The curtain went up on The Little Theatre on the Square rsquo;s 50th anniversary celebration Friday night.
The celebration is in full swing this weekend as several stars of past Little productions return for a special performance of ldquo;Follies. rdquo;
In addition to founder Guy S.
Little Jr., the celebratory weekend includes such returning performers as Ann B. Davis, Anna McNeely, Bill and Susan (Seaforth) Hayes, and Colleen Zenk Pinter and Mark Pinter.
Even Therese Kincade of Charleston is part of the ldquo;Follies rdquo; cast. The tiny theater nestled into the square in Sullivan got its start 50 years ago when Little rented the Grand Theater building for the summer.
In 1961, Little purchased the building and the rest, as they say, is history.
Other well-known performers such as Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West from ldquo;Wizard of Oz; rdquo; Ruth Warrick of ldquo;All My Children rdquo; fame; Jo Ann Worley, best known from the TV comedy ldquo;Laugh In; rdquo; Leonard Nimoy; Betty Grable; Mickey Rooney; Alan Alda; and many, many more have stepped onto the Little stage.
The Little Theatre once was a place where folks in East Central Illinois could see big-name stars up close.
That rsquo;s part of what the Little is celebrating this summer.
The big-name celebrities seldom are a part of current Little productions, but the theater continues to shine.
ldquo;Follies rdquo; kicks off the 50th year in grand fashion but it is just part of what is now a year-round schedule.
Upcoming shows this summer include ldquo;Hairspray, rdquo; ldquo;My Fair Lady, rdquo; ldquo;Crazy for You, rdquo; ldquo;Sound of Music rdquo; and ldquo;La Cage Aux Follies.
rdquo;
Current management has done an excellent job of renovating and upgrading the old theater to make it more comfortable for today rsquo;s audiences and performers.
In addition to professionally staging such outstanding musicals as ldquo;The Music Man, rdquo; Oliver!, rdquo; ldquo;Chicago, rdquo; lsquo;Grease, rdquo; ldquo;Man of La Mancha rdquo; and ldquo;Phantom of the Opera rdquo; in recent years, the Little now also features a children rsquo;s series of musicals.
And the theater management has offered shows centered on Buddy Holly, the Beatles, Patsy Cline, Red Skelton and Christmas through Little rsquo;s traditional ldquo;off-season rdquo; months.
A summertime asset since the 1950s, the Little Theatre has become a year-round attraction.
Executive Director Leonard Anderson, Artistic Director Seth Reines and the staff continue to bring sparkling musicals to East Central Illinois.
The Little Theatre continues to be the only professional producing Equity theater between Chicago and St. Louis.
Audiences come from throughout the East Central Illinois area, and the theater rsquo;s friends organization reflects the diversity and scope of the area.
Fiftieth anniversaries are unique, and this weekend rsquo;s celebration is no exception.
The Little Theatre continues to be a special jewel that anyone in the area can enjoy.
We salute Guy Little, Leonard Anderson, Seth Reines and everyone involved in continuing the magic of live musical theater in Sullivan.
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