SULLIVAN - It took a long time for Guy Little to meet his first love.

But Little finally got to meet Joan Roberts a few years ago, and now she will perform at the theater he founded 50 years ago.

Many stars with whom Little has worked over the years will return to the Little Theatre-On the Square this weekend for its 50th anniversary celebration performance of "Follies." But his love of Roberts goes even farther back.

When Little was, well, little, he got his hands on one of Broadway's first recordings, the original "Oklahoma!" cast production, with Roberts as Laurey.

"I played it probably 1,000 times and loved it," the founder of the Little Theatre-On the Square said. "I had a love affair with Joan Roberts."

Little finally met Roberts three years ago when she was performing "Follies" in New York.

"I had written to her asking if I could take her to dinner," Little explained. He said he went backstage after the matinee to meet Roberts. After visiting for a half-hour, the topic came up. Little said Roberts asked, "Aren't you going to take me to dinner?"

Little did. She had pasta with loads of sauce and a bottle of beer.

"Here she is in her 80s, having all of this, and she has to go back and do a performance," Little said.

Roberts will play Heidi, who sings "One Last Kiss," in the Little Theatre production.

Ann B. Davis, best-known for her role as Alice on TV's "The Brady Bunch," is one of those returning stars. She will be playing Hattie in "Follies." Davis played at the Little Theatre in 1963 in "Everybody Loves Opal."

"Ann is a fabulous lady," Little said. "I remember she was the only star that ever worked here to host a dinner for the apprentices at (Sullivan restaurant) Jibby's. Some would take the director or leading lady or leading man, but she hosted the entire apprentice company."

Anna McNeely, who originated the role of Jennyanydots in the Broadway production of "Cats," will return to play Sally Durant Plummer in "Follies." Little said he has known the Tower Hill native since she was a child; she came to the theater with her mother, Bonnie, who performed in several shows.

"She always hung around backstage," Little said. "She worked here for six seasons and did everything."

Little said he also spoke at her wedding reception and has been close with McNeely's family for three decades.

Little also holds fond memories of Bill and Susan (Seaforth) Hayes, who were on "Days of Our Lives" for many years and will be returning to play Buddy and Carlotta in the production.

"I had seen Bill on Broadway and always thought the world of him," Little said.

Little said the Hayeses used to fly in between their show tapings and do five shows in Sullivan on the weekend, then fly back to Los Angeles for the week.

Returning couple Colleen Zenk Pinter and Mark Pinter are no strangers to stage and screen. Both are known for their roles on daytime television. Zenk Pinter has played Barbara on "As The World Turns" for 25 years, while Pinter has been seen on "All My Children" and "Law and Order." His film credits include "Other People's Money," "Eden Myth," "Season of Youth" and "Vanilla Sky."

The Pinters will be playing Ben and Phyllis, while two of their children will play the younger versions of their characters.

Zenk Pinter wasn't cast at the Little Theatre the first time she auditioned, but that didn't stop her dream. She tried again and was eventually cast in "They're Playing Our Song" to sold-out crowds.

"I told so many young actors that not getting cast doesn't mean you're not talented," Little said. "Sometimes you're just not what the director or producer is looking for."

The returning stars all had good things to say about Little. They're looking forward to their return to a theater where many of them got their start.

"The support that Guy has given me over the years has been tremendous," McNeely said.

"Guy Little is a very dear friend of mine and marvelous performer himself," said Roberts. "Guy is a great contribution to the theater world, he's like a godsend. If you don't believe in miracles, just look at what he has accomplished at that theater. It's amazing."

Zenk Pinter said that not only is Little good at what he does, he's also highly regarded.

"He's so respected in this industry, and everybody knows Guy Little," she said. "You might think just because the theater is in Sullivan, Ill., no one knows who he is, but everybody knows who he is."

Little will also appear on stage as the impresario in "Follies."

Ticketholders are invited to join the cast and crew after today's opening night performance for a gala at which can meet the stars. Admission is $10 and includes hors d'oeuvres.

"Fifty years of consistent, wonderful shows in a small farming community is just incredible," said Bill Hayes. "It's proper that they do a gala and really show off."

Kate Henderson can be reached at khenderson@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.