TAG announces dissolution

Tioga Acting Guild, Inc., (TAG) will no longer be hosting dinner theaters. As the incorporators, Mike and Robin Benesh, were ready to take a back seat to the theater productions, TAG was notified that it would no longer be able to rent out the Nichols Elementary School for the dinner theater productions. The board of directors voted for the corporation’s dissolution. TAG has been entertaining audiences for eight years.

TAG was started back in 2006 when two moms, Kelly Schweiger and Robin Benesh wanted to offer additional opportunities for the Tioga Central High School students to enhance their acting skills. An improvisational group was held once a week, culminating with a performance of skits and sketches, many written by TAG members.

Just a short time later, the group tackled the school’s first musical in decades, to a rounding success. TAG performed “Way out West in a Dress”, a musical comedy. TAG also performed an anti-bullying dramatization in cooperation with the New Hope Center, trying to raise awareness.

In December of 2007, TAG took its act on the road as it visited the Albany Medical Center’s Children Hospital. Not only did TAG perform for the families there, but it took over $500 worth of items donated for the hospital’s wish list.

TAG performed several dinner theater fundraisers for the Community Care Network of Nichols, as well as Tioga Opportunities, Inc. TAG would like to thank all those who have supported TAG by attending its performances or by sponsoring, which allowed TAG to donate to various charities including the following: the Open Door Mission, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, the TAG Community Service Scholarship, the Barton Community Club, and The Bridge.

In a last effort to ‘give back’, the board of directors voted to donate its kitchen supplies to the Barton Community Club. The majority of its set pieces and props will be sold or donated to the Tioga Central High School Drama Club.
“It has been a wonderful experience, directing shows over the years. Watching the actors connect with their audience was priceless. I don’t know who was having more fun, the actors or their audience. We will all miss that aspect,” said TAG president Robin Benesh.

“Some of my most precious memories were watching the newly recruited actors ‘blossom’ and get bit by the acting bug. Of course, watching my son Brandon entertain the audiences over the years was inspiring to all who worked with him.  Brandon has been a part of TAG since its inception and has even directed and co-directed some of our shows.

Though it saddens all of the ‘Tagsters’ to dissolve TAG, it has been a wonderful experience, one filled with a multitude of memories.”  TAG will keep its Facebook page active with photos from past performances and any TAG news.