A Legacy in Letters: The Grand Finale of Springfield Little Theatre’s 90th Anniversary Season
As Springfield Little Theatre’s landmark 90th EMERALD ANNIVERSARY SEASON comes to a close, we are proud to present one final curtain call—an extraordinary artistic tribute that brings our community’s shared history to life in a bold and unforgettable way.
Now on display in the lobby of the historic Landers Theatre, A Legacy in Letters by local artist Daniel Duff is more than a piece of art. It is a statement. A celebration. A reflection. And as of this week, it is available to the public through a special silent auction, with all proceeds benefiting Springfield Little Theatre’s Endowment Fund.
Commissioned as the grand finale of our 90th Season Celebration, this breathtaking, large-scale mosaic captures the image of The Landers Theatre in all its iconic splendor. But this is no ordinary portrait. Painted on solid wood and measuring 56” x 44”, A Legacy in Letters reveals, upon closer inspection, a mesmerizing composition built from 9,856 hand-painted letters. These letters are not random—each one spells out the chronological titles of shows Springfield Little Theatre has produced since its founding in 1934.
Every square inch of the piece reflects a piece of our story: nine decades of performances, thousands of artists, countless volunteers, and generations of audiences who have gathered beneath the lights of The Crown Jewel of the Ozarks.
The artist behind this stunning tribute, Daniel Duff, is a lifelong artist based in Springfield, Missouri. Duff is widely known for his acclaimed “Word Portraits” series—paintings that build upon the concept of visual closure, where small individual elements combine to form a cohesive image when viewed from a distance. In Duff’s case, these elements are tiny hand-painted letters. He begins by dividing his canvas into a grid of thousands of small squares, each filled with a carefully chosen color and overlaid with a letter. These letters form words, phrases, and in the case of A Legacy in Letters, the collective memory of Springfield Little Theatre’s entire production history.
Duff describes his work as paintings “in their own words,” a philosophy that shines through in this piece more clearly than ever. The form and content are one and the same. The Landers Theatre is not just depicted—it is composed of the stories it has told.
Daniel and his wife Mary are proud supporters of Springfield Little Theatre, and we are deeply honored to partner with them on this historic commission. This piece will serve not only as a powerful visual centerpiece but as a tangible reminder of the incredible journey we’ve taken as an organization—and a community—over the past 90 years.
Silent Auction Now Open!
A Legacy in Letters is now available through silent auction, with all proceeds directly supporting the Springfield Little Theatre Endowment Fund. Your bid is not just a chance to own a one-of-a-kind piece of art—it is a meaningful investment in the future of our organization. Your support helps ensure that the legacy of live theatre at the Landers Theatre continues for generations to come.
The original piece will remain on display in the lobby of the Landers Theatre through the end of the bidding period, July 1, 2025. In addition to the original, high-quality prints of the artwork will be available for purchase both in the Landers Theatre Boutique and online.
A Work of Art. A Piece of History. A Legacy You Can Own.
We invite you to come view this exceptional piece in person and consider placing a bid in support of Springfield Little Theatre’s next 90 years. This is more than an auction—it is an opportunity to be part of our story.
Let’s celebrate the past, support the future, and honor the legacy—letter by letter.
