MLT produced ‘Anything Goes ‘ and ‘the Most Happy Fella’ in the late 60’s in the Lynn Memorial Auditorium. Since then, MLT has presented at least one musical production each year which has become the hallmark of the group.
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This was a big production with 18 musical numbers, singing and dancing, many set changes and most of all, a full orchestra which was presented at Salem State College̓s large auditorium and was a sell-out. The cast of forty came from all over the North Shore with membership drawn from Salem, Swampscott, Peabody, Danvers, Beverly and Hamilton. The show received such an enthusiastic reception that they were inspired to stage a full scale musical “Pajama Game” in November of 1965. They got their feet wet by presenting “The Fantasticks” with a cast of seven, minimal scenery and an orchestra consisting of a pianist, a harpist, and a percussionist. The year ended with a production of ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ in November at Salem State.īut the biggest leap so far was made in the mid sixties with the decision to plunge in and do a musical. The vibrant group also presented in February ‘The Man in the Dog Suit’ in the High School auditorium, and was invited to participate in the Marblehead Arts Festival, performing two one act plays on an outdoor stage in July. MLT was invited to present three plays (‘The Man in the Bowler Hat’, ‘The Men Who Lived Too Soon’ and ‘Young Ben Franklins’s Fight’) at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston during the month of February. MLT ended 1962 with a critically acclaimed presentation of ‘The Crucible’ performed at Salem State.ġ963 was a big year for MLT. MLT ventured into the new theatre of the absurd with then avant garde ‘Zoo Story’ and ‘The Bald Soprano’ in March 1962. In the sixties, MLT offer its audiences plays including, ‘The Bell, Book and Candle’, ‘Ways and Means’, ‘Monkey Paw’ and ‘Rise and Shine’ which was also performed at the VA Hospital in Brockton.
Productions in 1950s included the plays ‘Goodby, My Fancy’, ‘Mister Angel’, ‘Dial M for Murder’, ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ and ‘Solid Gold Cadillac.’Īs the group gained recognition, they were asked to perform at churches and charity functions including a number of one act plays suitable for these occasions. Throughout the fifties, MLT held its main productions at the High School using the proscenium stage. The show opened on January 18, 1956, at the Marblehead Junior High School Auditorium.Īnd so Marblehead Little Theater (MLT) was born and now over six decades later has proven to be one of the oldest community theatre groups in New England as well as one of the few to have continually produced shows each year. The newly formed Little Theatre group presented it first production, the three-act play, Moss Hart’s ‘Light Up the Sky’ at the Woman’s Club Guest Night. Terry Hale continued to lead the new group as it first president through its formative first three years. It soon became evident that a much larger group was needed and so, husbands, sons, daughters, and friends were invited to an organizational meeting in September 1955. Eight women of the drama committee performed the one act play ‘The Charm Racquet’ for the Woman’s Club on the occasion of their annual meeting in May of 1955 at the Old North Church Parish Hall. Henry (Terry) Hale became the chair of the Marblehead Woman’s Club drama committee. The desire and demand for quality live theater in Marblehead remained strong.
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The Chamber of Commerce submitted a warrant to town meeting for up to $2500 to be repaid by the theater company through rentals, but the warrant was defeated and professional summer stock theater in Marblehead ended. At the end of the 1955 season, Marblehead Summer Theater producer Lee Falk told the School Department they would not be able return the next year unless the HS auditorium was air conditioned. The relationship with the School Department was not always a smooth one in spite of the clear economic benefit to the town. Shows were performed in the High School auditorium under agreement with the Marblehead School Committee. Richard Rogers personally supervised the Marblehead Playhouse production of “On Your Toes” in 1953. Productions included major titles and personalities including Sarah Churchill, Lucille Ball, Burt Lahr, Ava Gabor, Veronica Lake, Basil Rathbone. In the 1940s and early 1950s, Marblehead was a popular summer stock theater destination hosting the North Shore Players at The Marblehead Playhouse through 1953 and The Marblehead Summer Theater through 1955. The History of Marblehead Little Theatre The Beginning
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