3 minute read
Curtain Call
Northshore community theaters set the stage for all types of entertainment.
BY SARAH BONNETTE
WITH DOZENS OF LIVE PRODUCTIONS throughout the year, community theaters on The Northshore provide entertainment for everyone.
During their months-long, or sometimes year-round, seasons, the theaters bring to the stage everything from play premiers to dramas, comedies and well-known Broadway musicals. Musical performances, comedy shows and children’s theater add variety to the offerings. Each production offers not just a chance to welcome audiences, but also an opportunity to expand their imaginations and educate them about cultural differences and similarities.
Putting on the productions involves lots of local volunteers, who come together to build sets, design costumes, choreograph and star on stage.
“The theater is made for everyone,” says Brian Fontenot, who founded Cutting Edge Theater in Slidell 14 years ago to present St. Tammany residents with “theater that was not being done in our area."
“I think people need to be exposed to a little bit of everything,” he says of the 11 shows Cutting Edge presents year-round. “We take the classics, and we do them a little more edgy.”
There is a long live-theater history in the Parish, starting with the establishment of Playmakers Theater in Covington in 1955. Now one of the longest continuously operating community theaters in the U.S., Playmakers continues to “find interesting and unique shows that aren’t the things that everybody has seen,” board president Arden Dufilho says. Playmakers’ season includes five shows and a Christmas production. It also works with Creative Arts of St. Tammany to produce children's shows at the theater.
Another grandfather of The Northshore’s community theaters, Slidell Little Theatre (established by volunteers in 1963) produces six shows per season on its Main Stage and features medium-scale productions, one-act plays and innovative one-person shows on its Allen Little Stage. The goal, according to its website, is to, “engage, educate and involve members of the community in high-quality theatrical productions”.
The City of Covington’s Cultural Arts and Events Department brings professional performances from around the country, ranging from music to magic and comedy shows.
Mandeville’s 30 by Ninety Theatre presents shows that are meant “to put quality entertainment on the stage,” says Jason Leader, the theater’s co-founder and executive director. Customer service, quality productions and a commitment to youth programs have kept 30 by Ninety successful, Leader says, noting that the theater is about to embark on its 10th season.
Every theater offers summer camps that culminate with on-stage productions, giving area children a chance to experience live theater, whether through a starring role or working backstage. Check out The Northshore events calendar at VisitTheNorthshore.com for a complete list of productions and events.
