Florence Little Theatre pays tribute to Cashua Drive memories

For 40 years, Florence Little Theatre has called the building on Cashua Drive its home.

A tribute to the high points of those decades will take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday for one show only.

When the curtain goes down, the spotlight will be permanently extinguished and the chairs will be removed Monday in preparation for the move to the new theater.

“It’s bittersweet,” Susan Schatz, Florence Little Theatre’s executive director, said. “There’s a lot of good memories, but it’s also exciting, going into a new facility. It’s mixed emotions.”

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” said Robin Thompson, who is coordinating the tribute along with his brother, Shaw. “I’ve been playing in there for the past 40 years. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s very nostalgic and very emotional.”

The musical tribute — featuring selections from past performances — will be presented by the FLT Singers, former cast members and dancers under the direction of Shaw and Robin Thompson.

Robin Thompson said selecting some of the best musical numbers from FLT’s long history was a difficult task.

“It was hard. In 40 years there, we’ve done some 80 musicals,” he said.

The summer vacation plans of local singers, dancers and actors also was a determining factor in the selection process, Robin Thompson said.

Nonetheless, he said, he feels the best numbers have been selected.

“I think if you’ve been an active supporter of FLT, this’ll be a chance to relive some exciting moments,” he said.

The public is invited to attend Saturday’s event and participate in a reception after the performance with a final toast to the Cashua Drive building.

The ticket price of $25 will help support the move to Florence Little Theatre’s new state-of-the-art facility on South Dargan Street.

Florence Little Theatre will open its 2008-09 season there with the rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Auditions are planned at 7:30 p.m. July 6 and July 9 at the Cashua Drive building. The play will open sometime in early September in the new theatre.