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Larry Mitchell, who for 42 years was the guiding light behind musical theater productions in Fort Dodge, died Friday.
His death was announced by Comedia Musica Players, the theater troupe he established, and the Fort Dodge Community School District, where he taught from 1966 to 1997.
From 1967 to 1997, he directed 31 of the spring musicals performed by Fort Dodge Senior High School students.
Mitchell started with "Where's Charlie" in 1967 and concluded his high school directing efforts with "Naughty Marietta" in 1997.
He established Comedia Musica Players in 1968. He directed his last show with that group, "Cardiff" in 2006.
Mitchell wrote a book called "A Practical Handbook for Musical Theatre."
In 2012, he received the Robert M. McCowen Memorial Award from the Iowa Choral Directors Association.