Marblehead Little Theatre

As the group gained recognition, they were asked to perform at churches, charity functions, and veteran's hospitals and began including a number of one-act plays suitable for these occasions.

The cast of forty came from all over the North Shore, with membership drawn from Salem, Swampscott, Peabody, Danvers, Beverly, and Hamilton.

The production had 18 musical numbers, singing and dancing, and a full orchestra, which was presented at Salem State College's large auditorium and was a sell-out.

In 1970, MLT revived The Fantasticks and became a traveling group taking the show to Beverly for a benefit performance for the North Shore Community College.

Abbot Hall became the setting for many musicals produced in the 1970s with the initial staging of Kiss Me Kate followed with superb performances of Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof, Brigadoon, Camelot, as well as productions for children of The Red Shoes and Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp.

There were parties before and after the performance hosted by the Marblehead Bicentennial Commission in the Selectman's Meeting Room with the original Willard painting of the Spirit of '76.