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Organizational History

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Who We Are

Enter Stage Right (ESR) is a tax exempt community-based theatre under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with a year-round production calendar, theatre-based classes, workshops, and outreach for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.  The guiding principles of the company frame our actions around a commitment to community based professional quality theatre.

As community based, our goal is to portray a theatre that speaks to and from the community.  Our actions are guided by feedback from our artists and audience members.  As a 501 (c) (3), the community owns the assets of the company, so we want to make sure Port Huron gets the best return on its investment.  Additionally, ESR practices community outreach in all programs it conducts with the specific purpose to engage harder to reach populations. Our participants range in age, ethnicity, religion, orientation, economic background, physical and mental ability. We consciously strive to be all inclusive for our company members as well as our audience.  
The moniker of professional quality speaks to our company design, giving the public and our artists exposure to the best instruction, technology, and show experience possible.  We are always analyzing how to up our game! 

The Company Story

ESR's began with a partnership between Elaine Schatzline-Behr and Regina Spain. After heading up the Marysville Recreation Department’s theatre program for three years, they decided to start a venture of their own, forming ESR.  Starting in the grand tradition of not for profit theatres (with no money), ESR’s first summer production had to get creative.  The answer: a 2-week day camp for 3rd to 12th graders.  The camp's small fee paid for insurance, cleaning supplies, and fabric for costumes.  Everything else was donated - from the found performance space (a local warehouse) to all things in print (flyers, scripts, etc.).  Even royalties were donated, as the script was written by an ESR co-founder.

The rest is history; honestly, you can read it in the company resume below.  ESR continues to work to educate, innovate, and entertain our community.  From the early days of the Dove Self Esteem Fund, to the inaugural Will on the Water, to the grand opening of the Citadel Stage - ESR is working to serve the community through theatre.  We strive to push the limits of what a small not for profit company can do.  Our success illustrates the support received from the Blue Water area, the vast group of people graciously donating their time, and the power of art to impact our friends and neighbors.

Company Resume

PRODUCTIONS
2022                     Joe Landry's ​It's a Wonderful Life: a Live Radio Play
2022                     Brian Spain's Moreau's Horrors
2022                     Robin Hawdon's Perfect Wedding
2022                     Will on the Water The Tempest
2022                     Dale Wasserman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
2022                     Ken Ludwig's The Three Musketeers
2022                     George Christison's The Hiding Place
2022                     Maxwell Anderson's Anne of the 1000 Days
2021                     Mountain Community Theatre's ​A Miracle on 34th Street
2021                     Dirk Kuiper's Phantom of the Opera
2021                     Thornton Wilder's Our Town
2021                     Will on the Water - Flashback 2021 A collection of works by William Shakespeare
2020                     Kimberly Stevenson's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Enter Stage Right Edition - Online
2020                     Will on the Water - William Shakespeare's The Tragedie of King Lear - Online
2020                     Joseph Robinette's Charlotte's Web - Live from Home
2020                     John DeLancie's  The Lost World - Live from Home
2020                     Joseph Robinette's The Jungle Book - Live from Home
2020                     Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias
2020                     Patricia Gray's The Hobbit
2019                     Michael Wilson's A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas
2019                     Joe DiPietro's Over the River and Through the Woods
2019                     Jeffrey Hatcher's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2019                     Qui Nguyen's She Kills Monsters
2019                     Will on the Water - William Shakespeare's A Midsommer Nights Dreame
2019                     Paul Rudnick's I Hate Hamlet
2019                     Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood
2019                     Norm Foster's The Foursome and The Ladies Foursome
2019                     Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa
2019                     Craig Lucas' Prelude to a Kiss
2019                     Scott Brown and Anthony King's Gutenberg! The Musical!
2018                     Andrew Fenady's Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
2018                     Rebecca Gilman's boy Gets girl
2018                     Steven Dietz's Dracula

2018                     Mary Lyn Dobson's 2 On the Aisle, 3 in a Van
2018                     Will on the Water - William Shakespeare's The Tragedie of Macbeth
2018                     Brian and Regina Spain's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
2018                     Neil Simon's The Odd Couple
2018                     John Patrick Shanley's Welcome to the Moon
2018                     Jonathan Yukich's Alice@Wonerland
2018                     Sapperstein and Murway's The Irish Wake of Patty O'Toole
2018                     Ken Ludwig's Treasure Island
2018                     Sean Grennan's Beer for Breakfast
2017                     James W Roger's It's a Wonderful Life
2017                     Sherman Sergel's 12 Angry Jurors
2017                     Victor Gialanella's Frankenstein
2017                     Brian Spain's Tales from Grimm
2017                     Will on the Water - William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew
2017                     John Patrick's The Curious Savage
2017                     David Ive's All In the Timing
2017                     Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House 
2017                     Regina Spain's Reveries of Oz 
2017                     Ira Levin's Death Trap 
2016                     John Cariani's Almost, Maine 
2016                     Rikki Schwartz's One Cat Away From 61
2016                     Will on the Water - William Shakespeare's Hamlet - Inaugural production at The Citadel Stage
2014                     Will on the Water Touring Dinner Theatre
2011-2013            Will on the Water Shakespeare Festival – St. Clair, MI
2011                     Ever After Happily – Marysville Days – Marysville, MI
2010                     Will on the Water Shakespeare Festival – Port Huron, MI
2010                     Play Reading Series - Jeremy Stemen’s Start 2 Finish
2009                     Play Reading Series - Megan Cooley, Bill Barnwell/Community Mental Health
2009                     Claudia Haas’ The Haunting of Will Shakespeare - ESR, Smiths Creek, MI
2009                     Cynthia Mercati’s Flyin - Cardinal Mooney Catholic HS, Marine City, MI
2008                     LeeAnne McInnis’ Aunt Leaf - Studio 1219’s “Women in Music and Verse”
2008                     Regina Spain’s Wicked/Oz - Michigan Waterways GSA & ESR, Port Huron, MI
2007                     Craig Sodaro’s Liberty Street - Fort Gratiot Middle School, Fort Gratiot, MI
2007                     Craig Sodaro’s & Stephen Murray’s Boogie-Woogie Bugle Girls - Fort Gratiot MS, Fort Gratiot, MI
2007                     Regina Spain's Wicked/Oz - Inaugural Enter Stage Right production, Marysville, MI


PARTNERED EVENTS
2022                     Haunted Hunt with PH Civic Theatre
2022                     Comedy Night with Uncivilized Comedy
2022                     ESR Port Huron Star
2022                     Port Huron Pride Weekend
2022                     Spamalot with Pete Frontiero Productions
2021                     We're All Connected 
with the Community Mental Health Players
2020                     Home for the Holidays with the Community Mental Health Players
2019                     Fairy Tale Misfits with the Community Mental Health Players

2018                     Funny Like a Crutch with the Community Mental Health Players
​2018                     13 the Musical with Port Huron Civic Theatre
2017                     Entrepreneurial Spirit in Port Huron with The Keel
2017                     Black Friday Improv with the Barn Theatre
2017                     Noises Off br Michael Frayn with the Community Mental Health Players
2016                     Improv Nights with the Barn Theatre
2016                     "Called to Walls" Screening and Panel Discussion with The Port Huron Art Initiative

COMMUNITY SERVICE/ACTIVITY
2022                      Halloween Citadel Scare
2022                      Port Huron Theatre District Festival
2022                      Flash Mob at Port Huron's Chili Fest
2021                      ESR performance tent at Blue Water Fest
2019                      Hands on Art with Studio 1219
2018-2019             Murder Mystery Dinner with the League of the Blind
2018                      Horcrux Hunt with the City of Port Huron
2011-2017             Distracted Driving Simulation for Marysville Fire & Rescue
2017                      POHO Hot Cocoa Run Event
2016                      Port Huron Trunk or Treat
2009-2016            “Be A Tourist In Your Own Town” – Blue Water Area  Convention and Visitors Bureau, MI

2009-2015            Girl Scouts International River Crossing - GSA South East MI, Marine City, MI & Sombre, ON
2010                     Thumbfest 2010 – Theatrical Makeup Tent, Lexington, MI
2009-2012            Steering Committee, Fire & Ice Festival/Studio 1219, Port Huron, MI
2009                     Halloween Stroll - Port Huron Recreation Department
2008                     “Tall Ships Festival” - Pirate Scenes for Great Lakes Maritime Center, Port Huron, MI
2008                     “Be A Tourist In Your Own Town” - Scenes of local history for Acheson Ventures/
                             Great Lakes Maritime Center, Port Huron, MI

WORKSHOPS/CLASSES

2022                     Playwright's workshop: Brian Spain's Hideous Creatures on the Island of Dr. Moreau
2022                     Lightsaber Academy
2021                     Shakespeare for all with Regina Spain
2021                     Theatrical/Special FX Makeup with Stewart Reed
2021                     Actor's Body as an Instrument with Stewart Reed and Lisa Kramp
2021                     Script Analysis with Regina Spain
2021                     Monologues - Prep to performance with Zach Parkhurst
2021                     Intro to Theatre for Youth with Kimberley Stevenson
2021                     ESR's Improv Lab with Madison Roush
2021                     Media and Marketing with Elexandra Halee
2021                     Improv with Vikram Bhoyrul
2021                     Playwright's Workshop: Brian Spain's Treasure Island: Hawkins' Choice
2020                     Lighting with Russ Blain from Vincent Lighting
2019                     Play Writing with Caitie Graham
2019                     Audition Workshops
2017                     Rock the Citadel with Flight of Fire
2017                     The Citadel Student Stage
​2013                     Gender in Shakespeare - Woman's Life 
2009-2012            Classes in Script Analysis, Meisner Technique, Stage Combat, Acting, and more.

2007-2012            Hands On Art Education Festival (formerly “Fire & Ice”) for Studio 1219, Port Huron, MI
2009                     Eastern MI - UCC - “Mission” presentation, First Congregational UCC, St. Clair, MI
2009                     First Congregational Church, “Local Stories Come To Life”, Port Huron, MI
2008                     “Behind the Scenes: Uniquely ME!”   In partnership with the Dove Foundation &
                             Michigan Waterways Girl Scouts Council, Port Huron, MI
2008                     “Let’s Do Theatre”  Michigan Waterways Girl Scouts Council, Port Huron, MI

AWARDS & GRANTS
2023                     MACC POD Training Grant
2023                     MACC New Leaders Grant
2023                     MACC Capital Grant
2023                     MACC Operating Grant
2022                     CFSEM Wilson Arts and Culture Initiative
2022                     Domtar Industries Grant for Play Writing
2022                     Blue Water Arts Council Grant for Port Huron Theatre Festival
2022                     MACC/Arts Midwest/NEA Community Partners Grant for Port Huron Theatre Festival
2022                     MACC POD Grant for Management Training
2021                     MCACA Capital Grant for lights and staging
2021                     MCACA Mini-Grant for The Light Saber Academy
2021                     Shuttered Venue Operators Grant - SBA
2021                     MCACA Mini-Grant for Workshops and Classes
2021                     Michigan Save Our Stages Grant
2021                     Community Foundation of St. Clair County Place Making Grant
2020                     MCACA Emergency Relief Funds Grant
​2020                     Culture Source Relief and Resiliency Grant
2020                     Nonprofit Insurance Alliance Gilbert Fund Grant
2019                     Stebbins Fund Grant for Port Huron South Side Youth Theatre Programs
2019                     MCACA Grant for Professional Development
2019                     Domtar Industries Grant for Play Writing Course 
2019                     Third Round Capital Grants for the Citadel Stage: Stebbins Foundation, Blue Water Arts Council, Ruboo Boutique,
                             MCACA Capital Grant
2018                     MCACA Grant for Marketing
2018                     Kramer Spartan Fund Grant Award
2017                     MCACA Grant for "Rock the Citadel" Program

2017                     Blue Water Arts Committee (BWAC) Operating Grant for The Citadel Stage
2017                     Second Round Capital Grants for the Citadel Stage: USDA-RD, Quota International of Port Huron, 
                             Stebbins Foundation, Community Foundation of St. Clair County, Diabetes Solutions International
2016                     First Round Capital Grants for the Citadel Stage: USDA-RD, BWAC, Community Foundation of St. Clair County,
                             Quota International of Port Huron
2013                     Anton Art Center & MCACA Grant for "Will on the Water"

2010-2012            Blue Water Arts Committee Grant for "Will on the Water"
2008                     Dove Foundation Grant for “Behind the Scenes:  Uniquely ME!"
2008                     Community Partner Award GSA Michigan Waterways Council
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