Scott Moreau

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's names have become synonymous with musical theatre. Even if you've never seen a musical on stage or don't care for the art form it's almost a definite that you have at least heard of their works: Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and Phantom of the Opera. JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is yet another highlight of the pair's resume, and having been performed all over the world for nearly 30 years, it has become a beloved favorite of theatre goers. The Ogunquit Playhouse's new production of JOSEPH… will leave no doubt in your mind as to why this musical is so loved.

There's something very special about a story that can instantly make people of any age feel like a child again. Sometimes in the hustle bustle of today's world with so many 'adult' problems, adults forget what it's like to have been a child. MARY POPPINS has been just that kind of story for children of all ages for years, and Maine State Music Theatre's current production of MARY POPPINS will warm your heart and lift your spirits.

On August 16, 1977 we lost an American music and cultural icon: Elvis Presley. But, he has never truly left us. His memory endures with the vast amounts of music he recorded, the movies he made, and his likeness being used all over the planet. You would be hard pressed to find someone in this world that has never heard of Elvis Presley. With tribute artists performing in his likeness and multiple festivals around the world attracting fans of every age, it's no wonder that his music was lent to a Broadway musical. And just in time for the 36th anniversary of his passing, The Arundel Barn Playhouse's ALL SHOOK UP will help you relive yesteryear and maybe even hear the King's music in a completely new way.

There's an old saying in theatre: "There are no small roles, just small actors". Despite her featured role as Tessie Tura in GYPSY at Maine State Music Theatre, her talent and impressive resume prove that she is no "small" actress. From understudying Patti LuPone in the original Broadway production of Evita, success in films and sitcoms, to becoming an MSMT favorite, it is clear to see why as soon as you see her on stage. Though, the audiences at MSMT might have a hard time convincing her that Brunswick's crowds are bigger fans than she is of the midcoast town.

Shows featuring a solitary performer onstage are a hell of a thing. Playwrights/authors put their thoughts and ideas into a piece that is often biographical, and just as often fictional. The sole performer then must bear their soul onstage, working one on one with a director to inhabit the persona of the character. With no nets, no outside help, this actor or actress then leave themselves emotionally naked onstage with only themselves for help; equally terrifying and fulfilling. Janis Stevens does just that in her performance of THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING at the Theater at Monmouth. A performance that will leave you in awe.

When Thornton Wilder premiered his new play OUR TOWN in 1938, I would wager that more than one person left the theatre asking why anyone would want to watch the lives of "ordinary" people on stage. Fast forward to present day where millions of people the world over tune in to reality tv shows, following the lives of "ordinary" people. The difference is, that there is nothing "brilliant" about the lives of the so-called stars of reality TV. However, Wilder's OUR TOWN is light years ahead of it's time, and the talented cast of his well-known play bring out it's brilliance at the Theater At Monmouth.

'Sing out, Louise!!'. This phrase has been part of theatre lexicon for more than 50 years. Almost having become an inside joke, and used by directors, choreographers and actors to coax performers into giving it their all. Throughout GYPSY's storied history, it has been produced numerous times across this country; the 'greatest American musical' is also often referred to as a 'perfect' musical. And Maine State Music Theatre's current production of GYPSY is just that: perfect.

There are many challenges that face a theatre who chooses to mount such a difficult production. First and foremost are how to bring these iconic characters to life as realistically as possible, while still showcasing the actors underneath. Second is how to present the various locations presented in the piece (SHREK'S swamp, the castle in Duloc, Fiona's tower, etc) in a way that not only is appropriate, but can easily be changed to the next. The show has now made the jump to regional theatres around the country, and the Arundel Barn Playhouse is the first theatre in all of New England to present it. It's a lot to undertake, but the Playhouse rose to the occasion, and I think you will be quite surprised and delighted at the results.

It's hard to imagine the existence of the modern musical comedy without the likes of Mel Brooks. In 2001, his first major foray into the art form premiered on Broadway: The Producers. It went on to win a record 12 Tony Awards, and solidified his role as someone to be reckoned with in the genre. 6 years later, arguably his best, funniest and most popular movie YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN was transformed into a musical on the Great White Way. And if you are lucky enough to see the Ogunquit Playhouse's amazing production of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, you'll wonder why the Broadway production ever closed.

Disguises, mistaken identity, lies that beget other lies; these are the calling cards of modern television sitcoms, and farce on stage. But these conventions have been around long before the likes of Ken Ludwig's brand of farce or the inception of the moving picture. Shakespeare's comedies have long been a source of inspiration for burgeoning playwrights and screenwriters. Though written centuries ago his comedy still rings true in theatres the world over, and The Theater at Monmouth's cast of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW presents a veritable masterclass of comedic acting.

Whether it be live theatre or cinema, most theatergoers are looking for entertainment and often an escape. We buy our tickets, step through the lobby and enter a dimly lit space waiting with expectations of entertainment; comedy, drama, musical, horror, what have you. Every once in a while, the silence in the theatre is broken by 'that person'; the annoying audience member who feels the need to comment on the action or talk back to the performers. They are usually met with disdain, constant 'shooshing', and often removal from the theatre. However, Francis Beaumont's comedic masterpiece written nearly 400 years ago not only makes these 'annoying' talkback artists part of the show, it makes his work timeless and hilarious.

Gregg Goodbrod is not a stranger to Maine State Music Theatre. In just the past few years, his MSMT resume boasts the roles of Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard, Chris in Miss Saigon, Radames in Aida, Lt. Cable in South Pacific, Pat Denning in 42nd Street, Ethan in The Full Monty and the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar. And that's JUST at MSMT, let alone his 2 year Broadway run of Thoroughly Modern Millie and the 1st National Tour of the Dolly Parton musical adapted from the movie 9 to 5. Being a working performer is often referred to as a 'Gypsy life'; you have to go where the work is, or, where the work takes you.

"They'll love you a lot more if you hang. You know why? Because they'll sell more papers". When Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb presented their jazz-aged masterpiece for the first time in 1975, I doubt they could foresee millions of people tuning in for highlights on the George Zimmerman trial on every major network. Nor could Maurine Dallas Watkins have any way of knowing that her play (CHICAGO is based on it) would be so topical for years to come, after writing it in 1926. But, nearly 90 years later, with trials on every channel and our justice system often in upheaval, it seems to be more relevant than ever. And the Arundel Barn Playhouse's production of CHICAGO proves just why it has endured.

Les Mis. A French title, and a show so popular it has its own nickname. When the show premiered in London in 1985, some people wondered how on earth Victor Hugo's masterpiece of a novel could be turned into a musical. Those people have long since been silenced. Les Miserables has become one of the world's most beloved musicals, and Maine State Music Theatre's current production proves exactly why.

The annals of music theatre are dotted with plenty of amazing and award winning shows. Shows that have become classics, and part of the 'Golden Age' of music theatre. Thoroughly Modern Millie may be a recent Broadway hit, but this masterpiece deserves it's place alongside the classics of American musical theatre, and the cast of Millie at the Ogunquit Playhouse deserves more than a mere footnote in this show's history.

Similar shows exist elsewhere in our current theatre landscape, in both plays and musical theatre. I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Are We There Yet?; Forever Plaid (and pretty much ANY other show conceived by Roger Bean) are examples in musical theatre. Having performed in each one of these shows in my professional career, I can tell you that they are THE MOST challenging shows I have ever been a part of. Yet, on paper, I suppose, some theatres may see these shows as not only a sure-fire money maker, but an easy show to produce. Hackmatack Playhouse is perhaps a victim of the latter.

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. An instantly recognizable song to 99% of the English speaking world. The female group that made the song famous, even more recognizable and beloved: The Andrews Sisters. Champions of the USO, and perhaps the most famous singing group of all time, The Andrews Sisters sold more than 90 million records in their career, and sang to troops all over the world, raising moral and warming hearts from the East Coast to the Pacific Rim. So, you may be asking yourself why the show is called The Andrews Brothers. Ah....the magic of live theatre.

Martha and the Vandellas. Gladys Knight and the Pips. Paul Revere and the Raiders. Bill Haley and His Comets. Dianna Ross and the Supremes. The singer in the front always gets the recognition. But, what about the talented singers behind the "star"? What are their hopes and dreams, and do they ever long to be in the spotlight?

I am here to tell you that not only can Shakespeare's work be truly life changing, but it IS accessible, and topical in our present world climate. And a production like the Mad Horse Theatre's stellar presentation of Titus Andronicus proves that to a tee.

You know those dreams you have when you wake up suddenly, and all you want to do is fall back asleep and continue the dream? If you are lucky enough to see Dreamgirls at Maine State, you will leave the Pickard Theatre feeling the same way.