"My first impression was that it was big, hot and dark," said Muffley, who resides in North Strabane Township. "I didn't understand why anyone would come there to see a play in a barn..

But come they did to Farmer McDowell's barn on Route 19, and over the next 59 seasons, the theater named for the adjacent Canonsburg Lake has grown into a community institution.

To celebrate its 60th season Little Lake Theater has planned The World's Greatest Cast Party. The celebration will take place beginning at 3 p.m. May 4 at the theater. The reunion of actors, directors, technicians, staff and loyal patrons will include entertainment by some of the theater's actors and musicians. In addition, there will be a display of memorabilia from the theater's first 59 seasons.

Will Disney, Little Lake's Founding Director, found the barn, one of two on the McDowell farm, during a drive through what was then farmland. He convinced the landowner to allow the theatrical troupe to use the barn for the summer theater.

The first performances took place on a stage, located in the center of the barn, with folding chairs for seating. The year was 1949, and a small silo, located outside the barn door, served as the box office.

The "summer stock" performances were later moved to an outdoor pavilion where audiences cooled by breezes off the lake enjoyed the season, which ran from May until Labor Day, said Lauck.

But it wasn't all peace and quiet out in the country where McDowell's sheep grazed.

"Located next to a drive-in movie, we had to stop the show often because of people honking their horns to start the movie," Muffley said. Actors also had to deal with wildlife, such as the time a mosquito flew into Muffley's mouth.

"You went with the flow," she said.

With the current enclosed theater facility, built in the 1970s, the group is able to offer shows during a season that runs from May through December, said Carol Lauck, an actor, director and board member, who joined the group in 1967.

Little Lake offers 11 shows a season on its main stage as well as three shows for younger audience through its "Looking Glass" program. In addition, there is a full family series.

Lauck, who had studied drama in college and resides in North Strabane, was part of a Mt. Lebanon theater group before auditioning for her first Little Lake show. The tight-knit group of performers and stage crew are all part of the Pittsburgh area entertainment community.

"It's like a great big family," Lauck said.

While some of the troupe work full time in entertainment others act as a hobby.

"There's not a lot of full-time jobs in the acting business," Lauck explained. "People from all walks of life are involved."

The theater operates with a staff of approximately seven people, she said.

Among the programs Little Lake offers is the apprentice program. beside Newell other well-known graduates of the program include Barbara Feldon, who played agent 99 on the television series "Get Smart."

Little Lake also offers its Theater Arts Summer camp for teens as well as acting classes for adults

The best part of being part of the Little Lake Theater was the camaraderie with the others in the troupe, Muffley said. After all she said, it wasn't about the money. In the 1960s, the actors only earned about $25 a performance.

"It was kind of a freebie," she said. 'We did it for fun of it."