Community Little Theatre (CLT) has unveiled their plans for their 76th season. The 2015-2016 shows are to include two straight shows, or non-musicals, and three musicals. The Straight shows include “Shakespeare in Hollywood” and “August: Osage County” and the three musicals are “The Addams Family”, “Little Shop of Horrors” and a 2016 summer show this is still to be announced.
The 76th season is set to open in November with the musical “The Addams Family” directed by Kay Warren. “The Addams Family” runs from November 6th-15th, 2015, and is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and is based on characters created by Charles Addams. “The Addams Family” was nominated for two Tony Awards and eight Drama Desk awards. It is an original story, and it's every father's nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family - a man her parents have never met. And if that weren't upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's 'normal' boyfriend and his parents.
In February, CLT brings the laughs with “Shakespeare in Hollywood”, written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Mitchell Clyde Thomas. The show runs February 12th-21st, 2016. It's 1934, and Shakespeare's most famous fairies, Oberon and Puck, have magically materialized on the Warner Bros. Hollywood set of Max Reinhardt's “A Midsummer Night's Dream”. Instantly smitten by the glitz and glamour of show biz, the two are ushered onto the silver screen to play (who else?) themselves. With a little help from a feisty flower, blonde bombshells, movie moguls, and arrogant "asses" the two are tossed into loopy love triangles, with raucous results. The mischievous magic of moviedom sparkles in this hilarious comic romp.
CLT’s second musical of the season resurrects an all-time favorite, “Little Shop of Horrors” with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken and is based on the film by Roger Corman with screenplay by Charles Griffith. Running from April 15th-24th, 2016, the show is set to be directed by Vincent S. Ratsavong. A deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, “Little Shop of Horrors” has devoured the hearts of theatre goers for over 30 years. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin”) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world. The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, Rock and Roll singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and intent towards global domination!
Family drama is central in CLT’s fourth show of the season, with “August: Osage County” written by Tracy Letts, directed by Adam Blais and running June 3rd- 12th, 2016. The June show is a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play centered on a vanished father, a pill-popping mother and three sisters harboring shady little secrets. When the large Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoman family homestead explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. Mix in Violet, the drugged-up, scathingly acidic matriarch, and you've got a major new play that unflinchingly—and uproariously—exposes the dark side of the Midwestern American family.
CLT’s last show of the season is still to be announced. “We’re working on bringing in something really exciting,” said CLT’s President, Chris L’Hommedieu. “We plan to announce the show in February of 2016, so stay tuned in to find out what it will be!” Performance dates for the surprise show will be August 19th – 28th, 2016.
December 11th, 12th, 13th of 2015 will set the stage for the theatre’s fundraiser “A Holiday Spectacular”. This holiday show will feature selections from your favorite holiday songs, dance variations from “The Nutcracker”, a special visit from the Teen and Youth Theater Projects, local High School Choirs, Santa Clause and a special guest appearance from everyone’s favorite Disney Snow Queen.
In addition to this already robust regular season CLT will continue to offer its 4 week long youth programming in 2016 with the Summer Youth Theater Project for children grades 3-6 performing “Shrek Jr.” and the Summer Teen Musical Theater Showcase for teens grades 7-12. Both are directed by Vincent S. Ratsavong.
Community Little Theatre (CLT) was recently the recipient of some much needed help in the form of student volunteers from Edward Little High School (E.L.H.S.). Seven of the high school’s juniors accompanied by their Mentor Teacher, Gail Carville, visited CLT to help organize the theatre’s properties room and help to get the ball rolling on a much needed digital catalogue of props.
When E.L.H.S. proposed a Community Service Day for the school, CLT Properties Chair, Heidi McCurdy jumped at the opportunity. “I’m a librarian at Edward Little and I’ve been thinking for a long time about how I really needed some help with sorting through all our props at the theatre, so when I heard about a community service day, I immediately reached out to Mrs. Carville.”
CLT is currently in its 75th season, meaning 75 years’ worth of collecting costumes, props and a lot of dust. “It was so wonderful to finally be able to pull things out of the prop room, clean and put them back in a more organized manner. Some of these items have not been moved for a very, very long time. We didn’t get to everything, but it’s the beginning of a more organized, efficient prop room,” McCurdy said. She also emphasized the need for a digital database and said that while the students were moving things they also captured photographs of each prop, hopefully allowing the theatre the opportunity to rent out more of their props in the future.
Edward Little’s mentor groups meet on a weekly basis, starting their freshmen year. The group stays together with the same students and mentor all throughout their 4 years at E.L.H.S. Teacher Mentors are then able to use this time to check in with their students about grades, goal setting, character building, the college application process and aspirations after high school.
McCurdy said some of the students have already come to her to say that they’d like volunteer again in the future and help her finish the project they started. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit CLT’s website at www.laclt.com or contact them at (207) 783-0958 or info@laclt.com. CLT is a local, non-profit organization.
