Michigan Arts Orgs to Support | April 7, 2025
- John Sloan III
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 27
Two cultural gems — Thumbcoast Live Theatres and Peppermint Creek Theatre Company — are showing just how vital live performance is to our shared sense of community. From bold, socially conscious productions to unforgettable nights of music and storytelling, these theaters are more than entertainment venues — they are incubators for local talent, platforms for meaningful dialogue, and anchors for regional culture.
Thumbcoast Live Theatres | Marine City, MI | www.thumbcoasttheatres.com
“Our mission is to provide professional quality affordable performing arts in a rural community, attract tourism to drive economic impact in the region, and provide an educational element that encourages people to discover and develop their gifts and promotes a lifelong affinity for the arts.”
About:
Founder, Kathy Vertin, envisioned the area becoming an arts destination in a beautiful setting within an hour of most of Metro Detroit and acted on that vision in 2012 with the purchase of a storefront in downtown Marine City, followed by a second venue in 2014 in the historic Marine City Bank building. Three years after the initial investment the operation became self-sustaining and was converted to a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of directors. That same year, the Riverbank Performing Arts Academy launched and the vision was realized.
The Snug Theatre - a 98-seat professional performing arts space, located in a quaint storefront on the river in downtown Marine City
Riverbank Theatre - 180-seat venue, Riverbank Theatre is located in the historic Marine Savings Bank building in downtown Marine City, Michigan.
The Boardwalk Theatre - a new, 12,000 sq. ft., 370-seat venue in downtown St. Clair,
The Academy - The goal of the Academy is to provide opportunities for kids in the community to find a passion for the arts through watching or participating in theatre.
Ways to Support:
Thumbcoast invites supporters to join their Producer's Circle. Visit www.thumbcoasttheatres.com/producers-circle for more info.
Looking for talent? Teaching a workshop? Hiring new staff?
We've got you! Post your audition notice, job, or workshop information with Encore Michigan and reach thousands of performing arts professionals across the state. Your posting will get in front of people who want to audition, work, and learn at arts orgs statewide.
Posting is simple and easy!
Peppermint Creek Theatre Company | Eaton Rapids, MI | www.peppermingcreek.org
“Peppermint Creek Theatre Company continues to strive to produce classic and contemporary theatre that addresses vital issues in our society, raises awareness, and encourages dialogue while entertaining..”
About:
Founded in 1995 and originally named the Peppermint Creek Players, PCTC performed one play a summer. From 1995-2000, Peppermint Creek established itself as a new, fresh, and vital performing arts group that took chances and believed in the power of theatre
At Peppermint Creek we believe in presenting theatre works that start conversations and bring communities together.
To help us achieve this mission, we rely on our dedicated and hardworking volunteers both on stage and off. We cannot achieve what we do without ensuring a safe space to create, collaborate, and innovate together.
Equity Imperative
Peppermint Creek recognizes that we operate within systemic racism, and that neutrality and silence only feeds it further. We recognize that cultural spaces and institutions need to change to become more welcoming, safe, and inclusive to our BIPOC community.
We hold ourselves immediately accountable for working to dismantle the systemic racism, oppression and violence that permeates our country and our artistic field and to identify, confront and address the barriers to involvement and attendance that keep Black, Indigenous, and People of Color mostly out of our spaces.
Ways to Support:
PCTC invites you to join as a monthly supporter at www.peppermintcreek.org/donate
Do you work for or know of an organization that needs support? Use this link to submit them for the weekly feature.
