Three Plays Now Under Production at OLT

Theatergoers, take note! The Ouachita Little Theatre is in the midst of producing three exciting plays for your entertainment pleasure – one each for October, November, and December.

Rehearsals have already begun for this year’s Halloween play, John Van Druten’s Bell, Book and Candle, the precursor to the television series Bewitched. Melanie Buck will be making her directorial debut, assisted by Suzanne Snow. Cast members include Amanda Stipe in the lead role of Gillian, Tim Hesse as Shepherd, the man she wants to bewitch, Lamar Austin as Gillian’s brother Nicky, Emily McCoy as Aunt Queenie, and Scott O’Rear as Sidney Redlitch, the drunken author. Performance dates are Oct. 24-26 and Oct. 31-Nov. 2.

Following close on the heels of Bell, Book and Candle is Tennessee Williams’ award-winning play, The Glass Menagerie, which opens Nov. 7 and continues through Nov. 10. Director Brad Storey and his assistant Jefferson Smith have chosen Katelin Haines to play the role of Amanda, the dysfunctional southern mother, and Katie O’Rear to play Laura, Amanda’s very shy unmarried daughter. Rounding out the cast will be Austin Kain as Amanda’s son Tom, who begrudgingly supports the family, and Ethan Moe as Jim, Tom’s friend who comes to dinner. Two understudies – Nick Worth as Tom and Tara Cornelius as Laura – will make their stage debut in at least one of the four performances.

The final OLT play for 2014 is Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 family classic, Little Women, which will be running Dec. 5-7 and 12-14. Director Mike Martin will be holding auditions Saturday, September 20 (9 a.m.—noon) and Monday, September 22 (6 p.m.—9 p.m.) at the theater. If you would like to try out for this play, pick up an audition scene for your favorite role at the Polk County Library or send a message to Assistant Director Marilyn Brown at twinbridgie@gmail.com and request that the scene be emailed to you.

The play follows the four March teenage daughters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they face life’s challenges and grow into young ladies, guided by their idealistic father and gentle mother Marmee. The male lead is Laurie, the boy next door, with supporting roles for his young tutor and his elderly grandfather, the girls’ rich crotchety Aunt March, and Jo’s New York mentor Professor Bhaer. In addition, there are several other small but important characters. Volunteers are also needed to work backstage and to help with costume and set construction. For questions, contact Mike at 870-490-0362 or gnort88@sbcglobal.net or his assistant Marilyn Brown at 479-394-3646 or twinbridgie@gmail.com.

This production of Little Women will be using the play script adapted by Cody Daigle, originally commissioned by The Playhouse Tulsa (Courtneay Sanders, Artistic Director), and world premiered by the company in July 2013 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

OLT members and season ticket holders may use their 2014 tickets for all three of these upcoming plays. Season Tickets for 2015 will go on sale October 15 and may also be used for these plays as well as for the entire 2015 season.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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