Who needs to land a helicopter onstage when innovative lighting and sound designers can evoke its arrival? That’s how they did it in the stunning 2001 production of “Miss Saigon” at the Marriott Theatre.
Clever solutions to staging challenges are one reason that the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, has thrived for so long, according to executive director Peter Blair.
“I think we do several things in a special way,” he said. “Part of it is taking shows that are coming out of New York or off tour, and reinventing them for not just a theater-in-the-round but a regional marketplace.”
He noted that includes producing shows, like “Miss Saigon,” “which are known for their spectacle and incredibly large design elements, and proving that you can present the shows in ways that are more intimate with a creative, artful design.”
In the case of “Miss Saigon” — which is known for actually landing a helicopter onstage in the Broadway production — that involved artfully employing sound and lighting elements, as well as fans, to evoke the illusion of a helicopter landing, while simultaneously creating a more intimate production.
Blair, who has worked at Marriott since 2005, starting as a production assistant and working his way up to his current position in 2022, also attributes the longevity of the theater to “the loyalty of the subscribers.”
“That has been the backbone of Marriott Theatre for so many years,” Blair said. He noted that subscribers are willing to attend, “shows they’ve never seen or they’ve never heard of.”
Peter Sullivan, who has worked at Marriott since 2004, starting as a production assistant and rose through the ranks to become artistic director in 2022, agreed with Blair’s assessment.
“We really value our subscribers,” Sullivan concurred. “It’s always been our goal to ensure we keep those subscribers. The only way to really do that is to do the best job that you can and make the best product possible.”
He noted that subscribers seem to enjoy getting to know their favorite actors.
Through the years, subscribers have been willing to come to world premieres produced at Marriott, both men noted. The theater company is at it again in the 50th anniversary season with the world premiere of “Always Something There…” by Sandy Rustin, an homage to the teen flicks of the 1980s.
“It’s always been really big for us to try and foster new works even though it’s very challenging, especially post-pandemic,” Sullivan said. “Getting some new shows is always a goal of ours.”
The theater has also successfully staged relatively new shows, like its 1990 production of “Chess,” directed by David H. Bell, which was staged just two years after the Broadway opening of the show.
Blair added that the quality of the shows over the years has also been an important factor in Marriott’s successful half-century.
“We put so much care into the shows — the casting, the designing, the quality of the sound,” he said. “I think we deliver great shows and that’s why subscribers keep coming back. Hopefully, we’re here for another 50 years.”
And the theater doesn’t skimp on the cast. The 1995 production of “Hello, Dolly!,” starring Alene Robertson, gave Dolly a half-dozen backup dancers for company.
Prior to the pandemic, the theater had a huge number of subscribers. Blair didn’t want to cite the current subscriber numbers but admitted, “It’s definitely gone down after the pandemic. But I think that’s an industry trend. That being said, it’s still quite robust for this industry. Partly, people are looking for more flexibility in their schedules,” rather than being committed to dates far in advance, he said.
Marriott is addressing that issue by offering more flexibility in season subscriptions, Blair reported.
Single-ticket buyers are also an important element in Marriott’s success. Sullivan indicated the theater has been attracting single-ticket buyers by producing, “really exciting shows.”
In terms of future plans, Blair said, “Along with restarting our new works, we would like to build back our subscriber base. We are interested in taking classics and rethinking them for a new generation with directors and choreographers who weren’t around for the first iteration of shows, that are coming to them with fresh eyes.”
Blair cited the case of last year’s production of “The Music Man,” which was directed and choreographed by Katie Spelman.
“It is an older show, but it felt so fresh and vital,” he recalled. “A lot of people are surprised what life there is in these older shows that they think they know.”
The 50th anniversary season kicks off with audience-favorite, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” directed and choreographed by Jeff Award nominee Amber Mak, with previews beginning Feb. 5, and running from Feb. 12-March 30.
“’Joseph’ is our number one requested show, all the time,” Sullivan reported.
That will be followed by “Titanic the Musical,” directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher, with previews beginning April 9 and running from April 16-June 1.
“We always do a little something that may challenge our subscribers a little bit,” Sullivan said. “This year, it’s ‘Titanic.’ Last year, it was ‘In the Heights.’ They’re shows that we think are fantastic that may be a little different for our audience.”
The Sandy Rustin world premiere musical, “Always Something There…” begins previews on June 18, and runs from June 25-Aug. 10.
“Our subscribers always enjoy being the first to see something,” Sullivan noted.
“Catch Me if You Can,” based on the hit film from a true story, begins previews Aug. 27, and runs from Sept. 3-Oct. 19.
Sullivan reported that Jessica Fisch, who directed “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” last year, “loved the show so much that she sold us on it.” He described the production as, “flashy and exciting in a heartfelt way.”
The 2025 season concludes with “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” a new holiday musical based on a meeting of rock ‘n’ roll legends Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley. Previews begin Nov. 5, and the show runs from Nov. 12-Jan. 4, 2026.
The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences will present “The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System,” Feb. 21-March 29; “Arthur & Friends Make a Musical!,” July 11-Aug. 10; and “Disney’s Finding Nemo,” Oct. 10-26 and Nov. 15-Jan. 4, 2026.
When it comes to highlights of the Marriott Theatre’s history, Sullivan declared, “Being around for 50 years is our highlight — To be still going so strong and being one of the premier regional houses.”
Blair is confident that theater officials have figured out the way to succeed. “The focus is always on quality, affordable entertainment,” he said.
Clever solutions to staging challenges are one reason that the Marriott Theatre, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, has thrived for so long, according to executive director Peter Blair.
Who needs to land a helicopter onstage when innovative lighting and sound designers can evoke its arrival? That’s how they did it in the stunning 2001 production of “Miss Saigon” at the Marriott Theatre.
Clever solutions to staging challenges are one reason that the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, has thrived for so long, according to executive director Peter Blair.
“I think we do several things in a special way,” he said. “Part of it is taking shows that are coming out of New York or off tour, and reinventing them for not just a theater-in-the-round but a regional marketplace.”
He noted that includes producing shows, like “Miss Saigon,” “which are known for their spectacle and incredibly large design elements, and proving that you can present the shows in ways that are more intimate with a creative, artful design.”
In the case of “Miss Saigon” — which is known for actually landing a helicopter onstage in the Broadway production — that involved artfully employing sound and lighting elements, as well as fans, to evoke the illusion of a helicopter landing, while simultaneously creating a more intimate production.
Blair, who has worked at Marriott since 2005, starting as a production assistant and working his way up to his current position in 2022, also attributes the longevity of the theater to “the loyalty of the subscribers.”
“That has been the backbone of Marriott Theatre for so many years,” Blair said. He noted that subscribers are willing to attend, “shows they’ve never seen or they’ve never heard of.”
Peter Sullivan, who has worked at Marriott since 2004, starting as a production assistant and rose through the ranks to become artistic director in 2022, agreed with Blair’s assessment.
“We really value our subscribers,” Sullivan concurred. “It’s always been our goal to ensure we keep those subscribers. The only way to really do that is to do the best job that you can and make the best product possible.”
He noted that subscribers seem to enjoy getting to know their favorite actors.
Through the years, subscribers have been willing to come to world premieres produced at Marriott, both men noted. The theater company is at it again in the 50th anniversary season with the world premiere of “Always Something There…” by Sandy Rustin, an homage to the teen flicks of the 1980s.
“It’s always been really big for us to try and foster new works even though it’s very challenging, especially post-pandemic,” Sullivan said. “Getting some new shows is always a goal of ours.”
The theater has also successfully staged relatively new shows, like its 1990 production of “Chess,” directed by David H. Bell, which was staged just two years after the Broadway opening of the show.
Blair added that the quality of the shows over the years has also been an important factor in Marriott’s successful half-century.
“We put so much care into the shows — the casting, the designing, the quality of the sound,” he said. “I think we deliver great shows and that’s why subscribers keep coming back. Hopefully, we’re here for another 50 years.”
And the theater doesn’t skimp on the cast. The 1995 production of “Hello, Dolly!,” starring Alene Robertson, gave Dolly a half-dozen backup dancers for company.
Prior to the pandemic, the theater had a huge number of subscribers. Blair didn’t want to cite the current subscriber numbers but admitted, “It’s definitely gone down after the pandemic. But I think that’s an industry trend. That being said, it’s still quite robust for this industry. Partly, people are looking for more flexibility in their schedules,” rather than being committed to dates far in advance, he said.
Marriott is addressing that issue by offering more flexibility in season subscriptions, Blair reported.
Single-ticket buyers are also an important element in Marriott’s success. Sullivan indicated the theater has been attracting single-ticket buyers by producing, “really exciting shows.”
In terms of future plans, Blair said, “Along with restarting our new works, we would like to build back our subscriber base. We are interested in taking classics and rethinking them for a new generation with directors and choreographers who weren’t around for the first iteration of shows, that are coming to them with fresh eyes.”
Blair cited the case of last year’s production of “The Music Man,” which was directed and choreographed by Katie Spelman.
“It is an older show, but it felt so fresh and vital,” he recalled. “A lot of people are surprised what life there is in these older shows that they think they know.”
The 50th anniversary season kicks off with audience-favorite, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” directed and choreographed by Jeff Award nominee Amber Mak, with previews beginning Feb. 5, and running from Feb. 12-March 30.
“’Joseph’ is our number one requested show, all the time,” Sullivan reported.
That will be followed by “Titanic the Musical,” directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher, with previews beginning April 9 and running from April 16-June 1.
“We always do a little something that may challenge our subscribers a little bit,” Sullivan said. “This year, it’s ‘Titanic.’ Last year, it was ‘In the Heights.’ They’re shows that we think are fantastic that may be a little different for our audience.”
The Sandy Rustin world premiere musical, “Always Something There…” begins previews on June 18, and runs from June 25-Aug. 10.
“Our subscribers always enjoy being the first to see something,” Sullivan noted.
“Catch Me if You Can,” based on the hit film from a true story, begins previews Aug. 27, and runs from Sept. 3-Oct. 19.
Sullivan reported that Jessica Fisch, who directed “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” last year, “loved the show so much that she sold us on it.” He described the production as, “flashy and exciting in a heartfelt way.”
The 2025 season concludes with “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” a new holiday musical based on a meeting of rock ‘n’ roll legends Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley. Previews begin Nov. 5, and the show runs from Nov. 12-Jan. 4, 2026.
The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences will present “The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System,” Feb. 21-March 29; “Arthur & Friends Make a Musical!,” July 11-Aug. 10; and “Disney’s Finding Nemo,” Oct. 10-26 and Nov. 15-Jan. 4, 2026.
When it comes to highlights of the Marriott Theatre’s history, Sullivan declared, “Being around for 50 years is our highlight — To be still going so strong and being one of the premier regional houses.”
Blair is confident that theater officials have figured out the way to succeed. “The focus is always on quality, affordable entertainment,” he said.
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