Little Lake opens 67th season with ‘Our Town’
May 7-9, 14-17, 21-23
‘Our Town’
Little Lake Theatre Company will kick-off its 67th season with Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” directed by Sunny Disney Fitchett, who is set to depart the Theatre on June 1. As such, “Our Town” becomes much more than just a beloved American play – it also represents Disney Fitchett’s swan song as she winds down her tenure as artistic director of Little Lake Theatre Company.
“The only play I struggled with was the season opener,” said Disney Fitchett. “It is my favorite American play. I’ve directed it twice before, and acted in it three times.”
Taking inspiration from a version of the play she saw three years prior in New York City, Disney Fitchett’s concept is for Little Lake’s audiences to feel as if they’re attending a rehearsal of “Our Town,” rather than a performance. This more contemporary production will not be the only twist – so will the sounds that surround the performance. Marina Lauver will play the cello live throughout the play, while Rob Fitchett, the outgoing managing director, will perform all of the sound effects live and in sight of the audience.
To add to the “Sunny’s Town” feel, Disney Fitchett also hand-selected her cast based on actors she has loved working with over her many years at Little Lake.
The show stars Marina’s daughter, Lily Lauver, a Mt. Lebanon High School sophomore, and James Curry, a long-time apprentice and Peters Township High School sophomore. The remainder of the cast includes: Bob Rak, the incoming managing Director of Little Lake, Mary Liz Meyer, Madeline Dalesio, Kevin Bass, Allison Cahill, Dylan Blussick, Jomo Ray, Carol Ann Schussler, Phil Powell, Travis Levers and Norm Wash. Disney Fitchett also cast two students who are currently enrolled in Little Lake’s “I CAN DO THAT” acting class – Pam Pasternak and Matt Ross.
“My biggest challenge is that I have cast Art DeConciliis as the stage manager,” she said with a smile. “I say ‘challenge’ because Art has always told me he hates this play – for all the reasons that many people say they don’t like it: that it’s too ‘saccharine’ or they can’t identify with the idyllic small-town community. I want exactly that kind of person to play the stage manager – I want Art to flesh out what is true, real and familiar in this play, and I know he will rise to my challenge.”
For more information and tickets, visit www.littlelake.org or call 724-745-6300.