Theatre Getaways will not be closing its doors after all!

After this fall’s announcement that I would no longer be organizing theatre tours, I received many wonderful cards, notes, e-mails and phone calls expressing sadness, appreciation and despair. Now the clouds have lifted and hope is not lost for all of you theatre-lovers. You will still have an opportunity to get to Chicago and enjoy theatrical productions. Effective July 1, 2008, Theatre Getaways will be partnering with VanGalder Tour and Travel in Janesville to continue the first class theatre-related travel that has been the standard for Theatre Getaways for the last 18 years. Loren will still be doing the planning and personally escorting of all the Theatre Getaways tours, but under the corporate umbrella of Coach USA.

What will remain the same:

- Loren will always be the tour escort for any Theatre Getaways tours.
- We will continue to offer orchestra (main floor) theatre seats.
- We will still enjoy fine dining at new restaurants (always with dessert!)
- Van Galder Coach USA buses will continue to provide the transportation.
- All taxes and gratuities will continue to be included.
- The Theatre Getaways website will remain up and running and have current tour information available.
- The Theatre Getaways website will continue to offer a complete listing of all theatre productions in the area for your information, with a link to the theatre’s website
- Loren will still be available by phone and email to answer any questions you may have about any tour or theatre production.

What will be different:

- Twice a year you will receive full tour brochures published by Van Galder Tour and Travel with a special Theatre Getaways section inside. You will also receive a biannual newsletter from Van Galder.
- All reservations, payments and confirmations will be handled by the VanGalder Tour and Travel office in Janesville.
- Instead of by mail, orders for Theatre Getaways departures on July 1, 2008 and beyond will be made via telephone, the Internet (a link will be provided from Theatre Getaway website to the Van Galder’s site) or in person at the Janesville Van Galder Tour and Travel office.
- MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards will also be valid forms of payment for tour departures after July 1, 2008.
- Payments for one-day tours must be paid in full within seven days of placing the order.
- Full refunds will be granted for one-day tours if the cancellation is received by Van Galder at least 30 days before the event. Between 30 days prior to the event and up to 24 hours before the trip you can receive a 50% refund.
- You will receive a written invoice from Van Galder after payment has been received. This confirmation will include bus loading times and location. You will need to check this invoice and mark your calendars carefully, since you will not receive another bus loading reminder before the tour departs.
- Bus loading locations will be as follows:
Madison WI - Shopko South Towne Mall, 2101 Broadway Lot “G”
Janesville WI - Van Galder Bus Lot, 715 South Pearl Street
Beloit WI - EconoLodge/Country Kitchen 2956 Milwaukee Road
Rockford IL - Holiday Inn 7550 East State Street
NOTE: After July 1, 2008 the Beloit pickup location will no longer be the Wal-Mart parking lot.

What you need to do now:

- You need to e-mail me (lorensass@mac.com) or phone me (608-365-0235) or send me a letter (2370 Cobblestone Lane Beloit WI 53511) letting me know that you want to continue to remain on the mailing list and receive future mailings.
- If you do not wish to receive any future tour information, do nothing. I will not turn your name and address over to Van Galder Tour and Travel without your permission.
- Van Galder Tour and Travel does not sell their mailing list to anyone else, so you will not be flooded with junk mail. They only do four mailings a year.
- If you send me your e-mail address, I will also put you on a separate Theatre Getaways e-mail list and I will periodically send announcements of new tours via e-mail. Since VanGalder Tour and Travel deletes names from their mailing list if someone has not traveled with them within 3 years, my e-mail notification may be the only way for you to continue receiving theatre tour information for the long run.

I am very excited that the opportunity to continue to do what I love has been made available to me. Please respond as soon as possible so the transition can begin. Remember, the transition date is July 1, 2008. My previously announced tours through June 2008 will be still handled completely by me. I am looking forward to seeing many of you on the bus sometime soon.


THE REMAINING TOURS FOR THEATRE GETAWAYS:

Check the CURRENT TOURS page for details.

The Spitfire Grill - Skylight Theatre Milwaukee - Sunday, June 8, 2008 (Our final independent tour!)

FOLLOWING ARE TOURS I WILL BE CONDUCTING WITH VANGALDER TOUR AND TRAVEL.

Dirty Dancing - Chicago Palace Theatre - Saturday, October 4, 2008

Mary Poppins - Chicago Cadillac Palace Theatre
Saturdays March 28, April 4, April 25, and May 16, 2009


All Shook Up
- Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre - Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008

Mame - Drury Lane Oakbrook - Sunday, December 7, 2008

 

     
     

 

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©2008 Theatre Getaways
Mr. Loren M. Sass
(608) 365-0235
2370 Cobblestone Lane
Beloit, WI 53511-6711