Sauk Season to Include Musicals, Michigan-Set Plays

A hysterical comedy, a courtroom drama, a family in crisis and a little red-headed orphan will all make their way to the stage of the Sauk Theatre in 2018.

The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theatre, has announced their 2018 season of plays and musicals. Founded in 1961 as the "Broad Street Players," The Sauk owns and operates the Sauk Theatre, located at 240 E. Chicago St., Jonesville.

"Selecting our season gets harder and harder each year," said Sauk Executive Director Trinity Bird. "Our patrons have come to expect a wide variety of both classic and new works. I think we have found the perfect combination of shows that will appeal to everyone."

The season begins with Jeff Daniel's hysterical Yooper comedy "Escanaba in Da Moonlight." Reuben Soady is hoping to break a curse that has made him the oldest family member never to bag a buck. The buckless Yooper takes the Sauk stage February 8-11 and 15-18. This production is sponsored by the Hillsdale County Board of Realtors.

When Bessie is diagnosed with leukemia, her only hope is to contact her long-estranged sister, Lee, to see if their bone marrow is compatible for a transplant in Scott McPherson's "Marvin's Room." Beloved for its mordant humor and unflinching wisdom, this dark comedy allows us a moving view of one woman's commitment to family and response to despair. "Marvin's Room" will be performed April 5-8. This production is sponsored by Nash Drugs.

The Sauk's annual celebration of the 10-minute play, "Sauk Shorts," will be performed May 3-6. This year's production will include 12 short plays including works from Michigan playwrights G.M. (Bud) Thompson, Bonnie Grooters and The Sauk's own Bud Vear. "Sauk Shorts" is sponsored by Drews Place Assisted Living Communities.

The classic family musical "Annie" will leap onto the stage June 7-10 and 14-17. Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan's orphanage. Her luck soon changes when she's chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. This production is sponsored by Jonesville Lumber and The Udder Side.

Based on Mark Twain's celebrated novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," "Big River" is the Tony Award-winning Best Musical that brings Huck, his pal Tom Sawyer and run away slave Jim to life. Featuring a score by country music royalty Roger Miller, "Big River" will run Aug. 9-12 and Aug. 16-19. This production is sponsored by Olivia's Chop House.

"The Flower Girls" is a play about three sisters - Violet, Rose and Lily - who are at their own personal crossroads when they return to their childhood home for their parents' 30th anniversary. This is a world-premiere production of a play that was part of The Sauk's 2017 Plays-in-Development. "The Flower Girls" will be performed September 6-9 and is sponsored by Mark and Susan Pedrick.

Defeated for re-election as District Attorney, Paul Biegler isn't looking forward to becoming a defense attorney. His first case is sensational: a lieutenant is accused of murdering the bartender who allegedly raped his wife. "Anatomy of a Murder" is based on an actual case that took place in the Upper Peninsula and was presided over by Hillsdale Circuit Court Judge Charles O. Arch, Sr. The show will be performed October 11-14 and 18-21. "Anatomy of a Murder" is sponsored by Southern Michigan Bank & Trust.

Based on the true story of the Gilbreth family, "Cheaper By The Dozen" will end the season December 6-9 and 13-16. This story of family, fun, fitting-in and faith is based on the book of the same name. This production is sponsored by County National Bank.

All performances take place at the Sauk Theatre, 240 E. Chicago St., Jonesville. Thursday through Saturday performances are at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees performed at 3 p.m. The first performance of each production is a "pay-what-you-can" preview night.

Season and individual tickets are available at www.thesauk.org or by calling (517) 849-9100. You can also find show information and audition dates at the website.

In 2017, a total of 292 volunteers were involved in the organization's eight productions. The volunteers represent Hillsdale, Branch, Jackson, Lenawee, Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties in Michigan and several areas in Ohio. The entire organization is completely volunteer except a full-time, grant-funded executive director. New volunteers are always encouraged and welcomed.

The 2018 season is sponsored by Expressions Photography & Design. The orchestras for our live musicals are sponsored by Moore Insurance Services. The Sauk is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts and their program ArtWorks.

SIDE BAR: Special Events

The Sauk will also host three special events throughout the year. They are:

• An Evening of Improv Comedy with GoProv, an improvisational comedy troupe from Indiana, will perform a "Whose Line is it Anyway?" style show at 7:30 p.m. on May 19.

• The fourth annual Plays-In-Development series will present free staged readings of four new American plays still in the process of being Photos by written. This year's selections include "Tipping Point" by Bronson native Paul McKinley. These performances are at 7:30 p.m. June 29 and 30.

• The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, Michigan's only professional year-round traveling Shakespeare company, will present "As You Like It" at 8 p.m. on Nov. 2.

Photo by Expressions Photography & Design.

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