CUTC Past Productions... CUTC was founded in 2002 by eight families interested in bringing new live theater to the Collinsville and Edwardsville communities.  The group had been involved with other theater organizations and within two months after meeting and agreeing to form CUTC, produced their first play at the Webster Elementary School in Collinsville.  The show ran for two nights only and was a big success.  Two productions were performed during the next season with plans to expand to three production seasons after that.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Directed by Carol Hodson
December 20-21, 2002
  The Herdman's were horrible children. They stole, burnt down buildings, and played games that terrorized the neighborhood. So when they showed up at the church Christmas Pageant try outs even the adults were speechless. Whatever would become of the Christmas Pageant with such a group of hoodlums in starring roles? Nobody would have guessed that it would turn out the way it did....
 

Performed at the Webster School Auditorium, in Downtown Collinsville

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Bye Bye Birdie
 

Directed by Jeremy Wilken  

Musical Direction and Choreography by Karen Perry

August 15, 16, 17, 22 and 23, 2003

BYE BYE BIRDIE is one of the most captivating musical shows of our time. It was a satire done with the fondest affection, and told the story of a rock and roll singer who was about to be inducted into the army. An English Teacher, What Did I Ever See in Him?, Put on a Happy Face, One Boy, A Lot of Livin' to Do, Kids, Rosie and Spanish Rose were performed and are musical theatre classics. Bye Bye Birdie was tops in imagination and good old fashion fun.

Produced in part with a  grant from the Madison County Arts Council and the Illinois Arts Council.

 

Performed at the Historic Miner's Theater in Downtown Collinsville

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For Unto Y'all 

 

Directed by Jaclyn Marshall  

December 5, 6 and 7, 2003


From the days of the Old West came this modernized version of the Christmas story, set in the little town of Bethlehem in the Wyoming Territory. In this unconventional telling of the ageless story of Jesus' birth, old Doctor Lucas Trotter - or just plain Doc to his friends - introduces the angel Gabriel, a six-gun-totin' masked man dressed in white, as Gabriel told Mary and Joseph the good news. From there, the stable became a livery stable, the shepherds became a rowdy bunch of lonesome cowboys working their herd on the plains, and the angles became a heavenly posse. For Unto Y'all obviously used a great deal of humor, but it didn't exist just for laughs- the message of Christmas came through loud and clear. No country cornball here.

 

Performed at the Webster School Auditorium, 

in Downtown Collinsville

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The Curious Savage 

 

Directed by Carol Hodson

April 14, 15, 21, and 22, 2004

 

John Patrick's The Curious Savage was a comedy that was curiously funny and curiously touching, too. Mrs. Savage is an elderly lady with a fortune, who wanted to spend her money enabling people to do the odd and impractical things for which they had always yearned. So her practical stepchildren wanted to put her away until she has surrendered her millions to them. However, the relatives were confounded when the lady liked her fellow inmates so much that she hated to leave the sanitorium.

 

Performed at the Historic Miner's Theater in Downtown Collinsville

 

Produced in part with a  grant from the Madison County Arts Council and the Illinois Arts Council.

 

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Godspell 

 

Directed by Loren Fear

Musical Direction and Choreography 

by Karen Perry

August 5, 6 and 7, 2004

First there was the musical "Bye Bye Birdie", and then, there was the magic of "Godspell".  A stellar cast of Curtain's Up young, talented, and experienced performers, performed this 70's musical which was better than ever.  Featured the hit song "Day by Day":  "Godspell", caught the spirit! 

Sponsored in part by a grant by St. Louis 2004.

Performed at the Webster School Auditorium, in Downtown Collinsville

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A Christmas Story 

 

Directed by Jeffrey Thoman

November 19, 20, 21, 26, and 27, 2004

The story of “Ralphie Parker”, growing up in the Midwest of the l940’s has been adapted into a hilarious play complete with the phrase “you’ll shoot your eye out”.   All the elements from the beloved motion picture are brought to life on the live stage.

 

Performed at the Historic Miner's Theater in Downtown Collinsville

 

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The Wizard of Oz

 

Directed by Carol Hodson

June 17, 18, 24 and 25, 2005

Curtain's Up journeyed to the magical land of Oz in this heart-stirring adventure combined with the terrific songs you remembered from the movie. The cheerful munchkins sang "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead" and the Scarecrow's lament "If I Only Had A Brain". The audience joined us as we went "Over The Rainbow" and just "Follow The Yellow Brick Road" to Oz.

The Wizard of Oz was produced in part with support from the Fox Associates Foundation through their generous sponsorship of the 2005 season.

 Performed at the Lincoln Middle School Auditorium in Edwardsville.

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The Music Man

Directed by Karen Perry

August 12, 13, 19, and 20, 2005

Curtain's Up traveled to River City, Iowa, a typical example of smalltown, USA of a bygone era and followed fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill on his exploits he conned the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize – this despite the fact he didn't know a trombone from a treble clef. But when he fell for Marian the librarian, his plans to skip town took a sudden turn.... 

The Music Man was an absolute family classic full of enjoyable and well known songs such as "Seventy-Six Trombones", "Ya got Trouble", "Marian the Librarian", "Shipoopi", and "Gary Indiana". By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man was family entertainment at its best.

The Music Man was supported in part with a grant from the Madison County Art's Council and the Illinois Arts Council.

Performed at the Webster School Auditorium, in Downtown Collinsville

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A Christmas Story

Directed by Jay Harvey

November 24, 25, and 27, 2005

 

The story of “Ralphie Parker”, growing up in the Midwest of the l940’s has been adapted into a hilarious play complete with the phrase “you’ll shoot your eye out”.   All the elements from the beloved motion picture were brought to life on the live stage.

Play by Philip Grecian, based upon A Christmas Story, 1983 Turner Entertainment Co., distributed by Warner Bros, Inc.,

Written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepard".

Produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois.

Performed at the Alton Little Theater Auditorium, in Alton, IL.

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Cinderella

Directed by Carol Hodson

May 4-7, 2006

Cinderella, the timeless enchantment of the magical fairytale was reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmark of originality, charm and elegance. It was a breathtaking cavalcade of enchanting characters, unforgettable songs, vibrant costumes and a magical set.

Cinderella  was supported in part with a grant from the Fox Associates Foudation and the Madison County Art's Council with assistance from the Illinois Arts Council.

Performed at the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville's

Dunham Hall Theater

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