Planting Seeds: A Loveland Center/Venice Theatre Collaboration

A group of good friends from New York City take a trip to Okoboji, Iowa and discover a farm-like retreat where “working out” means hiking, walking and kayaking. Food is grown from gardens and caught in the lake. Facials are just good old mud treatments.

This is the scenario of the Loveland Players’ 24th annual show at Venice Theatre. Loveland Center actors will present the original musical, Planting Seeds, on Venice Theatre’s MainStage for four performances Thursday May 30 through Sunday June 2, 2019. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The production is generously sponsored by Pinkerton, Harkins and Mehserle Private Wealth. 

Tickets are available for $22 through the Venice Theatre box office at 941-488-1115, in person from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.venicestage.com. Beginning June 1 the box office closes at 3 p.m. for summer hours. Tickets are also available one hour prior to showtime. 

In the original script written by Director Rebecca Holahan, the NYC friends share with the Okoboji staff how they do their part to take care of their city and themselves. Friendships are seeded and the common denominator between the city and farm dwellers is caring for their communities large and small.

The characters in the story also include Mother Nature, Father Time, Mr. Mote, Crow, Cow, Rooster, Frogs, Fish, Flowers, Trees, Swans, and Chickens! They’ll sing songs such as “Planting Seeds,” “All the Good,” and “The Time of my Life.”

Holahan says, “The Loveland Players put on the best show in town. Don’t miss this year’s trip to a nice quiet place in Iowa. And by the way, Okoboji is a real town in my home state!”

The cast of Planting Seeds includes approximately 30 Loveland Center actors, 15 community actors with disabilities and 25 stage production volunteers.

The Loveland Center/Venice Theatre Collaboration has been going strong for 24 years and is structured to bring adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities into the theatre community with theatre classes and annual performances. 

For more information and to request a tour of Venice Theatre, call Cara Herman at 941-484-4033 x251 or email caraherman@venicetheatre.net. Venice Theatre is located at 140 Tampa Ave. W in Venice, FL.

For more information on Loveland Center, go online to www.LovelandCenter.org or call 941-493-0016 to schedule a visit. Loveland Center is located at 157 S. Havana Road, Venice, FL.