by Jennifer Masters

The Visalia Players at the Ice House Theater is so thrilled to have their doors open once again! Coming up next at the Ice House Theater, Copper Creek Cabaret.

Directed by Jennifer Toledo and Pete Chambers, Copper Creek is a band that performs country, country rock, and folk rock and rock hits from the 50s through the 90s. The band includes Toledo (vocals & guitar), Chambers (vocals, lead guitar, & banjo), Dana Hight (vocals & guitar), Jeremiah Sosa (violin & fiddle), and Connie Enns-Rempel (vocals & percussion). Toledo has been involved with the Visalia Players for almost ten years in various capacities from directing/co-directing to President of the Board of Directors, from set design to building props and sets. Toledo was a part of the team that built the piano that was used for the Players production of Grey Gardens that is currently displayed in the lobby of the theater.

Copper Creek Band

Copper Creek was originally scheduled to be on the stage in April 2020, and it goes without saying that they were unable to perform and the cabaret had to be put on hold. Now that the Ice House Theater doors are open again, Toledo says the band is so excited that they will get to entertain audiences. “I think the great thing about both music and live theater is that they take us away from the stress and burdens of life and the world around us,” said Toledo. “We can take ourselves away from our hectic lives and be in a place of enjoyment and entertainment. Theater and music can take us through such a range of emotion and open us up to new experiences.”

Audiences will love the all string “crossover” band that has a strong emphasis on harmony, melody vocals, and self-accompaniment on guitars, banjo, and fiddle. “It will be a great evening of music where the band will be doing a little bit of everything and each member brings their own unique sound and talent to the group,” said Toledo. Copper Creek Cabaret will perform for one weekend only: September 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and September 26 at 4 p.m. in the main theater. This will allow for audience members to have room to spread out and stay safe as they enjoy the show. Tickets are $15 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased on the Players website, visaliaplayers.org or by calling the theater at (559) 734-3900.

Other upcoming things at the Ice House Theater include auditions for Legally Blonde the Musical on Monday, September 27 at 6:30 p.m. They’re looking for the following roles: Emmet Forrest, Warner Huntington III, Elle’s Dad & Mom, and members of the ensemble that will play multiple smaller roles such as law students, beauty salon characters, courtroom characters, etc.

Hot Flashes the Musical: Opening October 29.

To keep up to date on auditions and shows, following the Visalia Players on Facebook and Instagram @visaliaplayers.

Check out even more local theatre reviews & articles (including more streaming Halloween shows) in our Arts & Entertainment section!

If you love local theatre, be sure to check out our new Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. You can check the podcast out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, and also on podbean.