company’s home for
six years. There, dozens
of productions ranging
from musical comedies
to Shakespeare helped to
establish the company’s
reputation for inventive,
challenging entertainment.
That period also brought
additional recognition in the
form of theatrical awards:
*Members of Great
Escape’s artistic staff
were the recipients of
EncoreMichigan’s Wilde
Award for best sound design
in 2014. The award reflected
the work of Tim Culver,
Cameron Lake and Lauri
Rowe, who were honored
for their work on “It’s a
Wonderful Life,” one of
the many “live” radio plays
Great Escape has presented
over the years.
*Under his stage name
Alan Larkheed, Randy
Lake was nominated for
EncoreMichigan’s Wilde
Award for best actor, for
his performance in Great
Escape’s 2016 production of
“Next Fall.”
Such developments
prompted patrons and
donors to provide financial
support and encouragement.
As a result, in late 2016,
the company was able
to purchase an historic
downtown building at 110
E. Michigan Avenue, from
Denny and Judy Hughes.
Built in 1905 as the Knights
continued from page 2
Marshall House Apartments
Now accepting applications for one & two bedroom apartments.
We are located at: 200 E. Spruce Street, Marshall, MI. 49068
Contact us
By phone: (269) 781-
By email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Professionally Managed By: Medallion Managment Inc. http://www.medallionmgmt.comBarrier free Units available for mobility impaired persons.
Rent abased on income for those who qualify.
All utilities included in rent.
Must be at least 62 years old or disabled persons.
Pets Welcome
Weekly activities ran by resident association.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.Electrical • Heating • Cooling
466 Main St. Battle Creek, MI • 963-ELECTRIC
http://www.simselectricinc.com • [email protected]
Did you know that Sims Electric...
- Sells, Installs, Performs Maintenance & Warranty
work on Honeywell/Eaton/Generac Generators - Installs Trane Furnaces & Air Conditioners
- Installs Water Heaters
- Has Service Agreements
- Gives FREE Estimates!
Call Sims Electric today at
269-963-514 S. Kalamazoo Ave., Post Office Box 111
Marshall, MI 49068
(269) 781-5444 • FAX 269-781-
email: advisorj-adgraphics.com
http://www.advisor-chronicle.com
Published by... J-Ad Corporation, Marshall, MI
Fred Jacobs, CEO and PUBLISHER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
John Hendler - [email protected]
STAFF WRITERS
Seth Berry - [email protected]
Alison Yarger - [email protected]
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Cindy Anderson - [email protected]
Leah Hopkins - [email protected]
CLASSIFIED ADS
Seth Berry - [email protected]
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Sue Snyder [email protected]$
200-$
10,I BUY ALL CARS
& TRUCKS!
Call me first... I pay more!
269-223-
of Pythias Hall, a band
of volunteers and permit-
required trade contractors
immediately began to
reshape the interior into
a professional black-box
theater.
The new, larger
theater’s opening in July
2017 took place only
months after the building’s
purchase, featuring a
production of William
Gibson’s aptly named “The
Miracle Worker.”
“Great Escape’s patrons
and community supportershave noted that every effort
was undertaken to preserve
the integrity of the historic
1905 structure – including
the pristine interior tin
ceiling, while adapting it to
modern use, including full
handicap accessibility,” said
Lake.
Great Escape is one
of several theater groups
or theaters in Marshall and
is perhaps the smallest,
with Lake stating that it is
not really a “competition”
between the various
organizations.
Still, he noted that the
theater groups and theaters
in town including Great
Escape, Marshall Civic
Players, Franke Center for
the Arts, Marshall High
School and Cornwell’s
Turkeyville will meet next
week to go over calendar
dates so as to avoid anyconflicts since the theaters
sometimes use the same
actors and those involved in
the production.
“I always say about the
theater companies – we’re
not like a shoe store selling
the same shoe that you can
buy down the block,” said
Lake. “Then, you’re all in
competition. But we all do
different kinds of shows.
There is some overlap at
times – this year I’m doing a
show that the Civic Players
have done in the past. Our
experience at Great Escape
is a bit different because we
are an intimate space.”
Last November, Lake
said he made a special point
of telling those organizing
the Franke Center/MCP
fundraiser that he would like
to be involved.
“Somebody who sits on
their board said that went
a long way towards easing
whatever bad vibes there
may have been,” said Lake.
“I’ve never felt that we are
in competition with each
other. We’re all just trying
to put on a show and get
people in the seats. There’s
plenty of room for all of us
to survive.”
Lake said Marshall has
solidified itself as being a
great theater community.
“I think with the
population we have many
people tend to want to go
to the theater,” said Lake.
“But what I think also helps
is the focus on teaching
young people about theater.
The Youth Theater program
which began back in 1977
with the Civic Players
and I think the Recreation
Department at the time –
that whole idea of getting
kids involved helps make
future theater-goers. People
who have been involvedin theater and understand
all the stuff that goes on
appreciate it. So that’s part
of why I believe Marshall
has such a vibrant theater
community.”
With COVID-
striking two years ago, Great
Escape, like theaters across
the world, was faced with
some difficult decisions.
Initially cancelling their
planned production of
“Almost, Maine” one week
before opening night, this
cancellation stretched
into scrapping the entire
remaining 2020 season.
“Because of foresight
by the board in creating an
emergency fund, and with
the assistance of several
grants created to help small
non-profits survive the
shutdown, Great Escape
was able to continue with
their basic expenses all
while keeping their doors
safely shut,” said Lake.
In 2021, Great Escape
was able to present two
productions last autumn to
officially reopen the theatre.
The theater celebrated
their “Tenth-plus-One” year
anniversary in October and
“The Turn of the Screw”
marked their 75th fully
staged production. Adding
in all the different staged
readings and special events
that GESC has produced,
those 10-plus years have
brought well over 100
creative and innovative
productions to the Marshall
downtown.
With COVID still
highly transmissible, Great
Escape does require its
patrons to be masked and to
show proof of vaccination
before they enter the
building for a performance.
“While our COVID
precautions kept somefolks away from GESC
over these past few months,
we’re planning to continue
following Broadways
standards at this point,”
said Lake. “All audience
members, performers and
technical staff must be fully
vaccinated and boosted - and
must show their vaccination
cards upon arrival - and
masks must be worn at all
times by staff and patrons
throughout their visit to the
theatre. The Great White
Way recently extended
these precautions through
April 30, and we’ll be doing
the same. While we’re
optimistic that the COVID
numbers will again recede,
we remain committed to
keeping everyone as safe
as possible at this time and
are heartened that a majority
of our supporters feel the
same.”
Lake said this year’s
show lineup has several that
Lake has wanted to do over
the years, but the confined
space of his small theater
has made such productions
“complicated” logistics-
wise.
“This season I’m being
adventurous,” he said,
of a lineup that features
productions such as Noises
Off (March 24 through April
3), The Fantasticks (May12-22), Mothers and Sons
(June 16-26), The Foursome
(July 7-17), Avenue Q (Aug.
4-14), Steel Magnolias
(Sept. 15-25) and The Full
Monty (Oct. 20-31).
Great Escape will
kick off 2022 with its Feb.
13 fundraiser which will
be similar to the virtual
telethon they presented a
year ago, featuring video
performances from around
the United States.
GESC continues to
operate “in the black”
added Lake and has
received continued support
from its enthusiastic
donors -- including the
Marshall Community
Foundation and MAEDA
-- for such upgrades as
new seating, infrastructure
improvements, and
equipment.
“Bringing the arts to
any community is indeed a
collaborative effort between
artists and the community
itself,” said Lake. “The
experience of the past
decade has demonstrated
clearly that the Marshall
community supports the
work of Great Escape
Stage Company, and that its
mission will thrive for years
to come.”In October, “The Turn of the Screw” starring
Sarah Stiner and Cameron Lake marked Great
Escape’s 75th fully staged production.