Category Archives: theater

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Sign to save Le Petit

It’s imperative that we save the oldest community theater in the U.S!
Le Petit has operated in the French Quarter for over 95 years but has fallen on financial hard times recently. As badly as we all want the theater back, the process to look for new owners of this historic theater must be transparent and fair. The Guild of Le Petite Theater du Vieux Carre is an autonomous group that supports the theater revival but its members are concerned that the theater’s governing board is moving too quickly toward a possible deal with Dickie Brennan to operate a restaurant in place of one of the theater’s two stages. As a result, they have drafted this petition:

I want to preserve the cultural and historic integrity of Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, and I demand that the process to determine the future of the theatre be transparent. The Board of Governors must follow the bylaws of the nonprofit organization, uphold their fiduciary responsibilities and review all options to ensure the long-term sustainability of the theatre.

Please go online and sign today!

Petition

and read Doug MacCash’s nola.com article:

T-P

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Doctor’s Offer To Save Le Petit Turned Down – New Orleans News Story – WDSU New Orleans

Doctor’s Offer To Save Le Petit Turned Down – New Orleans News Story – WDSU New Orleans.

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525 Madison-Gallery Circle Theater

A celebrated address for sale. Home of community theater and the start of Diane Ladd’s career.
I had heard about this theater over the years and back in the early 80s lived down the block. I would sit on my balcony and imagine theater goers arriving at dusk on foot and by taxi. Later as I stood inside my living room leaning against the doorway, I would think I could hear applause over the wall. Or maybe it was real and from around the corner in the Square, back in those days of jugglers and guitar players quietly practicing in front of stragglers late into the late night.

Gallery Circle Theater was the up-and-coming challenger to Le Petit. After two seasons – 1948-1950 – in the Jewish Community Center, GCT played the 1950-1951 season in the American Legion Hall. In September 1951, it opened its fourth season with Bob Cahlman directing Marion Schexnaydre [Zinser] in The Heiress in a new home at 525 Madison Street in the French Quarter. In 1953, Cahlman cast a young inexperienced newcomer from Mississippi, named Diane Ladner in Room Service. She would go on to become Diane Ladd, wife of Bruce Dern and mother of Laura Dern.

And this from the 2014 news story about it being for sale still (or again):

It was the 1950s when the Gallery Circle Theatre made a home here. Actress Diane Ladd got her start in the 1953 production called “The Heiress.” Caldeira said the property was larger and was cut in half about 20 years ago. “A gentleman who lived in the Quarter acquired this half of it and created this house,” said Caldeira.

It also held WPA gallery showings:

nutrias
525-Madison-Street-Tomato-Warehouse-entrance for sale in 2011 for 3 point 6 million bones, and in 2014 for 2 point 8.  What a place.

for sale