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Photo Flash: First Look at the Cast of Castaside Productions' HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL
by Matt Smith - Maine
(07/19/2016) - Based on the classic 1989 film and with a 2014 Drama Desk Nominated score by Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness!), the Maine Premiere of HEATHERS the Musical centers around the microcosm of Westerberg High. The Heathers--the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio--rule the school with an iron, well-manicured fist. But when misfit Veronica Sawyer upgrades to their status and then rejects their regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy J.D. has plans to put the Heathers in their place. Check out a first look at the production below!
by Matt Smith - Maine
(07/19/2016) - Based on the classic 1989 film and with a 2014 Drama Desk Nominated score by Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness!), the Maine Premiere of HEATHERS the Musical centers around the microcosm of Westerberg High. The Heathers--the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio--rule the school with an iron, well-manicured fist. But when misfit Veronica Sawyer upgrades to their status and then rejects their regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy J.D. has plans to put the Heathers in their place. Check out a first look at the production below!
BWW Blog: Paisley Haddad - Touring Theatre Saves The Arts In My Community!
by Guest Blogger: Paisley Haddad - Maine
(07/19/2016) - This past fall my high school's theatre group travelled to local elementary schools to perform "Folktales For Fun", which connected folktales to different countries to teach kids all about different cultures. Some of the stories included Cinderella from Egypt (Rhodopis and Her Golden Scandals), The Three Hares (a take on the three little pigs) from Turkey, The Bremen Town Musicians from Germany, The Snake from Spain, Why Bears Have Stumpy Tails from Norway,and How Tortoise Tricked Leopard . There were two casts, so that we could make it to more schools than we would have if we only had one cast and to not miss a lot of school ourselves. Our costumes were simple, but effective. The three headed snake was portrayed by three snake hats, the turtle was portrayed by a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backpack on my back, and many other clever animal hats. At first, I was a little curious on how the kids would respond to the play, because our teacher told the schools that it was geared toward 3rd to 5th graders. Which is always a tough audience. Once we got out to the schools, it was one of the most rewarding things that I have ever experienced.
by Guest Blogger: Paisley Haddad - Maine
(07/19/2016) - This past fall my high school's theatre group travelled to local elementary schools to perform "Folktales For Fun", which connected folktales to different countries to teach kids all about different cultures. Some of the stories included Cinderella from Egypt (Rhodopis and Her Golden Scandals), The Three Hares (a take on the three little pigs) from Turkey, The Bremen Town Musicians from Germany, The Snake from Spain, Why Bears Have Stumpy Tails from Norway,and How Tortoise Tricked Leopard . There were two casts, so that we could make it to more schools than we would have if we only had one cast and to not miss a lot of school ourselves. Our costumes were simple, but effective. The three headed snake was portrayed by three snake hats, the turtle was portrayed by a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backpack on my back, and many other clever animal hats. At first, I was a little curious on how the kids would respond to the play, because our teacher told the schools that it was geared toward 3rd to 5th graders. Which is always a tough audience. Once we got out to the schools, it was one of the most rewarding things that I have ever experienced.
Photo Flash: First Look at THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Ogunquit Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - Maine
(07/15/2016) - The Ogunquit Playhouse presents the New England premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, on stage now to August 6, making The Playhouse one of the first regional theaters in the U.S. to stage this new musical. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
by BWW News Desk - Maine
(07/15/2016) - The Ogunquit Playhouse presents the New England premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, on stage now to August 6, making The Playhouse one of the first regional theaters in the U.S. to stage this new musical. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
BWW Blog: Paisley Haddad - It's De-Lovely By The Sea
by Guest Blogger: Paisley Haddad - Maine
(06/30/2016) - This weekend was my first ever visit to the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. I have been vacationing in the Ogunquit area for years, always driving by the iconic sign on the scenic Route 1, but have never actually been inside. I have always loved Anything Goes, and my inner Gilmore Girls fan was dying to see Sally Struthers , Ogunquit Playhouse veteran, in a show. The Playhouse had almost every seat in the house filled and everybody was very excited for the show to start.
by Guest Blogger: Paisley Haddad - Maine
(06/30/2016) - This weekend was my first ever visit to the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. I have been vacationing in the Ogunquit area for years, always driving by the iconic sign on the scenic Route 1, but have never actually been inside. I have always loved Anything Goes, and my inner Gilmore Girls fan was dying to see Sally Struthers , Ogunquit Playhouse veteran, in a show. The Playhouse had almost every seat in the house filled and everybody was very excited for the show to start.
BWW Review: ANYTHING GOES - Cole Porter Sails On In Style
by Steve Feeney - Maine
(06/20/2016) - Stars come out for a spirited take of a classic.
by Steve Feeney - Maine
(06/20/2016) - Stars come out for a spirited take of a classic.
BWW Review: LET IT BE Honors the Music
by Steve Feeney - Maine
(05/23/2016) - LET IT BE celebrates the Beatles music with glimpses of the era from whence it came.
by Steve Feeney - Maine
(05/23/2016) - LET IT BE celebrates the Beatles music with glimpses of the era from whence it came.
Photo Flash: First Look at Good Theater's ACT ONE, Opening This Week
by BWW News Desk - Maine
(04/04/2016) - Good Theater the professional theater company in residence at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland will close its 14th season with the regional theater premiere of ACT ONE by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. Good Theater is the first company to do ACT ONE since its Broadway debut in 2014. The production opens April 6 and runs through May 1. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
by BWW News Desk - Maine
(04/04/2016) - Good Theater the professional theater company in residence at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland will close its 14th season with the regional theater premiere of ACT ONE by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. Good Theater is the first company to do ACT ONE since its Broadway debut in 2014. The production opens April 6 and runs through May 1. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Celebrate PI DAY on 3/14 with Pie Flavored Cocktails Nationwide at Fabulous Hotels and Resorts
by Marina Kennedy - Maine
(03/09/2016) - Celebrate Pi Day on 3/14 with pie flavored cocktails.
by Marina Kennedy - Maine
(03/09/2016) - Celebrate Pi Day on 3/14 with pie flavored cocktails.
Photo Flash: First Look at Good Theater's SHEAR MADNESS
by BWW News Desk - Maine
(01/21/2016) - Good Theater presents SHEAR MADNESS by Paul Portner, directed by Brian P. Allen (original director Bruce Jordan). The show plays at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland starting January 27 and going for eight weeks through March 20. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!
by BWW News Desk - Maine
(01/21/2016) - Good Theater presents SHEAR MADNESS by Paul Portner, directed by Brian P. Allen (original director Bruce Jordan). The show plays at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland starting January 27 and going for eight weeks through March 20. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!
Photo Flash: First Look at MAMA'S BOY at Good Theater
by Tyler Peterson - Maine
(10/26/2015) - Good Theater is proud to present the world premiere of MAMA'S BOY, an exciting new play from Rob Urbinati the author of Death by Design. Broadway veteran, Betsy Aidem, plays Marguerite Oswald with Graham (The Rainmaker) Emmons as Lee Harvey Oswald, Laurel (The Rainmaker) Casillo as Marina Oswald and Erik (4000 Miles) Moody as Robert Oswald in this fascinating look at the mother and the family behind an event that changed the course of history. The show will open October 28 for a run through November 22.
by Tyler Peterson - Maine
(10/26/2015) - Good Theater is proud to present the world premiere of MAMA'S BOY, an exciting new play from Rob Urbinati the author of Death by Design. Broadway veteran, Betsy Aidem, plays Marguerite Oswald with Graham (The Rainmaker) Emmons as Lee Harvey Oswald, Laurel (The Rainmaker) Casillo as Marina Oswald and Erik (4000 Miles) Moody as Robert Oswald in this fascinating look at the mother and the family behind an event that changed the course of history. The show will open October 28 for a run through November 22.
Photo Flash: VILLAIN: DEBLANKS Sells Out Maine Premiere
by Tyler Peterson - Maine
(09/23/2015) - Saturday night, September 19, Billy Mitchell's 'Villain: DeBlanks' enjoyed a sold out performance in Bar Mills, Maine, benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine and the Saco River Theatre.
by Tyler Peterson - Maine
(09/23/2015) - Saturday night, September 19, Billy Mitchell's 'Villain: DeBlanks' enjoyed a sold out performance in Bar Mills, Maine, benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine and the Saco River Theatre.
Photo Coverage: Sneak Peek at THE SOUND OF MUSIC National Tour Meet & Greet Starring Ashley Brown, Ben Davis and More!
by Walter McBride - Broadway
(09/03/2015) - A brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, hits the road for a national tour. This lavish new production launches this September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Center Theatre Group, and will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and week-long engagements. BroadwayWorld brings you shots of the meet and greet below!
by Walter McBride - Broadway
(09/03/2015) - A brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, hits the road for a national tour. This lavish new production launches this September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Center Theatre Group, and will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and week-long engagements. BroadwayWorld brings you shots of the meet and greet below!
Photo Flash: First Look at MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET at Ogunquit Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - Maine
(08/21/2015) - The Ogunquit Playhouse is the first regional theatre in the country to produce the Tony Award-winning musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, onstage now through September 19, 2015. Scroll down for a first look at the cast onstage, plus a shot of the team on opening night, last night, August 21, 2015. The cast and crew gathered at Bintliff's Restaurant in Ogunquit for a lively after party!
by BWW News Desk - Maine
(08/21/2015) - The Ogunquit Playhouse is the first regional theatre in the country to produce the Tony Award-winning musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, onstage now through September 19, 2015. Scroll down for a first look at the cast onstage, plus a shot of the team on opening night, last night, August 21, 2015. The cast and crew gathered at Bintliff's Restaurant in Ogunquit for a lively after party!
BWW Interview: Of Monsters, Mad Scientists, and Mel Brooks
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/14/2015) - 'Mel Brooks' genius lies not only in that he has created these incredibly hilarious films, but he has written the musical scores as well.' The speaker is Jeremiah James, one of the stars of Young Frankenstein, the blockbuster fourth mainstage show of Maine State Music Theatre's 2015 season, which comes to a close n August 22. James, as well as his colleagues, Missy Dowse (Inga), Dance Captain Buddy Reeder, Music Director Samuel Thorne Bagala, and MSMT's Director of Development Barbara Whidden are talking with BWW's Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold to a standing-room-only crowd in the last of the summer's Peek Behind the Curtain interview series on August 12 at Brunswick's Curtis Memorial Library. The lively panel is eloquent about Young Frankenstein and about their summer experience at MSMT.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/14/2015) - 'Mel Brooks' genius lies not only in that he has created these incredibly hilarious films, but he has written the musical scores as well.' The speaker is Jeremiah James, one of the stars of Young Frankenstein, the blockbuster fourth mainstage show of Maine State Music Theatre's 2015 season, which comes to a close n August 22. James, as well as his colleagues, Missy Dowse (Inga), Dance Captain Buddy Reeder, Music Director Samuel Thorne Bagala, and MSMT's Director of Development Barbara Whidden are talking with BWW's Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold to a standing-room-only crowd in the last of the summer's Peek Behind the Curtain interview series on August 12 at Brunswick's Curtis Memorial Library. The lively panel is eloquent about Young Frankenstein and about their summer experience at MSMT.
BW Interviews: Jessica Lee Goldyn: This Business Chooses You
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/10/2015) - 'You really don't choose this business; it chooses you,' Jessica Lee Goldyn says of her becoming a professional dancer and actress while still in her teens. That bright career which has taken her to Broadway and around the country performing in musical theatre now brings her to Brunswick, Maine, to reprise the role of Elizabeth in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, which opened at Maine State Music Theatre August 6th. The role of Frederick Frankenstein's glamorous and fickle wife has been tailored to her extraordinary dancing abilities by director Marc Robin, and, as she tells Broadway World a few days before opening, she is enjoying the experience enormously!
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/10/2015) - 'You really don't choose this business; it chooses you,' Jessica Lee Goldyn says of her becoming a professional dancer and actress while still in her teens. That bright career which has taken her to Broadway and around the country performing in musical theatre now brings her to Brunswick, Maine, to reprise the role of Elizabeth in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, which opened at Maine State Music Theatre August 6th. The role of Frederick Frankenstein's glamorous and fickle wife has been tailored to her extraordinary dancing abilities by director Marc Robin, and, as she tells Broadway World a few days before opening, she is enjoying the experience enormously!
BWW Reviews: Maine State Ballet Presents Lovely, Lyrical COPPELIA
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/10/2015) - Maine State Ballet's latest production of Coppelia is marked by a lovely wistfulness and lyricism and bolstered by fine choreography and impressive dancing. While not as glittering as the company's two previous offerings (Cinderella and Le Corsaire), this Coppelia is, nonetheless, a captivating and characterful fairy tale which appeals to a broad audience.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/10/2015) - Maine State Ballet's latest production of Coppelia is marked by a lovely wistfulness and lyricism and bolstered by fine choreography and impressive dancing. While not as glittering as the company's two previous offerings (Cinderella and Le Corsaire), this Coppelia is, nonetheless, a captivating and characterful fairy tale which appeals to a broad audience.
BWW Reviews: MSMT's YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Brings Down the House
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/07/2015) - Maine State Music Theatre marshaled all its resources for the finale of its 2015 season with a stunning production of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, filled with rollicking humor, brilliant dancing, and dazzling design effects that had the opening night audience on their feet cheering not only at curtain calls, but also during the course of the show. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, the cast of starry principals and equally gifted ensemble gave Brooks' signature off-beat humor a vibrancy and wit that had the intimate Pickard Theatre pulsating with joyous energy.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/07/2015) - Maine State Music Theatre marshaled all its resources for the finale of its 2015 season with a stunning production of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, filled with rollicking humor, brilliant dancing, and dazzling design effects that had the opening night audience on their feet cheering not only at curtain calls, but also during the course of the show. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, the cast of starry principals and equally gifted ensemble gave Brooks' signature off-beat humor a vibrancy and wit that had the intimate Pickard Theatre pulsating with joyous energy.
BWW Interviews: Robert Creighton: Making It Real
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/05/2015) - 'The more real you play it, the better for any piece, even a comedic piece like this one.' Stage and television actor Robert Creighton is talking about his upcoming role debut in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, which opens August 6th at the Maine State Music Theatre. Creighton, who is playing the meaty role of Frankenstein's bungling, hunchbacked assistant Igor, says of his approach to the part, 'The script is so good, so honed that I just have to say the words and stay out of their way. I don't have to mug. It is so well-crafted that I simply embrace the stupidity of it all, enjoy that and watch the audience enjoy it, too. When you play it for real, you are not making fun of the humor or commenting on the material, and the situation takes care of itself.'
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(08/05/2015) - 'The more real you play it, the better for any piece, even a comedic piece like this one.' Stage and television actor Robert Creighton is talking about his upcoming role debut in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, which opens August 6th at the Maine State Music Theatre. Creighton, who is playing the meaty role of Frankenstein's bungling, hunchbacked assistant Igor, says of his approach to the part, 'The script is so good, so honed that I just have to say the words and stay out of their way. I don't have to mug. It is so well-crafted that I simply embrace the stupidity of it all, enjoy that and watch the audience enjoy it, too. When you play it for real, you are not making fun of the humor or commenting on the material, and the situation takes care of itself.'
Photo Flash: First Look at Valerie Harper, Sally Struthers and More in Ogunquit's NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
by Christina Mancuso - Broadway
(07/28/2015) - BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you a first look at Ogunquit Playhouse's stage, screen and television Valerie Harper starring in the role of the wealthy and stylish 'Millicent Winter' in the delightful Nice Work If You Can Get It, on stage July 22, to August 15. Check out the cast in action below!
by Christina Mancuso - Broadway
(07/28/2015) - BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you a first look at Ogunquit Playhouse's stage, screen and television Valerie Harper starring in the role of the wealthy and stylish 'Millicent Winter' in the delightful Nice Work If You Can Get It, on stage July 22, to August 15. Check out the cast in action below!
BWW Reviews: TAM Serves Up Gothic Horror in TURN OF THE SCREW
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/27/2015) - In this 2015 season of 'Magic, Murder, and Mayhem' Maine's Theater at Monmouth serves up a gripping adaptation of Henry James' familiar tale of psychological Gothic horror, The Turn of the Screw. The novella tells the story of a governess' battle to wrench her two young charges from the grasp of spirits who haunt their estate and to probe the dark secrets which exert a debilitating psychological hold on everyone at Bly. Adapted here by Jeffrey Hatcher as a two person drama in which one actor plays all the characters other than the governess, TAM's seventy-five minute production has a lean look and taut pace that rivet even an audience familiar with the work.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/27/2015) - In this 2015 season of 'Magic, Murder, and Mayhem' Maine's Theater at Monmouth serves up a gripping adaptation of Henry James' familiar tale of psychological Gothic horror, The Turn of the Screw. The novella tells the story of a governess' battle to wrench her two young charges from the grasp of spirits who haunt their estate and to probe the dark secrets which exert a debilitating psychological hold on everyone at Bly. Adapted here by Jeffrey Hatcher as a two person drama in which one actor plays all the characters other than the governess, TAM's seventy-five minute production has a lean look and taut pace that rivet even an audience familiar with the work.
BWW Reviews: Bowdoin International Music Festival Friday Shines
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/26/2015) - Under new artistic leadership this summer after fifty years of visionary music making from festival founder, Lewis Kaplan, the Bowdoin International Music festival continues its tradition of world-class chamber and instrumental music led now by Phillip and David Ying. The Yings, together with their Quartet in residence continue to assemble the finest chamber musicians and soloists and to program a piquant blend of old and new music across a broad spectrum of periods and styles.The Friday evening, July 24th concert at the Crooker Theater in Brunswick, Maine, proved an admirable illustration of the scope of the programming and the depth of talent which comes to this coastal college town each summer to perform and teach.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/26/2015) - Under new artistic leadership this summer after fifty years of visionary music making from festival founder, Lewis Kaplan, the Bowdoin International Music festival continues its tradition of world-class chamber and instrumental music led now by Phillip and David Ying. The Yings, together with their Quartet in residence continue to assemble the finest chamber musicians and soloists and to program a piquant blend of old and new music across a broad spectrum of periods and styles.The Friday evening, July 24th concert at the Crooker Theater in Brunswick, Maine, proved an admirable illustration of the scope of the programming and the depth of talent which comes to this coastal college town each summer to perform and teach.
BWW Interviews: Staging MUSIC MAN for a Contemporary Audience
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/24/2015) - 'I try to do every play I direct keeping in mind both people who have never seen it before and those who might know it well. I ask myself, 'What would today's audience want to hear and how can I tell the story for this a contemporary public?' I actively look for ways to put a spin on even a well-known show like the Music Man so that some things strike the audience as surprises, as fresh and different. I want them not to sing along with tunes they know, but be caught off guard a little and be so busy watching the story unfold that they forget they already know it.' Director/choreographer Marc Robin is discussing his latest staging of Meredith Willson's classic musical, the Music Man, for Maine State Music Theatre. Robin was part of a panel that also included the shows stars, Curt Dale Clark and Lauren Blackman, MSMT's Props Designer Kyle Melton, and the company Director of Communications Carol Marquis, moderated by BWW's Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold, the fourth such talkback in the company's summer series, Peek Behind the Curtain, which drew a standing-room only crowd.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/24/2015) - 'I try to do every play I direct keeping in mind both people who have never seen it before and those who might know it well. I ask myself, 'What would today's audience want to hear and how can I tell the story for this a contemporary public?' I actively look for ways to put a spin on even a well-known show like the Music Man so that some things strike the audience as surprises, as fresh and different. I want them not to sing along with tunes they know, but be caught off guard a little and be so busy watching the story unfold that they forget they already know it.' Director/choreographer Marc Robin is discussing his latest staging of Meredith Willson's classic musical, the Music Man, for Maine State Music Theatre. Robin was part of a panel that also included the shows stars, Curt Dale Clark and Lauren Blackman, MSMT's Props Designer Kyle Melton, and the company Director of Communications Carol Marquis, moderated by BWW's Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold, the fourth such talkback in the company's summer series, Peek Behind the Curtain, which drew a standing-room only crowd.
BWW Interviews: MUSIC MAN's Charis Leos: I've Never Wanted To Do Anything Else!
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/20/2015) - 'I never wanted to do anything else!' the dynamic blonde character actress tells Broadway World one recent afternoon on a break in her rehearsals for Maine State Music Theatre's Music Man, which opened July 16. Charis Leos is currently playing Eulalie, the Mayor of River City's wife in her third with the company role this summer season; she has already delighted audiences as Georgie in The Full Monty and Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, and she looks forward to undertaking Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein in what will be her tenth season in Brunswick. Leos has strong ties to MSMT, to Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark, and to director Marc Robin (Music Man/Young Frankenstein), and she says she 'loves the quality of work we do here. A lot has to do with the community which is so incredibly supportive. This is the best-paid vacation ever. Of course, it it's a great deal of hard work because the schedule is so compact, but I am having a wonderful time!'
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/20/2015) - 'I never wanted to do anything else!' the dynamic blonde character actress tells Broadway World one recent afternoon on a break in her rehearsals for Maine State Music Theatre's Music Man, which opened July 16. Charis Leos is currently playing Eulalie, the Mayor of River City's wife in her third with the company role this summer season; she has already delighted audiences as Georgie in The Full Monty and Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, and she looks forward to undertaking Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein in what will be her tenth season in Brunswick. Leos has strong ties to MSMT, to Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark, and to director Marc Robin (Music Man/Young Frankenstein), and she says she 'loves the quality of work we do here. A lot has to do with the community which is so incredibly supportive. This is the best-paid vacation ever. Of course, it it's a great deal of hard work because the schedule is so compact, but I am having a wonderful time!'
BWW Reviews: MSMT Makes MUSIC MAN an Irresistible Valentine
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/17/2015) - Who doesn't love Meredith Willson's classic musical, Music Man, with its thrilling score, its witty humor, its irresistible combination of bravura and unabashed romanticism?. Generations have grown up on movie versions and memories of the big Broadway productions. So when a company undertakes a revival of such a classic, they risk the inevitable comparisons. Undaunted, Maine State Music Theatre has mounted a grand, original, and compelling look at this cornerstone of American musical theatre. The new production, directed by Marc Robin, starring Curt Dale Clark and Lauren Blackman, which opened at Brunswick's Pickard Theatre on July 16, skillfully fuses the familiar and the fresh into an evening of absolute delight.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/17/2015) - Who doesn't love Meredith Willson's classic musical, Music Man, with its thrilling score, its witty humor, its irresistible combination of bravura and unabashed romanticism?. Generations have grown up on movie versions and memories of the big Broadway productions. So when a company undertakes a revival of such a classic, they risk the inevitable comparisons. Undaunted, Maine State Music Theatre has mounted a grand, original, and compelling look at this cornerstone of American musical theatre. The new production, directed by Marc Robin, starring Curt Dale Clark and Lauren Blackman, which opened at Brunswick's Pickard Theatre on July 16, skillfully fuses the familiar and the fresh into an evening of absolute delight.
Photo Flash: First Look at Curt Dale Clark, Lauren Blackman and More in MSMT's THE MUSIC MAN
by Christina Mancuso - Maine
(07/16/2015) - Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) presents Meredith Willson's beloved all-American classic THE MUSIC MAN. This six-time TONY Award-winning musical has been entertaining audiences since 1957. THE MUSIC MAN runs tonight, July 15, through August 1, 2015. Check out a first look below!
by Christina Mancuso - Maine
(07/16/2015) - Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) presents Meredith Willson's beloved all-American classic THE MUSIC MAN. This six-time TONY Award-winning musical has been entertaining audiences since 1957. THE MUSIC MAN runs tonight, July 15, through August 1, 2015. Check out a first look below!
Photo Flash: Sneak Peek at Curt Dale Clark, Lauren Blackman and More in MSMT's THE MUSIC MAN
by Christina Mancuso - Maine
(07/15/2015) - Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) presents Meredith Willson's beloved all-American classic THE MUSIC MAN. This six-time TONY Award-winning musical has been entertaining audiences since 1957. THE MUSIC MAN runs tonight, July 15, through August 1, 2015. Check out a sneak peek below!
by Christina Mancuso - Maine
(07/15/2015) - Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) presents Meredith Willson's beloved all-American classic THE MUSIC MAN. This six-time TONY Award-winning musical has been entertaining audiences since 1957. THE MUSIC MAN runs tonight, July 15, through August 1, 2015. Check out a sneak peek below!
BW Interviews: Curt Dale Clark and Lauren Blackman Revel in the Quintessential American Musical
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/15/2015) - When Meredith Wilson's Music Man opens July 16th at Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick, Maine, this grand scale production will mark the fourth time actor and Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark has undertaken the role of Harold Hill, and it will be the first time his co-star Lauren Blackman has portrayed Marian Paroo. Yet for both artists, the experience feels like a kind of spiritual homecoming.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/15/2015) - When Meredith Wilson's Music Man opens July 16th at Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick, Maine, this grand scale production will mark the fourth time actor and Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark has undertaken the role of Harold Hill, and it will be the first time his co-star Lauren Blackman has portrayed Marian Paroo. Yet for both artists, the experience feels like a kind of spiritual homecoming.
Photo Flash: First Look at Lisa Brescia in Ogunquit Playhouse's VICTOR/VICTORIA
by Tyler Peterson - Broadway
(07/06/2015) - It's the 20th anniversary of Broadway's tender and funny, smart and sexy Victor/ Victoria and the Ogunquit Playhouse is celebrating by mounting a full-scale glamorous production of the musical comedy June 24 to July 18, complete with the original Broadway and touring sets designed by Robin Wagnerand costumes by Willa Kim.
by Tyler Peterson - Broadway
(07/06/2015) - It's the 20th anniversary of Broadway's tender and funny, smart and sexy Victor/ Victoria and the Ogunquit Playhouse is celebrating by mounting a full-scale glamorous production of the musical comedy June 24 to July 18, complete with the original Broadway and touring sets designed by Robin Wagnerand costumes by Willa Kim.
BWW Interviews: Theatre Takes a Village
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/03/2015) - Maine State Music Theatre held it third panel discussion devoted to its production of Sister Act on July 1, 2015, at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick. Actors Kingsley Leggs and David Girolmo, stage manager Mark Johnson, music director Jason Wetzel, and MSMT Managing Director Stephanie Dupal spoke to Broadway World's moderator Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold and a full house of enthusiastic MSMT patrons about the challenges of putting on this large scale show that has proved to be another huge hit for the company.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(07/03/2015) - Maine State Music Theatre held it third panel discussion devoted to its production of Sister Act on July 1, 2015, at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick. Actors Kingsley Leggs and David Girolmo, stage manager Mark Johnson, music director Jason Wetzel, and MSMT Managing Director Stephanie Dupal spoke to Broadway World's moderator Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold and a full house of enthusiastic MSMT patrons about the challenges of putting on this large scale show that has proved to be another huge hit for the company.
BWW Interviews: Trista Dollison in SISTER ACT: Singing with Great Joy!
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/29/2015) - Every night for the next three weeks Trista Dollison dons a nun's habit and lights up the stage of Brunswick's Maine State Music Theatre with her sassy, soulful, exuberant portrayal of Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act - the cabaret singer who teaches the joy of music to a sleepy convent of Philadelphia nuns. It's a part she seems born to play and one which reflects her overall love of singing. 'It's a great role, hands down!' she enthuses in the last days of rehearsal before the June 25th opening. 'I had seen the show on Broadway twice and auditioned more than twice, so I am delighted to be here doing it now. It is one of those shows that rides on your back. She has such great songs and is in every scene. She is such a fierce and fabulous character! I love the fact that she starts off in a selfish world and evolves into being the hope for these sisters, and the sisters become the hope for her. The journey within the show is so beautiful: she realizes she is helping the nuns, and they realize they are helping her. She awakens something that is lost in the convent - a passion and joy.'
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/29/2015) - Every night for the next three weeks Trista Dollison dons a nun's habit and lights up the stage of Brunswick's Maine State Music Theatre with her sassy, soulful, exuberant portrayal of Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act - the cabaret singer who teaches the joy of music to a sleepy convent of Philadelphia nuns. It's a part she seems born to play and one which reflects her overall love of singing. 'It's a great role, hands down!' she enthuses in the last days of rehearsal before the June 25th opening. 'I had seen the show on Broadway twice and auditioned more than twice, so I am delighted to be here doing it now. It is one of those shows that rides on your back. She has such great songs and is in every scene. She is such a fierce and fabulous character! I love the fact that she starts off in a selfish world and evolves into being the hope for these sisters, and the sisters become the hope for her. The journey within the show is so beautiful: she realizes she is helping the nuns, and they realize they are helping her. She awakens something that is lost in the convent - a passion and joy.'
BWW Reviews: MSMT's SISTER ACT Raises the Rafters in Rejoicing
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/26/2015) - In the first act of the Menken/Slater/Steinkellner musical comedy, Sister Act, the heroine, Sister Mary Clarence (aka Deloris Van Cartier) tells Mother Superior that song should come from the soul to raise the rafters. Maine State Music Theatre's second season offering does just that with a dazzling production and a cast whose talent is, indeed, cause for celebration!
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/26/2015) - In the first act of the Menken/Slater/Steinkellner musical comedy, Sister Act, the heroine, Sister Mary Clarence (aka Deloris Van Cartier) tells Mother Superior that song should come from the soul to raise the rafters. Maine State Music Theatre's second season offering does just that with a dazzling production and a cast whose talent is, indeed, cause for celebration!
BWW Interviews: Kinglsey Leggs of SISTER ACT - Art with Intention
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/24/2015) - 'If you build it they will come. If you want diversity in the theatre, you have to build that diversity from the ground up. You can't just expect it to happen.' Actor Kingsley Leggs is speaking with quiet intensity about his passion for theatre, music, and dance and his belief that theatre must not only please, but also educate and empower its audiences. These are beliefs he has honed in a long career which has taken him from his native St. Louis to Broadway, regional theatre, and television. As he recounts his story, he is taking a break on what he calls 'a three show day' at Maine State Music Theatre, where he is in the last week of performances of The Full Monty and set to open June 25th in Sister Act. He has just finished the morning rehearsal and will soon head over to the theatre for a matinee and evening show. For all the obvious demands of this schedule, he appears relaxed and animated. He tells the story of how he came to be in Brunswick this summer:
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/24/2015) - 'If you build it they will come. If you want diversity in the theatre, you have to build that diversity from the ground up. You can't just expect it to happen.' Actor Kingsley Leggs is speaking with quiet intensity about his passion for theatre, music, and dance and his belief that theatre must not only please, but also educate and empower its audiences. These are beliefs he has honed in a long career which has taken him from his native St. Louis to Broadway, regional theatre, and television. As he recounts his story, he is taking a break on what he calls 'a three show day' at Maine State Music Theatre, where he is in the last week of performances of The Full Monty and set to open June 25th in Sister Act. He has just finished the morning rehearsal and will soon head over to the theatre for a matinee and evening show. For all the obvious demands of this schedule, he appears relaxed and animated. He tells the story of how he came to be in Brunswick this summer:
BWW Reviews: MSMT Intern Company Dreams of FAME
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/16/2015) - 'Fame/I'm gonna live forever/I'm gonna learn how to fly. . . .'So sings the company of young aspiring actors in the Steve Margoshes/Jacques Levy 1984 musical, FAME, and, indeed, one finds the description appropriate for the talented cast which Maine State Music Theatre has assembled for its annual intern production, presented at Brunswick's Pickard Theatre on Monday, June 15th. Each year some two dozen young artists, who also perform in the main stage shows and work behind the scenes come together to present their own show, and in this year's FAME they outdo themselves! The 1988 musical based on the earlier movie is an excellent choice for the company, offering age-appropriate characters with which the actors can identify and challenging them to turn out colorful, individual performances while creating an esprit de corps. Moreover, it is a theatre story, filled with laughter, pathos, and heart.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/16/2015) - 'Fame/I'm gonna live forever/I'm gonna learn how to fly. . . .'So sings the company of young aspiring actors in the Steve Margoshes/Jacques Levy 1984 musical, FAME, and, indeed, one finds the description appropriate for the talented cast which Maine State Music Theatre has assembled for its annual intern production, presented at Brunswick's Pickard Theatre on Monday, June 15th. Each year some two dozen young artists, who also perform in the main stage shows and work behind the scenes come together to present their own show, and in this year's FAME they outdo themselves! The 1988 musical based on the earlier movie is an excellent choice for the company, offering age-appropriate characters with which the actors can identify and challenging them to turn out colorful, individual performances while creating an esprit de corps. Moreover, it is a theatre story, filled with laughter, pathos, and heart.
BWW Interviews: FULL MONTY Team Lets It Go!
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/12/2015) - In a lively, funny, often piquant conversation cast and creative team members from Maine State Music Theatre's The Full Monty convened on June 10 to talk with Broadway World in the first of this summer's highly successful talkback series, A Peek Behind the Curtain. The audience was delighted to have the opportunity to meet director, Donna Drake, stars Peter Matthew Smith, Amanda Rose, MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and Outreach Sales Manager Katie White. The discussion focused on the show's appeal, its message, and, of course, on the show stopping strip finale.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/12/2015) - In a lively, funny, often piquant conversation cast and creative team members from Maine State Music Theatre's The Full Monty convened on June 10 to talk with Broadway World in the first of this summer's highly successful talkback series, A Peek Behind the Curtain. The audience was delighted to have the opportunity to meet director, Donna Drake, stars Peter Matthew Smith, Amanda Rose, MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and Outreach Sales Manager Katie White. The discussion focused on the show's appeal, its message, and, of course, on the show stopping strip finale.
BWW Interviews: Amanda Rose Thrives on Every Experience
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/08/2015) - Musical theatre actress Amanda Rose has been living her dream since her graduation from Charleston College over a decade ago; she has been performing steadily on Broadway, on tour, and in regional theatres across the country. Now based in New York City, she, nonetheless, understands that an actress' life is peripatetic and unpredictable, and she relishes the new experiences that come with her journey.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/08/2015) - Musical theatre actress Amanda Rose has been living her dream since her graduation from Charleston College over a decade ago; she has been performing steadily on Broadway, on tour, and in regional theatres across the country. Now based in New York City, she, nonetheless, understands that an actress' life is peripatetic and unpredictable, and she relishes the new experiences that come with her journey.
BWW Reviews: THE FULL MONTY Builds to a Crescendo of Laughter and Heart
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/05/2015) - The Full Monty, which opened Maine State Music Theatre's fifty-seventh season, has all the makings of a new hit for the company! The rollicking, sometimes raucous story of unemployed Buffalo steel workers who create a male strip act to make money has characters to embrace and identify with, clever and provocative dance numbers, music which underscores advances the dramatic development of the script, and one of the most anticipated final numbers in all of Broadway musicals. In addition, at MSMT in a shared production with Lancaster's Fulton Theatre, the David Yazbek -Terrence McNally show is blessed with a stunning ensemble and witty, heartfelt direction and choreography by Donna Drake.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/05/2015) - The Full Monty, which opened Maine State Music Theatre's fifty-seventh season, has all the makings of a new hit for the company! The rollicking, sometimes raucous story of unemployed Buffalo steel workers who create a male strip act to make money has characters to embrace and identify with, clever and provocative dance numbers, music which underscores advances the dramatic development of the script, and one of the most anticipated final numbers in all of Broadway musicals. In addition, at MSMT in a shared production with Lancaster's Fulton Theatre, the David Yazbek -Terrence McNally show is blessed with a stunning ensemble and witty, heartfelt direction and choreography by Donna Drake.
BWW Interviews: What We Do: A Conversation with Peter Matthew Smith
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/03/2015) - “This show is such a great ride for the cast and the audience!” the actor says enthusiastically. Peter Matthew Smith is referring to his latest gig as Jerry Lukowski in back-to-back runs of the musical, The Full Monty, which opens Maine State Music Theatre's fifty-seventh season on June 4, after closing at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster. It is Smith's first visit to Maine and his second essay of the part of the unemployed Buffalo steel worker who organizes a male strip tease act to raise money for his child support payments.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(06/03/2015) - “This show is such a great ride for the cast and the audience!” the actor says enthusiastically. Peter Matthew Smith is referring to his latest gig as Jerry Lukowski in back-to-back runs of the musical, The Full Monty, which opens Maine State Music Theatre's fifty-seventh season on June 4, after closing at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster. It is Smith's first visit to Maine and his second essay of the part of the unemployed Buffalo steel worker who organizes a male strip tease act to raise money for his child support payments.
Summer Stages: Theatrical Happenings in Maine 2015
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(05/20/2015) - After the impossibly long winter, summer is finally coming to Maine shores, woods, and towns. And along with summer outdoors fun, comes the return of summer theatre. Maine is blessed to have a wide selected of professional and community playhouses from which to choose. Here is but a small sampling:
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(05/20/2015) - After the impossibly long winter, summer is finally coming to Maine shores, woods, and towns. And along with summer outdoors fun, comes the return of summer theatre. Maine is blessed to have a wide selected of professional and community playhouses from which to choose. Here is but a small sampling:
BWW Reviews: Gripping Production of OTHER DESERT CITIES Closes Mad Horse Season
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(05/04/2015) - South Portland's Mad Horse Theatre Company closes its 2014-2015 season with a gripping rendition of Jon Robin Baitz's 2011 drama, Other Desert Cities. The play explores the painful bonds and conflicts in a family whose relationships have are strained by differences in political thinking, by the loss of their oldest son, and by their daughter's desire to recount the truth as she sees it. The drama, set largely in 2004 in the bellicose post 9/11 America of George W. Bush, is about the fine line between acting and reality, the dark depths of deception, and the devastating, yet healing consequences of discovering the truth.
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Maine
(05/04/2015) - South Portland's Mad Horse Theatre Company closes its 2014-2015 season with a gripping rendition of Jon Robin Baitz's 2011 drama, Other Desert Cities. The play explores the painful bonds and conflicts in a family whose relationships have are strained by differences in political thinking, by the loss of their oldest son, and by their daughter's desire to recount the truth as she sees it. The drama, set largely in 2004 in the bellicose post 9/11 America of George W. Bush, is about the fine line between acting and reality, the dark depths of deception, and the devastating, yet healing consequences of discovering the truth.
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