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Directors for ALT’s “legendary” 87th season are Gail Drillinger, Brant McCance, new directing intern, Shea Maples, Kevin Frakes and Lee Cox Photo courtesy of Alton Little Theater
Alton Little Theater in Alton, Illinois, has 15 shows scheduled between September and July as part of its legendary 87th season, but as we all know by now, plans could shift be forced to shift at any given time. Flexibility is key.
“We all live in a time of uncertainty, and that alone is the single biggest hurdle, stressor, challenge for community theater,” said ALT executive director, Lee Cox.
Though ALT never intended to pioneer the way back from the initial COVID-19 outbreak, it has forged ahead, not because they are in denial or foolhardy, but because they own their own building and can do more than many non-equity houses to control the theater environment.
“It is very difficult to do business during Covid,” said ALT facility manager and artistic director, Kevin Frakes. “Our main concern is, of course, the actors and everyone who walks through our door. We have followed ‘to the tee’ the guidelines that are provided to us, and will continue to do so, even though it takes a lot of time and expense.”
Cox said ALT will run the new season in the order it was planned even if it is pushed forward.
“However, with the current guidelines (as of this writing), we can seat 50 people per show with social distancing, universal masking, temperature checks, restricted access to any group mingling, removal of paper programs, ticketless entry and special protocols for 24-hour misting and cleaning,” Cox said.
“If you only look at the things we cannot do, it doesn’t make live theater sound like a lot of fun, but when the lights go down, and the audience is transported to a magical place, they love the escape to a world of magic and laughter,” she added.
This was proven by the 543 people who came out and enjoyed “Brigadoon” when ALT reopened with social distancing guidelines in July.
The new season kicks off Sept. 11, with the comedy, “Unnecessary Farce,” running through Sept. 20.
“Unnecessary Farce” kicks off ALT’s 87th season, running Sept. 11 through 20
“‘Unnecessary Farce’ is one of the funniest shows we’ve ever done, and that is so needed right now!” Cox said.
As the theater’s artistic director, Frakes chooses the playbill.
“I think we’ve got a great lineup for this new season. I try to have a variety – from comedy to drama and two great musicals – something for everyone, of all ages,” Frakes said.
“I’m looking forward to directing three shows this season and one next summer,” he added. “After ‘Unnecessary Farce,’ directed by Brant McCance, I start off with ‘The Miracle Worker (a family drama),’ then I go into the musical ‘Sister Act.’ In March, I will direct ‘The Full Monty,’ – a musical, and then next summer, I will direct ‘Shrek the Musical (which was rescheduled from this summer).’”
Cox will be keeping busy in the upcoming season, playing Aurora in the January production of “Terms of Endearment,” also directed by McCance, filling the iconic role modeled by Shirley MacLaine in the film version, and later, on Broadway by Molly Ringwald.
“And I believe in the work of new playwrights and want to help them find their regional, if not national, voices,” Cox said. “Michael Wilmont (who recently died) started telling me about his play, ‘The Red Plaid Shirt’ three years ago, and he actually molded it for the season directors at ALT and gifted it to us four months before his death to be our premier ‘Silver Theater’ production (those written especially for actors over 55).”
Cox will direct Gail Drillinger’s one-woman show about the life of Erma Bombeck in February, will handle the lights for “The Full Monty” in March, producing Pat Anderson’s family comedy, “Sex, Dogs and the Full Catastrophe” in April, and taking on production values (set dressing, the costumes and special effects lights) for the big May comedy, “Kong’s Night Out,” which Drillinger will direct.
Other shows that are part of the extra, extra entertainment series, include “Broadway Salutes America” and “Sing in the New Year Concert,” and a princess brunch, “Dream Works in Progress.”
The Board of Directors has committed to “working” the shows this season in technical and house management capacities to help limit the numbers of volunteers needed.
Cox, Frakes, ticket chair Michael Cox and house manager Jenny London check people in and make sure that everything runs with the design developed for reworked seating, ambulatory issues, restroom monitors, separate entrances and exits, bottled water (water fountains are not allowed), etc.
“We’ve participated in many webinars and Zoom meetings, and we do listen and learn,” Cox said. “In addition to production evenings, we always control rehearsals in our building, too, with no more than seven actors and the director in the 10,000-square-foot theater space, in masks, with special regard and restaging for ‘intimate’ scenes.
“We have so many actors who work (alone) from home and who agree to keep a very low social profile for the five or six weeks of rehearsal. Brant has a great cast for ‘Unnecessary Farce.’”
Before every rehearsal, ALT members check daily news and the county’s website, knowing they all run the chance of working for weeks, and then being postponed.
“That is a reality of theater production now, and I suspect it will become the norm for at least six to 12 months; I hope things can begin to regain normalcy in 2021, but we will adapt and keep working any way we can,” Cox said.
“All the actors have been very understanding through all of this,” Frakes said. “They come in wearing masks and stay that way during rehearsals. We take everyone’s temperature. They are all very aware that things could change at any time. They just want to perform.
“And we’ve had many audience members tell us they’re glad we’re open, and thank us for being safe,” he said.
Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets or for more information on upcoming shows and auditions, call (618)462-3205 or visit altonlittletheater.org.
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