Stephane Duret

Interview: COMMUNITY & COMING TOGETHER
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Aug 14, 2026

Maine State Music Theatre concluded its 2026 Peek Behind the Curtain Series on August 12th with a discussion devoted to the theatre’s hit production of COME FROM AWAY.  A capacity crowd assembled at Curtis Memorial Library to listen to three of the production’s stars, Carolyn Anne Miller (Bonnie/Others), Stephane Duret (Kevin J/Ali/Others), and Kolby Kindle (Bob/Others) together with Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and BWW moderator Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold share their thoughts on the moving phenomenon that is COME FROM AWAY. The conversation focused on the uniqueness of the musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, its genesis and journey to becoming a global phenomenon, the staging and ensemble structure of the show, and its lasting messages of kindness, community and coming together.

Review: Welcome To The Rock: MSMT'S COME FROM AWAY Radiates Inspiration
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Aug 6, 2026

Maine State Music Theatre's production of Come From Away is a stirring tribute to compassion in the face of tragedy. Led by first-time director Mark Johnson and performed by an all-star company of MSMT veterans, the production captures both the heartbreak and the humanity of the events that unfolded in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001.

Review: MAGIC, WONDER, & TRUE HEART in Disney's FROZEN at Pickard
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Jul 16, 2026

Maine State Music Theatre celebrates Mid-summer with a dazzling production of Disney’s FROZEN, brilliantly directed and choreographed by Marc Robin. The delightful extravaganza transforms the Pickard Theater into a magical kingdom where the young and the young at heart can revel in the beloved fairytale performed by an outstanding cast in an opulent production that is certain to hold audiences spellbound.

SOMETHING ROTTEN! Comes to the Fulton Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Aug 30, 2023

The Fulton Theatre has announced the highly anticipated production of the uproarious musical comedy, Something Rotten! This Tony Award-nominated hit will open the Fulton’s 2023/24 Mainstage season, and is set to captivate audiences with its show-stopping musical numbers, hilarious one-liners, and energetic and colorful stage design, beginning on September 15, 2023 with previews September 13 and 14.

Review: Smart, Silly, Spectacular, SOMETHING ROTTEN! Proves a Dazzling MSMT Main Stage Finale
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Aug 11, 2023

Dancing omelettes, a zany soothsayer, THE Bard of English theatre, and a ragtag troupe of Renaissance actors struggling to survive all share the Maine State Music Theatre stage in dizzying profusion in the final main stage production of the season: SOMETHING ROTTEN! - an outrageously funny, simultaneously urbane and plebeian send up and homage to classical theatre and that unique genre the MUSICAL. The stylish and brilliant co-production with Lancaster’s Fulton Theatre, directed by Marc Robin, creates an entirely new imaginary universe, a world at the intersection of Elizabethan England and modern American musical theatre – part Renaissance Faire (on steroids), part Monty Python at their most hilarious. The evening, which is filled with endearing characters, showstopping song and dance numbers, comedy fueled by allusions, puns, slapstick, scatological jokes, and occasionally even poetry, is pure entertainment. No one will need to “brush up his Shakespeare” or be able to “name that tune” in order to come away from SOMETHING ROTTEN! thoroughly exhilarated and brimming with joy.

BWW Review: Wacky, Wickedly Funny, and Wonderful, MSMT's All-Star Cast Romps in 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Jul 21, 2023

Maine State Music Theatre’s new production of 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL with Dolly Parton’s pulsating score is a high energy, hilarious madcap misadventure that somehow also manages to ring uncannily true. Both a period piece and a contemporary one, this tale of women in the workplace is propelled by zany humor, but also fueled by the empathetic characters at its core. The trio of women embattled with their narcissistic boss are - as Parton, herself, phrased it “just a step on the boss man's ladder” - and yet they sing and dance their way into our hearts in an evening filled with laughter and warmth.

Camp Broadway Ensemble Will Perform With The New York Pops In May
by Stephi Wild - Apr 27, 2023

The Broadway Education Alliance has announced that the Camp Broadway Ensemble will perform with The New York Pops at their 40th Birthday Gala at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall on Monday, May 1, 2023, at 7:00 pm.

12 Days Left To Vote For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards; Ephrata Performing Arts Center Leads Favorite Local Theatre!
by BWW - Dec 19, 2022

The latest standings as of Monday, December 19th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

BWW Critic's Choices: Best of Maine 2022
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Dec 15, 2022

After three seemingly endless years, Maine's theatrical landscape has truly begun to come to life again after the pandemic. I am thrilled to be able to pen this article, having experienced a 2022 that saw the remarkable 'comebacks' of Maine's theatres. While the year was not without continued challenges, these brave, resilient companies managed to produce first-class live theatre for grateful audiences. These are my personal choices of the best in Maine for 2022, grouped by theatre company and show.

Latest Stats Released For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards; at Fulton Theatre Leads Best Ensemble Performance!
by BWW - Dec 12, 2022

The latest standings as of Monday, December 12th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Latest Standings Released For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards; Ephrata Performing Arts Center Leads Favorite Local Theatre!
by BWW - Dec 5, 2022

The latest standings as of Monday, December 5th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

First Stats Released For The BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards; Ephrata's GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE Leads Best Musical
by BWW Staff - Nov 21, 2022

The first live standings have been announced for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Interview: Stephane Duret of KINKY BOOTS at Fulton Theatre
by Jason Davis - Sep 28, 2022

Stephane Duret is finally back on stage! The return of Kinky Boots to Lancaster's Fulton Theatre provided this seasoned actor with an opportunity to bring to life a favorite role.

Review: KINKY BOOTS at Fulton Theatre
by Rich Mehrenberg - Sep 18, 2022

Kinky Boots is a show about acceptance, friendship, and making the best of a situation when faced with adversity.  Fulton’s current production exemplifies all of those facets and makes for a great night of theater.

Fulton Theatre Announces Cast Of KINKY BOOTS Opening September 15
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 1, 2022

The Fulton Theatre announces the casting for their production of Kinky Boots which opens the 2022/2023 Season.  

Resilience, Acceptance, and Change: The Healing Lessons in KINKY BOOTS
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Aug 20, 2022

“Lola gains her strength from her resilience,” says Stephane Duret, who plays the drag queen star of MSMT’s KINKY BOOTS. “Sometimes she feels like an island, alone in this world she has created. But she survives. She’s got her Angels for support, her chosen family, and even when she gets a little slap in the face from Charlie, she comes back to their partnership. That’s her resilience.” “And Lola challenges others to be accepting and to change their perspective,” continues MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark. “I consider it important for MSMT to present something that can cause change in a community, and this show with Stephane’s and the entire cast’s unbelievable performances is doing just that!” His remarks draw applause from the capacity audience at MSMT’s final Peek Behind the Curtain panel discussion, moderated by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold, BWW’s Maine editor, on August 17 at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick.

Review: Bold, Big-Hearted Celebration of Friendship: MSMT's KINKY BOOTS
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Aug 12, 2022

With its bold, brilliant, sassy, urbanely funny, and warmly heartfelt production of KINKY BOOTS, Maine State Music Theatre has chosen the perfect vehicle to close its main stage season. The irresistible musical by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper is given a spectacular, big-hearted production that pulls out all the stops and showcases MSMT at its Broadway best.

Interview: An Unlikely and Inspiring Friendship - Matt Farcher and Stephane Duret Discuss MSMT's Upcoming KINKY BOOTS
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Aug 4, 2022

Both Duret and Farcher are currently in Brunswick preparing for the run of Maine State Music Theatre's last main stage production of the season beginning on August 10: Harvey Fierstein/Cyndi Lauper's KINKY BOOTS, a show they have each performed before.

Urban Stages To Present Premiere Reading Of Gary Apple's New Musical Comedy ON THE FLIP SIDE
by Stephi Wild - Feb 14, 2022

Urban Stages Theater is presenting the premier reading of On The Flip Side, a new jukebox musical by Gary Apple as part of their 'Winter Readings Series.' Jukebox musicals about legendary superstars have packed Broadway houses over recent years, so Apple decided to create one for artists who will never have a jukebox musical of their own -- namely, One-Hit Wonders.

Leaders by Choice Presents WITHOUT VIOLENCE, WE RISE - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF LEADERS BY CHOICE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 14, 2020

On August 21 at 7:00pm EST, current and past members of Leaders by Choice, a nonprofit youth leadership and performing arts organization, will gather in celebration of 25 years. Join them as they virtually honor artists and activists across the nation for 'Without Violence, We Rise - Celebrating 25 Years of Leaders By Choice.'