HR0255 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0255 LRB095 11751 KXB 34573 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Little Theater on The Square in Sullivan, Illinois celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2007; and

WHEREAS, The Little Theater on the Square was founded in 1957 by Guy S. Little Jr., a Central Illinois native who learned the theater craft in New York and Miami and came home to Sullivan at the age of twenty-one to open his own theater; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Little fulfilled his life-long dream to own and operate a professional quality theater when The Little Theater on the Square first raised its curtains in 1957 for a performance of the play Brigadoon; and

WHEREAS, Over the years Mr. Little brought many stars of the stage and screen to Sullivan to perform at his theater including Mickey Rooney, Alan Alda, Ann Miller, Don Ameche, Betty Grable, John Carradine, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Conrad, Pat O'Brien, Peggy Cass, and Forrest Tucker; and

WHEREAS, For 22 years Mr. Little and his family ran every aspect of the Little Theater including acting, directing, producing, costume design, advertising, ticket sales, and business management before moving on to pursue other ventures; and

WHEREAS, In 1981 The Little Theater on the Square began operating as a not-for-profit corporation governed by a Board of Trustees made up of Central Illinois residents; and

WHEREAS, In 1988 Leonard Anderson was selected from a group of finalists to be the executive director of the theater; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Anderson built on the Little family's achievements by continuing to grow the theater, including a new ticket office, rehearsal studio, housing for the company, and new amenities for patrons; and

WHEREAS, The Little Theater on the Square provides drama and music classes to more than 275 students and includes a youth touring program that brings theater performances to area schools; and

WHEREAS, Since 1981 the Little Theater on the Square has played to over 600,000 people and brings in an annual $3 million to the city of Sullivan; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Mr. Guy S. Little Jr., The Little Theater on the Square Inc., and Mr. Leonard Anderson on the 50th Anniversary of The Little Theater on the Square; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Guy S. Little Jr., the Little Theater on the Square Inc., and Mr. Leonard Anderson as a symbol of our respect.