The Owen Sound Little Theatre has a long history in Owen Sound. Read on for our history in three acts, past, present and future.

OWEN SOUND LITTLE THEATRE - a play in three Acts

The Time: January 1961
The Place: Berch residence, Owen Sound
Characters: 19 community members

Synopsis: With a small group of community citizens interested in developing and nurturing performance arts in Owen sound, the Owen Sound Little Theatre was formed and the first play My Three Angels was produced in May of 1961 and performed in the auditorium of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute. OSLT sought admission to the Western Ontario Drama League, an umbrella group of theatre companies from Windsor to Burlington in the south, and embracing all of western Ontario to Owen Sound in the north. OSLT quickly won a place in the WODL theatre competition in 1963 with "Deep Blue Sea".

In the early years the company moved from one spartan rehearsal space to another, from unheated rooms over the Bank of Montreal to finally the abandoned Crofthaven School. This location became the home to a burgeoning stock of set pieces, wardrobe, props and general theatre paraphernalia. As the physical assets grew, so too did the theatrical expertise. From this base, OSLT expanded its goals and mounted many ambitious and successful plays. "The Fantastiks" was the group's first musical, to be followed by larger and more ambitious productions such as "Oliver" (with the Georgian Bay Community Orchestra), Cabaret, Kiss Me Kate, Fiddler on the Roof (the largest audience of OSLT history)) and the final play in the OSCVI, "My Fair Lady" in May 1984.

With expanding and more critical audiences, the company strove to learn more of its craft by hiring professional directors and by attending Theatre Ontario summer school, taking courses in all aspects of theatre production and management.

As expertise grew, it was reflected in the ever-increasing quality of the productions. Theatre Ontario - the highest competition available to an amateur theatre company, was won in 1981 and 1982 with productions of "Bethune", "The Runner Stumbles "and again in 1989 with "Tally's Folly" which led to an invitation to perform in Victoria BC as part of a national one-time competition.

But deep in the hearts of the company members was the dream to be able to rehearse, live and perform in their own home.

The Time: 1986
Place: 251 9^th St. East, Owen Sound
Characters: 100+ members

Synopsis: In pursuing the dream of a permanent home, OSLT had explored many possibilities: The old Savoy Theatre (1976), the Bayshore Community Centre (1982), the proposed Arts Centre Georgian College (1984), but none of these projects materialized. Finally, in 1986, under the capable leadership of Velma Mitges, the group purchased the Roxy Theatre, one time home of vaudeville theatre, sometime Odeon movie house, and now, finally, the home of Owen Sound Little Theatre.

With a firm foundation under its feet, the company undertook even more challenges, opening the theatre for community groups with events of music, dance, drama and business - a vital part of the local community. The Roxy was LIVE and lively.

The Time: the future
Place: Roxy Theatre
Characters: the community

Despite set-backs, mishaps, success and failure, praise and criticism, the curtain has opened every year for 40 years on the newest OSLT production. With the support of the community, and a new generation of interest in live performance, we hope it always will.


Click here to find out the history of the OSLT Building.