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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Little Theater on The Square in Sullivan, 
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Illinois celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Little Theater on the Square was founded in 
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1957 by Guy S. Little Jr., a Central Illinois native who 
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learned the theater craft in New York and Miami and came home 
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to Sullivan at the age of twenty-one to open his own theater; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Little fulfilled his life-long dream to own 
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and operate a professional quality theater when The Little 
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Theater on the Square first raised its curtains in 1957 for a 
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performance of the play Brigadoon; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Over the years Mr. Little brought many stars of 
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the stage and screen to Sullivan to perform at his theater 
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including Mickey Rooney, Alan Alda, Ann Miller, Don Ameche, 
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Betty Grable, John Carradine, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Conrad, Pat 
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O'Brien, Peggy Cass, and Forrest Tucker; and

 
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    WHEREAS,  For 22 years Mr. Little and his family ran every 
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aspect of the Little Theater including acting, directing, 
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producing, costume design, advertising, ticket sales, and 
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business management before moving on to pursue other ventures; 
 


 






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and

 
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    WHEREAS,  In 1981 The Little Theater on the Square began 
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operating as a not-for-profit corporation governed by a Board 
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of Trustees made up of Central Illinois residents; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1988 Leonard Anderson was selected from a group 
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of finalists to be the executive director of the theater; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Anderson built on the Little family's 
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achievements by continuing to grow the theater, including a new 
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ticket office, rehearsal studio, housing for the company, and 
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new amenities for patrons; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Little Theater on the Square provides drama 
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and music classes to more than 275 students and includes a 
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youth touring program that brings theater performances to area 
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schools; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Since 1981 the Little Theater on the Square has 
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played to over 600,000 people and brings in an annual $3 
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million to the city of Sullivan; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Mr. Guy S. Little Jr., The Little Theater on the 
 


 






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Square Inc., and Mr. Leonard Anderson on the 50th Anniversary 
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of The Little Theater on the Square; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Mr. Guy S. Little Jr., the Little Theater on the 
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Square Inc., and Mr. Leonard Anderson as a symbol of our 
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respect.