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News
February 2023
Our second Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre offering of the season is being hosted by the Little Current Legion!
October 2022
The Espanola Little Theatre was back in the swing of Murder Mystery Mayhem with a two performances at the Anchor Inn in Little Current, featuring a script written by our very own Michael Erskine!
June 2022
ELT was pleased to present In One Door, Out The Other to audiences in Espanola and Sault Ste Marie at the Sault Theatre Workshop One-Act Festival Workshop.
What an amazing experience to not only get back on stage for the first time in years, but to also re-connect with thespian friends from all over northern Ontario!
November 2021
Due to covid restrictions we do not yet have firm plans for a live performance, but are currently putting the finishing touches on a Virtual Murder Mystery! Details coming soon!
March 2020
Hedwig was a great success!
It was a new venture for the ELT in every possible way, and blew audiences away with it's energy, comedy, music and heart! A roller coaster ride of pure entertainment.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch played at the Townehouse Tavern in Sudbury, and was our entry in the 2020 QUONTA theatre festival, winning two awards: Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role (Warren Tilston) and Outstanding Technical Achievement!
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September 2019
Unfortunately this year's Christmas production was cancelled due to lack of actors.
Next year, please consider coming out and joining the fun! We don't bite (unless called for in the script)!
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May/June 2019
The Myths at the Edge of the World by Matthew Webster, a children's play by students from elementary and high school, was our final production of the season. Audiences loved the touching and talented performances of Espanola's youth.
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April 2019
Death on the Inland Seas!
An original Murder Mystery dinner theatre was introduced to audiences at the Anchor Inn in Little Current for the first time to rave reviews!
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January 2019
Audition Call!
Espanola Little Theatre will soon be holding auditions for their youth show “The Myths at the Edge of the World” by Matt Webster. Elementary and high school age students wanted. Auditions will be on Sunday, January 20th at 2:00 pm in the AB Ellis Gym. No previous theatre experience required, on and off stage talent welcome! Come on out and bring a friend! See you there!
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September 2018
Audition Call
for “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge “
a comedy by Mark Brown.
Sunday September 16th, 2018
at AB Ellis Public School Gym (old B1 gym)
1:00p.m.
Synopsis: “A year after his miraculous transformation, Ebenezer Scrooge is back to his old ways and is suing Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future for breaking and entering, kidnapping, slander, pain and suffering, attempted murder and the intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
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March 2018
No Problem, Child!
QUONTA has completed another fun filled festival.
Congratulations to Chris Cayen who won an Adjudicator's Award for Outstanding Novice Director, and Michael Boivin who won the award for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role!
But most importantly, congratulations to everyone for a great run of a great show!
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January 2018
Espanola Little Theatre still going strong!
Fresh off the success of our youth production, a hilarious adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, we are now preparing a drama for local audiences and for entry into the QUONTA drama festival. We are also looking forward to another Murder Mystery night performance at the Red Dog!
Stay tuned for updates!
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December 2017 - Wizard of Oz was a huge success!
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September 2017 - Come on out to audition for Wizard of Oz!
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May 2017 - Gun-Shy was a huge success!
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February 2017 - Red Dog Grill Murder Mystery was a huge success!
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January 2017 - Come on out and audition for Gun-Shy!
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December 2016 - Bob's Your Elf was a huge success!
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September 2016 - Come on out and audition for Bob's Your Elf!
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April 2016 - Old Love was a huge success!
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February 2016 - Red Dog Grill Murder Mystery was a huge success!
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November 2015 - Dear Santa was a huge success!
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October 2015
ESPANOLA LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS .....
DEAR SANTA: SIX ADULTS + 14 KIDS = WOW, A SURE HIT!!
A SPECIAL MOOSE REPORT BY BLAKE PRIDDLE:
The Espanola Little Theatre is taking the stage once again with the production of “Dear Santa” a Christmas comedy written by Norm Foster.
The play has been in production for the past few months with rehearsals starting in early September.
The story revolves around... Santa Claus who is trying to make a child’s special wish come true while Santa’s elves must continue making toys despite a big problem.
Meanwhile a sales man from Detroit is trying to convince a reluctant Santa that his 500 year old sleigh should be replaced. The play contains lots of laughs that are fun for all ages.
Long-time ELT member Walter Maskell is co directing with Andrea Emmerton both from Gore Bay. They share their expertise with Assistant Director Jodie Bourcier who is debuting for ELT.
Maskell directed the same production in Gore Bay two years ago and was a big success. He was eager to bring the laughter and enjoyment to Espanola.
Maskell says, “They were interested in doing a play by Norm Foster because he is Canada’s number one comedic playwright. We wanted to put on a play that was funny and involved youngsters. Dear Santa is a perfect Christmas show that utilises every Christmas element; an all round great family show”.
Bourcier says “It’s always fun to work with a group of children, especially children that are really hard working. Their excitement for being on stage is always present, even when we’re practicing separately.” She went on to say that having volunteers made a big difference in directing the children. Another aspect that makes this production special is that two families have acting roles with their children. All actors are doing an amazing job and will surely dazzle the audience at the end of November.
The performance dates are set for November 20th 21st and 27th at 7PM and November 28th at 3PM at Espanola High School’s B1 gym. Tickets are $15 each or a family of 4 for $50.
If you wish to order tickets, CALL THERESA at 705-869-6214 or PICK UP at RUSTIE'S CAFE and the ESPANOLA REGIONAL RECREATION COMPLEX FRONT DESK!!
PHOTO: the cast of DEAR SANTA - photo by Blake Priddle/Moose files
February 2015
The Espanola Little Theatre will be having its
Annual General Meeting
on Saturday, February 28th, 2015 at 1:00pm at 601 Vanier Rd.
October 2013
ESPANOLA’S GOT TALENT
ESPANOLA LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS:
‘ESPANOLA’S GOT TALENT’
Have you got a talent that you would like to showcase? If so, ELT would like to share our stage with you for an evening of family fun!
Calling all musicians, dancers, vocalists, stand up comics, martial artists, etc
EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE:
When: Saturday November 23rd at 7pm
Where: Sacred Heart School
We are holding two registration evenings: Nov. 5th and 6th at 6 pm at the Sacred Heart School gymnasium
**Please come prepared with a sample of your talent ie: Live, Audio or Video
For further information please contact Chris Cayen at: 705-869-8850
Or email: espanolasgottalent@gmail.com
July 2013
Well to say this is the show that never ends seems to be quite the understatement! Espanola Little Theatre is so very proud to have represented Espanola at QUONTA and then representing our region at Theatre Ontario. The success of “Looking” can be attributed to truly being a group effort. From the production team at Christmas time to the current company members, this has been an experience of true camaraderie and cooperation.
11 awards and several nominations later and “Looking” is still going strong with a possible remount in Gore Bay and then the Charles W Stockey Centre in Parry Sound in August. Negotiations are underway and we look forward to being one of the first community theatre groups to be invited to mount a production in the professional theatre.
We are also very excited about our upcoming season. As is the case with several community theatre groups, maintaining membership and growing the base of directors, producers and support team members is always a struggle. In order to support and provide a spirit of mentorship and development, we will be hosting an evening of one acts for our Christmas production. We are hoping to attract 3 directors who will have the opportunity to be mentored from an acting and technical perspective. Sharon Sproule and Walter Maskel have graciously accepted our request to provide production consulting to our budding directors.
We have also decided to mount a musical in the spring. This decision was again based on the need to build membership and audiences. We are aiming for an early to mid-April mounting of the show that is yet to be determined. We will not be entering the Festival this year, however we wanted to ensure our members could still attend Festival even if they are in our show so we purposefully picked those dates mentioned above.
We look forward to all that the upcoming theatre season holds.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Gamelin,
Producer, ‘Looking’
President, ELT.
May 2013
We Won! Again!
After a great time at the QUONTA festival hosted by North Bay in March, we were selected to represent the QUONTA region at the Theatre Ontario Festival in Kingston!
Our May 18th performance of Norm Foster's "Looking" at the
Davies Foundation Auditorium at 52 Church Street, Kingston
won Theatre Ontario Best Production!
This is only the 5th time a group from Northern Ontario has won Theatre Ontario, and the 3rd time for ELT!
March 2013
February 2013
New Executive!
At the Espanola Little Theatre’s February AGM the newly elected president hit the ground running. While Lisa Gamelin is enthusiastic about all of the upcoming activity of the group, she said it is a daunting task. As the new president she feels fortunate to have the strong newly elected executive to shoulder the load. “We have the experienced executive strength of Michael Boivin, Kathy Carre, Chris Cayen, Dario Laurenti, Helen Landry, and Warren Maskell with the infusion of the new blood and excitement of Jody Bourcier, Fred Jantti and Ray Landry. In addition we have the multi-award winning artistic strength of Walter Maskel with Sharon Sproule in-the-wings as a general consultant. ”
That’s the good news - now for the better news. The ELT will be remounting its popular comedy “Looking” by Norm Foster to be entered in the Quonta Drama Region Festival in North Bay in March. Wearing another hat, Producer Lisa Gamelin explained that the popularity of “Looking” and its growing audiences as it was being performed in December played a large part in the decision to take-it-on-the-road. “The team of Jason Morrow, Dario Laurenti, Kathy Carre and Theresa Laurenti on-stage as directed by Walter Maskel has that special chemistry that combines to make theatre magic.” She went on to say, “ We have to re-rehearse the show and ideally put it on for an audience before we take it to the Festival, so we are delighted that we are able to accommodate all the disappointed people who couldn’t get to see it in December, as well as the ones who want to see it again - some for the third time!”
The pre- Festival Espanola performance of “Looking” will be on Saturday, March 9 in the Espanola High School B-1 auditorium with a 7:00 PM. Curtain. Tickets are $15.00 and are available at The Natural Choice in the Espanola Mall and from company members.
ELT will be competing in North Bay at the Quonta Region 2013 Drama Festival on March 14th. ELT’s “Looking” will vie with North Bay Gateway Theatre Guild’s - “The Foreigner”, Thorneloe University’s - “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot”, Sault Theatre Workshop’s - “You Are Here” , and Elliot Lake - ELATE’s - “Old Love“.
