Looking Glass Playhouse

Looking Glass Playhouse (LGP) is a community theater organization based in Lebanon, Illinois, United States. It was formed in 1973 by a group of volunteers who had initially come together in 1972 to raise money for McKendree College by producing a musical play. Encouraged by the success of that effort and a subsequent venture, the group incorporated as the Looking Glass Playhouse, taking its name from the Looking Glass Prairie east of Lebanon, which is mentioned in Charles Dickens' book American Notes. The organization borrowed $25.00 to file for incorporation and soon rented the then-empty Arcade Theater in downtown Lebanon for $50.00 a month, beginning a month after the first receipts. Volunteers cleaned the theater during a "Great Labor Day Clean-up" and staged their first production, "Babes in Toyland." By 1974 the group had enlarged the stage twice, added wings, and converted a first-floor apartment into a concession area with improved restroom facilities. In 1980 the organization purchased its own theater building, and in 1981 it undertook major construction, including a 40-foot addition, a new ceiling and roof, and a new light booth. Today, Looking Glass Playhouse continues to operate as a community theater, presenting a season of musicals and plays. Its stated mission is to provide affordable and accessible theater experiences in Southern Illinois. Recent productions have included Disney's Frozen and a seasonal event titled Haunted Happenings. The theater is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and remains a nonprofit, community-driven organization.

Looking Glass Playhouse traces its origins to 1972, when a small group of volunteers agreed to raise money for McKendree College by directing and producing a musical play. The success of that show, and of a subsequent venture, encouraged the group to pursue its dream of forming a theater organization. The new organization was named the Looking Glass Playhouse (LGP), after the Looking Glass Prairie east of Lebanon, Illinois, which is mentioned in Charles Dickens' book American Notes. In 1973, the fledgling group borrowed $25.00 and filed for incorporation. The next challenge was finding a home. The Arcade Theater in downtown Lebanon had been empty for several years; after negotiations with the owner, the players rented the theater for $50.00 a month, to begin a month after the first receipts. On the "Great Labor Day Clean-up," volunteers cleaned layers of dirt and prepared the theater for their first production, "Babes in Toyland." By 1974, the energized group had enlarged the stage area twice, added wings, and converted a first-floor apartment into a concession area. Audiences gained access to the apartment bathroom, and a new second bathroom was built in a closet, so theater-goers no longer had to descend narrow stairs to the basement. The first order of business in 1981 was the announcement that "the impossible dream has become a reality." On November 22, 1980, the organization had signed the final papers, and a champagne bottle was broken on the front corner of the Looking Glass Playhouse Theater. In the spring of 1981, the theater was a site of intense activity. Construction efforts included a 40-foot addition to the back of the building, a new ceiling and roof, a new light booth, and a new stage. The theater has continued to operate as a community playhouse, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Its stated mission is to provide affordable and accessible theater experiences in Southern Illinois. Recent seasons have included productions such as Disney's Frozen and seasonal events like Haunted Happenings.

• 1981

  Major construction: 40-foot addition, new ceiling and roof, new light booth, and new stage.

• 1980

  On November 22, signed final papers to purchase the theater building.

• 1974

  Enlarged stage twice, added wings, and converted a first-floor apartment into a concession area.

• 1973

  The group borrowed $25.00 and filed for incorporation as Looking Glass Playhouse.

• 1973

  Rented the Arcade Theater in downtown Lebanon for $50.00 a month.

• 1973

  First production, "Babes in Toyland," staged after a "Great Labor Day Clean-up."

• 1972

  A small group of volunteers agreed to raise money for McKendree College by producing a musical play.

Affordable and accessible community theater in Southern Illinois.

• Disney's Frozen

• Haunted Happenings

• Babes in Toyland

1. 1Looking Glass Playhouselookingglassplayhouse.com
2. 2Gallery 3 — Looking Glass Playhouselookingglassplayhouse.com
3. 3Board of Directors — Looking Glass Playhouselookingglassplayhouse.com
4. 4Looking Glass Playhousewikidata.org