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>	buildings still standing in Bay St. Louis after Hurricane Katrina. At
>	one time, he building housed a bottling company but has
>	remained uninhabited for many years to the present time.
>
>	The Bay St. Louis Little Theatre has a 60 year history in the
>	community. It was founded in 1946 by Mary and John Bell. Two years
>	later, Dr. Emmet Erwin donated land on Boardman Avenue to the theater.
>	The membership purchased two war-surplus barracks from the Seabee base
>	in Gulfport and had them dismantled, brought by barge through the bay
>	to Cedar Point, carried by truck to the new lot, and reassembled. One
>	was positioned vertically to form the auditorium, and the other was
>	placed horizontally to serve as the stage and dressing rooms. Mrs. Leo
>	Seals, Sr. had a professional, made-to-order red curtain installed.
>	The new community theater was named Playhouse in the Pines. Years
>	later, the theater was renamed The John F. Holmes Playhouse in honor
>	of one of its dedicated and longtime members.
>
>	Hurricane Katrina left the theater in total destruction. The theater
>	struggled to regroup a small fraction of its membership. The Board of
>	Directors committed to rebuild the theater. During the last two years,
>	the Little Theatre performed four shows. Two of the shows were for the
>	Christmas holiday. In May, 2006, “You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown”
>	,the musical, was performed at the Bay City Grille with the
>	cooperation of the owner Steve D'Angelo. Most recently, “Who's Afraid
>	of Virginia Woolf?” was performed at the St. Rose de Lima's Holy
>	Spirit Center.
>
>	While searching for show venues and producing shows, the Board of
>	Directors also investigated and considered approximately 12 different
>	possible theater sites. “We were tired of being 'the
>	homeless little theater'” stated Michelle Kessling, vice president of
>	the theater board. Initially, the most consideration was given to
>	rebuilding on its original site on Boardman Avenue. Eventually
>	however, the Board decided to relocate to a more visible and
>	accessible location. “We were always certain that the theater would
>	remain a part of this special and artful community” announced John
>	Anderson, treasurer of the Board of Directors.
>
>	The new theater site is in the heart of the Depot District which is
>	going through its own renaissance. Cheryl Grace, president of the
>	Board of Directors explained “This is a wonderful site to begin the
>	rebirth of our theater. We envision a creative, exciting synergy with
>	the businesses in the Depot District.”
>
>	The theater will begin Phase I of its renovation immediately with
>	plans to stabilize the deterioration. Plans for a new roof and
>	securing the exterior walls are priorities. Then the interior will be
>	gutted and cleaned. “We will be making a call out to the community for
t	> volunteers soon” said John Anderson.
{	>
^	> The acquisition of the “This Property is	Condemned” was done with
i
1/30/2008