Little Lake launches 75th season with comedies, drama and more
Brad Hundt
Patrick Cannon, the artistic director of Little Lake Theatre, talks about the company鈥檚 upcoming season Tuesday.
Brad Hundt
Sunny Disney Fitchett, the daughter of Little Lake Theatre founder Will Disney, talks about the history of the company Tuesday.
The Bard and Bart are both going to be part of Little Lake Theatre鈥檚 upcoming season.
William Shakespeare and Bart Simpson, that is.
On Tuesday, the venerable Washington County theater company unveiled its new season, its 75th. Kicking off with the comedy, 鈥淧opcorn Falls,鈥� on Thursday, April 6, Little Lake鈥檚 menu of plays for the next nine months includes a mix of lighthearted fare, serious drama, musicals, a thriller and more. It鈥檚 the first season fully put together by Patrick Cannon, who came on board as Little Lake鈥檚 artistic director last May.
State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll, who was on hand for the announcement, said Little Lake 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 just provide entertainment. It gives the community a place to connect and come together.鈥�
The season will start with 鈥淧opcorn Falls,鈥� a production that has two actors playing over 20 roles in the sleepy town of Popcorn Falls, which is forced into bankruptcy when the local waterfall 鈥� named Popcorn Falls 鈥� goes dry. Their last shot at solvency is if they can get a large grant. In order to get it, though, they have to produce a play in just a week. 鈥淧opcorn Falls鈥� will be at Little Lake through Sunday, April 16.
The rest of the season will include:
n 鈥淐urious George and the Golden Meatball鈥�: On All-You-Can-Eat Meatball Day, the beloved monkey is quite excited and helps Chef Pisghetti cook some meatballs. Along the way, George learns about Rome, cooking and more. It will open Thursday, April 27, and close Sunday, May 7.
n 鈥淎melie鈥�: A musical based on the 2001 French film of the same name, 鈥淎melie鈥� is the story of a quiet young woman who realizes that in order to find contentment, she will have to say what is in her heart. It opens Thursday, May 18, and closes Sunday, June 4.
n 鈥淔or Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday鈥�: The play looks at the allure of never growing up and the inevitability of growing old. It opens Thursday, June 15, and closes Sunday, June 25.
n 鈥淒eathtrap鈥�: A playwright who has endured a series of flops decides that a play written by one of his students is a surefire hit 鈥� and he wants to take credit for it. 鈥淒eathtrap鈥� opens Thursday, July 20, and continues through Sunday, Aug. 6.
n 鈥淲illy Wonka Jr.鈥�: A musical adaptation of the Roald Dahl story about the enigmatic candy manufacturer, it includes songs from the 1971 movie 鈥淲illy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,鈥� as well as new selections. It opens Thursday, Aug. 17, and closes Sunday, Aug. 27.
n 鈥淟ord of the Flies鈥�: Based on the classic William Golding novel, 鈥淟ord of the Flies鈥� has English boys stranded on a deserted island during wartime, with fun and games turning into a vicious power struggle. It opens Thursday, Sept. 7, and wraps up Sunday, Sept. 24.
n 鈥淭he Book of Will鈥�: Shakespeare鈥檚 greatest hits are recited in this comedy about theatrical players in the 1600s gathering together the collected works of history鈥檚 greatest playwright before they are lost to time. It opens Thursday, Oct. 5, and finishes Sunday, Oct. 22.
n 鈥淢r. Burns: A Post Electric Play鈥�: A musical that has six survivors of an apocalyptic event distracting themselves around a fire by recounting an episode of 鈥淭he Simpsons,鈥� 鈥淢r. Burns鈥� looks at how the pop culture of one era can turn into mythology for future generations. It opens Thursday, Nov. 2, and closes Sunday, Nov. 19.
n 鈥淲hite Christmas鈥�: Based on the 1954 film that starred Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, the musical includes 鈥淏lue Skies,鈥� 鈥淗ow Deep is the Ocean鈥� and the beloved title song. It opens Thursday, Nov. 30, and concludes Saturday, Dec. 16.
A parking lot is also being added to Little Lake鈥檚 property this season. The first phase will be completed in June, according to Patti Knapp, the company鈥檚 managing director.
Sunny Disney Fitchett, the daughter of Little Lake founder Will Disney, noted the significance of Little Lake reaching its 75th season, saying, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to recognize our history, but I think it鈥檚 important to look ahead. I think it鈥檚 an exciting season and really speaks to the importance of theater and the importance of legacy.鈥�