Familiar titles fill the schedule for Springfield Little Theatre’s 89th season. It looks, at first glance, to be a season full of hits.
“Well, I hope so,” Beth Domann, SLT’s executive director, said with a laugh during a Tuesday phone interview. “There really is something for everyone, absolutely. There are just so many opportunities to see so many different kinds of things.”
The curtain goes up on “Fiddler on the Roof,” the season opener, Sept. 8 (tickets are on sale now). Here are five things to know about what’s coming to the historic Landers Theatre.
There’s a longtime professional actor directing ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
Jack Laufer has been splitting his time between Los Angeles and Springfield for the past several years. He’s using some of his days in the Queen City to make his SLT directorial debut with “Fiddler on the Roof,” which runs Sept. 8-24. He has previously directed several shows for Springfield Contemporary Theatre.
“People may not recognize him, but they know him because they’ve seen him on TV all the time and in the movies,” Domann said.
She’s not exaggerating. Laufer has been a professional actor for more than 45 years, appearing on stage and screen. His resume includes films “Lost In Yonkers,” where he co-starred with Mercedes Ruehl, Richard Dreyfuss and Irene Worth. He also appeared opposite Robert Duval in “The Man Who Captured Eichmann” and had a major role in “The Day After Tomorrow.”
As for television, the list includes several well-known shows, including some Emmy Award winners:
- “Huff”
- “Masters of Sex”
- “Mad Men”
- “Welcome to Chippendales”
- “Frasier”
- “CSI”
- “Criminal Minds”
- “Modern Family”
“Fiddler on the Roof” is well-known, too, debuting in 1964 and winning a handful of Tony Awards.
“Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters,” SLT’s website reads. “With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia.”
Domann calls it a “beautiful, beautiful show.”
“It’s very relevant to what’s happening in the world today,” she said.
SLT is collaborating with Mosaic Arts Collective on ‘In the Heights’
Though it was only established in June 2022, Mosaic Arts Collective is having a major impact on the live theatre scene in Springfield. It continues that impact by teaming up with SLT to produce “In the Heights” Jan. 26-Feb. 11, 2024.
Mosaic was founded by Nki Calloway, Amanda Snead and Keegan Winfield. That organization has teamed up with Springfield Contemporary Theatre for a well-received production of “The Color Purple: The Musical” and recently partnered with SLT’s Education Department for “Disney's Moana Jr.” and “Disney’s The Lion King, Kids.” This is Mosaic’s first mainstage partnership with Springfield Little Theatre, but Calloway and Winfield have a long history with the organization.
“Keegan and Nki have been a part of the theatre forever and ever and ever,” Domann said. “I’m just so proud of them and everything they’re doing with Mosaic. So we decided to partner with them during this season to do ‘In the Heights’ and give an entirely different group the opportunity to do a show. … This was the first show that Lin-Manuel Miranda did, which was a huge success.”
The show won a 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical. It centers on an ensemble of characters in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.
“Nina has just returned to her Washington Heights neighborhood from her freshman year at Stanford, unsure if she plans to go back; her parents struggle to keep their small business alive and Benny, their young employee, does his best to help the company stay afloat,” SLT’s website says. “Usnavi operates a tiny bodega, and his love interest, Vanessa, only dreams of finding a studio apartment in the coveted West Village. When the winning lottery ticket, a power outage and romantic tension all hit the ‘hood, the long-time friends and neighbors make discoveries about each other, about themselves, and about the place they all call home.”
SLT and Mosaic are running a “Gift a Ticket” campaign with “In the Heights.” Patrons can purchase a $37 general admission ticket that will help individuals, families, community agencies and organizations attend the show.
“It’s a really cool opportunity for people to help people see this who might normally not be able to do that,” Domann said.
Young actors take center stage in a pair of Disney productions
Springfield Little Theatre will showcase the area’s young talent with a pair of junior productions. “Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo Jr.” runs Oct. 12-22. “Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins Jr.” is set for April 11-21, 2024.
“You have to be 18 and under to do the junior shows,” Domann said. “And everyone knows the story of Nemo and Dory. I was watching it the other night and you just forget how funny it is.”
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ is back by popular demand
SLT is doing “The Play That Goes Wrong” again after a great run last season, using the same cast. It runs March 7-17, 2024.
“We had so many people who weren’t able to see it at the time we did it, so we brought it back,” Domann said. “It is a play within a play and it’s a total actor’s nightmare. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong. And there are things that aren’t supposed to go wrong that do.
“And here’s the thing: It’s great for everybody. It’s just as much fun to bring your kids. It’s for absolutely everybody. It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you like to laugh that’s the show for you.”
“The Play That Goes Wrong” is a 1920s whodunit that, according to SLT’s website, includes “an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead and actors who trip over everything.”
Springfield Little Theatre’s 89th season also includes “Elf The Musical” (Nov. 14-Dec. 3) and “Guys and Dolls” (May 21-June 16).
You can see a show for free
Domann points out that Springfield Little Theatre is a community-based, volunteer-driven organization — and there are some perks that come with volunteering.
“These are your neighbors and friends that you’re going to see up on stage, which is pretty amazing,” she said. “There are a lot of ways to become involved with Springfield Little Theatre and we’re open and welcome to everybody. … And there are a lot of ways to see shows. If you want to come and see a show and usher, you can see the show for free.”
You can learn more about volunteering opportunities on Springfield Little Theatre’s website.
Springfield Little Theatre’s 89th season
- “Fiddler on the Roof,” Sept. 8-24
- “Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo Jr.,” Oct. 12-22
- “Elf The Musical,” Nov. 14-Dec. 3
- “In the Heights,” Jan. 26-Feb. 11
- “The Play That Goes Wrong,” March 7-17
- “Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins Jr.,” April 11-21
- “Guys and Dolls,” May 21-June 16
For more information, or to order tickets, call 417-869-1334 or visit the Springfield Little Theatre website.
