RSVP to 'Save Our Barn' at Little Lake Theatre

If spending a crisp evening eating appetizers such as crab-stuffed mushrooms or honey shrimp and desserts such as bite-size cheesecakes or brownies while listening to an all-girl country trio perform outside a red country barn sounds like fall fun, then Little Lake Theatre invites you to “slip into your country casual duds and sashay on over” to its S.O.B. (Save Our Barn) fundraiser.

The event takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday at Little Lake Theatre.

Providing the entertainment is Stand By Your Barn, a country singing trio that includes the voices of Little Lake actresses Sara Barbisch, Kate-Neubert-Lechner and Laura Paterra.

Fundraising activities include an artisan’s auction and silent auction featuring the products and work of all-local merchants and artists as well as a raffle.

Little Lake Theatre has used the more than a century-old, local landmark barn since 1949 when the theater was founded by Will Disney. In its inaugural season, actors used the barn as a performance space and since the 1950s as a rehearsal and storage space.

This fundraiser kicks off phase II of the barn’s renovations. The first phase of the S.O.B. Project enabled Little Lake Theatre to add a new roof as well as perform much-needed external repairs. Phase II will help them improve the rehearsal/storage space with additional shelving, as well as conquering heating, air conditioning and ventilation matters.  

“When you’re rehearsing in the dead of August with temperatures inside the barn reaching 110 degrees and you’re on take number five of a scene where you’re asked to do 30-40 push-ups, the lack of ventilation in there becomes apparent,” said Nate Bell, actor, former technical director for several seasons and son of Martha Bell, this year’s recipient of the Will Disney Award.  

Every year at the annual fundraiser, Little Lake presents the Will Disney Award to a dedicated and driven volunteer whose years of hard work have contributed to the success of the theater.

This year, the recipient will be Martha Bell, resident designer for the past 16 seasons and artist of Little Lake’s Shakespeare logo which dons Chuck Taylor high tops the sort Martha is often seen wearing herself. Her artwork has decorated playbills and brochures at the Lake for dozens of years. In addition, Martha designs stage lighting, unusual props and provides the aesthetic final touches on all productions at the theatre.

“She’s a brilliant artist and fine actress but it’s her spirit that everyone loves too,” said Sunny Disney, current artistic director at Little Lake and the daughter of the theater’s founder Will Disney. “She loves you (in) spite of yourself, teaches you and is your champion…all while racing up and down a 15-foot ladder to adjust a lighting instrument.”

“It is a wonderful, huge honor getting this award,” Bell said. When asked how she contributed to the Lake’s success she remarked: “If a light bulb goes out or someone needs toilet paper, I know where to find it.”

To RSVP to Little Lake Theatre's Fundraiser call 724-745-6300 and select a donor level from the following: Builder $250, Sawyer $100, Joiner $50, or Draftsman $25.

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Peters Patch.