production history of Lost Nation Theater: 32 years and counting

LNT is incorporated in Bristol, Vermont in 1977.
Creates a loft theater space over a pizza shop that is still used for live performance today.
The first years of its life, LNT produced exclusively original work, which premiered in Bristol and toured Montreal and New York.

1977:     The Amazing Tub Show by LNT

1978:

• Enthusiastic Dude by Kim Bent
• Shadowoman by Deborah Gwinn

1979:     Ceremony Two by LNT

1980 – Short hiatus in Vermont. Work with the Blake Street Hawkeyes in Berkley CA (members include David Schine and Whoopi Goldberg)

1981:     Belongings by LNT

1982:     The Night the Mountain Fell by LNT

1983:     Nice Guy: A Portrait by Kim Bent

1984-85 – Short hiatus while Kim pursues his master’s degree in theater at Long Island University

1985:     Gunslinger, adaptation of Ed Dorn’s epic poem by Kim Bent, Kathleen Keenan, and Alan Wynroth
tours New York and Vermont

1986 – LNT relocates to Montpelier, Vermont. Begins producing already scripted plays

1986:     Waiting For Godot, by Samuel Beckett. Co-Production with Donny Osman & Tim Jennings

1987:     Still Life, by Emily Mann. Partnership with Vermont Veterans

1988:  

• As Is, by William Hoffman. Co-Production with Shoestring Theatre  and Vermont Cares
• Gunslinger, adapted for Vermont Public Radio Panther Players program with Bill Boardman

1989:  Lost Nation coordinates a group of local artists and theater organizations to create a season of theater at Montpelier City Hall Auditorium.

• Scenes & Revelations, by Elan Garonzik
• Savage/Love, by Sam Shepard
  
• Tongues, by Sam Shepard & Joseph Chaikin
• Gunslinger, by Ed Dorn; adapted for stage by LNT
• Dooryard Dreams, by Kim Bent and LNT (LNT original; world premiere)

1990:  Other groups decide not to continue at City Hall: LNT produces its own season at City Hall.

• The Village Wooing, by George Bernard Shaw
• The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams; original music by Kathleen Keenan
• The Last Intimacy, by Jean Reynolds (world premiere); original music by Kathleen Keenan
• An Evening with Sam Shepard (dramaturgy by LNT interns)

1991:

• Talley’s Folly, by Lanford Wilson; original music by Kathleen Keenan
• On Golden Pond, by Ernest Thompson; original music by Kathleen Keenan
• Cheating Hearts, by Jean Reynolds (world premiere)
• On Tidy Endings, by Harvey Fierstein The Rocking Horse Winner, by Kathleen Keenan from the novel by DH Lawrence (premiere)
• P.G. (LNT adaptation of Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen)
• Under Milk Wood, by DH Thomas (collaboration with Montpelier High School Masque)

1992:  LNT begins conducting the co-curricular drama program at Montpelier High School.

• The Bear, and The Proposal, by Anton Chekov
• Look Homeward, Angel, by Ketti Frings based on the novel by Thomas Wolfe
• Betrayal, by Harold Pinter
• The Working Project, developed by LNT; music by Dan Boomhower, Kathleen Keenan, Diane Martin, et al (world premiere)
• The Crucible, by Arthur Miller (collaboration with MHS Masque)

1993:  LNT designated Montpelier’s Official Resident Theater Company, season at City Hall expanded into the autumn.

• The Bald Soprano, by Eugene Ionesco (collaboration with MHS Masque)
• The Mysteries & What’s so Funny?, by David Gordon and the Pick-up Company; original music by Kathleen Keenan (collaboration with MHS Masque)
• Little Acts of Kindness, by David Budbill (world premiere)
• Beyond Therapy, by Christopher Durang
• The Road to Mecca, by Athol Fugard
• Crimes of the Heart, by Beth Henley
• Reflections of Four Women, by LNT (world premiere)
• Jacques Brel is Alive & Well & Living in Paris, music: Jacques Brel, concept/book: Mort Shuman & Eric Blau
• The Dragon, by Eugene Schwartz (collaboration with MHS Masque)

1994:

• An Artist, An Acolyte, and Amanda, developed by LNT & MHS Masque (premiere)
• The Firebugs, by Max Friesch (collaboration with MHS Masque)
• Closer Than Ever, by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire
• The Subject Was Roses, by Frank Gilroy
• Arms and the Man, by George Bernard Shaw
• One Shoe Off, by Tina Howe
• Macbeth, by William Shakespeare
• A Doll House, by Henrik Ibsen
• Approaching Zanzibar, by Tina Howe (collaboration with MHS Masque)

1995:  The City of Montpelier passes a bond to renovate City Hall Auditorium. Phase 1 (cat walk lighting grid, modular seating, modular platforming, and new back wall in balcony) is completed just in time for the summer season.

• Endgame, by Samuel Beckett
• The Visit, by Friedrich Duerrenmatt (collaboration with MHS Masque)
• Charlotte’s Web, by EB White; original music by Kathleen Keenan (with the Masque)
• Driving Miss Daisy, by Alfred Uhry
• The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde Cole, words & music by Cole Porter; devised by Alan Strachon & Benny Green
• Under Milk Wood, by Dylan Thomas; music by Kathleen Keenan
• As You Like It, by William Shakespeare; music by Kathleen Keenan
• A Christmas Carol: Scrooge & Marley, by Isreal Horowitz, from the novel by Charles Dickens (Masque)

1996:

• Marat/Sade, by Peter Weiss, music by Kathleen Keenan (with the Masque)
• Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett  (with the Masque)
• Our Town, by Thornton Wilder
• Lettice & Lovage, by Peter Shaffer
• Alice Looks Back!, original production by LNT; lyrics & music by Jono Mainelli; book by Rob Handel based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (world premiere)
• Spoon River Anthology, by Edgar Lee Masters
• Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare; music by Kathleen Keenan

1997:

• Frankenstein, by Victor Gianlanella, based on the novel by Mary Shelley (with the Masque)
• Rupert’s Birthday, by Ken Jenkins and Gunslinger by LNT (double bill)
• Oedipus Rex, The Masque student-directed production
• News of the City/Talk of the Town, LNT original production,written by Geof Hewitt, Kim Bent, et al; music by Kathleen Keenan (premiere)
• A Delicate Balance, by Edward Albee
• Side by Side by Sondheim, music & lyrics Stephen Sondheim, et al; continuity by Ned Sherrin
• Brecht on Brecht, dramaturgy by George Tabori
• The Winters Tale, by William Shakespeare; music by Kathleen Keenan
• The Cradle Will Rock, by Marc Blitzstein (with the Masque)

1998:

• My Dinner With Andre, by Wally Shawn & Andre Gregory; stage adaptation by Kim Bent & Tim Tavcar
• The Caucasian Chalk Circle, by Bertolt Brecht; music by Kathleen Keenan (with the Masque)
• Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, by Jane Wagner (for Lily Tomlin)
• Where Everything is Everything, by Stephen Spoonamore
• Working, the musical, based on Studs Turkel’s book; music by Stephen Schwartz, James Taylor, et al
• The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie
• The Fantasticks, by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
• Beckett Bits, a collage of the work of Samuel Beckett; dramaturgy by Kim Bent (premiere)
• Greater Tuna, by Jaston Edwards, et al
• Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare; music by Kathleen Keenan
• You Can’t Take It With You, by Kaufman and Hart (with the Masque)

1999:

• But Your Honor — Deane Davis Remembered, by Stephen Spoonamore  (professional premiere)
• Dear Liar, by Jerome Kilty
• The Impresario by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (with Vermont Opera Theater)
• Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard (with the MHS Masque)
• The Threepenny Opera, by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill
• Lost In Yonkers, by Neil Simon
• Dancing at Lughnasa, by Brian Friel
• Non-Stop Stoppard, a miscellany of the work of Tom Stoppard; dramaturgy by Kim Bent (premiere)
• Richard III, by William Shakespeare
• My Three Angels, by Bella and Sam Spewack (with the Masque)

2000:

• Panther Classics, by Bill Boardman; dramaturgy by Kim Bent; music by Kathleen Keenan, et al (premiere)
• A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking, by John Ford Noonan
• Blind Date, by Horton Foote (with the Masque)
• Lies and Legends, the musical stories of Harry Chapin (with the Masque)
• A Little Night Music, by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
• Camping With Henry and Tom, by Mark St. Germain
• Amy’s View, by David Hare
• Wind in the Willows
• The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, by Michael Ondaajte; dramaturgy by Kim Bent; music by Kathleen Keenan
• The Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare

2001: LNT begins conducting the co-curricular drama program for Montpelier High School at City Hall Arts Center and transforms program into The Conservatory, with college-level intensive instruction and expectations; expands the program to include other high school students.

• Having Our Say – The Delany Sister’s First 100 Years, by Emily Mann
• The Bald Soprano, by Eugene Inesco (with the Masque)
• Collected Stories, by Donald Marguilies
• To Kill A Mockingbird, based on the novel by Harper Lee (with The Conservatory)
• Sweeney Todd, by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
• Grace in America, by Antoine O’Flarthata (US East Coast Premiere)
• The Rainmaker, by N Richard Nash
• Winnie the Pooh, based on the writings of AA Milne; dramaturgy and music by Kathleen Keenan; additional lyrics Kathleen Keenan and the LNT 2001 Intern Ensemble
• The Wizard of Oz, based on the story by Frank Baum; music by Harold Arlen
• Love’s Labour’s Lost, by William Shakespeare

2002:

• True West, by Sam Shepard
• Shirley Valentine, by Willie Russell
• Woody Guthrie’s American Song, based on the music & letters of Woody Guthrie (with The Conservatory)
• Execution of Justice, by Emily Mann
• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark
• I Do! I Do!, by N Richard Nash
• Charlotte’s Web, by EB White; music & additional lyrics by Kathleen Keenan
• House of Blue Leaves, by John Guare
• Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare; music by Kathleen Keenan

2003:

• Beaver Falls, by Gary Moore; dramaturgy by Kim Bent; music by Fred Wilbur (premiere)
• Snow, by Gordon Porterfield (professional premiere)
• The Children’s Hour, by Lillian Hellman (with The Conservatory)
• 1940’s Radio Hour, concept and book by Walton Jones; music by various composers
• proof, by David Auburn
• Picasso at the Lapin Agile, by Steve Martin
• James & the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl; music by Kathleen Keenan
• Arcadia, by Tom Shepard
• The Tragedie of Othello, by William Shakespeare

2004:

• Educating Rita, by Willie Russell
• Pump Boys & Dinettes, by Cass Morgan, Jim Wann et al
• Mother Courage & Her Children, Bertold Brecht (with The Conservatory)
• The World Goes Round, by Kander & Ebb
• Molly Sweeny, by Brian Friel
• You Can’t Take it With You, by Kaufman & Hart
• The Brother’s Grimm, adapted by the LNT intern ensemble
• A Lie of the Mind, by Sam Shepard
• The Tragedie of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

2005:

• Stone, by Kim Bent, based on oral histories from Barre Granite Workers (world premiere)
• The Belle of Amherst, by William Luce
• Diamonds, a revue about baseball created by Hall Prince; Craig Carnelia; Cy Coleman; Betty Comdon and Adolf Green; Abott & Costello, et al; further adapted for the stage by Tim Tavcar
• I Never Sang For My Father, by Robert Anderson
• You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, by Clark Gesner, based on Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip
• Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes;adapted by Kathleen Keenan & the 2005 intern ensemble; music by Kathleen Keenan
• The Tempest, by William Shakespeare

2006:

• Lyrical Langston: His Muse for Music, created, compiled, and conception by Quanda Johnson
• The Vagina Monologues, by Eve Ensler
• Streets of Gold, by Mary Sue Price; music by Robin & Linda Williams (world premiere)
• Laughing Wild, by Christopher Durang  Stone, by Kim Bent
• The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks, by Katherine Paterson & Stephanie Tolan; music by Steve Liebman. Based on the book by Katherine Paterson; additional material/adaptation by Kathleen Keenan; musical arrangements by Piero Bonamico
• Something for Everyone – a Musical Tonight!, revue conceived by Tim Tavcar
• Romeo & Juliet, by William Shakespeare

2007:

• Bully!
• Callas on Callas by Tim Tavcar – a coproduction with Monteverdi Music School
• The Vagina Monologues, by Eve Ensler
• Judevine, by David Budbill
• Vivien, by Rick Foster
• Musical of Musicals: The Musical
• The Selfish Giant, by Mary Wheeler
• Tartuffe, by Moliere
• Henry V, by William Shakespeare

2008: a season of classics to celebrate LNT’s 20^th season at Montpelier City Hall

• To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
• The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams
• The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde
• Lies and Legends: the musical stories of Harry Chapin,Musical Arrangements by Tom Chapin, Concept by Sandy Chapin
• Shirley Valentine, by Willie Russell
• david budbill’s judevine

2009:

• The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson
• Love, Isadora by Rick Foster
• Deathtrap by Ira Levin
• Mark Twain’s A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage- a Musical Melodrama, by Aaron Posner and James Sugg
• Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett,
• The Three-no FOUR Little Pigs by David Greenham, with additional material by Megan Callahan
• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare-Abridged
• It’s A Wonderful Life- a live radio play

2010:

• Rose, by Martin Sherman
• Snow White-theater for kids by kids – created by LNT’s youth theater
• A Song for My Father, David Budbill (premiere)
• Bad Dates
• Love Letters Made Easy
• All Night Strut
• Fully Committed
• The Complete History of America-Abridged