Latest news with #LaPorteLittleTheatre
Chicago Tribune
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Of Notoriety: LaPorte Little Theatre Club celebrating a century landmark season
When I first began writing for the Post-Tribune and Chicago Tribune Media Group in January 2016, I quickly met nurse and 'theater know-it-all' (bestowed as a genuine kind compliment) Katy Gartland and her husband, Tim Gartland. 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 or call 219-362-5113.
Chicago Tribune
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Of Notoriety: LaPorte Little Theatre welcomes 100th year with ‘Music Man,' Three Dog Night at Hard Rock
A parade of 76 trombones will herald the start of the 100th anniversary season this weekend at LaPorte Little Theatre with a new production of 'The Music Man' opening Friday and playing weekends through March 9. A 200-seat stage space that opened in 1925, LaPorte Little Theatre is an all-volunteer arts organization. 'The Music Man,' Meredith Willson's six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy, has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story shared with new generations of all ages. It is being co-directed by Jim Snyder and Scott Lenig. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the stage space at 218 A St. in downtown LaPorte. Tickets are $15 for students, $18 for seniors 55 and older, and $19 for adults by calling 219-362-5113 or Artistic expression Students of the March session of After School Sculpture will learn basic ceramic techniques from local ceramicist Allyce Ebert at Chesterton Art Center, 115th South 4th Street in Chesterton. In this fun and interactive class, students will use coil, pinch and slab methods to create and glaze whimsical animal head plant pots to take home as an artistic memory and memento. The four-class weekly session starts Monday, March 3, and continues through March 31 with no class March 24. The class meets from 4:30-6 p.m. and is intended for ages 8 to 12. Chesterton Art Center is a destination for art classes and exhibitions in Chicagoland showcasing artworks in a wide array of media, including painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, glass, wood, ceramics and more. Many pieces are available for purchase at a variety of price points. For information about other art classes and opportunities and membership options visit or call (219) 926-4711. Stage concert icons Legendary band Three Dog Night, now in its 6th decade, claims some of the most astonishing statistics in popular music. In the years 1969 through 1974, no other group achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records, or sold more concert tickets than Three Dog Night with hit songs like 'Joy to the World,' 'Mama Told Me' and 'An Old Fashioned Love Song.' With tickets starting at $45, Three Dog Night will play one concert at 7 p.m. March 7 on the Hard Rock Live stage. Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is located at 5400 W. 29th Ave. with concert tickets sold at the box office or call 219-228-2383; Making a splash Credited as the 'Greatest Movie Musical of All Time,' the film favorite 'Singin' in the Rain' was faithfully and lovingly adapted for stage by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green from their original award-winning screenplay. Each unforgettable scene, song and dance is included, including the show-stopping audience-drenched title number, for a new production opening this weekend at Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave. in downtown Valparaiso. The humor and tune-filled tale of the starlet, the leading man and a love affair set during the era of silent movies transitioning to 'talkies' is presented Friday through March 16 with performances 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets range from $27 to $60 and are available by calling the box office at 219-548-9137 or In the Mode The band Strangelove offers a concert tribute they describe as 'The Depeche Mode Experience.' Los Angeles-based Strangelove-The Depeche Mode Experience delivers a career-spanning, pitch-perfect 'best of' concert that transports the listener through time and touches on several key points in Depeche Mode's 40-plus-year career. Songs from throughout the Depeche tune timeline are lovingly recreated; from favorites on their debut Speak and Spell to the newest fare from the band's latest, 2017's 'Spirit.' The visual presentation includes stage set pieces and in-show costume changes that reflect different eras of Depeche Mode's story and includes a custom-produced multimedia projection of visuals to delight the concertgoer's senses and enhance the illusion. This unique concert event is in the spotlight for one 8 p.m. concert Friday at The Art Theater, 230 Main St. in Hobart. Tickets range from $28 to $40 by calling 219-942-1670 or visit www.
