The doors to the historic Trinity Playhouse will reopen at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12 and 13 with a live musical cabaret starring 26 Stage Left Players. (Submitted photo)

LISBON — After a 20-month pandemic shutdown, Stage Left Players will reopen the doors of the Trinity Playhouse to celebrate the return of live theatre in the village of Lisbon. The SLP cast will join over 2,500 community theatres worldwide to perform Music Theatre International’s “ALL TOGETHER NOW!” – a Broadway musical cabaret at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12 and 13.

With pandemic restrictions for theatres lifted and CDC guidelines in place, managing director Kandy Cleland seized the opportunity to “call the gang together Mickey Rooney style saying, ‘Hey kids, let’s put on a show!'” But it was more than the great songs from musicals like “Guys & Dolls,” “My Fair Lady,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” and “RENT” that enticed the 26 performers to answer the call. SLP regular Paul Dahman observed, “Sure, who doesn’t want to perform songs from ‘Les Miserables,’ ‘Mama Mia,’ or ‘Willy Wonka’? But what drew us together was the chance for old friends to return to the stage in front of a live audience. That’s what community theatre actors live to do.”

Cleland stressed that it took a caring community and supportive local government and state legislature to make sure the playhouse survived the pandemic shut down. Zero audience equaled zero ticket sales, so paying the monthly bills would not have been possible without donations from playhouse supporters and government grants.

“We are blessed to live in a community that values the arts, and the state of Ohio who funds them,” she said.

Admission for the show is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. Tickets are available for purchase online at StageLeftPlayers.org or at the door. Masks for all audience members are required.

Cast members are Kaleigh Ceci, Kandy Cleland, Scarlett Courtney, Ali Flannigan, Paige Johnson, Kari Lankford, Christine Martin, Linda McKim, Olivia Rice, Erin Ryan, Kellie Ryan, Renee Schreffler, Niki Slaven, Courtney Ullom, Leslie Ward, Jackson Cornwell, Paul Dahman, Brady Duncan, Will Flannigan, Lydon Freeman, Aaron Hinchliffe, Daniel Huston, Marcus Shutrump, Andrew Ullom, Jacob Ward and Vince Ward.