AUGUST 25, 2026, ISSUE #24

What a great night this past Saturday as we welcomed

HOME FREE

to another sold-out concert.

This is an excellent example of how suggestions from our staff, volunteers, and patrons really pay off. A few years ago, a patron suggested booking The Isaacs and My Brothers Keeper as their opening act. They were so awesome we brought The Isaacs back the following year, and I continue working to get My Brothers Keeper to return, hopefully that will happen in 2027. But none of that happens without input from you, our loyal patrons.

HOME FREE was suggested a couple years ago by both our usher extraordinaire

Rick (“Choo-Choo”) Kneisel, as well as our very own office guru Jojo Campbell. It took me a while to get them on the schedule because of their popularity, but we were finally able to make it happen. Great suggestion, you two. Thank you to all who came out

to make it such a special night.

Numbers Don’t Lie

Once again, I want to thank our generous Murphy Theatre family; our patrons, volunteers, theatre renters, partners, sponsors, advertisers, and my incredible staff. It has been a pleasure to serve as your Executive Director for nearly five years now. Where has the time gone? While there will always be naysayers, and there is certainly room for improvement, your kind words while attending our concerts, and your unsolicited cards, letters, and emails of encouragement have been appreciated more than you will ever know. Additionally, your financial support, eclipsing the previous season’s Murphy membership and our Thems My Seats campaign every single year since my arrival, is proof that you approve of most of what we do here, and that’s all anyone can ask. I know I speak for my staff when I say just how grateful we are.

A DOG-GONE WONDERFUL FILM THIS WEEKEND

ABBY’S LIST, a Dogumentary film is being featured exclusively at The Murphy Theatre this Saturday, August 29, at 7:00, as part of Ohio’s 250 Anniversary, and the hugely popular, Ohio Goes to The Movies. Did you know the commercial for the Ohio Goes to the Movies campaign with the Governor was filmed here at The Murphy, and aired in theatres all year all over the state? Our beautifully restored marquee is featured, and if you look close enough in the background, you’ll recognize a bunch of Murphy staff and their significant others in the commercial. I, of course, did not make the cut.

This free movie event will also give patrons the opportunity to meet the creator and co-star of the film, Mark Sutherland. There will be a special social gathering for Murphy Members in Charlie’s following the Q & A. Check your inbox, members, for your invite.

The Clinton County Humane Society will be on hand at their info table, and they will be collecting donations, cash and paper towels, so bring your 5-spot and a roll, or seven, of paper towels.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE.

Murphy Christmas Show Auditions…

The Murphy Theatre Christmas show is BACK and under the direction of Dustin Williams. Dustin wrote, directed, and starred in last year’s Christmas show, and has returned to direct this year’s show that he has entitled

Murphy’s Merriest Memories.

Auditions were held this past Sunday, BUT there is another audition this Wednesday evening, August 26 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, on stage. Performances are on the third weekend in December. All are welcome to audition!

West Coast Swing sways its way back on the Murphy stage…

Hey, join the dudes and dudettes this Thursday at 6:30 pm and experience for yourself what this very cool dance craze called West Coast Swing is all about. Much like our Murphy Memberhsip their numbers keep growing, so they must be doing something right. Check out the flyer here.

Speaking of Dance…

For those who know Dustin Williams, in addition to being such a gifted stage performer and director, most know Dustin as a craftsman in the art of clogging. This has nothing to do with a sink or toilet, not that kind of clogging. This is the dance clogging.

You’ve seen Dustin grace the Murphy Theatre stage for so many years entertaining us with his fancy feet and whimsy. Now here’s your opportunity to learn clogging from the master himself. And if his flyer is any indication of the quality of his clogging classes, well buckle up Margaret, we’ve got us a potential resident Murphy Theatre Clogging Company in the works! Let’s keep our fingers crossed! Sunday, August 30, the clogging magic begins!

RIDDLE ME THIS…BATGIRL

Smarty Pants Trivia returns Tuesday, September 1.

Our 44th installment of the quiz sensation vacuuming the nation is back, at least for September! As always doors open at 5:45 pm and our first question floats at 6:30 pm. It’s just $5 per person to play, and free for Murphy Members. Remarkable Prizes await the sharpest blade under the mower deck. Subjects we might consider include Leafy Vegetables, Stomach Maladies, Commercial Tag Lines, Movie Quotes, Plural-No Plural, and The Civil War.

Call to reserve your team’s spot.

Look for Euchre night coming to the Murphy in 2027! And please let us know if you’d also be interested in playing Mah Jong.

LET’S TAKE A RIDE ON THAT MOTOWN MAGIC BUS

We’ve got a great night out with The Magic of Motown, Saturday, September 12 at 7:30.

The music of the Temptations, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, and more.

Even though this wonderful act is a late addition, all benefits still apply for our 2026 Murphy Membership and THEM MY SEATS holders. Get your tickets now, because tickets are selling quicker than our office administrator Marla attacking a bag of Funyuns.

IT’S A BROADWAY BLAST

Every time the Clinton County Community Band plays a concert, they sound better than their concert before. CCCB’s latest offering is a tribute to the great white way, Broadway, and the concert is Saturday, September 19, at 7:00 pm. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser, and tickets are just $10.00 at the door. Box office opens at 6:00 pm.

Interested in volunteering? We’re always looking for additional help with ushering our concerts and shows or assistance with some daytime office and facilities tasks. Just drop Jean Black our volunteer coordinator a note, at Jean65black@yahoo.com

Our newest contributor to our e-newsletter was an instant international hit last week. Here is this week’s installment of...

THEATRE ETIQUETTE,

with Murphy Theatre’s Etiquette Expert, Wilma Seatzbitaken

Skip Tomalou from Eternal Springs writes,

“Dear Wilma, my wife and I typically arrive at the theatre about fifteen minutes late because Doris takes so long selecting her pantsuit for our night out. Why can’t we be seated as soon as we arrive?”

Dear Skip,

Thanks for your letter. Arriving late for a performance is as rude as belching the alphabet during a funeral, just not as entertaining. Why should everybody who made the effort to get to the theatre on time pay the price for your disruptive late arrival? Out of respect for others, ushers should seat latecomers after songs when attending a concert, or in between scenes if attending a play.

I suggest Doris pick out her pantsuit the night before so your tardiness can be a thing of the past, or better yet, surprise her with a new brown, plaid, floor-length dress for your next night out on the town.

- Wilma.

Some may call her a sellout…

…and in this instance, she certainly is; the best kind. Our LeAnn Rimes concert on November 9, is officially sold out.

The ONLY way you can POSSIBLY consider scoring a ticket is to offer me a complimentary ride in your own personal dirigible.

DO NOT BUY YOUR MURPHY TICKETS FROM ANY OTHER WEBSITE BUT THEMURPHYTHEATRE.ORG!

Other sites often pop up in your general search before you get to us, and they’re quite convincing that you’re on the right site. These sites sell overpriced tickets, and we will not be able to accommodate your purchasing error, because in some instances your tickets will be fake and these overpriced seats simply don’t exist. This is happening to venues all over the country.

You must physically type in www.themurphytheatre.org,

to get to our site and proceed with your online ticket purchases. If you just type in, “The Murphy Theatre”, and/or the name of the concert you want to attend, WE PROMISE YOU, YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE WRONG SITE!

When in doubt, just give us a shout.

(937) 382-3643

Coffee, Cheesecake, and Conversating

Join us Sunday, September 20 at 2:00 for the next installment of our Coffee, Cheesecake, and Conversation with the feature film Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts. Just $10 gets you in for the film with coffee, cheesecake, and conversation to follow. Free admission for our Murphy members. Following the conversation the group decides on the November film. No reservations are necessary

Don’t, Stop, Thinking about September 26…

The finest Fleetwood Mac tribute band, TELL ME LIES, returns for a third year in a row on Saturday, September 26 at 7:30. Get your tickets now, Lindsey!

FAMILY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING

RETURNS TO THE MURPHY

We are super excited to announce the return of our Family-Friendly programming, pairing up with our Hot Dog Dinner Theatre on Saturday, October 3, with Lightwire Theatre Company’s unique twist on a classic tale, a spectacular light show version of The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare, The Next Gen, Find out what Happened After the Race. Tickets range from $10.00 to $25.00 and include a hotdog dinner package.

Please note the special start time of 5:00 pm. This production is made possible by the generosity of the Cummins Levenstein Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Clinton County Convention

and Visitors Bureau.

BOX OFFICE HOURS

Our office hours are

Wednesday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm,

and Thursday and Friday

from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Our box office will open ninety minutes

prior to our concerts and other live events,

and one hour prior to our movies, unless otherwise noted.

Thank you to our 2026 Full Season Partners…

Clinton Regional Tri-Health Hospital, Merchants National Bank, Lind Media, Uptown Printing, The Hampton Inn, The Clinton County Convention and Visitors Bureau, For the Love of Ink, OAPN, and the Ohio Arts Council

Are you interested in being a cool 2027 Season Partner? Perhaps advertising in our seasonal program that reaches the soft, supple hands of more than 30,000 good-looking folks, and includes a year-long presence on our website?

Drop me a note and we’ll get the ball rolling.

The Murphy Theatre Community Center Inc. is a tax exempt, 501 (c-3) non-profit organization, incorporated in the city of Wilmington, Ohio on February 8, 1989, with a volunteer Board of Trustees who hold their monthly meetings, usually the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:00 pm. All are invited to attend. Current Murphy Theatre Board of Trustees are Katherine Harrison, J. Dustin Williams, Nicholas Butcher, Doug Lewis, Veronica Campbell, Cindy Camp, Joni Streber, Rick Moreton, Paul Fear, and Terry Thompson. All general inquiries can be made to the theater at boxoffice@themurphytheatre.org

The Murphy Theatre’s Executive Director is Steve Burnette, reachable at Steve@themurphytheatre.org, or Steve@Burnette.net

We wish to thank George F. and Charlene Bush, longtime friends and ardent patrons of The Murphy Theatre. The Bush family’s generosity to so many deserving, non-profit and educational organizations proves their commitment to leaving this community in a better, kinder, more hopeful place. Their lasting gift to The Murphy Theatre, through The Clinton County Foundation is truly appreciated and will be used to further their vision and commitment.

Thank you again for your time and all your generosity, and remember when you are giving to The Murphy, you’re giving to an organization that is giving back to the community.