Stained Glass Theatre will kick off its summer season with a beloved classic: "Anne of Avonlea."
After a successful run of "Anne of Green Gables" in 2021, the endearingly off-center character will make her way back to the stage June 2-18. Shows will be at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.
In the second installment of L.M. Montgomery's series, Anne Shirley, "half past 16," elects to postpone college following a family crisis. Audience members will follow the red-headed protagonist as she assumes responsibility of Avonlea school, confronts a budding attraction to Gilbert Blythe and, of course, navigates her trademark mishaps.
Director Candy Treat gushed over newcomer Madeline Taylor, who embodies the titular role.
"This is her first show at Stained Glass, and she is awesome," Treat said. "She has just really taken to the character of Anne and is really doing a super job with her."
With an abundance of children in the cast, Taylor is not the sole member making a debut. Elijah Klumper, Cora Bestgen, and 8-year-old twins Andreas and Werner Bestgen will take to the SGT stage for the first time. Amber Arnold, who committed to dual roles as Mrs. Donnell and Emily Harrison, will premiere her talents as well. By contrast, veteran actors bring their experience to the mix: Jeannie Ruth, taking on the role of Marilla Cuthbert, will return to the stage, as well as Lynn Stevenson, who portrays Rachel Lynde.
"(Joe Lemerande) has been in several shows; Grayson (Janeczko) has been in several shows ..." Treat said, moving down her cast list. "A lot of the kids have been in several shows."
The show gives such recurring characters the opportunity for growth: Gilbert Blythe, Anne's onetime sworn enemy, proves himself this go-around.
"Gilbert has kind of won her heart because he's done a lot of things to help her out," Treat explained. "He's making good strides."
Diana Berry, played by Lydia Haller, is immersed in a new romance with Fred Wright (Janeczko). The introduction of curmudgeonly neighbor, Mr. Harrison (Mark Howard), and the persnickety Mrs. Donnell (Amber Arnold) place often-humorous obstacles on Anne's path to maturity.
"We also have some fun characters like Miss Lavendar (Louis)," Treat said. "The girls go to visit her and become good friends. She's like a flower child in the 1890s."
Then there are the "two little show stealers," as Treat describes them. "Davy and Dora (Keith) are played by Isaiah Miner and Alli Arnold. They are twins who come to live with Marilla and Anne, and ... they're a handful."
With "Anne of Avonlea" marking her ninth SGT production, Treat is grateful to work alongside fellow actor and director Debbie Starr.
"We've been friends for several years, and she's helped me on almost all of the shows here," she said. "Debbie and I work really well together, and we have a good time directing, or (performing) onstage -- either way."
A reliable crew is vital to a show's success, as Treat also applauded the women in charge of Avonlea's wardrobe: "I have two ladies who are helping me with all the costumes, Jennifer Haller and Krystin Kien," Treat said. "We have a lot, because we have a lot of characters who (need) more than one costume, and we have about four people who are playing double roles."
As showtime nears, Treat was quick to praise everyone who brought it to life.
"You always build a family with your cast," she said. "We always have so much fun and so much laughter when we do something funny or we goof up -- so we're building memories."
Instilling a lifelong love of the performing arts is essential to Treat: "I like the camaraderie that we build and the fact that we're teaching drama -- we're teaching how to project (and) how to speak, how to deliver lines, " she said. "Whether you realize it or not, that's important because when you get out in the real world, there might be times you have to speak in a group or do something (in front of an audience). I don't know how many people have told me, 'Because I had that stage experience, I wasn't afraid.'"
In the spirit of Anne Shirley herself, Treat hopes to leave viewers with a sense of zeal and wonderment.
"It's a beautiful story that I think everyone will (respond to)," she said. "You'll see life through the eyes of a young girl -- her hopes, dreams, visions ... I think they'll leave feeling good."
Tickets, which are $12, can be reserved at www.sgtmidmo.org.
Anne of Avonlea is performed by the Stained Glass Theater during a rehearsal. (Shaun Zimmerman / News Tribune photo)
Anne of Avonlea is performed by the Stained Glass Theater during a rehearsal. (Shaun Zimmerman / News Tribune photo)
Anne of Avonlea is performed by the Stained Glass Theater during a rehearsal. (Shaun Zimmerman / News Tribune photo)