‘Tis the season for storylines dedicated to small town romance, and there’s no better way to get cozy as fall turns to winter than with the latest production at Abington Senior High School, ALMOST, MAINE.
Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend–almost–in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.
The love stories are told through a series of vignettes, with under a handful of students performing in each scene, making this play an ideal setup for the return to in-person theater following the COVID-19 pandemic. ALMOST, MAINE will be performed in the auditorium at Abington Senior High School–in addition to being livestreamed–on Thursday, November 18, Friday, November 19, and Saturday, November 20, beginning at 7 p.m.
To help the students prepare for the productions, Abington School District Supervisor of Fine Arts, Mr. Matthew Harris, invited the show’s playwright and professional actor, John Cariani, to speak with students virtually from New York City, as well as, Jack Thomas, the original producer of ALMOST, MAINE. The duo engaged the cast and crew by sharing career experiences, advice, and the fascinating journey of ALMOST, MAINE, from its inspiration to its growth and development into a script produced across North America. The discussion was led by fall play director, Mr. Timothy Myers, a music teacher, who encouraged the students to ask questions. Mr. Cariani and Mr. Thomas provided insight and offered artistic coaching throughout the session, which the cast and crew immediately implemented into their rehearsal after school as they headed into their final week of preparations.
Tickets for the shows, which also include original music by Julian Fleisher, can be purchased in the Abington Senior High School main office, at the door, or by emailing Gregg Rosenfeld at the high school for reservations. Please specify if you would like to see the show in person or via the livestream.
ALMOST, MAINE was developed by
The Cape Cod Theatre Project.
Professional Premiere Production:
Portland Stage Company,
Anita Stewart, Artistic Director,
Tami Ramaker, Managing Director.
Originally produced in New York by
Jack Thomas/Bulldog Theatrical and Bruce Payne.
Original Music by Julian Fleisher
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