Little Theatre to present Marquee Award to longtime member Lora 'Loma' Cotton Nov. 18

Lora Cotton, known to her theater colleagues as Loma, will be honored Tuesday, Nov. 18, as this year’s Little Theatre Marquee Award recipient. The celebration will be held at the Reeves Museum Carriage House, with cocktail hour at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6. The award recognizes individuals who have given years of service to the theatre in a variety of roles.

Cotton has been involved in area theatre for nearly 40 years. She said her nickname, Loma, began when the flowing script of her handwritten name made the r look like an m — and the mistaken spelling stuck.

A Medina native, Cotton graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in oral surgery and spent 30 years working as a surgery anesthesiologist. After meeting her husband, Herb, of Uhrichsville, on a blind date, the couple married and moved to Dover. She became active in the Little Theatre soon after.

“I think I spent as many hours working in theater as I did in my daily job,” she said.

At the Little Theatre, Cotton acted, sang, danced, chaired multiple committees, served on the board and represented the theatre at OCTA festivals. She received several OCTA acting awards. While serving on the board, she helped transition the former memorial-style recognition of deceased members into what is now the Marquee Award, honoring those still actively contributing. Cotton also performed in "Trumpet in the Land" and recently began teaching a musical theater class at Lacey PAC.

She said two of her favorite roles were in "Gypsy" and "Victor Victoria," and she fondly recalled performing in "Steel Magnolias" twice — first as Annelle at age 23, and later as Truvy at age 43.

Eighteen years ago, Cotton was hired as a choreographer at Claymont High School and later became drama director, a position she still holds.

“My favorite thing in the whole world is watching my kids learn to spread their wings and fly,” she said. “There is no greater satisfaction than seeing a young person start out scared and unsure, and then grow and mature.”

Even her dogs — two Yorkies and three Papillons — have appeared in local productions at the Little Theatre, Trumpet in the Land and Claymont.

The Marquee dinner will be catered by Benson’s and will include garden salad, roast beef, penne pasta with marinara and alfredo sauces, green beans almondine, au gratin potatoes and Litty’s cake. Water and coffee will be provided. The cost is $30, payable by cash, check or card.

Theatre Executive Director Kait Gallagher-Wilsterman said attendees are asked to bring a beverage to share for a community table.

Reservations may be made on the theatrer's website or through social media and must be received by Nov. 5.