s on Main, or at the door of the ETC.

Mix together a batch of fruitcakes, three dozen Christmas trees, 10,000 outdoor Christmas lights, a chicken pox epidemic, two southern spinsters, (Dorene Weltzin and Hope Vicich), an estranged old man, (Brian Keeler), a lost cat named Tutti Frutti and a Christmas hog named Buster and you’ve got the recipe for a fun filled and touching evening filled with holiday cheer. Into this world comes Jamie, (Ben Stone), a kid who has run away from home and come as far as his money will take him. At first he thinks this town’s inhabitants are “nuttier than fruitcakes,” but soon he comes to admire, appreciate and adore this nutty little town.

A moving story of alienation, understanding and reconciliation, FrUiTCaKeS provides audiences with a heaping helping of holiday warmth and Christmas cheer.
Also included in the cast are: Corey Graf, Micah Weltzin, Eric Becker, Sharai Hefty, Patty Gerber, Jonah Helbig, A.J. Becker, Zach Foss, Lucas Graf, Aaron Turcott, Walter Herrman II, Lindsey Bangsberg, Kate Stone, Kayla Gerber, Matea Anderson, Kassandra Anderson, Kela Vicich, Kait Dorn, Natalie Vicich and Tanner Gerber.

The play will be directed by Diane Thorp and Corey Graf. The production dates will be Dec. 4, 9, 10 at 7:00 p.m. and Dec. 5 and 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the ETC Theater, across from the Cumberland Elementary School. Tickets are $8 and will be sold at Peter and Annie’s on main street and at the door at ETC.

October 21st – 23rd and 28th – 30th

Thursday, Friday, Saturday each week 7:00 pm curtain Time at the ETC

Tickets sold ian advance at Peter & Annie’s or at the door: $8.00 each
Ice Cold Leinenkugels and Deer Camp snacks available each night at the play.

Show times will be at 7 PM, Wednesday through Saturday, August 25-28.
Note there will not be a Sunday performance.
All tickets are $8.00 and are available at Peter and Annie’s or at the door

Actors left to right, Lauren Dehline, Wesley Wagner, Josh Thornwall, Ray Wiik, Megan Harding, Quin Buechner

Dixie Swim Club
July 8, 9, 10 – 7:00 pm
July 11 – 2:00 pm

Come enjoy the regional premiere of The Dixie Swim Club at The Cumberland Arts Center. Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge their friendships. The play focuses on four of those weekends and spans a period of thirty-three years.

Sheree, played by Barb Lynch, is the spunky team captain, who desperately tries to maintain her organized and ‘perfect’ life, and continues to be the groups leader.

Dinah (Val Sutherland), the wise-cracking overachiever, is a career dynamo.

Lexie (Sarah Lundquist), pampered and outspoken, is determined to hold on to her looks and youth as long as possible.

The self-deprecating and acerbic Vernadette (Sharai Hefty), acutely aware of the dark cloud that hovers over her life, has decided to just give in and embrace the chaos.

And sweet, eager-to-please Jeri-Neal (Diane Thorp) experiences a late entry into motherhood that takes them all by surprise.

As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, aging) that life flings at them. “The Dixie Swim Club” is the story of these five unforgettable women – a hilarious and touching comedy about friendships that last forever.

The play is directed by Travis Thorp and Ann Ethen. Showtime will be 7 PM on Thursday through Saturday, July 8-10, with a 2PM matinee on Sunday, July 11. Tickets will be $8 and available at Peter and Annie’s.

Dates: April 30, May 1,2,7,8,9 Sunday is a 2:00 matinee

Our spring play is a comedy by Dalton Trumbo. Set in 1948, a small town undertaker played by Dave Evenson, and the local Doctor, played by Dan Hoffmann set out to steal the body of John Troybalt (Brian Keeler), the richest man in town. The editor of the paper (Phil Amundson) and pharmacist (Steve Wickre) aid and abet them in their efforts and the consequences. Troybalts associate (Mike Clay) personal Doctor (Jim Kerr) and night nurse (Jaime Helgeson) show up just to keep things hopping. Meanwhile the undertakers daughter (Ericka Strickland) is involved in a young romance with a less than successful young man (Aaron Effertz). Mike Clay and Dorene Weltzin are doing their best to direct this cast of characters.

Mike Clay and Jeff and Chris Hopkins-Hile were in this production in 1978 at The Red Barn. Any time you see them talking about this show you’ll see big grins and laughter as they recall the humor of this well written comedy. Come see it and you’ll be laughing too. The shows are at 7 PM on the Friday and Saturday nights, with both Sundays being 2 PM matinees. This show would be rated PG-13 for language and drinking scenes.

FOOTLOOSE (C.H.S. Musical): March 25-27 at 7:00, and Sun. March 28 at 2:00. Tickets are now available, for this show, in the High School office for $8. Performances will be at the ETC.

Cumberland Cabaret:
On Saturday January 30th Cumberlands ETC presents the 11th annual Cumberland Cabaret.

For the second year in a row, ETC and Friends of the Cumberland Library are joining efforts to bring you dinner and a show. This years theme is Cumberlands Got Talent, and the line-up for the show proves that point. All ages are represented, from the youngest middle schoolers, Mariah Capra and Carly Haynie performing a duet to a Taylor Swift song to the Mens Chorus.

From teenagers Zoe Hopkins Hile, Anna Ruth Haugen, and Lauren Dehline gracing us with their lovely voices to seasoned performers, soloist Jim Kerr, singer/guitarists Dan Hoffman and Roger Harrison, and singer/banjo players John Ostrum and Chris Landstrom.

Actress/singer Sharai Hefty will perform Crazy made popular by Patsy Kline and shell put a big smile on your face with her rendition of Hey Big Spender. Comedian Angel Benes will pantomime her way through Shes Got You another Patsy Kline song.

Representing young adults we have Karen Matthys singing two country western songs and the talented singer/musician/song writers Bethany Nash, and David Hopkins Hile with friends Scott Melby and Cayla Kluver.

Finally, the group Third Sunday Jam, which includes several of the previously named performers, will entertain us with music and song.

The Friends of the Library benefit dinner will be served preceding the show at the American Legion Hall. Profits from this years dinner will be used to purchase a sound system for the Library. On the menu are delicious homemade chicken and biscuits, dessert, and coffee or milk. Entertaining throughout the dinner hour will be the very talented violinist, Anna Ruth Hagen. The American Legion Hall is walking distance to the ETC Art Center, so you only need to park once.

The American Legion is located at 1225 Veterans Ave. dinner is served from 5:00 6:30. The ETC Art Center is located at 1595 2nd Ave, doors open at 6:30, show begins at 7:00 PM.

Tickets for the dinner are $4.00 for ages 10 and under and $8.00 for everyone else. Tickets for the show are $5.00. Both can be purchased in advance at Peter and Annies 1387 2nd Ave. in Cumberland or at the door.