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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. 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The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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History
The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.
Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.
OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.
On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.
On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.
Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.
In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.
In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.
Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT
Zoom
Online Event
Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT
Zoom
Online Event
Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT
Zoom
Online Event
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
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include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/mena-ar/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Mena</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/mena-ar/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-MENA-AR">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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The Lyric had three other locations," name="description"/> <meta content="Ouachita, Little, Theatre, Mena, AR" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Ouachita Little Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="34.584999"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-94.2369"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Ouachita Little Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>610 Mena Street</div> <div> <span>Mena</span>, <span>AR</span> <span>71953</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.ouachitalittletheatre.org/" target="_blank">Ouachita Little Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 479-243-0186</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Ouachita+Little+Theatre%2C+610+Mena+Street%2C+Mena%2C+AR+71953" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History</p> <p>The building that now houses Ouachita Little Theatre was originally built as a movie house, The Lyric, in 1923. The Lyric had three other locations, the last of which burned in a fire, on January 27, 1922. The first Lyric opened in Mena on Monday, September 12, 1909. After the fire, the building OLT is in now opened Monday October first, 1923. It was owned and built by Mr. Price McCall, who also ran a laundry.</p> <p>Starting as a place to see silent movies, in 1930 it was equipped with sound and the 1929 hit movie, Say It With Songs with Al Jolson was the first “talkie” ever shown there. Locally-born radio and movies celebrities Lum and Abner appeared live on its stage 3 times for the opening of their first movie, Dreaming Out Loud, on Friday September 6, 1940. It continued as Mena’s movie theater with several owners, until 1982. It was during the time it was a movie theater that sometimes on Saturday nights, local performers would gather outside and around the corner from The Lyric and put on impromptu shows. They became known as Saturday Night at the Lyric (SNL) and several times a year the OLT continues the SNL tradition by hosting them inside the building.</p> <p>OLT was founded in 1979 by Leda Benson, and until 1985 provided plays and other performances in the Mena Middle School Auditorium, just up the street from The Lyric. In 1985 we took possession of the Lyric building, and converted it to accommodate live performances.</p> <p>On November 13, 1993 a devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on downtown Mena swept the back third of the OLT away. The last OLT show before the tornado was Breaking Legs. For two years thereafter OLT performed again at Mena Junior High auditorium. The first show after the tornado was Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. OLT finally resumed activities back at The Lyric building in 1995.</p> <p>On March 14, 2009, the OLT won a statewide community theater competition sponsored by the American Association of Community Theaters (AACT), and was named the 2009-2010 Arkansas State Community Theater Champion! They took Best Costumes, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Play Performance awards.</p> <p>Over the years, three to four plays were performed each year including Bus Stop, Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma!, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Annie, Music Man, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mousetrap, The Importance of Being Earnest and Camelot.</p> <p>In the Summer of 2010 a new activity for the OLT was developed, called OLT on the Road. It produces and performs plays for audiences, primarily in community theaters, in a hundred mile radius of the OLT’s home base. This division is managed by two OLT Board members, both award-winning directors, Tim Hesse and Larry Block. OLT on the Road plays are usually not the ones being performed at the OLT during its regular performance year, but are often previewed over one weekend at the OLT, before being taken on the road.</p> <p>In February 2013, the OLT regained its American Association of Community Theaters Arkansas Community Theater Championship, for 2013-14, in competition at El Dorado, Arkansas, with The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by Tim Hesse.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/mena-ar/report/place/ouachita-little-theatre-mena-ar.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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