Ruston Community Theatre’s “Anne of Green Gables” opens tonight at the Dixie Center for the Arts and runs thru Sunday, Oct. 15.
There will be nightly performances Thursday thru Saturday at 7 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m. “Anne of Green Gables” is this the first show of the RCT 2023-24 season.
“Anne of Green Gables” is a 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy M. Montgomery that has stood the test of time for all ages. The novel and play recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, performed by Laina Parkman, an orphan girl who is adopted by a brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, performed for RCT by Stephen Vessell and Sandee Sledge.
The siblings did not intend to adopt a girl and were surprised when Anne arrived. Anne is both curious and imaginative and has a personality that captures the heart of everyone. The freckled redhead has to win over the brother and sister and is eventually accepted by and loved as a part of the family and the community. “Anne of Green Gables” is an eight-book series that was first written in 1908. The story was later made into films, a stage play and musical.
“Anne of Green Gables” is directed by Mary Watkins and stage managed by Monika Locke and Beth Heindenreich. A first for RCT, the set was designed by one of RCT’s youth performers, Grisham Locke.
Gresham Locke wanted to expand his theatre talents by designing a set and Watkins gave him the opportunity to explore the technical set design side of a production. He stated that he wanted to try to design before he left for college, and this is his senior year. He said he is very thankful to Watkins for trusting him to take the design task on.
The actual inspiration for the set was the original Green Gables house on Prince Edward Island in Canada and has a minimal twist.Grisham Locke said the design is a joint effort in creativity of several minds from the cast.Locke himself is playing the character of Gilbert Blythe in the show and said he is excited for the audience to see this classic story in a new light.
The most challenging part of the design was staying true to the classic nature of the story while creating a new and interesting environment where the actors could perform Locke expressed his appreciation to Mark Graham and Henry Poland for their carpentry expertise in turning his design into reality.
For more information, visit rctructon.org or call 318-595-0872.
