AUBURN – Don’t be surprised if your favorite song isn’t in the “Disney Through the Years” show that Community Little Theatre will present Saturday and Sunday, May 23-24. There have just been too many great ones.
Nevertheless, many of the best will be in this bright, energetic family production.
Co-directors Adam P. Blais and Alison Traynor are well aware that this rich musical legacy spans generations, and they have put together a production to please an audience of all ages. The cast includes many young people, some on the stage for the first time; and the songs and dances will range from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” released in 1937 and “Cinderella” from 1950 to the recent “High School Musical” movies.
Blais said Act I consists of the classic songs from the animated films that brought Disney into America’s family culture. Act II will offer songs of the later animated features and live-action films that Disney produced. Those would include music from the Menken-Schwartz era (composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz). One of them is “Why Should I Worry” from “Oliver and Company,” which will feature the entire cast.
Blais said an effort has been made to give a different feel to all the numbers. For example, there is a soft shoe cane-and-hat tribute to the Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke dancing from “Mary Poppins.” Other numbers include “I Got No Strings” from “Pinnochio;” “Candle on the Water” from “Pete’s Dragon;” “That’s How You Know” from “Enchanted;” “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid;” “I Won’t Say” from “Hercules;” and “Out There” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
The cast’s youngest member is 6-year-old Amelia Marie Lewis. There are others in their teens, and one or two in their 30s.
In the show are Marcus Bagala, Pablo Barajas, Daniel Burgess, Lindsay Carbonneau, Sarah Carbonneau, Maisy Cyr, Mallory Cyr, Molly Keane-Dreyer, Josie French, Delton Hulbert, James Kramlich, Maddy Leslie, Amelia Marie Lewis, Karen Loggins, Olivia Mayo, Karianna Merrill, Molly Powell, Lenna Soifer and Michael Weber.
Chad Gagnon, an Edward Little High School senior, took on the task of technical director early on, freeing up time for Blais and Traynor to tackle directing duties. Gagnon did the lighting for CLT’s “Kiss Me Kate” a few months ago.
The technical details include use of 17 microphones for the performers, a Powerpoint presentation and even some fog.
Sam Bagala is music director and choreographer. Set construction is by Tim Traynor; Kim Tremblay is stage manager; Katy Bouchard is producer; and Steve Mortimer is multmedia designer. Mallory Cyr is publicist; Bill E. Axell is photographer; and poster design is by Kip Elliott.
“Disney Though the Years” is Community Little Theatre’s annual spring fundraising production and is not part of the season ticket subscription. Tickets are $10. Reservations may be made by calling 783-0958 or visiting www.laclt.com.
Shows are at 7:30 pm Saturday, May 23, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at the Great Falls Performing Arts Center, 30 Academy St.

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