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BUCHANAN — The Tin Shop Theatre is ready to perform its spring production.

The historic theater, located at 108 E. Roe St., will be performing “The Clock Struck One” by Craig Sodaro. Sponsored by Edward Jones and Buchanan-Galien Lions Club, performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 7 and 14; 5 p.m. Saturday, March 8 and 15; 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9 and 16. Tickets are available online at tinshopthetre.org and reservations can also be made at the box office at (269) 695-6464.

Directed by Alice Kring, the story centers around estranged sisters Connie and Regan, who reunite for a weekend that takes a mysterious turn when they find one of the owners of Hickory Dickory Inn murdered.

The play takes place inside the cozy, rustic inn, with many of the rustic inn’s decorations –– trophy mounts and other outdoors memorabilia – being part of Kring’s family collection. She believes the show will be a great way for audience members to bring in the spring season.

“I wanted to do a murder mystery,” Kring said. “This one isn’t as deep as an Agatha Christie show. It’s got funnier tones – I like comedy and a little bit of mystery.”

“It’s like an Agatha Cbristie novel and a Billy Crystal movie combined,” added actor Phil Brackett.

The cast includes several local thespians:

April Jonatzke as Regan Tasker. This will be Jonatzke’s eighth Tin Shop Theatre production. Born and raised in Florida, April Jonatzke moved to Buchanan in 2011 and is thrilled to be

part of her eighth production at the Tin Shop. 

“Regan is very spiritual and one with the spirits,” Jonatzke said.

She is also set to direct her second Murder Mystery Dinner Show in partnership with the Tin Shop in September 2025.

“It’s a family here,” Jonatzke said. “Once you start, you just stick with it. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Michele McCubbins as Connie Girard. After years of cheering on family and friends from the audience at the Tin Shop and other local stages, McCubbins is excited to make her stage debut in The Clock Struck One.

“Alice was kind enough to take a chance on me,” McCubbins said. “There’s wonderful camaraderie and fun but also learning about acting and what it takes, not just memorizing your lines and even that felt like it was going to be a Herculean effort. It’s so much more about who else is on the stage with you. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

Patricia “Patti” Baltazar as Essie Mason. Patti is a semi-retired teach-er who will be performing her 15th show at The Tin Shop. She especially enjoys performing in musicals and comedies. Patti has performed since high school, as a Taylor Center “ChoralAire”, as a member of The University of Michigan’s ‘aMaizin’ Blues, and with the Niles-based Tyler Blue Notes.

“I’m usually playing a goofy or sweet kind of person and this is a role where I’ve been able to be kind of cranky. It’s not generally how people see me,” she said.

Phil Brackett as Clark Curtis. A stage performer since middle school, Phil performed with the Buchanan RedBud Chorale in high school and then went on to be a part of the Notre Dame Glee Club. In the fall of 2014, Phil debuted as an actor in “The Old Rugged Cross” in his role as ‘Dad’ and has continued to return to The Tin Shop stage, with this show his seventh. Phil is both a teacher and the Technology Director for Eau Claire Public Schools. Phil is married to fellow performer Jennie Brackett.

“It’s a lot of work putting these things together and memorizing your lines but that work is fun to do when you’re doing it with people that you enjoy being with and laughing with,” Phil said. “Everybody who’s here has a creative side where they take their character, and they make it their own but then we make this group together our own, so it almost becomes real.”

Jennie Brackett as Keeky Curtis. Jennie performed in plays while as a student at Buchanan High School and has appeared in Tin Shop Theatre performances since 2014 when she debuted in “The Old Rugged Cross” as ‘Mom’ alongside her husband Phil. The two met in Buchanan’s Redbud Chorale. Jennie also serves on Buchanan Community Schools’ Board of Education.

“[Community theater] is just a great way for everybody to be drawn together to have a similar story,” Jennie said. “We think everybody can get drawn in and there’s so many people that come and watch these shows that are friends of ours, and then it just expands this theater family a little bit more and a little bit more. I know we’ve all talked about it at our places of work and our social groups, and so it’s just great that you know we all have our own little networks and then we bring all those networks together for a great community show.”

Evan Kring as Nigel Grimm. Kring is a senior at Berrien Springs High School who will be appearing in his fifth Tin Shop Theatre production. Kring enjoys the bond and friendship he has created with the cast and crew.

“It’s pretty fun,” Evan said. “I have a good experience with everybody here. I’ve done plays with them in the past so I’m pretty used to the group and it’s pretty easy to get along with them.”

Dave Perez as Edgar Hill. Perez began his time with the Tin Shop Theatre in 2016 as a set builder and has since transitioned to the stage. He has appeared in several shows, including “Way Out West in a Dress” and “Spirit!”

“There’s a lot that I take away from [the theater experience] personally and it is the relationship that I have with these people because these people know me and they still care about me,” Perez said. “I feel more accepted here than I have growing up in certain parts of my own family so I feel that kind of love with these people. It’s just a magical thing to have.”

Geneva Tabor as Sarah Dane. A Buchanan graduate, Tabor is in her second year at Lake Michigan College. She has performed for the Buchanan Drama Club as well as the South Bend Civic Theatre. 

Tabor looks forward to bringing Sarah Dane to life in her first Tin Shop Theatre production.

“I think taking a step back and not being like the focal point of the show is an interesting perspective because I feel like my character is behind the scenes and I’m a very vocal person and very outgoing,” Tabor said. “I am learning how to be reserved and mindful of my character on stage with other characters.”