Wow! I’ve just realized how long it has been since I updated this blog. In part, that’s because we at GEM Theatrics have been busy planning for the months ahead – and, boy, have we got some things going!

Fall will be a busy season for us. First, we are thrilled to bring our One-Act version of Mary G. Kron’s “My Dearest Friend” to the Morton Township Library in Mecosta, Michigan at 7pm on September 18. Then, on October 15, we celebrate the 250th Wedding Anniversary of John and Abigail Adams with a performance of the Two-Act version of “My Dearest Friend” at the Loutit District Library in Grand Haven, Michigan at 7pm. (The actual anniversary is October 25 – to get your history jones satisfied, click the “read more” link below). Both performances are FREE!

Just one week later, on October 22, we bring our signature piece, “Love Letters,” by A. R. Gurney to OLLI at Aquinas. The show begins at 1:30 pm and tickets are very reasonable, especially if you are a member! We performed there last Spring and look forward to seeing a lot of our friends there!

Finally, we are thrilled to announce that GEM Theatrics will have a new show for the new year! We’ve found a wonderful script by Canadian playwright Norm Foster entitled “Old Love”, and it will be our entry in the 2015 Lake Effect Fringe Festival at Dog Story Theater. “Old Love” tells the story of Bud and Molly, who met at a time when each was attached to others, but whose lives intersected over the years, and their relationship grew. It’s a story of romance, courtship and relationships between older adults and we love it – we think you will, too. “Old Love” has its West Michigan premier February 13 – 15, 2015, just in time for Valentine’s Day. AND, if all goes as planned, we hope to bring “Old Love” to the East side of Michigan with 11 performances at The Snug Theatre in Marine City, Michigan in July, 2015. Stay tuned for details!

GEM Theatrics usually doesn’t get on a soap box about anything, but I’m going to take this opportunity to get on the soap box about the 2013 Annual Report from the Michigan Humanities Council that’s been sitting on the ottoman since we received it earlier this year. Why?  Well, GEM Theatrics’ production of My Dearest Friend is listed in the 2012-2015 Arts & Humanities Touring Directory.  Non-profit organizations interested in bringing the show to their venue can apply for a mini-grant that covers up to 40% of the cost of sharing this historical program with students and patrons.  We’ve been gratified to bring this great show some libraries and universities, but have been disappointed that we haven’t been able to share it with high school or middle school audiences, and very few local libraries.

I wrote last time about our first week playing Marine City's The Snug Theatre with "My Dearest Friend." We were very pleased with the critical review from Encore Michigan and the audience reaction to this wonderful historic play by Mary G. Kron. Since we opened, word of mouth has accelerated reservations for this coming week! Thank you to all who enjoyed the show! Tickets are going fast, but good seats are still available for all shows, online or by calling 810-278-1749.
But, there is more to do in our thumb area besides attend the theatre!

Last Friday, Mary Beth, her Mom,  and Step , and I took the Blue Water Ferry across the St. Clair river to Sombra, Ontario, Canada for lunch at The Aft Cabin and a little shopping. Sombra has only about 250 residents, but the little town is charming and the food at The Aft Cabin was delicious! While in Sombra, I located the local historical museum, where I'm told a car owned by Al Capone for bootlegging is on display. Our older companions weren't up for the tour, so I didn't get to find out for myself -- maybe this week.

Saturday was bright and sunny and so Mary Beth and I took the opportunity to indulge in another of our passions -- visiting lighthouses! Michigan is home to more than a hundred lighthouses and we've been to a lot of them, but our trip to the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron ranks as one of our best experiences.

Yep, that's Mary Beth waiting to go into The Snug Theatre for our first performance in Marine City, Michigan! We've been gearing up for this for weeks, because it is the first time we've been able to perform this show on the Eastern side of the state. The Sunrise Side is a bit of a tough nut to crack, but we're ecstatic that the Snug had an open slot and was willing to take a chance on an original work by a Michigan playwright, Mary G. Kron. 

To be honest, we didn't know what to expect. WE knew we had a quality entertainment experience, but what would theatre goers and critics on the East side of the State think.

Maybe, we would go out on stage and find the theatre looking like this picture! Fortunately, for us and for the theatre, that wasn't the case. In fact, our first week's audiences were larger than normal for The Snug and they were very enthusiastic about the show! Encore Michigan even sent a reviewer. John Quinn called "My Dearest Friend" a "charming play" and remarked: "The fact that Mitchell and Quillin are married brings a spark of real-life to their performances. . . ." He also called our handling of the 18th Century language "well articulated," which we take as a high compliment. (See the full review here).

Of course, actors do not live by theatre alone (as much as we might like to think so)! I'll tell you about some of our other adventures last week in my next installment. They don't call this area the Blue Water side for nothing! Stay tuned!
To get tickets for "My Dearest Friend" next week go here, or call 810-278-1749.  Good seats are still available for all performances - but that will change, if you wait too long!

John Adams crossed the Atlantic ocean six times in his life. That is six more times than most others of his generation. Adams was no stranger to the ocean; his homes in Braintree and Boston, Massachusetts overlooked the Atlantic and he had had contact with that wide expanse his entire life. But, living near the sea and actual seafaring are two entirely different things, although it appears that John Adams suffered from seasickness less than others in his party and, indeed, less than some of the experienced sailors on his ships.
We at GEM Theatrics celebrate these journeys with a crossing, of sorts, of our own. In less than a week, we will open our production of "My Dearest Friend" by Mary G. Kron across the state of Michigan from our home base in the cozy Snug Theatre in Marine City. Performances are June 12 - 22 and tickets can be obtained on the theatre's website or by calling 810-278-1749.
Adams was sent three times across the Atlantic Ocean

It's time for a celebration here at GEM Theatrics, because this year marks the 250th Anniversary of John and Abigail Adams! The actual date isn't until Fall, but we're kicking the festivities off a little early with eight (!) performances of "My Dearest Friend" by Mary G. Kron this month at the cozy Snug Theatre in Marine City, Michigan. Show dates are June 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 7 pm and June 15 and 22 at 3 pm. Tickets are just $20 are available online or by calling 810-278-1749. This is a wonderful opportunity for our friends on the East side of Michigan to see this wonderful production! We hope to see many of you there!

On October 25, 1764, not everyone was certain the

At GEM Theatrics, we've always believed that we produced "Quality Entertainment on Tour", and in 2014 we really mean it!  This week, we took our special historical theater piece, "My Dearest Friend," to the Northview Senior Citizens in Grand Rapids, Michigan for Presidents' Day.  Nearly 80 seniors braved snowy conditions and we could not have asked for a more wonderful audience!  We met some really special people who joined with us in discovering the lives and love of John and Abigail Adams.  Our special thanks to Christine Morse of Sentinel Pointe for sponsoring our visit!

On February 28, we return to our home base, Dog Story Theater for three performances as part of the Lake Effect Fringe Festival.  GEM Theatrics is a founding member of this festival designed to give smaller performing groups a chance to shine!  We haven't done a performance of "My Dearest Friend" at Dog Story since 2011, so we thought it was about time!  If you saw the show three years ago, come see it again -- we've revamped the show a bit.  If you haven't been able to see the show -- come on out!  Tickets are just $12; $8 for students and seniors.  We're there Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm and Sunday at 3 pm.  Tickets are available online at www.dogstorytheater.com.  We hope to see lots of friends there!
     Following our public show this month, we take "My Dearest Friend" on the road again in April for a performance for the OLLI at Aquinas College.  The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute allows those 50 and older to keep learning and keep growing, while at the same time having a great time.  "My Dearest Friend" seems to really resonate with seniors and Mary Beth and I have a great time performing for those groups!

This summer, we have really big news for our fans on the east side of the State of Michigan!  The Snug Theatre of Marine City, Michigan has booked "My Dearest Friend" for eight performances -- June 12 - 15 and 19 - 22!  This is a relatively new venue and brings quality theatre to the lower thumb area.  Marine City is located south of Port Huron in southern St. Clair county.  It's a wonderful area to boat, shop, and now, to see some quality theatre.  If you're located in the eastern half of Michigan (or in Indiana or Ohio for that matter), I urge you to come and make a weekend of it.  Tickets are just $20.  Visit www.snugtheatre.com for more information.

In September, we move north of Grand Rapids, to the Morton Township Library in Mecosta, Michigan.  This performance on September 18, 2014 at 7 pm is free and open to the public.  We hope to see lots of our friends there to celebrate Constitution Week.
So, as you can see, we're very busy this year.  BUT, we'd like to be even busier!  If you know of a group or venue that would be interested in hosting either "My Dearest Friend" or our signature "Love Letters," click the contact us tab and send us a message.  We'd love to work with you to bring "quality entertainment on tour"!