Of Notoriety: LaPorte Little Theatre Club celebrating a century landmark season
The Gartlands became my tethered connection to theater stages both big and small located to the east of our readership. I soon learned Katy and Tim are the glue that bonds the talented team at LaPorte Little Theatre. Katy's local theater roots extend from the creativity and community stage experience of her mom Bonnie Quigley.
This 2025 stage season for LaPorte Little Theatre Club marks the community theater's 100th year taking bows before audiences.
When I first interviewed Katy back in spring 2018, she was preparing to direct a run of 'James and the Giant Peach,' a stage version based on the popular 1961 children's book by Roald Dahl, who also wrote 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.'
'I have my mom to thank for giving me the idea because she brought me the script for the musical version of this favorite storybook,' Katy said.
'And before long, husband Tim and mom were helping me design and build a giant peach for on stage.' It measured 12 by 14 feet.
Adding to the family affair, title character James was played by the couple's daughter Norah.
The Gartlands share amazement that LaPorte Little Theatre is a volunteer organization that has existed with success for a century through two world wars and the Great Depression.
Katy, who served as president of LaPorte Little Theatre Club for five years, along with husband Tim as the business manager, said The Little Theatre movement began in Europe in 1887 and 'hopped the pond' to the United States in 1912 at the Toy Theatre in Boston and then 'the Little Theatre of Chicago,' ranking officially as one of the first community theaters to be formed.
Katy said by 1917, there were about 50 Little Theatre groups in the U.S., and later, the number grew by 100 by the beginning of World War II.
It was after the war when there was a burst of even further interest behind and in front of the famed red curtain, and by 1959 there were about 3,500 community theaters producing regular stage runs.
She said today, there are about 70 community theaters in Indiana, with The Indianapolis Civic Theatre in Carmel claiming to be one of the 10 largest community theaters in the U.S.
In the fall of 1925, Graeme Young, a professional actor and playwright from London, moved to LaPorte with his wife to work in a local industry. Although he had forsaken the theater as a livelihood, he had not forsaken his love for theater.
After discussion and encouragement from Miss Flora Case, the local librarian, Graeme went to the LaPorte Herald Argus newspaper to have a story published announcing that a meeting to explore the idea of a community theater club would be held on Nov. 11, 1925, at the YMCA with 25 interested people in attendance. A week later, the following officers were elected: Florence Andrew, president; Dr. E.A. Smiley, vice-president; Miss Olga Hergland, secretary and Miss Flora Case as treasurer.
On Jan. 13, 1926, The LaPorte Little Theatre Club debuted with a presentation of three one-act plays at the LaPorte High School auditorium: 'My Milliner's Ball,' 'The Playgoers,' and 'A Kiss in the Dark.' Admission was free, and Katy says the theater records indicate the house was packed.
By 1932, the theater club members began to dream of obtaining their own space. Thelma Wilson, a charter member, artist, set designer, director and actor, died on Feb. 3, 1950 and left a substantial bequest to the theater club from her estate which allowed the group to incorporate on March 8, 1951, and by July 16, 1954, the group purchased the St. John's Lutheran Church building on 3rd and A streets, where it remains today as the group's 200-seat anchor venue.
The shell worship building space was built while Abraham Lincoln was still president. The steeple and religious artifacts were removed, but the pews were retained and utilized for several years until seats from a theater in Michigan City were repurposed and installed. The altar landscape was transformed into a full working stage.
In January 1955, the first show in the new space was performed (fittingly selected and titled) 'My Three Angels,' and it happened to also be the group's 100th performance.
Today, La Porte Little Theatre Club continues with a mission as 'an all-volunteer, self-funded organization dedicated to providing quality theatrical experiences to Northwest Indiana audiences and committed to providing opportunities to adults and youth both on stage and behind the scenes with musicals, dramas, comedies and the aim to produce a variety of shows.'
The final two shows of this landmark season are 'A Gentleman's Guide to Murder' Sept. 26 to Oct. 5, and the holiday musical 'Scrooge!' Nov. 28 to Dec. 7.
For more information, visit www.laportelittletheatreclub.com or call 219-362-5113.
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