Curtain Call

Potomac Theater Company will perform its final show in March.

— The Potomac Theatre Company’s 25th Silver Anniversary Season will also be its last.

“We’re going to have to close our doors,” said board member Carole Dell. “It’s really quite sad.”

The local theatre company will raise and lower its curtain for its final performances with its production of “Annie” in March at the Bullis School’s Center for the Performing Arts.

“It’s bittersweet because some of us have been working on this the entire time,” said Elie Pisarra Cain. “We’re all broken hearted, but we have to look at it realistically.”

Patti Warner and Nan Munsing founded the company and “25 years of history happened,” said Pisarra Cain. Warner might fly in to see one of the company’s final performances.

So for the next month, the show must go on.

“We worked hard to make it as good as it was,” said Pisarra Cain.

The costs of putting on quality shows became prohibitive. Even when the shows sold out, it still didn’t cover the costs. Technical expenses, building sets all added up.

Over the years, Potomac Theatre Company performed in many adapted venues before finding a home at Bullis. “Everybody is jealous of our space,” said Pisarra Cain. Previous venues included Connolly School of the Holy Child, Potomac Community Center and Our Lady of Mercy.

“We’ve been very fortunate, because it’s hard to find a place to perform,” said Pisarra Cain.

FOR THREE WEEKS in March Annie will sing her hope, “The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there’ll be sun.”

“It’s going to be a zenith of a show,” said Pisarra Cain. “It’s been a wonderful run.”

Dell, who volunteers with Pet Connect, said the company is currently looking for a 40-pound dog to play Sandy. They need a well-behaved, good-natured dog to work with the eight girls on the stage. Dog auditions are Saturday, Feb. 8.

“We have an enormous following of people who love seeing great plays, well acted, that aren’t very far away,” said Dell.

“It’s an enormous loss,” she said.