AUBURN — Lewiston-Auburn’s Community Little Theatre has announced its upcoming 79th season. Striving for a balance of old and new, classic and cutting edge, the organization has crafted a season that offers something for everyone.
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 both a stage musical and a 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. The show features such well-known songs as “Trouble,” “Til There Was You,” “Lida Rose,” “Goodnight, My Someone” and “Seventy-Six Trombones.”
In January, CLT is proud to 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. But after a huge fight with his wife, Tito, in a fit of despair, takes too many pills and suddenly slips into unconsciousness only minutes before the curtain.
Put on the spot by his future father-in-law and theater manager, Max, the 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. This fast-paced comedy will leave sides aching from laughter.
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 hilarious 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,” “Avenue Q” is a multiple 2004 Tony Award winner, 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, Tennessee, 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 realizing that none of them really likes the bride, they begin to open up — and while talking, laughing, arguing and crying, they soon discover that 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, in August, is still so fresh off Broadway that it is actually still running there. CLT will produce the smash hit musical comedy “Mamma Mia,” under the direction of John Blanchette. Built around the hit songs of the rock band ABBA, this wonderful and zany 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 that 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 — and chaos soon takes over. Will Sophie be able to figure out which man is her father before Donna loses her mind? It’s a happy ending with a twist. “Mamma Mia” is a perfect must-see for everyone.
Community Little Theatre will also present two “second season” fundraiser productions. In early December, “Holiday Spectacular” will be performed at CLT. 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 about the upcoming season, contact CLT at boxoffice@LACLT.com or call 207-783-0958. Community Little Theatre is located in the historic Great Falls Performing Arts Center on the corner of Academy and High streets.
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