Visitors to Friday’s premiere of Beckwith Theatre Company’s production of “Harvey” will be in for more than just an evening of laughs and pathos.

The opening of the Dowagiac community theater’s first play of the season also marks the launch of their newest initiative to help fill the house opening night.

Volunteers with the theater will be serving free glasses of wine, provided by Benton Harbor’s 12 Corners Winery, to visitors that evening. Representatives with the winery will also be in attendance, sharing information about their products.

12 Corners will be the first of several area wineries partnering with Beckwith this year. A different company will sponsor each of the five remaining play debuts during the 2016 Beckwith season, giving local theatergoers yet another reason to come out to the downtown playhouse these next several months.

Other wineries participating this year include: Lazy Ballerina Winery, of St. Joseph; Cody Kresta Vineyard and Winery, of Mattawan; Domaine Berrien Cellars, of Berrien Springs; Vineyard 2121, of Benton Harbor; and Fenn Valley Vineyards, of Fennville.

Our editorial board is a huge fan of Beckwith and other local theater ventures, with us frequently encouraging locals to attend and support this age-old form of live entertainment in previous editorials. So, naturally, we are delighted to see this new partnership between Beckwith and these area wineries come into fruition.

While the theater has served free wine during opening nights the last several years, working with brands that many in Dowagiac and the surrounding area know and love should make these evenings feel even more special for patrons.

Not only that, but it also makes sure that local businesses are on display — and keeping our dollars local is another thing our editorial board is a huge fan of.

Whether you’re coming out for the drinks, the show or both, we encourage our readers to come check out the show Friday night, or throughout the run of “Harvey” the next two weekends. It’s sure to be great and unforgettable experience.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.