For more than eight decades, Meridian Little Theatre has offered quality community theatre to the Meridian area.  

    The upcoming 84th season is no exception, with two Broadway musicals, a heartwarming Christmas classic and a Neil Simon comedy.

      “The play choices for 2016-17 came from suggestions of the MLT Board and was voted on by MLT’s season members,” said MLT Director Ronnie Miller.

      The season opens Oct. 5 with a presentation based on cartoon characters and a popular 1960s ABC TV series, “The Addams Family.” The show that made famous the memorable characters of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Wednesday and Lurch are featured in an original musical comedy.  

    The ultimate Princess of Darkness, Wednesday Addams, has fallen in love with a young man from a respectable family – a man the parents have never met. And to make things worse, Gomez, her father, has to do something he has never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything changes the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.     “The show has catchy tunes and is full of fun for the whole family,” Miller said.

    The Christmas holidays are a time of focusing on family and one’s blessings. Meridian Little Theatre’s December show is a stage adaptation of the classic film “It’s A Wonderful Life” starring the inimitable James Stewart and the beautiful Donna Reed.

    “The play is not only a joyous Christmas tale, it’s also a beautiful love story of George and Mary Bailey, a vivid portrait of the Greatest Generation, a story of a man’s descent into his darkest hour where he is trapped by circumstances beyond his control, and his triumphant struggle for a meaningful life,” Miller said.

    Featuring a large cast, “It’s A Wonderful Life” will leave a lasting impression on what true happiness means, Miller said.

    February’s production was written by one of Broadway’s most successful comic playwrights, Neil Simon, who has written such Broadway smash hits as “Barefoot in the Park,” “Plaza Suite,” “The Sunshine Boys” and “Come Blow Your Horn.”

    Two of Simon’s most eccentric character creations were named Oscar and Felix. This 1965 Tony Award winning play, “The Odd Couple” is a story about fussy Felix Unger, who becomes suicidal over his impending divorce. When he accepts an offer to move in with his best friend, messy Oscar Madison, Felix drives Oscar crazy with his obsession over his soon-to-be ex-wife. Oscar tries to get him out of his depression by arranging a double-date with two whacky British neighbors. When the plan backfires and Felix grows even more despondent, his friendship with Oscar is put to the test.

    “The Odd Couple” ran for more than two years on Broadway and is considered Simon’s crowning achievement, Miller said.

      Meridian Little Theatre’s 2016-17 season closes with a story of three unlikely friends who take control of their office and learn there is nothing they can’t do – even in a man’s world.  

    “9-5, The Musical” is based on Dolly Parton’s sentimental 1980 hit movie. Set in the 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge is thought provoking and a little romantic. Three females concoct a plan to get rid of their egotistical, lying and bigoted boss. They literally boot their boss and take control of the company that always kept them down.

    “It’s a high-energy show that has toe-tapping music and uses a large cast of singers and dancers,” Miller said.

    Season tickets go on sale this summer. To become an MLT Season Member, call the Box Office at 601-482-6371.