SULLIVAN – To be one of the first acts of the inauguration Little Theater on the Square Outdoor Concert Series has been an honor for Lexie Dorsett Sharp. The singer, dancer and actor is a favorite with audiences at the Sullivan Theater.
“I think it will be a big party and a big celebration,” she said.
Small Theater the administrators have created a Free summer concert on the first Friday Series throughout the summer. The outdoor stage was built especially for the series. Little Theater alumni such as Dorsett Sharp will perform fan favorites as well as their own.
The producers of the shows recommend that members of the public bring lawn chairs to comfortably watch the shows. In addition to music, the public will have access to food trucks as well as beer and wine for the concert. “You can have your drink on the street and watch the show with a drink in your hand,” said John Stephens, executive director of the Little Theater on the Square.
Upcoming performances of the Little Theater concert series include Heather Beck, Colleen Johnson and Bonner Church with tracks from the “Mamma Mia” performance on July 2; and Solomon Kee as Sammy Davis, Jr. and Nick Carroll as Dean Martin at the August 6 concert.
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Live music will accompany Dorsett Sharp as she performs some of her favorite songs. “Not just Broadway music, but we do rock, pop, there’s even folk,” she said. “It really is a celebration of all kinds of music.”
The singer said she was thrilled to be able to perform music that will be new to audiences, including The Animals 1964 hit “House of the Rising Sun”.
“I’ve always wanted to sing this song, and now we have a band to sing with,” said Dorsett Sharp.
Performance isn’t the only element missing from shows, according to performers. “We really miss the community,” said Dorsett Sharp. “We really miss being able to see each other, celebrate in person and enjoy something together. “
Over the past year, Dorsett Sharp has taken the opportunity to teach voice as well as practice his ukulele and violin to stay creative. She lives in New York, New York, and has started to see theaters prepare for the fall season. Plans for the Sullivan Theater’s first show in 2021 include “The King and Marilyn” in October and “The Marvelous Wonderettes” in November.
“The little theater is a gauge,” she said. “It will fit perfectly with the reopening of Broadway.”
Outdoor entertainment is gaining ground with the theater world including the Sullivan Theater.
On stage with fan favorite Dorsett Sharp, backing vocalists Jordan Cyphert and Stephens. “I want to do it with my friends,” she said.
Stephens has close relationships with many artists, including Dorsett Sharp. “Not only are she and Jordan Cyphert my best friends, but amazing people to play with,” he said. “I’m honored that she wants me to sing for her and do a few numbers myself.”
Stephens and the producers of the Little Theater wanted to show Central Illinois that artists are coming back stronger than ever, he said. “We’re not able to fully open the interior yet, but it’s happening in October and Sullivan needed something to look forward to,” he said. This concert series shows that Sullivan can still sizzle and has so much to offer day trippers.
For performers, the free time gave them a new perspective on their careers and talents. “Artists, like many people, have remained resilient,” said Dorsett Sharp. “Your resilience is tested at times like this. We have learned what we can do.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Do you remember these places? The history of the Decatur theater
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Do you remember these places? The history of the Decatur theater
University theater
1941: The Varsity Theater cost $ 125,000 to build and opened in April 1941 in the 1100 block of West Wood Street.
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University interior
1941: The Varsity Theater had a capacity of 932 seats. A blackout lighting system was used to illuminate the murals on the side walls of the interior.
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Theater of the Empress
1960: The Empress Theater was located in the Corbett-Moran Building on the corner of North Water Street and North Street. The building was constructed in 1911 and demolished in 1962. The theater was a vaudeville house.
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Interior of the Empress
1942: The Empress Theater had a curved balcony. The bailiffs are Carroll Bergin, on the left, and Donald Dye. The building was demolished in 1962.
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Lincoln Theater
1977: The Lincoln Theater, 141 N. Main St., hosted the much-vaunted science fiction film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”.
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Lincoln interior
1980: The interior of the Lincoln Theater is shown. The stage hosted some of the biggest national stars in vaudeville, movies and live performances in its heyday.
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Lincoln Theater Christmas Party
1966: Millikin National Bank hosted a Christmas party for 1,000 children at the Lincoln Theater.
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Drive In theater
1948: The Drive In Theater was located between North Jasper and North Woodford streets.
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Drive in the ticket window
1948: A constant stream of cars passed through the counters of the Decatur Drive-In. It is estimated that 200 cars were turned away on opening night.
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Rogers Theater
1982: The exterior of the Rogers Theater in the 1100 block of East Wood Street is shown.
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Rogers Night Director
1981: Joe Mueller, evening director of Rogers Theater.
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Avon Theater
1979: The Avon Theater had picketers for the movie “The Life of Brian”. They opposed the movie because they said the Monty Python movie was a parody of the life of Jesus Christ.
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Projectionist of the Avon Theater
1960: Veteran Avon Theater projectionist Dick Curtis is shown at work.
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Alhambra Theater
1958: The Alhambra Theater was sold to Kerasotes Brothers Theaters Inc. The building was located in the 1000 block of North Water Street. The building was used as an indoor golf course, dance hall, church, warehouse and cinema. The building was demolished in 1976 and replaced with a shopping center.
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Bond Theater
1943: The Bond Theater was located at 312 N. Water St. The building also housed the Morrow Theater and underwent a complete interior renovation.
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Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR