In the Historic 1927 Downtown Arabian Theatre -- 408 North 5th Avenue -- Laurel, Mississippi

63 Years of Shows at LLT

Since LLT started in 1961, we've presented over 250 productions. We have copies of every show program except for the 21 marked below with an asterisk beside the title. Drop up a line if you have one of these.

Old Pinehurst
The Pinehurst Hotel and Arabian Theatre in the 1970s. You can see the big "A" on the marquee of the Arabian right above the long entrance lobby patrons walked down to enter the auditorium of the movie house. The tall ARABIAN neon sign above that marquee was saved and is now hanging on the side of our theatre.

  FIRST YEARS OF PERFORMANCES AT WISNER BUILDING, MASON & WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL

Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1961 Born Yesterday Elton Bateman Marda Burton Our 1st Season
-TV ACTOR / LAUREL NATIVE TOM LESTER (EB IN 'GREEN ACRES') IN CAST
1962 *Dial M For Murder Bob Martins Marda Burton  
1962 *The Curious Savage Ruth Tomlinson Marda Burton  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1962 *The Man Who Came To Dinner Lowell Tew Marda Burton  
1963 *The Philadelphia Story Sharon Henderson Marda Burton  
1963 *See How They Run Gladys Mack Huff Marda Burton  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1963 You Can't Take It With You Jim Gibbon Lowell Tew  
1964 *Everybody Loves Opal Dot Traweek Lowell Tew  
1964 The Women Ruth Tomlinson Lowell Tew  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1964 *All The Way Home Rufus Smith Billy Lightsey  
-MOVIE/BROADWAY ACTOR RUFUS SMITH ('ANNIE GET YOUR GUN' WITH ETHEL MERMAN) DIRECTS
1965 *The Heiress Allan Jones Billy Lightsey  
1965 The Solid Gold Cadillac Bob Cade Billy Lightsey  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1965 Take Her, She's Mine Lowell Tew Connie Farrell  
1966 Our Town Ruth Tomlinson Connie Farrell  
1966 Never Too Late Page Harris Connie Farrell  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1966 A Thousand Clowns Talmadge Harper Clayton Corley  
1967 The Country Girl Marda Burton Clayton Corley  
1967 Barefoot In The Park Dennis Bailey Clayton Corley  

  LLT LEASES OUR FIRST THEATRE SPACE, THE OLD ARMORY BUILDING ON MAGNOLIA STREET

Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1967 *The Odd Couple Dennis Bailey Betty Whitt  
1968 The Willow & I Page Harris Betty Whitt  
1968 The Desk Set Lowell Tew Betty Whitt  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1969 The Glass Menagerie Page Harris Ruth Tomlinson  
1969 Mary, Mary Lowell Tew Ruth Tomlinson  
1969 The Apple Tree Dana Seefeld Ruth Tomlinson  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1969 Don't Drink The Water Dana Seefeld Lowell Tew  
1970 Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Dana Seefeld Lowell Tew  
1970 Luv Lowell Tew Lowell Tew  
1970 The Fantasticks Mike Howard Lowell Tew  
-CABARET SINGER-BROADWAY ACTOR ('CLEAVAGE') / LAUREL NATIVE TOM ELIAS IN CAST
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1970 Auntie Mame Lowell Tew Patti McLaughlin 10th Season
1970 The Subject Was Roses Don Toner Patti McLaughlin  
1971 Spoon River Anthology Ruth Tomlinson Patti McLaughlin  
1971 Cactus Flower David Godbold Patti McLaughlin  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1971 Plaza Suite Lowell Tew Tucker Buchanan  
1971 The Rainmaker Mike Howard Tucker Buchanan  
1972 Charley's Aunt Dana Seefeld Tucker Buchanan  
1972 Tonight Is Gershwin Bob Mesrobian Tucker Buchanan  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1972 *Forty Carats Lowell Tew Molly Newton  
1972 Any Wednesday Page Harris Molly Newton  
1973 Butterflies Are Free Ruth Tomlinson Molly Newton  
1973 Follies '73 Mike Howard Molly Newton  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1973 Last Of The Red Hot Lovers Billy Lightsey Rosemay Bouchillon  
1973 *The Bad Seed Jimmy Cox Rosemay Bouchillon  
1974 Blithe Spirit Ruth Tomlinson Rosemay Bouchillon  
1974 Dames At Sea Mike Howard Rosemay Bouchillon  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1974 I Do, I Do Jimmy Cox Bill Clinton  
1974 *My Three Angels Lowell Tew Bill Clinton  
1975 *Finishing Touches Joe Myers Bill Clinton  
1975 Little Foxes Mike Howard Bill Clinton  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1975 *Man Of LaMancha Talmadge Harper Don O'Brien  
1975 Harvey Ruth Tomlinson Don O'Brien 50th Production
1976 Seven Year Itch Ginger Everitt Don O'Brien  
1976 Evening Of One Acts John Sumrall/Bill Clinton Don O'Brien  

  URBAN RENEWAL CLAIMS OUR BUILDING, ONE YEAR OF SHOWS AT VARIOUS CITY SCHOOLS

Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1976 Once Upon A Mattress Jimmy Cox John Sumrall  
1976 *Diary Of Anne Frank Liz Chesser John Sumrall  
1977 The Lion In Winter Don Frutiger John Sumrall  
1977 No Sex Please, We're Brittish Richard Piazza John Sumrall  

  LLT PURCHASES OUR FIRST BUILDING, THE HISTORIC 1927 DOWNTOWN ARABIAN THEATRE

Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1977 Our Town Ruth Tomlinson J. Larry Walters  
1977 Guys & Dolls Bob Mesrobian J. Larry Walters  
1978 A Streetcar Named Desire Don Frutiger J. Larry Walters  
-TV ACTOR ('SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE') / RECORDING ARTIST / LAUREL NATIVE PATRICK WEATHERS IN CAST
1978 6 Rms Riv Vu Richard Piazza J. Larry Walters  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1978 Damn Yankees Bob Mesrobian Liz Chesser  
1978 Under Papa's Picture Gina Robertson Liz Chesser  
1978 Count Dracula John Sumrall Liz Chesser  
1979 Night Must Fall Wess Hughes Liz Chesser  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1979 Teahouse Of The August Moon Lowell Tew Mary Anne Sumrall  
1979 How The Other Half Loves Wess Hughes Mary Anne Sumrall  
1980 Witness For the Prosecution Bob Lowe Mary Anne Sumrall  
1980 Come Blow Your Horn John Sumrall Mary Anne Sumrall  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1980 The Sound Of Music Wess Hughes John McRae 20th Season
1980 The Mousetrap John Sumrall John McRae  
1981 The Crucible Bob Lowe John McRae  
1981 Heaven Can Wait Missy McCraw John McRae  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1981 The Wizard Of Oz Wess Hughes Wess Hughes  
-CO-PRODUCTION WITH JUNIOR AUXILIARY
1981 Showboat Wess Hughes Wess Hughes  
1981 Bus Stop Bob Lowe Wess Hughes  
1982 Vanities Billie Graham Wess Hughes  
1982 Alice In Wonderland Wess Hughes Wess Hughes  
-CO-PRODUCTION WITH JUNIOR AUXILIARY
1982 1776 Linda Nash / Wess Hughes Wess Hughes  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1982 Mame Wess Hughes Wess Hughes  
1982 Arsenic And Old Lace Darlene Purcell / David Jones Wess Hughes  
1983 You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown Wess Hughes Wess Hughes  
-CO-PRODUCTION WITH JUNIOR AUXILIARY
1983 Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write? John Maxwell Wess Hughes  
1983 To Kill A Mockingbird Missy McCraw Wess Hughes  
1983 A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Linda Nash/Wess Hughes Wess Hughes  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1983 Oklahoma Wess Hughes L.H. Walker  
1983 Same Time, Next Year Billie Graham L.H. Walker  
1984 Deathtrap David Jones/Darlene Purcell L.H. Walker  
1984 Grease Linda Nash/Wess Hughes L.H. Walker  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1984 The Music Man Nancy Godsey Edward Boone  
1984 On Golden Pond Don Frutiger Edward Boone  
1985 Crimes Of The Heart Anita Boyd Edward Boone  
1985 *Cheaper By The Dozen Brenda Carey Edward Boone  
1985 Ain't Misbehavin' Wess Hughes Edward Boone  

  HURRICANE JUAN DAMAGES THE ARABIAN AND SEASON PERFORMED AT GARDINER JUNIOR HIGH

Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1985 The Fantasticks Marlyn Blake Herb Knotts  
1985 Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Don Frutiger Herb Knotts  
1986 Harvey Liz Chesser / Betty Whitt Herb Knotts  
-MOVIE ('PARTY GIRL') & BROADWAY ACTRESS / LAUREL NATIVE PARKER POSEY IN CAST
1986 *Born Yesterday David Godbold Herb Knotts  

  HURRICANE REPAIRS COMPLETED AND WE MOVE BACK TO THE ARABIAN

Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1986 God's Favorite Dwight Pitts Dwight Pitts  
1987 Private Lives Don Frutiger Dwight Pitts  
1987 *The King & I Nancy Godsey Dwight Pitts 100th Production
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1987 Broadway: Music Of Our Life Brenda Carey Bill Mullins  
1987 *Rehearsal For Murder Don Frutiger Bill Mullins  
1988 Brighton Beach Memoirs Betty Whitt / Liz Chesser Bill Mullins  
1988 *Send Me No Flowers Don Frutiger Bill Mullins  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1988 Oliver Suzanne Heflin Tommy Thames  
1988 Love, Sex And The I.R.S. Betty Whitt / Liz Chesser Tommy Thames  
1989 Inherit The Wind Lisa Thames Tommy Thames  
1989 A Salute To Irving Berlin Missy McCraw Tommy Thames  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1989 Broadway Bound Betty Whitt / Liz Chesser Scotty Sumrall  
1989 The Foreigner Don Frutiger Scotty Sumrall  
1990 The Nerd David Godbold Scotty Sumrall  
1990 Evening With Gershwin & Porter Stevie Bateman Scotty Sumrall  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1990 South Pacific Peter Infanger Lisa Thames 30th Season
1990 Driving Miss Daisy Brenda Carey Lisa Thames  
1991 The Heiress Betty Whitt / Liz Chesser Lisa Thames  
1991 Girls Of The Garden Club Linda Walton Lisa Thames  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1991 Annie Wess Hughes Stan Riles  
1991 Ordinary People Kelly Sanner Stan Riles  
1992 You Can't Take It With You Shana Riles Stan Riles  
1992 Barefoot In The Park John Parker Stan Riles  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1992 Big River Wess Hughes Edward Schneider  
1992 Steel Magnolias Katie Samora Edward Schneider  
1993 Mister Roberts Larry Johnson Edward Schneider  
1993 Rumors Michael Garner Edward Schneider  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1993 West Side Story Richard Green Linda Walton  
1993 I Hate Hamlet Kelly Sanner Linda Walton  
1994 *The Boys Next Door Michael Garner Linda Walton  
1994 Chapter Two John Sumrall Linda Walton  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1994 My Fair Lady Greg Smith Linda Walton  
1994 Romeo & Juliet Jack Hampton Linda Walton  
1995 Noises Off Michael Garner Linda Walton  
1995 Love Letters Linda Walton Linda Walton  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1995 Joseph & Technicolor Dreamcoat Wess Hughes Shana Riles  
-TV ACTRESS / LAUREL NATIVE MARY ELIZABETH ELLIS ('ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA') IN CAST
1995 Twelve Angry Men Lisa Thames Shana Riles  
1996 The Odd Couple-Female Michael Garner Shana Riles  
1996 Wess & Friends Wess Hughes Shana Riles  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1996 Class Of '70 Something Wess Hughes Missy McCraw  
1996 A Christmas Carol April Lightsey / Chan Geddie Missy McCraw  
1997 Cactus Flower David Godbold Missy McCraw  
1997 Broadway-The Last 30 Years Cherie Boone Missy McCraw  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1997 Pageant The Musical Wess Hughes Kelle Burgess  
1997 Best Christmas Pageant Ever April Lightsey / Chan Geddie Kelle Burgess  
1998 Bedside Manners Michael Garner Kelle Burgess  
1998 The Rainmaker Lisa Thames Kelle Burgess  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1998 Little Shop of Horrors Wess Hughes George Jackson  
1998 Times Square Angel Richard Hodges George Jackson  
1999 Miss Firecracker Contest Michael Garner George Jackson  
1999 Cotton Patch Gospel David Godbold George Jackson  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
1999 SideShow Wess Hughes Suzanne Heflin  
1999 Nutcracker & The Mouse King April Lightsey / Chan Geddie Suzanne Heflin 150th Production
2000 Dearly Departed Michael Garner Suzanne Heflin  
2000 Effect Of Gamma Rays On Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds Catherine / Steven Nowicki Suzanne Heflin  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2000 Dreamgirls Wess Hughes Dave Martindale 40th Season Begins
2000 Little Women April Lightsey / Chan Geddie Dave Martindale  
2001 The Second Time Around Michael Garner Dave Martindale  
2001 Murder In Green Meadows Linda Walton Dave Martindale  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2001 Always...Patsy Cline Wess Hughes Dave Martindale  
2001 Das Barbecu Greg Smith Dave Martindale  
2002 Nunsense Michael Garner Dave Martindale  
2002 Musical Comedy Murders Of 1940 Jennifer Coghlan Dave Martindale  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2002 Gypsy Wess Hughes Edith Parker  
2002 Always...Patsy Cline Wess Hughes Edith Parker  
2002 Arabian Nights April Lightsey/Chan Geddie Edith Parker  
2003 Lost In Yonkers Michael Garner Edith Parker  
2003 Red, White & Blue Revue Catherine Nowicki Edith Parker  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2003 Chicago Wess Hughes Sara Bartran  
2003 Five Women Wearing Same Dress Michael Garner Sara Bartran  
2004 You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown Jeanenne Pacific Sara Bartran  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2004 A Chorus Line Wess Hughes Gerald Wansley  
2004 Nutcracker The Musical Jeanenne Pacific Gerald Wansley  
2005 Steel Magnolias Michael Garner Gerald Wansley  
2005 Our Town Cynthia Welborn Gerald Wansley  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2005 Annie Juna Broome Gerald Wansley  
2005 Wess & Friends-Show Must Go On Wess Hughes Gerald Wansley  
2006 Best Little Whorehouse In Texas Michael Garner Gerald Wansley 175th Production
2006 Biloxi Blues Cynthia Welborn Gerald Wansley  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2006 42nd Street Wess Hughes Juna Broome  
2006 The Trip To Bountiful Michael Garner Juna Broome  
2006 Honk! Juna Broome Juna Broome  
2007 Sweet Charity Ricardo Robinson Juna Broome  
2007 The Secret Garden Amanda Robertson Juna Broome  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2007 Peter Pan Juna Broome Lacy Hinton  
2007 Harvey Cynthia Welborn Lacy Hinton  
2008 Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Amanda Robertson Lacy Hinton  
2008 Always...Patsy Cline Wess Hughes Lacy Hinton  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2009 Joseph & Technicolor Dreamcoat Wess Hughes Amanda Robertson  
2009 The Women Cynthia Welborn Amanda Robertson  
2009 High School Musical Juna Broome Amanda Robertson  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2009 The Music Man Juna Broome Becky Thomas  
2010 Crimes of the Heart Michael Garner Becky Thomas  
2010 You Can't Take it With You Cynthia Welborn Becky Thomas  
2010 Smokey Joe's Cafe Mike Weber / Jennifer Coghlan Becky Thomas  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2010 Beehive!-The 60's Musical! Wess Hughes Susan Mangum 50th Season
2011 To Kill A Mockingbird Jennifer Coghlan / Adam Trest Susan Mangum  
2011 Daddy's Dyin' Frankie Bennett Susan Mangum  
2011 Hairspray Lacy Cockrell Susan Mangum  
2011 Seussical the Musical! Wess Hughes Susan Mangum  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2011 The Wizard of Oz Lacy Cockrell Missy Sanderson  
2011 A Tuna Christmas Catherine Nowicki Missy Sanderson  
2012 A Streetcar Named Desire Amanda Robertson Missy Sanderson 200th Production
2012 Visions of Broadway Frankie Bennett Missy Sanderson  
2012 Alice in Wonderland Brenda Parker Missy Sanderson  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2012 Annie Lacy Cockrell Missy Sanderson  
2012 Always...Patsy Cline Wess Hughes Missy Sanderson  
2013 Proof Sam Buchanan Missy Sanderson  
2013 The Dixie Swim Club Frankie Bennett Missy Sanderson  
2013 1776 Wess Hughes / Frankie Bennett Missy Sanderson  
2013 The Little Mermaid Katelyn Bryant Missy Sanderson  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2013 Aida Lacy Cockrell Frankie Bennett  
2013 Dixie Swim Club Frankie Bennett Frankie Bennett  
2013 Dracula Sam Buchanan Frankie Bennett  
2014 Driving Miss Daisy Shana Riles / Brenda Parker Frankie Bennett  
2014 9 To 5 Frankie Bennett / Wess Hughes Frankie Bennett  
2014 Cinderella Katelyn Bryant Frankie Bennett  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2014 The Addams Family Wess Hughes / Frankie Bennett Missy Sanderson  
2014 Little Women Lacy Cockrell Missy Sanderson  
2015 The Glass Menagerie Sam Buchanan Missy Sanderson  
2015 Red, White And Tuna Catherine Nowicki Missy Sanderson  
2015 Aladdin Katelyn Bryant Missy Sanderson  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2015 Jekyll & Hyde Sam Buchanan Coty Shoemake  
2015 Arsenic And Old Lace Lacy Cockrell Coty Shoemake  
2016 Dearly Departed Frankie Bennett Coty Shoemake  
2016 Peter Pan Brenda Shows Coty Shoemake  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2016 Beauty And The Beast Lacy Cockrell Rick Youngblood  
2016 Running Mates Missy Sanderson Rick Youngblood 225th Production
2017 The Crucible Sam Buchanan Rick Youngblood  
2017 The Lion King Jr Katelyn Bryant Rick Youngblood  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2017 Joseph & Technicolor Dreamcoat Wess Hughes Rick Youngblood  
2017 Brighton Beach Memoirs Rick Youngblood Rick Youngblood  
2018 Noises Off Sam Buchanan Rick Youngblood  
2018 Shrek Jr Brenda Shows Rick Youngblood  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2018 Rex’s Exes Will Hodges Rick Youngblood  
2018 A Christmas Story Wess Hughes Rick Youngblood  
2019 Biloxi Blues Rick Youngblood Rick Youngblood  
2019 Annie Jr Rebecca Green Rick Youngblood  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes

  OUR 59TH SEASON SHORTENED BECAUSE OF COVID-19 SHUTDOWNS

2019 Hello Dolly! Will Hodges Sandra Boutwell  
2019 Broadway Bound Rick Youngblood Sandra Boutwell  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2021 Doublewide, Texas Frankie Bennett Sandra Boutwell 60th Season
2021 Why I Live At The P.O. Rick Youngblood Sandra Boutwell  
2021 On Golden Pond Frankie Bennett Sandra Boutwell  
2021 Willy Wonka, Jr Rebecca Green Sandra Boutwell  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2021 Big Fish Will Hodges Sandra Boutwell  
2021 Steel Magnolias Lacy Cockrell Sandra Boutwell  
2022 The Last Night Of Ballyhoo Rick Youngblood Sandra Boutwell  
2022 Matilda, Jr Lacy Cockrell Sandra Boutwell  
Year Show Director Board President Special Notes
2022 Something Rotten Frankie Bennett Jason Dedwylder  
2022 Ripcord Rick Youngblood Jason Dedwylder  
2023 The Miss Firecracker Contest Jay Baggett Jason Dedwylder  
2023 Mary Poppins Jr Lacy Cockrell Jason Dedwylder