Popcorn Theatre starts with ‘Aladdin’s Luck’ this summer

Now in its 34th season, Tibbits Popcorn Theatre will delight audiences of all ages with five shows created specifically for kids and their families to enjoy Friday and Saturday mornings this summer.

The highly popular, time-honored tradition re­turns to the Tibbits stage with two shows presented by the professional com­pany of Tibbits Summer Theatre, a wacky science show, a princess show, and a popular Disney an­imated film. Popcorn The­atre is the perfect way to introduce kids to live the­atre and touring artists.

“Aladdin’s Luck” by Janet Stanford opens the Popcorn season with les­sons of love, strength and self-acceptance. Clev­er street urchin Aladdin falls madly for the Prin­cess Leilah at a chance meeting. Aladdin tries to impress her with a mag­ic lamp and genie by his side, but when the lamp falls into the hands of an evil magician, Aladdin must travel across the des­ert to rescue the princess by doing the thing that scares him the most…be­ing himself. Tibbits’ pro­fessional company will present this play on June 9-10 and 16-17.

Next, Doug Scheer presents his “Wacky Sci­ence Show.” Loads of sur­prises, comedy and goofy sound effects combine in this perfect complement to learning The Scientific Method. Featuring wacky and off-the-wall, hands-on lessons, audience mem­bers discover that simple household items can be used to perform quirky and crazy science experi­ments. Science has never been so much fun! This performance will run one weekend, June 23-24.

Heroines and princess­es create a magical fairy­tale morning with “Once Upon a Princess Story­time & Songs.” From Miracle Keeper to Snow Princess, Tower Princess to Beauty Princess, this show features songs such as “Waiting on a Mira­cle,” “Let it Go,” “Tale as Old as Time” and “When Will My Life Begin.” The magic continues after the show when these special heroines pose for photos and sign autographs with their adoring fans. This performance will be one weekend only on July 14-15.

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” takes the stage for two weekends July 21-22 and 28-29 when the Tibbits profes­sional company presents the classic tale based on the novel by Lewis Caroll. This version by Deborah Lynn Frockt with music by Patrick Belanger is a fan­tastic journey through the wonder-filled world of Al­ice beyond the imagination! The madcap adventure in­cludes remarkable charac­ters like the White Rabbit, Talking Flowers, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. When Alice finally catches up with the White Rabbit in the Queen’s Court, she’s in for her biggest adventure of all.

Wrapping up the Pop­corn Theatre season, Dis­ney’s “Encanto” will be featured on the big screen, giving a nod to the Opera House’s days as a movie theatre in the 1930s-50s. In this magical musical film, the multigenerational Mad­rigals are an extraordinary Colombian family who live hidden in the mountains in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift that helps them serve the people in their rural community — every child except Mirabel. When Mirabel learns that magic surrounding Encanto is in danger, she sets out to find out what is happening and save her family and their magical house. This film will be shown Aug 4 and 5.

Tibbits Popcorn The­atre shows are Friday and Saturdays at 10am. Patrons will be treated to popcorn and juice at intermission. Seating is reserved and patrons are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance. Tickets for all patrons are $10 (price includes fees, popcorn and juice) and are available at Tibbits.org, by calling 517-278-6029 or at the Tibbits Admin Office at 93 W. Chicago in Coldwater. All perfor­mances will take place at Tibbits Opera House, 14 S. Hanchett St., Coldwa­ter, Michigan. Group rates are available.

In additional to Pop­corn Theatre, Tibbits Summer Theatre will be presenting the beloved Disney musical “The Lit­tle Mermaid.” In a magi­cal kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on a beloved Hans Christian Andersen sto­ry, Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, pur­sues the human Prince Eric. Bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, she trades her tail for legs with unexpected consequences. It takes Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to help Arial restore order under the sea. With a message of kindness, tolerance and love, this fishy fable will capture audience’s hearts with irresistible songs like “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.” No Popcorn Theatre performances will take place during the run of “The Little Mer­maid.” There will instead be 11am performances of this mainstage produc­tion which swims across the stage on June 30, July 1, and July 8 with a 2pm production on July 5 in addition to evening per­formances June 29 – July 8 with ticket prices ranging from $20 to $43. Special Tibbits member, child, and group rates are avail­able.