By Josephine Norris, Photo Editor.
The audience was abuzz with anticipation and speculation before the reveal of the 2016-2017 season at Saginaw’s Pit and Balcony, one of the oldest community theaters in Michigan.
The support for the local arts was evident as theater enthusiast after theater enthusiast poured into the Castle Museum, Saginaw, for an evening of “Cocktails and Curtain Calls” held by Pit and Balcony. The VIP event offered supporters and members of the executive board a chance to connect and enjoy food and fellowship, as well as live performances of songs from the upcoming season.
Amy Spadafore-Loose is the vice-president of productions at Pit and Balcony and says that the members “support the theater so much throughout the years that it is important to us that they are the first ones to know what our season is before the general public.”
The season will open in October with the spectacularly pink musical “Legally Blonde,” based on the 2001 film of the same title. It follows the bright Elle Woods as she sets out to prove herself after being dumped by her boyfriend for not being “serious enough.”
Following on the heels of “Legally Blonde” is the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” just in time for the holidays in December. The play revolves around the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge as he learns to let the warmth and joy of Christmas melt his cold heart.
Opening February with “some pig” is the children’s classic “Charlotte’s Web.” The play is based on the endearing children’s book of the same name, and chronicles the barnyard adventures at the Zuckerman farm as the barnyard animals rally to save Wilbur the pig.
March brings forth a classic literary work by John Steinbeck with “Of Mice and Men,” the tale of Depression era migrant workers who dream of better lives.
Closing the season in May is the musical “Heathers,” which is based on the 1988 film of the same name. It’s a musical depiction of the cliques and people that make high school an experience to remember — for better or worse.
The season is diverse and Spadafore-Loose is excited about it.
“There are parts about the season that are really cutting edge, that are exciting things that not only Pit and Balcony has never done before, but other theatres in the area haven’t done before… I think we’re really pushing the boundaries and also widening our audience,” shared Spadafore-Loose.
Bill Johnson and his wife Sue are season ticket holders and the Johnson’s sees value in supporting the arts community of Saginaw.
“I think it is important to make a commitment to the community to sponsor and to build a community, and you can’t do it with just baseball or football—it takes more than that,” Bob Johnson.
Bob Johnson also shared, “You have to make it a whole package, otherwise the community is not a community.”
Community is one of the driving forces behind community theatre, and Pit and Balcony and Board of Trustees President David Lyman recognizes its power.
“We’re all a part of the Pit and Balcony community. We all share a common interest in supporting the arts and the common goal of keeping Pit and Balcony a viable source of arts and entertainment in the area.”
Pit and Balcony is not only expanding in the types of shows performed, but it’s relations with the community of Saginaw.
“We got food [for the event] from three different local restaurants. So we’re developing relationships with other businesses in the area and also with people. Not only our long time patrons but also new patrons,” shared Spadafore-Loose.
Lyman also shared, “We’re excited to see and be apart of the renaissance happening around us. It feels great to be part of a community of businesses that can gather together and support each other in their own ways.”
The sense of community carried through the night and the 2016-2017 season at Pit and Balcony will be an extension of that.
For more information visit www.pitandbalconytheatre.com.
