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AUBURN — As Lewiston/Auburn’s Community Little Theatre is about to wrap up another season, the local non-profit has announced its 79th season.
As it has for many years, striving for a balance of old and new, classic and cutting edge, the organization has crafted a season sure to appeal to everyone, CLT officials say.
The 79th season will open in mid-October with Meredith Wilson’s classic hit musical “The Music Man,” directed by Nakesha (“Kay”) Warren. A hit as a stage musical, Hollywood film and later a made-for-TV movie, “The Music Man” was last seen at CLT during the 1981-82 season. The first of three CLT productions was in the 1964-65 season.
This Norman Rockwell slice of Americana is the story of Professor Harold Hill, who visits River City, Iowa, in order to sell musical instruments and lessons; however, he is no musician and his plan is to leave town after bilking the residents for as much money as he can. When an unexpected romance with the town librarian, “Marian,” keeps him in town for too long, he must prove himself to everyone.
Featuring such well known songs as “Trouble,” “Til There Was You,” “Lida Rose,” “Goodnight, My Someone,” and “Seventy-Six Trombones,” the play will have audiences members of all ages grinning and tapping their feet all evening long.
In January, CLT will bring back (after 25 years) Ken Ludwig’s farce “Lend Me A Tenor,” directed by Mitchell Clyde Thomas. When opera star Tito Merelli comes to Cleveland, everyone is dying to meet him. After a huge fight with his wife, Tito — in a fit of despair — takes too many pills andslips into unconsciousness only minutes before the curtain.
Put on the spot by his future father-in-law and theater manager, Max, a lowly office assistant and opera singer wannabe, is ordered to take Tito’s place and fool the opera aficionados of Cleveland. With countless doors and several mistaken identities, passion runs rampant as the situation resolves in a spectacular ending. Thomas, along with current CLT board president John Blanchette, Chip and Jane Morrison and several other CLT favorites appeared in the 1993-94 production directed by the late Mary Glen Rosenberg.
The third show and second musical of the 79th season coming in April is a relative newcomer, “Avenue Q,” directed by Paul G. Caron, has been called by some the “adult version of “Sesame Street.” A group of millennial characters — in both human and puppet forms — struggle to find their way as adults and confront some of the not-so-pretty realities of life.
Featuring songs such as “Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist,” “What Do You Do with a B.A. In English?” and “I Wish I Could Go Back to College,” the play is a multiple Tony Award winner (2004), including best book, best musical and best original score. “It’s a really fun show,” said Caron, “but please leave the kids at home and come prepared for adult situations, full frontal puppet nudity, and language that is definitely rated Q.”
The fourth show, coming in June, is the Alan Ball comedy, “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,” directed by Jackie McDonald. Set in Knoxville Tenn., this show chronicles five very different women, all serving as bridesmaids, who are trying to escape the very over-the-top wedding reception taking place downstairs.
After coming to realize that none of them really likes the bride, they begin to open up to each other, and while talking, laughing, arguing and crying, they soon discover they have much more in common than they originally thought. These women will melt hearts, even while audience members laugh at and with them.
The final show of the season, is the hit musical comedy “Mamma Mia,” under the direction of John Blanchette. Built around the hit songs of the rock band ABBA, the show is the story of “Sophie,” a young woman about to get married.
She wants her father to give her away at the wedding, but the problem is she doesn’t know who her father is — and it could be one of three different men. Unbeknownst to her mother, Donna, Sophie has invited all three of the likely candidates to their Greek island home; chaos soon takes over.
The show also spawned Community Little Theatres “second season” fundraiser productions. In early-December, “Holiday Spectacular” will take place at Great Falls Performing Arts Center, Academy and High streets, where CLT productions are held.
In late-May/early-June, the world-premiere of Brian Daly’s “Come Out Swingin’ — A Lewiston Story” will be co-produced with the Gendron Franco Center on the center’s stage. Richard Martin, Mitch Thomas and Jake Boyce will direct.
For more information, contact CLT at boxoffice@LACLT.com or call 207-783-0958.
