The Masquers Theatre Company in Forest Lake turns 35 this season, and it's celebrating by compiling a photo history.
But it's missing some key pieces, and the community theater is turning to the public for help to complete the project.
Since the curtain went up on "Oliver" in 1977, the Masquers Theatre Company has presented more than 95 plays, musicals and dramas in Forest Lake. The theater has photographs and programs from many of them, but there are several gaps to fill.
The community theater troupe is missing programs and photos from the 1978 production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors," the 1995 staging of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," and its 1997 rendition of "Tom Sawyer," among other shows. A complete list of the playbills and photographs that are missing can be found at www.masquerstheatre.org/archive_needs.shtm.
Theater officials are asking for anybody who has the programs or photographs to lend them to the theater so they can be scanned into its archives. Items will be returned.
Meanwhile, the theater is gearing up for its upcoming season, which begins with its fourth annual dinner show, "Don't Hug Me." The musical comedy by Minnesota playwright Phil Olson opens Feb. 4 at Stella's on 97 in Forest Lake.
For the first time in more than a decade, Masquers is selling a season ticket package including admission to the three productions on its slate for 2011. The other two are "The Little Shop of Horrors" in June and "The Music Man" in July at Forest Lake High School. Customers who buy season ticket packages get first choice of seats before they go on sale to the public, the theater said.
For information on tickets or to help with the historical project, call 651-464-5823 or send an e-mail to info@masquerstheatre.org.
