Little Theatre to celebrate their 60th anniversary

The Little Theatre in New Philadelphia will hold a public Diamond Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 28 with an open house-style event from 6-10 p.m.

Sarah Spies, chairperson for the event, said the evening is all about thanking the community for its support over the past 60 years in the current building, as well as the 12 years prior to the building going up.

“Sixty years ago this theater was built by the community for the community,” Spies said. “This is an opportunity for people who have maybe been curious about the theater and those who’ve only seen a couple of shows to come out and celebrate this little gem we have here.”

Spies said the parking lot will be set up with tents and tables with light snacks, water, soda, beer and wine being served by Log Cabin Catering.

Tickets for the event are $15 for adults and $10 for children and students and can be purchased at www.thelittletheatreonline.org. Gift baskets and other items will be raffled off throughout the evening.

The events also will include behind-the-scenes tours of the theater, performances of scenes from past shows on an outdoor stage and videos of people who have been involved with the theater through the years.

“We’ve come a long way in 60 years. We also have some big dreams for this facility in the future. We are fortunate to have a board including some of our younger members, who are passionate about the theater,” said Shannon Mitchell, current president of the theater’s board of trustees.

Looking back

Doug Kopp served as interim historian for the past year and a half, volunteering to organize and digitize what he said were piles and piles of old photos, financial records, playbills and other memorabilia.

In the process Kopp learned that before the theater was built, performances were staged at the New Philadelphia Elks, Dover High School and the Union Opera House in New Philadelphia. A production of “Androcles and the Lion” was actually held in a circus tent at Tuscora Park.

“I also ran across an old article that talked about the drive to raise $100,000 for the new building,” Kopp said. “If you look at the original artists’ renderings, some of them look a lot like the Performing Arts Center.”

On Sept. 1, 1961, ground was broken at the property on Carrie Avenue and construction began. On June 18, 1963, audiences flocked to the theater for 11 performances of “The Miracle Worker.”

Pat Gibson Potter has been involved with The Little Theatre since moving to the area in 1989. “I had only lived in larger cities before moving here, and I remember being amazed at the abundance of talent here in Tuscarawas County.”

Potter said she has directed at least 25 shows and performed in an equal number at The Little Theatre over the years. She also has been there for many of the improvements that have been funded through grants and donations.

“We’ve got wonderful opportunities now for sound since it can all be run off an iPad,” she said. “We’ve added new theater curtains and LED lighting. Oh my gosh, when I first got here, the light board was so antiquated. It had these dials on it and something along the order of a steering wheel.”

Potter said they are fortunate to have a facility like the one built in 1963. “Most community theaters are not like ours at all, so I’m very thankful to all those individuals who came before us to pave the way.”

Patti Feller of Dover has collected some 45 years of memories at the theater. “The first time I saw a Little Theatre play, I was 8 or 9 years old, and it was in the basement of the New Phila Elks,” she said. “It was just incredible when the current theater was built. I still think it’s incredible to have such a wonderful facility in a community of our size.”

Feller said she has been on stage but also has done everything from scrubbing bathrooms to planting flowers. “Everything I’ve ever done at The Little Theatre has been a labor of love.”

The Little Theatre is located at 466 Carrie Ave. NW in New Philadelphia.