May 3, 2015 3 min read

Little Lake Theatre Company will kick off its 67th season with Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.”

The play will be director Sunny Disney Fitchett’s swan song as she winds down her 22-year tenure as artistic director of Little Lake Theatre Company.

“The only play I struggled with was the season opener – the one that would be my ‘swan song,'” Disney Fitchett said. “It is my favorite American play. I’ve directed it twice before, and acted in it three times.”

Three years ago, Disney Fitchett saw a version of “Our Town” in New York City. It was by David Cromer, who also played the Stage Manager. It was performed in contemporary clothing – and his take on the Stage Manager was different than Disney Fitchett had ever seen. The interpretation took out the small-town “preciousness,” she said, with Cromer making it feel like her town. She quickly became inspired.

Disney Fitchett’s concept is for Little Lake’s audiences to feel as if they’re attending a rehearsal of “Our Town,” rather than a performance. The more contemporary production will not be the only twist. Marina Lauver will play the cello throughout the play, and Rob Fitchett, the outgoing managing director, will perform all of the sound effects live and in sight of the audience.

Disney Fitchett also selected the cast based on actors she has loved working with during her many years at Little Lake.

“I love my cast,” she said. “But I should say that I haven’t been able to cast everyone with whom I’ve grown to love working with over the years – that’s impossible – but those whom I’m working with on ‘Our Town’ are truly people I love.”

Lauver’s daughter, Lily Lauver, is playing Emily. Disney Fitchett has worked with Lily Lauver since she was a youngster – she is in high school now – and is “magnificently truthful” as Emily, she said.

James Curry, a longtime apprentice, is playing George. The remainder of the cast includes incoming managing director Bob Rak as Dr. Gibbs; Mary Liz Meyer as Mrs. Gibbs; Madeline Dalesio as Rebecca Gibbs; Kevin Bass as Mr. Webb; Allison Cahill as Mrs. Webb; Dylan Blussick as Wally Webb; Jomo Ray as Professor Willard; Carol Ann Schussler as Mrs. Soames; Phil Powell as Simon Stimson; Travis Levers as Sam Craig; and Norm Wash as Constable Warren.

Disney Fitchett also cast two students who are enrolled in Little Lake’s “I Can Do That” acting class. They are Pam Pasternak as Mrs. McCarty and Matt Ross as Howie Newsome.

“My biggest challenge is that I have cast Art DeConciliis as the Stage Manager,” she said with a smile. “I say challenge because Art has always told me he hates this play – for all the reasons that many people say they don’t like it: that it’s too saccharine, or they can’t identify with the idyllic small-town community. I want exactly that kind of person to play the Stage Manager. I want Art to flesh out what is true, real and familiar in this play, and I know he will rise to my challenge.”

Show times are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, May 7-23, with a 2 p.m. matinee May 17. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.littlelake.org/box-office/ or by phone at 724-745-6300.