Many different actors, both famous and relatively unknown, have shown up on stage throughout the many seasons of the theater in Sullivan. As of now, over one hundred patrons have agreed to participate in the Adopt-A-Seat program and the money has helped The Little Theatre with the cost of renovations and putting on shows. Patrons who wish to participate in this program are asked to donate $1000 to the operating budget and can do so over a three-year period. In 2004, after the theater had finished renovations it began a program called "Adopt a Seat." It is a program for theater patrons that allows them to have their name, or the name of someone they want to honor, placed on the seating chart plaque that is located in the lobby. Students form a 50+ mile radius are enrolled in the program. In 2017, the education program became Future Stars Dance & Drama and features visiting artists who are working professionals teaching acting, dance and voice. Currently, the Little Theatre offers two shows during the school year (one in the fall and one in the spring) where area schools can attend a live performance on their stage. More than 26,000 students in the area benefited from the tour program before it was discontinued. The program allowed the students participating in the program to tour to area schools and offer their performances. The outreach program was expanded in January, 2004 by adding a touring program to S.T.A.R. Formally known as Students’ Theatre Arts Reach (S.T.A.R.), the current Future Stars Program provides educational opportunities in the Arts for people ages three through adult. In 2000, drama and vocal performance classes were added. The program was originally used to teach jazz, tap, and ballet classes. The theater began an educational outreach program in 1997, in response to a request from the City of Sullivan Civic Center. Programs for many of The Little Theatre's past shows are also available online through a digital project of Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library in conjunction with the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois Digital Collections. This digital repository is a service of EIU's Booth Library. Yet another building was purchased in 2001, this one was used for the technical production facility.Ī digital archive of Little Theatre production photos and programs is available in Eastern Illinois University's online repository, The Keep. In the year 2000, the theater purchased another building that was used for rehearsal space, a dance studio, and apartments that would house the actors during their stay. The year after purchasing the theater, the board decided to purchase adjoining buildings that, once renovated, would house the ticket office, public restroom, and administrative offices. Little and began renovations to surrounding buildings. On a later, unknown date, The Little Theater on the Square Inc. It was run by a board of trustees who represented the regional market area of Central Illinois. The theater began operating as a not for profit organization in 1981 and continued to produce many plays and musicals. ![]() With the resignation of Little, the theater went from an independently owned business to a non-profit enterprise. Although the twenty-third season was not run by Little, it did occur thanks to Sullivan Theatre, Inc. Little announced that he would not be putting on a twenty-third season due to the cost of operation and salaries for the stars and supporting actors. Īfter twenty-two years of operating the theater, Mr. Little continued to bring many plays and musicals to the small town throughout his ownership of the theater. When Little began the theater, he called it "Summer of Musicals" until he actually purchased The Grand Theatre in 1963 and officially changed the name to "The Little Theatre on the Square." Mr. Renting the theater allowed him to begin fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning and operating a quality professional theater.Įntering into the first "Summer of Musicals," Little was fresh out of graduate school in New York where he had been studying and doing work in the professional theater. came up with the idea of renting out the theater for the summer months to present plays. The theater originally opened in 1924 as a movie theater, called "The Grand Theatre." The Grand Theatre showed movies throughout the year, except during the summer months.
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