The Bay St. Louis Little Theatre Guild committee recently decided to set a new precedent. They recently selected the next two season openers and the BSLLT Board of Directors has approved their selections. The Guild reads multiple plays and meets monthly to discuss the possibilities of each play for the Little Theatre productions. The Guild has the task of selecting plays for the theater season of shows.
“We read so many great plays throughout our selection process and every decision is prefaced with ‘there are so many great possibilities, we could choose the next three seasons.’ So on that premise, the decision was made to choose the next two season opening shows,” stated Larry Clark, the Guild chairperson.
The 2016-2017 season will open in September, 2016 with “Twelve Angry Men” by Reginald Rose. Rose adapted the play from his 1954 teleplay of the same title for the CBS Studio One television series.
“Twelve Angry Men” begins in a courtroom where the jury has heard the case of an eighteen-year-old boy from a slum is on trial for allegedly stabbing his father to death. At the beginning, the jury has a nearly unanimous decision of guilty, with a single dissenter of not-guilty, who throughout the play vows a seed of reasonable doubt. If there is any reasonable doubt of his guilt, the jury is to return a verdict of not guilty. A guilty verdict will be accompanied by a mandatory death sentence. The movie of the same name was made in 1957 and starred Henry Fonda. “With the huge amount of talented male actors in this community, this will be an incredible show,” stated Richard O’Briant.
“Driving Miss Daisy” will start the 2017-2018 season in September, 2017. The play will be a revival of the season opener of 2011 at BSLLT. The show will include the previous cast of Cheryl Grace, David Bell, and Rick Amos returning to their roles. “When we were approached with the idea of reprising our roles, we all jumped at the chance to return. We loved creating those characters. We have all remained very close since the play,” stated Cheryl Grace.
“Driving Miss Daisy” by Alfred Uhry is a Pulitzer Prize winner. It takes place mostly in Atlanta, Georgia. The story tells of the evolving relationships of Miss Daisy, a wealthy widow, her businessman son, Boolie, and Hoke, a widower hired by her son Boolie to be Miss Daisy’s chauffeur. The play spans twenty-five years of the three characters lives and portrays a moving story of the unlikely friendship that grows between Miss Daisy and Hoke. “…a winner in this one….gives off a warm glow of humane affirmation” – Variety.
The Guild is lead by Board member Larry Clark. The Guild committee consists of Sylvia Schneller, Clayton Pennylegion, Richard O’Briant, Daryl Himel, Darlene Hartgreve, and Christina Richardson.
The rest of the 2016-2017 season will be announced in May, 2016.