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The Winchester Little Theatre was organized in 1929 "...to present, produce and encourage the production, acting and writing of plays..." by a group of persons interested in providing an outlet for their artistic interests and bringing to the community entertainment and culture.
The first production, Ario de Capo, was staged at Handley High School in 1930. In 1934, the first Junior Little Theatre play was given; 1939-40 brought professional directors for two plays while 1940 and 1969 saw four original plays produced. During this time, WLT produced plays in high schools, churches, motion picture houses, empty store fronts, warehouses and even an abandoned swimming pool building.
World War II brought on an intermission, but in 1946 the group got together and gave a benefit performance for the War Memorial Fund. The next few years were lean, but the group kept alive with play-readings and informal presentations of one-act plays.
In 1952, a full season of performances was staged in local high schools. By 1955 the WLT had found a home in the old Bark Mill, which was owned by one of its members. Here the group began to do shows in "arena" style, or theater-in-the-round.
In 1974, WLT stayed on track as it moved into the old Pennsylvania Railroad freight station (circa 1895). Through the generous support of friends and patrons, the building was paid for in only three years.
While early days here saw plays done in the round, a move was made toward a modified "thrust" stage with the audience on three sides of the stage; this continues to be the setting for most of our plays.
The years have seen many
changes in the Winchester Little
Theatre; in its organization,
its players, its productions and
its audiences. We look with
enthusiasm and anticipation to
the theatrical years ahead as we
celebrate our Diamond Jubilee!
Recipients of the Barkie Award
Each year members of the
Winchester Little Theatre vote
for the play of the year.
The award is known as "The
Barkie" in honor of WLTs first
"home" the old Bark Mill.
Click
here for a complete list of
plays produced by WLT
| Born Yesterday |
1964-65 |
| Sunday in New York |
1965-66 |
| A Thousand Clowns |
1966-67 |
| Everybody Loves Opal |
1967-68 |
| Come Blow Your Horn |
1968-69 |
| Barefoot in the Park |
1969-70 |
| The Glass Menagerie |
1970-71 |
| Halfway up the Tree |
1971-72 |
| Love in E Flat |
1972-73 |
| Never Too Late |
1973-74 |
| Lion in Winter |
1974-75 |
| Don't Drink the Water |
1975-76 |
| A Man for all Seasons/The Odd Couple
(tie) |
1976-77 |
| The Fantasticks |
1977-78 |
| The Heiress |
1979-80 |
| The Man Who Came to Dinner/Nude
with Violin
(tie) |
1980-81 |
| The Teahouse of the August Moon |
1981-82 |
| Inherit the Wind |
1982-83 |
| Mornings at 7 |
1983-84 |
| The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia |
1984-85 |
| Harvey |
1985-86 |
| Alone Together/The Oldest Living Graduate
(tie) |
1986-87 |
| LuAnn Hampton Laverty Overlander |
1987-88 |
| Born Yesterday |
1988-89 |
| A Little Family Business |
1989-90 |
| On Golden Pond |
1990-91 |
| The Rainmaker |
1991-92 |
| The Trip to Bountiful |
1992-93 |
|
Everybody Loves Opal/Rashoman
(tie) |
1993-94 |
| Not Now Darling |
1994-95 |
| Rumors |
1995-96 |
| Of Mice and Men |
1996-97 |
| The Boys Next Door |
1997-98 |
| Run For Your Wife |
1998-99 |
| Auntie Mame |
1999-2000 |
|
Move Over
Mrs. Markham |
2000-01 |
|
Over the
River and
Through the
Woods/Lend
Me A Tenor
(tie) |
2001-02 |
|
In Runs in
the Family |
2002-03 |
|
Cash On
Delivery |
2003-04 |
|
The Laramie
Project |
2004-05 |
|
The Sisters
Rosensweig |
2005-06 |
|
Proof |
2006-07 |
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