Fort Smith Little Theatre celebrates 75th year

The Fort Smith Little Theatre has been a staple in Fort Smith since its inception in 1947, and 75 years later it is still drawing in the masses.

“I think Fort Smith Little Theatre is a hidden gem here," Tina Dale, who is directing the next play, "The Philadelphia Story."

The "Philadelphia Story" will be from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1 with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 matinee at the theater, 401 N. 6.

For Dale, the play has a special connection to her father, who died two years ago. The movie version of the play, starring Katherine Hepburn, was one of their favorites.

Dale said she also considers the people who make up Fort Smith Little Theatre as family.

“I can’t imagine my life anywhere without it," Dale said.

Grace Andrews, the actress who is playing Hepburn's role as Tracy Lord, said performing theater takes her back to her roots. Andrews has been acting in Fort Smith since she was a kid.

But "The Philadelphia Story," is Andrews' first play after a career based on film acting in Los Angeles.

“I’ve been in film for so long," Andrews said. "I haven’t done a play in quite some time, and I kind of wanted to go back to that and challenge myself a little bit. It’s been hard work."

Christian Meurer plays the troubled ex-husband in "The Philadelphia Story." It is his first show in four years.

“Everybody's such a tight-knit community," Meurer said. "Everybody here has the same goal, to do our best for what we’re trying to put on and just enjoy our time doing it. Everybody’s so friendly and so good to each other and very welcoming."

Meurer said he likes the close proximity between the actors and the audience.

“The intimate space we have to work with is also very nice," Meurer said. "We have audiences on most sides of us and very close like you can see the stage right here," Meurer said putting his foot across the line that separates the actors from their spectators. "It’s very intimate and very personable and I actually really enjoy that as an actor."

Isabella Ree at 12 is the play's youngest actor. She said her role as Dinah is her favorite part she has played.

“She’s a very like confident person, and I mean I’m a lot more shy, so it’s a fun like challenge," Ree said about her character. "You know what I mean? And like I haven’t played the younger sister. I’ve always played like the older one, and I’ve been a lot of like I’ve been an animal and stuff, but I’ve never really been someone. This might be my biggest role I think."

This show is not only Ree's biggest part, it is also her first show acting with adults. She said that she likes the challenge. There is always something for her to do.

At the Little Theatre, all the work is done by volunteers, and Dale said she can always use more.

“People just kind of step in wherever they can to do whatever they can do," Dale said.

Since 1947, this has been the way the Little Theatre has operated. It has depended on generous community support since actors first started putting on plays at what is now Darby Middle School.

From middle school, the Little Theatre moved to a former grocery store on North O Street, and again in the mid-1980s, it moved on to a larger location on N. 6th Street.

Throughout all these changes in scenery, the Little Theatre continued to offer performances and became a key stalwart of art in Fort Smith.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Fort Smith Little Theatre performs more than 400 plays in 75 years