Levanti, pictured, now 72, was referring to the dream he shared with his late wife and her deathbed wish that he "keep the dream of the theatre alive." But like affecting others, the economy has taken its toll on achieving this goal as Levanti would have liked.
Levanti, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, is not a novice to the entertainment business. As a younger man he relocated to California where he joined the cast of the Glendale Theatre Centre, an organization that for over 60 years produced live theatre. This experience got him gigs with a couple of traveling shows and eventually positions as a stagehand working many sitcoms and game shows. For 18 years before retiring he worked as a prop man on the soap opera, "General Hospital."
Five years ago with his wife Levanti leased a building on South Street in Mount Vernon. Sadly, a week after signing the lease papers Mrs. Levanti was diagnosed with breast cancer and died 10 months later.
The Horseshoe Theatre, as it became to be known because of its home's unique architecture, produced live bluegrass, country and gospel music during weekends, but ceased to exist after the owner of the building was forced to sell and Mr. Levanti couldn't raise enough money to make the purchase. He closed the theatre temporarily in the winter of 2007 while he searched for its new home.
An old super market building that realtor Cheryl Willis showed him in Mt. Vernon he decided wouldn't work. But when she showed him a slide show of listings that included an old United Methodist Church in Monett, he said, "I jumped out of my chair to get a closer look."
With the approval of his daughter Levanti made an offer backed up by his sister and brother-in-law's willingness to put up their home as collateral. The church agreed to his offer, the Monett Board of Adjustment agreed to a variance to allow his theatre in a residential neighborhood, all seemed on track until the drop in values in the real estate market devaluing the collateral thwarted his dream...but still it left a spark.
Levanti was able to forge an agreement with the city of Monett to use the Monett City Hall Auditorium with its 550 seats, grand stage, professional lighting and sound equipment and plush red curtain. His theatre there has been operating for two years now with shows almost every Saturday except during the months of December, January and February.
"I have excellent local talent here as well as some very professional names," Levanti said, calling attention to the Gillioz Theatre Production of Barefoot in the Park performed on September 12. "It is the professional quality level of shows I still hope to produce, but I also have plans to offer other theatres an hour or two away, who only do one or two weekends in their own theatre, the opportunity to appear here."
A schedule of events starting at 7 p.m. includes:
- Saturday, Sept. 26: Alan Young and Friends, bluegrass, country and gospel music, performing many original songs Young has copyrighted. The group includes Corky Dow on mandolin, Terry Johnston on banjo, Tom Willis on upright bass and Joe Smith on dobro.
- Saturday, Oct. 3: The Fabulous BRD's, bluegrass/country and 60s music
- Saturday, Oct. 10: Jim Reeves Tribute Show starring nephew John Rex Reeves of Branson fame
- Friday, Oct. 16: Award-winning Canadian recording artist/cowgirl singer Eli Barsi who performs regularly in Branson
- Saturday, Oct. 17: Alan Young & Friends, bluegrass/country and gospel
- Saturday, Oct. 24: The Piney River Gang, bluegrass/country and gospel
- Saturday, Oct. 31: The Missouri Mountain Gang, bluegrass and gospel
A $5.00 donation is suggested per person for each show.
The Arts & Live Theatre Center of Southwest Missouri (dba Horseshoe Theatre-Monett) is a 501 (c)3 not for profit corporation. Contributions may be mailed to P.O. Box 516, Mt. Vernon, MO 65712.
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