Netcong Theater Bringing Popular Actress Back to Life
Judith Helton appears as Lotta Crabtree this weekend in one-woman show.
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Before television and before motion pictures, Lotta Crabtree was the most popular actress in America. Born in New York City in 1847, Lotta began performing at the age of six in the mining camps of the California gold rush. Famous enough to be known simply as “Miss Lotta,” she was the most popular actress of her era.
In a one-woman show, actress Judith Helton brings Lotta back to life at an appearance at the Palace Theater in Netcong on Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Lotta Crabtree maintained a summer cottage at Lake Hopatcong for many years, just a few miles from the theater.
This performance is a collaboration of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum and the Growing Stage Theatre, which makes its home at and operates the Palace Theatre.
Tickets are now on sale for $15 and can be obtained through the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum at 973-398-2616 or at LHHISTORY@ATT.NET.
Ashleigh
9:29 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
My uncle owns and lives in Lotta Crabtree's home! So glad that this wonderful aspect of Lake Hopatcong's history is finally being shown!
Michele Guttenberger
7:09 am on Monday, September 17, 2012
It was a lovely evening. I enjoyed the one woman show. The actress who played Lotta Crabtree gave a history lesson on how difficult the journey from the west coast to the east coast was before there was a cross country railroad system or the Panama Canal . It was also interesting to see the Growing Stage Theatre and the work they had put into renovations. They have big plans to make it technically equipped for other presentations. It would be wonderful to have more cultural venues near our town. It is good to see societies and nonprofit organizations involved in preserving the history and culture of our community.