Courtesy Photo Pictured above, from left to right, are Jordan Hand, Thunder Bay Theatre performer and administrative apprentice, Tabitha Camp, TBT resident production manager and stage manager, Betsy Young, AVP marketing officer with mBank, Jeffrey Mindock, TBT producing artistic director, Adrian Alexander, TBT education coordinator and dance academy director, David Delano, TBT education coordinator and vocal academy director, Lucas Moquin, TBT performer and administrative apprentice, Paige Mindock, TBT associate artistic director and graphic designer, and Mike Mahler, EVP managing director of community banking and administration for mBank.

ALPENA ­– Thunder Bay Theatre’s TBT2 Spring 2019 Educational Tour has received an $8,000 corporate sponsorship for the program from mBank.

TBT2 stands for Thunder Bay Theatre Theatrical Based Training. This educational initiative was established in 2017 and serves as Thunder Bay Theatre’s commitment to the next generation of young performing artists in Northern Michigan.

In just two years, the educational tour has served over 20,000 students in 15 districts in 15 counties. With mBank’s sponsorship in 2019, the program can reach even more communities and more students. The sponsorship allows professional actors to visit schools free of charge to give performances and workshops.

Jeffrey Mindock, producing artistic director for Thunder Bay Theatre, expressed his gratitude during the check presentation, stating, “Studies show that it takes young people one instance of exposure to the arts to begin exploring their artistic interest and abilities. In our work with previous schools, we have come to realize how inaccessible the arts are to students in Northern Michigan. By bringing high-quality, consistent, professional theatre to these Northern Michigan communities, TBT2 and mBank have the potential to impact an entire generation.”

Mike Mahler, EVP managing director of community banking and administration at mBank, explained, “At its core, community banking is about being a resource and giving back. We make it our philosophy to reinvest back into the communities we call home, and we are proud to be able to support an organization like Thunder Bay Theatre, that is so dedicated to our youth.”

TBT is a nonprofit corporation, and is the only year-round professional theatre in Northern Michigan. For more information on Thunder Bay Theatre or to make a donation, visit thunderbaytheatre.com.