Six years to the month after producing an abstract theatrical performance for the Gaylord Building and White Oak Library District in Lockport, what became Limestone Stage opens its fifth season.

The community theater group launches its 2018-19 slate with “Beyond the Grave” on Oct. 19 and 20 at the Lockport Township Building in Lockport.

“When we started Limestone Stage and I became the artistic director, we toyed around with the idea of doing a show by a local writer. We had a couple of people give us outlines but unfortunately it never got past that,” Christopher “Kit” Lindblom said.

“Still, in the back of my mind, I thought, ‘I would love to see a community theater not only acted and worked on with community people but someone from the area to actually write it.’ That is true community theater because it’s all in-house,” he said.

Alissa Raschke-Janchenko wrote the aforementioned 2012 show “Murder Mystery on State Street,” which highlighted historic downtown Lockport. Now Limestone Stage’s managing director has written “Beyond the Grave.”

“She put together this wonderful show,” said Lindblom, director of the series of stories including “The Baritone Ghost,” “Dellwood After Dark,” “The Phantom Train,” “The Runyon Witch” and “The Taft Ghost.”

“Everything is Lockport-centric. It’s all based off either our local legends or is more of a factual-based piece,” he said.

“Beyond the Grave” stars 10 people, including Crest Hill, Joliet, Lemont and Lockport residents.

“The cast I have for this production is a wonderful group of people. Some of them have done things with us before, but I’ve got a lot of fresh cast. These are people that may have done theater in the past and wonder, ‘Can I still do this? Do I still have it in me?’ ” Lindblom said.

“I was one of those people. I got the opportunity to start doing theater again when I was in my 50s. I was like the people saying, ‘Can I still handle memorization? Can I do it and challenge myself? That was playing the part of Ebenezer Scrooge in our production of ‘A Christmas Carol.’

“I appreciated all the applause I got but the real thrill was finding out that ‘Yes, I can still do this. I still have it.’”

Founded in 2014, Limestone Stage announced in August that it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which can accept tax-deductible donations.

“We need to have the ability to fundraise. This is the easiest way to do that,” said Lindblom, who credited Limestone Stage development director Adam Woodworth, who is also executive director of Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, as instrumental in attaining tax-exempt status.

“If any companies are interested in underwriting one of our productions or want to be financial partners, we would love to talk to you.”

Limestone Stage’s season continues with John Wooten’s “Humbug” directed by executive director Luke Janchenko and executive technical director Richard Swierzewski from Nov. 30 to Dec. 9, and Steph DeFerie’s “I Hate Shakespeare” with Feb. 10-11 auditions and Wally Roche directing April 25-28 shows.

The group closes it season away from the Lockport Township Building with the New Directors’ Showcase in June at the Roxy during Old Canal Days weekend. “Home-written” submissions for one-acts running 10 to 20 minutes may be submitted to limestonestage@gmail.com until Jan. 1.

“In the future I would love to see local playwrights and authors say, I’ve got this idea for a script,’ ” Lindblom said. “I would love to be able to do more homegrown shows.”

Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer for the Daily Southtown.