2 Georbetwn Little Theatre, Tuesday,September 21, 2010 3 Georbetwn Little Theatre, Tuesday, September 21, 2010 Fifty years of award-winning community theatre meeting, everyone who wanted a part got one; I was cast as the hero, Adam Oakhart." Rehearsals for the three-act play started in October 1960 and the play was presented in February 1961 at Wrigglesworth Georgetown Little Theatre Produc- School. tions Inc. (GLT) had its beginning in an From 1962 to 1969 the group performed in the Georgetown amateur theatricals evening class that District High School auditorium, located at the west end of the was held at the Georgetown District High present gym. Although the stage was considerably larger than School during the winter and spring of the one at Wrigglesworth, the acoustics in the hall were less 1959-60. As a grand finale the members than ideal, especially when there were small audiences for the of the evening class staged a one-act play last play of the season. called The Mayor of Torontal. The group turned full circle and returned to Wrigglesworth Members of the cast included Vera Mac- where performances were presented until the spring of 1979. donald, who is still active in GLT today and The plays for the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons were performed Mary and John Goebel. In the fall of 1960, this at Sacre Coeur Hall, until the new theatre opened in the fall of enthusiastic group along with Mike and Mary 1981. Peleschak, Gord and Cathy Hunt formed the GLT had the honour of being the first group to perform nucleus of what was to become Georgetown Little in the new theatre, named in memory of John Elliott, a forTheatre. mer Georgetown councillor. We presented Not Now Darling The first play the new with Lois Elliott portraying Janie, making her group performed was Dirty first hometown appearance in the theatre Work At The Crossroads, a melonamed after her father. drama. Gord Hunt remembers, The Elliott family continued to sup"since this was a port the arts and provided GLT with very small rehearsal and set-building facilities in two separate warehouses. Costumes and props were stored in an old school in Norval. Although the new theatre provided us with a fine stage and comfortable seating for our patrons, a strong desire still existed for GLT to acquire a building that would adequately serve all our needs under one roof. At our 25th Anniversary Jubilee, we were proud to announce that negotiations had been finalized with the Town of Halton Hills to purchase the old Stewarttown Hall. On January 2, 1986, our dream of owning our own facility became reality and we took possession NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH 1961 By VIRGINIA BANCUR GLT president With the exception of our archives, which were stored in an Wardrobe. We travelled back in time old steel and stone vault and suffered only minor smoke and to Salem, Massachusetts to relive the water damage, everything was lost; all the costumes, furniture, witch trials in The Crucible. The GLT Youth Company was proud and the set for Dial M For Murder in the workshop. With determination and perseverance, the members raised to participate in part of Georgetown's funds to rebuild a new and better home calling on local busi- history when they presented the world nesses and the community to assist. Many members devoted premiere, The Georgetown Boys. The their time and efforts including Dorothy Hunt, John Carter and play written by GLT member Sam Hancock based on the works of an author, told Mike Wilson. The new custom-built Studio was opened on the footprint of the story of Armenian boys travelling from the previous Studio in 2002, and is the envy of most other the- Europe to Georgetown for a better life. The Youth Comatre groups in Southern Ontario. It pany is a vital and offers a rehearsal space the approxivibrant part of the mate size of the stage at the John ElGLT family. Besides liott Theatre, a huge costume collecbeing a youth theatre tion, and a large area where sets can group, the young people be constructed. are very active with GLT In 2003, members of the Georgein the community. You town Little Theatre Productions can find them at Canada Day started the Georgetown Little Thepainting faces and participating atre Youth Company (GLTYC) to fulin the parade. They have assisted fill the need for a community theatre the Town in their Volunteer Appregroup for youth in Georgetown. GLciation Event and the Acton BIA TYC provides young people between in the Leathertown Festival. On the ages of 10-18, the opportunity the Sunday of the Georgetown to learn about all aspects of theatre Fall Fair, you will find them in from acting and writing to stage the children's area painting management, to make-up and more, faces. all the while building teamwork and Georgetown Little Theleadership skills. As part of the conatre Production members tinuing development of the GLTYC, assist various not-for-profa series of workshops, rehearsals it community groups with and other events are organized on their fundraising efforts Saturdays throughout the season. through a donation of The company produced its first OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MURDER 2003 show tickets, benefit play, Shakespeare's A Midsummer nights or providing acNight's Dream in the spring of 2004 season. The annual spring show enables the youth to work with tors for an evening event. For 50 years, entries into various theatre more experienced members of the adult company. During our 2004-05 season, the Youth Group also produced its festivals have netted GLT many awards, along first annual one-act play festival produced entirely by the youth, with nominations for Best Director, Producer, giving them a chance to showcase their own talents. The youth Lighting, Visual Design, and Acting categomembers welcome the challenge of producing thought provok- ries. As we embark on the next milestone in ing and interesting plays using their imagination and forcing the audience to use theirs. The audience was transported to the GLT history, we would like to thank all the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina for the production Dark of people whose volunteer participation, vithe Moon. They faced the challenge of turning a cast of 25 into a sion, and artistic talent has made Georgevariety of insects in The Insect Play. Make-believe took us to the town Little Theatre Productions Inc. the world of Narnia in an adaption of The Lion, the Witch and the success it is today. PRIVATE LIVES 1968 of the Stewarttown Hall. Members worked diligently to build a new costume room in the attic; an entranceway at the back of the stage increased its potential; and a dressing room enabled us to conveniently present one-act plays to our members and guests. Disaster struck on Monday, March 30, 1998 at 6:40 a.m., the Halton Hills Fire Department was called to our Studio in Stewarttown when a passer-by noticed smoke coming from the building. By 8 a.m. it was completely engulfed in flames and by 2 p.m. nothing was left standing. Take a bow, GLT! All of us at Globe Productions congratulate our fellow theatre enthusiasts at GLT on providing fifty years of quality entertainment! See www.globeproductions.ca for details on our four musicals this season. Thanks GLT Tickets for all GLT productions can be purchased online at www.haltonhills.ca/theatre or by calling 905-877-3700 For all your printing & copying needs. 348 Guelph St., Unit 6 Georgetown 905-873-6116 www.thewaywewere.com 905-702-7675 98 Main St. S. Downtown Georgetown 56 Main St. S., Downtown Georgetown 905-873-1213 www.gallerysoft.com We are pleased to support GLT, Congratulations! 26 Guelph St, Georgetown · 905 877-9896 carpetone.com · 1-800-CARPET-1 (Downtown Georgetown) When it comes to flooring...nobody does it better.® for all of the entertaining evenings!! Carolyn & Alan Ryall Debbie & Brian Hunter J.S. & SON FUNERAL HOME LIMITED JONES J The Board, Staff, Members and Students of Literacy North Halton would like to congratulate GLT on their 50th Anniversary celebrations. Expect the Best Margaret Olah President Congratulations on 50 years of exciting theatre!! 905-877-3631 www.literacynh.org 27 Main St. S., Georgetown 905-702-7719 www.prosperityone.ca Sun Nov 28th Fri Dec 10th www.georgetownchoral.ca