Vanishing Elephant Players

Vanishing Elephant Players A theatre company out of Bay City, Michigan, telling contemporary stories and bringing a community of artful minds together. Why the Masonic Temple?

The dream to start a small theater started as a casual discussion between friends, all active in established theaters, about what they still felt was missing in the performing arts scene in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Vanishing Elephant was born out of a desire to see more "risky" productions, contemporary shows, free domain plays with a modern twist, and a place to showcase original works with an

educational component. Our goal is to be a fully collaborative space where friends can get together and make something beautiful without having to worry about the big budgets or full houses that by necessity larger theaters have to consider. Our goal is to also be fully collaborative with the amazing established artists and theatres in the area, working together to create a network within the community. This beautiful architectural gem was built in 1893, and rebuilt from existing floor plans in 1903 after a devastating fire. It is one of the earliest examples of Moorish architecture in the U.S. and is on the National registry for historic places! This stunning building has three stages, numerous quirky hallways and special rooms, and is truly a magical space that deserves to be fully renovated to become an arts center. Our collaboration will allow us space to work, and all profits raised from our shows will go towards the renovation of this amazing space. Why Vanishing Elephant Players? We wanted to pay homage to the building's rich past while evoking an air of mystery, playfullness, and fun. Harry Houdini was one of the most famous Masons contemporary with the Temple, and one of his most famous acts was the Vanishing Elephant. Hopefully with a lot of hard work, community support, and a little bit of luck, we can pull off our own stage magic for years to come!

08/27/2026
📢 Calling all videographers, filmmakers, and streamers! 📢 🎥 Got a camera and a love of community? Want to help us make o...
08/23/2026

📢 Calling all videographers, filmmakers, and streamers! 📢

🎥 Got a camera and a love of community? Want to help us make our programming more accessible to those who can’t access our space? Want to attend VEP shows (and other events) for free while doing so? We love that for you, and we want you here!

💪 While our home theater, the Historic Masonic Temple of Bay City works toward permanent accessibility measures (elevators, more bathrooms, air conditioning, etc) we’re taking steps to ensure that everyone can get at least a taste of the many cool events that we put on here! It’s a band-aid solution, but while grant funding is scarce and materials and labor costs continue to rise, it’s at least SOMETHING we can do in the meantime.

We’re hoping to start rolling out virtual event passes later on this year, (and there may be some events that are licensing prohibited) but we need some dedicated volunteers to help us make that happen! And of course anyone in the disabled community that would like their input heard is encouraged to reach out too…after all, this is supposed to serve you! 💜

Anyone interested in teaming up for this (or future accessibility initiatives), please fill out the form below:
https://forms.gle/GGC19oYE7SDFfCQG6

Or email us at [email protected]
Thank you from the HMT (and VEP!) crew!

08/20/2026
HEY YOU GUYS! Director submissions are open for our 2026-2027 season. If you've got a show (or shows) in mind, feel free...
08/17/2026

HEY YOU GUYS! Director submissions are open for our 2026-2027 season. If you've got a show (or shows) in mind, feel free to add them to the form below, along with your particular vision, but even if you don't have a particular show in mind, but would like to direct with us, we encourage you to apply!

Interested in other production team roles? There will be a form for that too later this week.

Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/rXvoA9Wc3jiQague6
Directors' Packet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16XhbMEJfUolMabU31DtOsnVNsz_DishamGTE0s7W83g/edit?usp=sharing

Please email our artistic director Erica ([email protected]) if you have any questions! Forms are due by September 19th, so don't delay!

⭐Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who made it out for last night's "Sloshed Star Wars" fundraiser!⭐ Thanks to...
08/16/2026

⭐Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who made it out for last night's "Sloshed Star Wars" fundraiser!⭐ Thanks to you (as well as our hard-working volunteers and hard-drinking actors), we met our goal of $1500 for a beautiful new mural installation in the front entryway of our home theater, the Historic Masonic Temple of Bay City. The HMT has come a long way since being saved from demolition 10 years ago, but it still needs a lot of TLC, and these project-based fundraisers are a great way to tackle small projects throughout the building that can be seen in real time, so we love doing them!

Our thirsty thespians are giving their livers a break, but who knows? Empire next year? We'll have to wait and see!

🍻A big thank you to everyone who attended last night's reading--volunteers, actors, and audience--as well as our far-away friends who sent in donations online. Your support means everything!

🍻SLOSHED SHAKESPEARE IS BACK, BABY! Our favorite inebriated fundraiser is returning Friday, August 14th at 6:30pm for a ...
08/13/2026

🍻SLOSHED SHAKESPEARE IS BACK, BABY! Our favorite inebriated fundraiser is returning Friday, August 14th at 6:30pm for a new goal: a beautiful new mural to replace the old, peeling paint in our front entryway!

🍷Through our friends at United We Go, we’re giving our foyer (the first impression of the inside of the building) a much-needed makeover. The paint is old and peeling, and the antique chandelier and stained glass window need some touching up too.

🥂Our actors will perform a live reading of Star Wars in a Shakespearean style, starting the play sober...but for how long? That's up to you and your donations throughout the evening!

🎟Get your tickets now at
https://www.hmtbc.org/event-details-registration/sloshed-shakespeare-verily-a-new-hope

💸Not able to attend, but still want to help? Make a donation at the link above by using the “Donation Only” option at check out!

When you ask for a raise and your boss gives you the old "we're a family here" instead.Only two more opportunities to se...
08/01/2026

When you ask for a raise and your boss gives you the old "we're a family here" instead.

Only two more opportunities to see The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals before it's gone forever!

August 1 - 7:30
August 2 - 3:30
At the Historic Masonic Temple of Bay City
hmtbc.org/programs-events

Photo by Kameron Mae!

THREE MORE SHOWS!THREE MORE SHOWS!THREE MORE SHOWS!You only have three more opportunities to join Paul as he faces off a...
07/30/2026

THREE MORE SHOWS!
THREE MORE SHOWS!
THREE MORE SHOWS!

You only have three more opportunities to join Paul as he faces off against a singing, dancing threat to humanity in The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals! ☄️🧪💃🕺

🎟️ Get your tickets NOW at hmtbc.org/programs-events
Friday, Saturday at 7:30
Sunday at 3:30

📸: Lydia Bolzman

🎵 It’s the end of the world, Paul…If you don’t sing! 🎶THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for an out of this world openi...
07/25/2026

🎵 It’s the end of the world, Paul…
If you don’t sing! 🎶

THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for an out of this world opening night of THE GUY WHO DIDN’T LIKE MUSICALS! We were over the moon with excitement! (These intergalactic puns doin’ anything for ya?)

☄️ We continue our eerie journey TONIGHT at 7:30! Get your ticket and join the apotheosis at hmtbc.org/programs-events NOW!

The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals runs THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT at the Historic Masonic Temple of Bay City…Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 3:30!

📸: Lydia Bolzman

07/25/2026

This CRABBY BARISTA crashes out on her FUN, MUSICAL COWORKERS…what happens next will SHOCK YOU! 👾

(When an actor has to “pretend” to film something but instead they actually film it multiple times)

The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals

Address

700 N Madison Avenue
Bay City, MI
48708

Telephone

+19896325097

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