MANDEVILLE, La. (WGNO) — While there are many old buildings full of character in Old Mandeville, The North Star Theatre is unique in how it has fed the great performing arts scene on the Northshore. Built as part of the historic Allenton Hotel building, the theatre has quite a history. The Allenton Hotel was built in 1927, and over the years, it has seen many colorful reincarnations, including being a dancehall, bar and brothel. By the 1950s, the Allenton Hotel was a boarding house for workers building the Causeway. Then, in the 1970s, it was bought and turned into an antique store. Afterward, it was sold to Lori Prudhomme. 35 miles of bike riding fun from Covington to Slidell along Tammany Trace Lori Prudhomme, the wife of the late chef Paul Prudhomme, had a vision to transform the storied grounds of the old Allenton Hotel into a place that told actual stories on stage. Therefore, the North Star Theatre was added to the property in the 1990s and built by Norman Porcieu. Norman's wife Anne was an actress and theatre teacher and taught many generations of young actors on the Northshore. "What I like about acting is that you have an affair with the audience. That's my favorite part. I love having an audience in the palm of my hand and manipulating them the way I want them to respond," recollects Anne Porcieu. Over the years, the theatre became a beloved fixture in Mandeville, and eventually, one of Anne's theatre students would grow up to become the current owner of the North Star Theatre today, named Jill Mcguire. Thinking back on her life, Mcguire says, "I actually performed on stage here, when I was in high school in the early '90s. I went off to college and pursued theatre and did it in New York. I came home, had my family here and it became for sale in 2020. I was excited that I was going to be able to bring theatre back to Old Mandeville." Visiting Old Mandeville? Check out some of their Bed & Breakfasts The North Star is currently a place of performance that houses plays and musicals, concerts, comic shows and professional entertainment from across the country. "I think it's mesmerizing to watch live performers in front of you. What's unique about doing it in a small town is that it might be your bus driver or the mom down the street. They all get up on stage and come alive! It's very intimate. That's what's great about this theatre. There's not a bad seat in the house," says Mcguire. The North Star Theatre and Cultural Center has some great programming planned. Saturday, Nov. 23, there is an art show and gallery exhibition showcasing Eric Mcvicker, a local photographer. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts 5 takeaways from the Arizona Senate debate Cooler temperatures, clear skies expected for NOLA through the weekend NOPD searching for two suspects in CBD business burglary NOFD responds to Irish Channel house fire Watch: Massive 28-foot wave captured inside Hurricane Milton