Mrs. T, A True Treasure

It wasn't a show until Mrs. T was in the make-up room!

The show was "Forever Plaid". It was my very first time on the stage at Lake Charles Little Theatre and it was when I first met Mrs. T.

Just like everyone else who met this great lady, I liked her right off the bat. You had to know her...she exuded warmth and caring and all that is good in the human spirit.  We all love her.  I loved talking to this wonderful lady while she made me up for various roles from a dead 60's singer (Forever Plaid) to Willie Loman in "Death of A Salesman".

Backstage at Lake Charles Little Theatre will never be the same. there is a move afoot to name the new McNeese Theatre stage after her and her late husband, Joe. That would be a wonderful tribute to a lady that loved the theatre so much..and in return, the theatre loved her.

You can donate to help make it happen:

The Anita and Joe Tritico Theatre

C/O McNeese University Foundation

Box 91989

Lake Charles, La. 70609

Here is the story that ran in the March 23, 2011 edition of the AMERICAN PRESS-

McNeese State University mourns the passing of long-time McNeese theatre publicist and production assistant Anita Tritico who passed away Tuesday, March 22.

"If you've attended a McNeese State University theatre production during the past 31 years, it's probably because of Anita Tritico," said Richard Reid, vice president for university advancement and executive vice president for the McNeese Foundation.

"I remember her as always ready to ‘step in' to assist in anyway to assure the success of a theatre production. It could be stitching up a costume or filling in at the ticket office. She was always in the wings."

Michele Martin, head of the McNeese Department of Performing Arts, said, "For over three decades, Anita Tritico was a constant force in McNeese Theatre. Anita was in every sense a mentor sharing her knowledge and love of drama with the multitude of students and faculty who learned and worked in the program. Teaching through example, her lessons were ‘life lessons': respect for all individuals, dedication to task and acceptance of responsibilities. Anita's wisdom, generous spirit and consuming love of theatre influenced all who worked with her to be better individuals and better performing artists. Anita was unique and those who knew her will always be filled with a joyous spirit when remembering her."

She worked to establish season memberships to provide much needed income for the department. "Mrs. Tritico was a strong supporter of the McNeese theatre program and was very proud of its work," Reid said.

"Mrs. T," as she was affectionately known on campus, had a special bond with students majoring in the performing arts and with those who enjoyed participating in theatre productions both on stage and back stage.

Recently she said, "It's most rewarding to see the students come in as timid freshmen and see them develop into wonderful actors. What a transformation!"

Following the death of her husband, Joe, in 1994, she established the Anita and Joe Tritico Theatre Scholarship through the McNeese Foundation. Student recipients of the scholarship worked as her assistants throughout the year.

Last year, McNeese theatre alumni began a fundraising effort to name the new theatre in the Shearman Fine Arts Annex for Anita and Joe Tritico. For more information on this project or the Tritico Theatre Scholarship, contact the McNeese Foundation at (337) 475-5588.