By By Penny Randall / staff writer
Aug. 17, 2003
Meridian Little Theatre has big plans for its 71st season a roster that includes "Camelot," "A Christmas Story," "The Odd Couple" and "Chicago."
In addition to the four plays in its regular season, MLT's Youth Division will bring the classic story of "Pinocchio" to life Jan. 12-18.
In May, the theater celebrated its 70th anniversary with a gala celebration honoring Best Actress and Actors and Supporting Actress and Actors in musicals and dramas. Some of those award winners will star in plays this season.
Two musicals and two classic comedies make up the 71st season of the Meridian Little Theatre, under the direction of Jimmy Pigford. They include:
Coming Oct. 2-8, the wondrous and romantic adventures of King Arthur and his knights are the subject of MLT's first production.
Staged Dec. 4-10, "A Christmas Story" is sponsored in part by Alply and Structural Steel Services Inc. It is humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the Midwest of the 1940s.
The story follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself, but gets the consistent response: "You'll shoot your eye out."
All elements from the beloved motion picture are here, including the family's temperamental exploding furnace and Ralphie's father winning a lamp shaped like a woman's leg in a net stocking.
The play will be staged Feb. 26-March 3. It will star John Johnson and David Miller, voted by MLT's members as best actors in a comedy-drama.
Johnson and Miller team together in one of Neil Simon's funniest comedies about a mismatched couple of middle-aged newly de-weds. Oscar, a sportswriter, is a gruff, irresponsible slob, a sort of depilated bear who shambles around his ill-kept cave.
In moves Felix, a fuss-budgety fanatic about cleaning and cooking and the fun begins. "A evening of group hysteria", says Time magazine. It is sponsored in part by WTOK-TV.
It's big, bold and brilliant! A dazzling hurly-burly of showbiz at its spectacular best. Sponsored in part by Structural Steel Services Inc., "Chicago" features the well-known song, "All that Jazz," and dances choreographed in the style of Bob Fosse.
MLT's Youth Division presents "Pinocchio" Jan. 12-18.
It tells the story of a wooden puppet who yearns to become a real boy. This play is not included in season membership.
Tickets
Season tickets for Meridian Little Theatre's 71st season are $45 for adults, $40 for senior citizens and the military, and $35 for students and
children.
Single tickets are also available.
For more information, call the box office at 482-6371, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit
www.meridianlittletheatre.com.