Can you spell i-r-r-e-s-i-s-t-i-b-l-e?

TLP CLOSES SEASON WITH A BUZZ in

The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Mount Carroll, IL--Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP), northwestern Illinois’ non-profit professional summer theatre, announces the final production of the 2010 season, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The new musical will feature some of TLP’s favorite talents and have the opportunity to let locals shine with guest spellers chosen from the audience. This H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S show runs August 12^th through 22^nd.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee explores six over-achieving spellers as they battle for the championship of the local spelling competition. This Tony Award-winning show is structured as an actual spelling bee in real time, where four volunteer spellers from the audience are invited to interact with the characters on stage as participants in the bee. Enjoy the suspense as the competition unfolds…root for your favorite character…brush up on your spelling…and see for yourself how six endearing “spelling geeks” make use of their individuality, talents and strengths to each become winners of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

At TLP, audience members will have the opportunity to be on stage with favorite alum including Samantha Dubina (All Shook Up, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Church Basement Ladies), Chris Froseth (Buddy in last season’s Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story), Dan Riley (Ain’t Misbehavin,’ The Full Monty, Ragtime), Sharriese Hamilton (Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story), as well as former Artistic Director Brad Lyons. Rounding out the cast with their TLP debut performances will also be Chicago actors C.J. Langdon and Dana Tretta.

Guest Director Lili-Anne Brown returns to direct this audience favorite. Brown staged last year’s stunning Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. She has worked with companies such as Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare and was recently seen in “The Beast” starring Patrick Swayze.

Laughter continues to invade the woods!

The peaceful serenity of night sounds in the woods is interrupted nightly by thunderous laughter. TLP's Love, Sex and the IRS demonstrates how a tower of little white lies can, in moments, crumble in hopeless mayhem. The best laid plans of two desperate bachelors are the catalyst for a fun filled night at the theater. We (my husband and I) found our evening of Love one of the best de-stressers, yet. Only three performances remain for you to get your laughter therapy this week! Seats are still available for remaining shows -
Thursday 22nd at 7:30pm
Friday 23rd at 8pm
Saturday 24th 8pm

Coming next is the hilarious backstage-murder-mystery, Curtains, appearing on stage July 29^th through August 8^th. This brand new musical comedy, with references that will make theatre-goers cackle in their seats, is by John Kander & Fred Ebb, the team who gave us such exciting musicals as Chicago and Cabaret.TLP Alum Samantha Dubina returns to be part of the laughs and thrills of this show. Money-hungry producers (TLP Residents Philip Black and Samantha Barboza), flamboyant director (Artistic Director James Beaudry), divorced song writing team, and battling ingénues fight for control of the show. It is up to a police detective with little theatrical experience of his own (TLP Guest Braxton Molinaro who last appeared as Jud in TLP’s Oklahoma!) to save the show, solve the case and maybe even find love before the show reopens, without getting killed himself. Chris Froseth (Buddy in TLP’s 2009 hit The Buddy Holly Story) will make a guest appearance in this production.

Megan Thacher and her lovely box office staff are waiting to answer your calls. Place your reservations for Love, Sex, and the IRS, Curtains, and Spelling Bee, all in one call to 815-244-2035.

Romance Blooms at TLP

Many of you know there are two girls working in the box office this summer that are planning their wedding days. One was even proposed to on the stage here at TLP on VIP night last month. Well, there is another unassuming gal in the box office celebrating the romance in her life today—me!

Between answering phone calls, my friend for nearly four decades and my husband for 35 years today, sneaked into the box office to surprise and delight me with a bouquet of 35 beautiful pink roses—the kind of flower I carried on our wedding day. What a guy! He sure got it right this year…very right.

Thanks Jeff, for making my day, my week, my life. I love you!

Saddle Up and Toe Tap Your Way to "Oklahoma"

I didn't remember the dark side of Oklahoma! until I saw Thursday's performance at TLP. A bit of warning: Mommas, hang on tight to your daughters. Jud Fry (played by Braxton Molinaro) sent chills up my spine with his dark thoughts. The tension grew throughout Act I and even reached us in the last row. Fortunately, Laurey's (Lauren Omelson) beautiful silky voice veiled the harsh realities of prairie life with optimism, hope and a hefty dose of youthful pride. Other highlights included a rousing, rhythmic, dance number by the talented "farmers", and riveting vocals by a determined and sensitive Curly McClain (Jay Ellis). What a delight!
The show was just over two and a half hours including intermission, but except for the complaints of my joints, I would never have known that so much time had passed. If I were still homeschooling my kids, Oklahoma would be on the to do list of "living history field trips" this summer.

Got To Love Mother Nature

Hello everyone!!! Can you believe that June is almost over?! That means that Steel Magnolias is wrapping up and Oklahoma is right around the corner.

Thanks to everyone for coming out for Steel Magnolias and for sticking with us through all the crazy weather we have been having. We even had to cancel last Friday night's performance because the power was out! However, we thank you for being patient with both us and mother nature and for continuing to support the theater. We appreciate it!

Oklahoma tickets are selling fast so hopefully you have all been calling us to book your seats. It's going to be a great show and it starts July 1st and runs through July 11th.

We are also pleased to announce that we will be having a performance on July 4th in the afternoon at 2pm. What better way to celebrate the holiday than to spend the afternoon at TLP? And of course after the show you can always head on down to Mt. Carroll and enjoy the parade as well as the amazing fireworks put on by the Mt. Carroll Fire Department. The fireworks are FREE.....and I'll be there!!!!

It'll "Steel" You Away!

What do a hairless dog, red velvet armadillo cake, and non-stop gunfire have in common?
Truvy's!
Last night "Steel Magnolias" opened at TLP and the audience was treated to a refreshing and candid tale of the highs and lows of those who regularly gather at their neighborhood salon. These 1980's women reflect an eclectic blend of traditional and modern attitudes towards love, marriage, and family. The men in their lives, though always off stage, add surprising levity with their wild antics.
Together these six southern women find strength and hope in each others' genuine concern, which is sometimes accessorized with scathing insults. This is the essence of real life. This is the essence of great theater.

A Note from the Box Office Manager

The last performance of Chicago went off without a hitch and we are now gearing up for our next show, Steel Magnolias, which opens this Thursday, June 17th. We urge all who are interested in attending Steel Magnolias, as well as any of the other shows this season, to call the Box Office for reservations because seats are selling fast. We hope to hear from you!

An Ode to TLP

Hear the phones ringing. They're ringing inside my head.
If the phones ever stop ringing, they'll be singing TLP is dead.
We're glad to answer phones 'cause it means we're not alone
The theater is ALIVE and WELL because the phones keep ringing without end.

From 11:00am to 7:00 each day we hear all our wonderful patrons say,
"Are there still good seats left for the show?"
We're happy to say "YES" there are seats yet to go.
The last show is Sunday at 2:00 for Chicago so DO NOT DELAY
Or you' hear us say, "Folding chairs only are left for this day"

So, give us a call when the box office is open
And we'll gladly fulfill your desires, best we can.
Thanks for your patience and loyalty, too.
For without you, our patrons, we'd have nothing to do.

Chicago, it ROCKS from the floor to the ceiling
Roxie, Velma, Billy, and the gang,
All raise the roof, and the bar, of the Playhouse each night, and
It's hard to imagine how the season can get better...
But it will!!

A Note from the Box Office Manager

Our first week for General Admission sales is drawing to a close. We are pleased with the number of reservations we have been able to place and are looking forward to making even more as the season continues.

We wish to thank all of our patrons for their patience this week. We understand that our phone lines were extremely busy with everyone wanting to make reservations. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for continuing to support Timber Lake Playhouse.

We are looking forward to taking more of your calls and hope to see you at our first show - the sizzling spectacular that is Chicago!

A Note From The Box Office Manager

It is Sunday, May 23, and the Box Office Staff is delighted with the wonderful weather we have been having this weekend. It is the perfect time to soak up some sun, spend time with friends - and of course, reserve your seats for our 2010 season!

We are currently busy calling all of our season ticket holders with a reminder that we are now open to take their reservations. This is just one of the new services we are providing for our patrons this year.

So, again, season ticket holders may call now to make their reservations. Reservations for General Admission begin May 25 - which is this coming Tuesday.

Box Office hours are 11 AM - 7 PM daily and our number is 815-244-2035.

We look forward to hearing from you!!!

Meet your Patron Services Associate

Hi Everyone!! My name is Carene, I have worked in the box office for 5 summers. I worked 4 summers as a box office agent, and this year I am your new Patron Services Associate and box office agent. I get to work with wonderful gals and meet new and existing patrons. Currently, I am working on adding Chicago to lists of area events. Check out our Facebook page and call us to make a reservation!! Look forward to meeting you at the show!

http://www.timberlakeplayhouse.org/

I Am Sam

Sam I am. I do not like green and eggs and ham, but I do enjoy being useful in the TLP box office! I'm from Mt. Carroll, but spend the school year in Nashville, TN where I attend Belmont University as a Religion and the Arts major.

Current project: updating our mailing list for the 2010 season, thus ensuring that all our patrons and sponsors recieve all news about the latest and greatest happenings at TLP! Enjoy the 2010 season!

A Note from Melody, Box Office Personnel

YAY FOR TLP!

Hey everyone! This is my first summer working for TLP and boy is it fun! When I was a youngin', I ushered for shows and loved all of them! This year I get to be right in on all of the action. So I hope you all can come out and see our shows! Stop by the box office and see me and the rest of the Box Office Gals!

A Note from the Box Office Manager

Yesterday (Monday, May 17th) we started taking reservations from our season ticket holders and boy, did you keep us busy!! But we thank you very much for your questions, reservations, and patience. The 2010 season should prove to be an exciting and enjoyable one and we are pleased to be able to share it with all of you. Thank you for your patronage! We also extend our best wishes to the cast, crew, and staff of TLP. See you at the show!!!