Newnan Theatre Company Presents ALMOST, MAINE, Now thru 2/1

Newnan Theatre Company begins its 38th year bringing entertainment to Newnan and Coweta County with their production of John Cariani's Almost, Maine. The production opens tonight, January 22nd and runs through February 1st.

The play takes place on a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. But all is not quite right in the frosty cold night. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost's residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend - almost - in this delightful midwinter night's dream.

"This show is written with such a light and caring soul at the center of the script, it's impossible to find a way to say anything unkind about it," says Tony Daniel, the director of the production. "There are great moments of joy, and moments of pure heartbreak, but in every scene, we find something real, something close to all of us."

The play consists of eight scenes, each a story unto itself. Members of the cast find themselves playing more than one character, a challenge to any actor. But Joel Gould, who plays four different characters in the show, finds the challenge welcome. "I thought it would be a way to show that the small town we are bring to life is like every other small town, where you see the same people every day, and yet, each of those same people is just a bit different."

Joining Gould in the cast are Rick Olsen, Louisa Grant, John Caldwell III, Andi Laaker, Mary Caroline Moore, Megan Upchurch Wiggins, Robbie Kirkland, and Hope Sutton. This will be the first time on the NTC stage for Sutton and a return to the NTC stage for Wiggins. "They both came into the mix with their own thoughts on how their characters would act, and I had the privilege of watching these two find their place with the current NTC family," says Daniel. "I can only hope they stay with us for a long time to come."

"I was proud to be asked to be in this show," says Sutton. "It's a show anyone can come see with their whole family, and, at the same time, it has some very grown-up humor to it. It's the best of both worlds!"

Almost, Maine opens on January 22nd and runs through February 1st. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.newnantheatre.org or by calling 770.683.6282. Show times are 8 pm for the shows Thursday through Saturday, and Sunday shows are at 3 pm. For more information, visit the Newnan Theatre Company website or email Tony Daniel, the artistic director, at artistic-director@newnantheatre.org .