New Smyrna Beach Observer - Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Little Theatre climbing to new heights
By BILL COOK
Special to the Observer

he Little Theatre’s new marquee is bigger and higher and is attracting the attention of motorists driving by the new theater building on Third Avenue in New Smyrna Beach. And soon it may be attracting theater-goers from as far away as Orlando or as nearby as the Publix shopping center across the street.

“There’s no excuse for not knowing what’s going on now,” says Gary Bolinsky, who climbs the ladder at the Little Theatre and keeps the marquee up-to-date with the latest information on the theater’s goings on. “We’re getting the word out in style with this new marquee,” he says proudly. “You should see it lit up at night. It’s a real attention getter.”

Gary joined the Little Theatre nearly 3 years ago just after he and his wife, Donna, moved to New Smryna Beach. “We went to a few performances,” he recalls, “and I just thought it would be something I’d enjoy doing, being a volunteer at the theater and helping with some of the work that needs to get done here. Turns out I was right.”

So far, Gary has worked on the sets for several Little Theatre productions with Technical Director, Bill Roehrborn, and has helped during the theater’s recent expansion removing some of the old seating that needed to be replaced after the damage from Hurricane Francis in 2004. He’s now updating the theater’s marquee with another member, Jim Taylor. This job requires that Gary get up high on a ladder and, as he calls it, “perform for the motorists as they drive by the theater, usually during rush hour after work.”

“Jim is teaching me the ropes,” says Gary. “He did the marquee for many years in our old building and he is still writing some of the stuff that I put up there.” Gary says he isn’t taking over, merely helping. But it’s Gary who climbs the ladder.

The marquee tells the story. The Little Theatre’s 2005-2006 opening night is scheduled for November 25 with a mystery thriller entitled “Victoria’s House.” The play follows established Little Theatre tradition as they kick off their new season with this spoof 'em and spook 'em “Who Dunnit.” This intriguing play takes place at the turn of the century in a Victorian house. Noted mystery author and playwright, Fred Carmichael spins a tantalizing yarn about a husband killing his wife and thinking he has committed the perfect murder. But forces (maybe supernatural?) work against him. There are twists and turns and suspense right up to the end! The performance plays through December 4 with 7 performances.

On December 9-11, the Little Theatre will present its annual holiday show, which is entitled, “A Little Theatre Christmas” and is directed by John Stenko. It will be presented as a musical review and variety production. Vocalists from the New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater area will perform all your season favorites from “Grandma Got Runned Over By A Reindeer” to “It’s Hard To Be A Jew At Christmas.” Stenko promises “it will be a laugh a minute and it’s bound to give you the goose-bumps you crave during the holiday season.”

The Little Theatre will produce one of the “Nunsense” musicals in February entitled “Meshuggah Nuns!” Auditions for this show are scheduled for Sunday, November 20 and Monday, November 21 at 7 p.m. The location is the Little Theatre rehearsal hall and details are available at their website at www.NsbPlayers.org as is information on all the performances and auditions in their current season of productions.

You can call the Box Office to order tickets at 386-423-1246 or come by in person at 726 Third Avenue across the street from the Publix Shopping Center on the beachside.

And Gary Bolinsky says that he’ll keep us all up-to-date about the latest happenings at the Little Theatre. “Just check the marquee,” he says.