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Mad Horse Theatre to Open 31st Season with THE TOTALITARIANS

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Mad Horse Theatre Company opens its 31st season with the perfect foil to the crazy circus of this year's election!

The Totalitarians, a raucous dark comedy by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, explores the state of modern political discourse, modern relationships, and how easy it is to believe truths without facts.

For those looking for an escape, however brief, from the 24/7 noise of the upcoming election, The Totalitarians has it all, according to Chris Horton, Mad Horse Company member and director of the production.

"A narcissistic big-haired former roller derby queen on the verge of being elected to the second highest office in the State of Nebraska, running a campaign of garbled populism delivered in vacuous slogans. Her ambitious campaign manager, a failed speechwriter trying to re-ignite her career despite her frustrated husband's ardent desire to start a family. Power struggles, naked ambition, dirty politics, family dysfunction, sex and conspiracy theories abound. And it is riotously funny!," says Horton.

"In the midst of this current confounding Presidential campaign, we thought it would be fun to share playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's satirical take on our dysfunctional political scene and his speculation on its future direction. The Totalitarians was first presented in 2014; it appears our reality has quickly overtaken satire."

The Totalitarians features Mad Horse Company members Shannon Campbell, Janice Gardner, and Mark Rubin, along with guest artist Jacob Cote.

The production crew includes Jennifer Halm-Perazone (Stage & Production Manager), Christopher Price (Set Design), Corey Anderson (Lighting Design), Stacey Mancine Koloski (Props), Christine Louise Marshall (Costume Design & Box Office Manager), Scott Leland (Sound Design & Master Carpenter), Marie Stewart Harmon (Box Office Manager), Tootie Van Reenen (House Manager), and Stacey Collins (Graphic Design).

The Totalitarians runs September 29 through October 16, 2016, at the Mad Horse Theater in the historic Hutchins School, 24 Mosher Street, South Portland.

Performance times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm, and Sunday afternoons at 2pm. The Sunday, October 2, performance will be at 7:00pm ONLY (no matinee that day). There will be an Opening Night Reception immediately following the Friday, September 30 performance. Everyone is invited to stay after the show, enjoy light snacks, and mingle with the cast, crew, and fellow theatre lovers.

A post-show Talkback is scheduled for Sunday, October 9, immediately following the 2pm matinee. This is an opportunity to discuss the play with the director and actors.

Tickets are $23 for adults and $20 for seniors and students. As always, Mad Horse offers Pay What You Can performances. Pay What You Can dates for The Totalitarians are Thursday, October 29, Sunday, October 2 (7pm show), and Thursday, October 6. Pay What You Can tickets are only available at the door on a first come, first served basis.

Reservations are strongly recommended. Purchase tickets online at www.madhorse.com or call 747-4148 for more information. Please call for Group Rates.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Direction of a Play - Top 3
1. Joe Mantello - Death of a Salesman
19.3% of votes
2. Duncan MacMillan, Jeremy Herrin - Every Brilliant Thing
18.1% of votes
3. Whitney White - Liberation
10.1% of votes

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