Macon Little Theatre stages Tony-winner ‘On Golden Pond’

“On Golden Pond,” a show that’s won three Tony awards, will open Friday on stage at Macon Little Theatre, under the helm of director Weldon Ledbetter.

The show, renowned for its beautiful simplicity, tells the love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer.

“They are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for the 48th year,” theater manager John Jones said in a news release. “He is a retired professor, nearing 80, with heart palpitations and a failing memory. Ethel is 10 years younger and the perfect foil for Norman.”

While at Golden Pond, they are visited by daughter Chelsea, with her fiancé Billy Ray and his son Billy Ray Jr. The play explores the often turbulent relationship the young woman shared with her father growing up, the relationship of the Thayers with Chelsea’s soon-to-be step-son, and the difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage.

With three Tony Awards in its pocket -- Best Actress in 1979, Best Revival in 2005 and Best Actor in 2005 -- the play carries the weight of its subject matter deftly and sincerely, exploring the heart of family and love, and of aging.

“I knew that ‘On Golden Pond’ would be the perfect play to produce this season because it deals with so many family issues -- such as aging, relationships and mortality -- that face people today. And because it deals with them in sensitive, dramatic and comedic ways, I knew that our director, Weldon Ledbetter, would be the perfect person to bring these themes to life on stage,” Jones said in the release.

This will be Ledbetter’s 10th production as a director at MLT.

“Part of Weldon’s success is in her casting and she has done a wonderful job with this production. All of the actors in this show have had some previous experience on the MLT stage and yet Weldon has helped each of them bring something new,” he said. “I encourage everyone to make reservations to experience this relevant, entertaining and thought provoking evening of live theater.”

Macon Little Theatre, which is in its 82nd year, still lives by its mission statement and works hard to bring shows to life for its audiences.

Upcoming shows this season include “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight,” a thriller involving a woman with a nervous disorder who rents a remote cabin from an odd farmer who delights in telling gruesome ghost stories; “Little Women, the Musical,” an all-new musical based on Louisa May Alcott’s beloved 19th century novel; “Second Samuel,” which tells the story of a town just after WWII that is turned upside down by the passing of one of its older residents; “Nunsense Jamboree,” the story of Sister Mary Amnesia, who, after regaining her memory, realizes she is Sister Mary Paul, a former country singer; and “Hotbed Hotel,” a farce wherein the owners of a one-star hotel in the Florida Keys try to sell it to the only man who has expressed any interest in buying it.

More information about “On Golden Pond” and MLT’s upcoming shows can be found at www.maconlittletheatre.org.

“On Golden Pond”

When: 8 p.m. Aug. 28-29, Sept. 2-5; 2:30 p.m. Aug. 30 and Sept. 6

Where: Macon Little Theatre, 4220 Forsyth Road

Cost: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students

Information: 478-477-3342 or 478-471-PLAY

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 4:24 PM with the headline "Macon Little Theatre stages Tony-winner ‘On Golden Pond’ ."