Ruxton Players's ALMOST, MAINE Begins Today

The award-winning Ruxton Players present the Baltimore community theater premiere of Almost, Maine by John Cariani, beginning today, March 20 through 29 at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Towson.

Almost, Maine explores love and loss through nine two-character vignettes featuring different residents of a small, mythical town in Maine. As the aurora borealis light up the northern Maine sky one winter evening, the play's characters face life-changing epiphanies both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Almost, Maine has been described as a 21st Century Our Town, as well as an excellent date play.

Ruxton Players' production will be directed by Bill Kamberger, who has been named "Baltimore's Best Stage Director" by City Paper, Baltimore OUTLoud and Baltimore Broadway World. It features a cast of local actors: Tracy Hauser, Kendra Keiser, Larry Malkus, Clay McNally, Cassandra Miller, Jonathan Sachsman, Susan Schindler, Jennifer Skarzinski, and Mike Ware. Most will be playing multiple roles.

Although hailed for "a decency that's become rare at the theater" (New York Daily News), Almost, Maine made headlines last October when a high school production in North Carolina was canceled by the school's principal for its inclusion of a love scene between two men. The Church of the Good Shepherd is honored to present this scene, as well as the entire script.

The 2004 play premiered in Portland, Maine, and opened Off-Broadway in 2006. For the past four years, Almost, Maine has been one of the most-produced plays in North American High Schools, according to Dramatics magazine. The first Off-Broadway revival of the play was produced in 2014 by Obie- and Drama Desk Award-winning Transport Group at the historic Gym at Judson.

Prolific from the 1930s to '70s, the Ruxton Players was revived in accordance with the Church of the Good Shepherd's centennial in 2010, with a production of "Hobson's Choice." Its second production, in 2012, was John Patrick's touching World War II drama "The Hasty Heart," starring Morgan Stanton, who earned the Baltimore Broadway World readers' poll award for Best Actor in a Play (Non-Equity) for his performance. The group's 2013 production of "The Scarecrow" by Percy MacKaye garnered 2013 Baltimore Broadway World acting awards for its leads John Robert Wright and Chelsea Blackwell.

Performances of Almost, Maine are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays March 20 to 29 at The Church of the Good Shepherd at 1401 Carrollton Avenue in Towson. Tickets are $20, and are available at the door or by calling 410-823-0122. For more information, visit www.goodshepherd.ang-md.org or www.facebook.com/ruxtonplayers.