Dustin Tucker News

This winter, Portland Stage unveils the Dark Week Project, three staged readings of beloved playwright Sarah Ruhl's Dear Elizabeth while the Mainstage is 'dark', a technical term to signify that the theater is in a transition week between regularly scheduled productions. Dear Elizabeth will be performed by a rotating cast of Portland Stage Affiliate Artists and is directed by Todd Brian Backus.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

Maine boasts a vibrant, varied theatrical landscape, is home to a significant local community of fine artists, and plays host each year to artists from New York, Chicago, and all the leading regional theatres in the country. Moreover, Maine can be proud of its sophisticated, loyal, and warm-hearted audiences, who appreciate thoroughly the dedication and creativity that goes into producing professional and community theatre and who are generous with their support and acclaim. I am honored to continue to serve as Broadway World's Maine editor, and I remain excited and energized by the richness of the state's theatre scene. As we come to the end of another year, here are my personal choices of the 2017 best in Maine, grouped by theatre and show.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

In his directorial debut at Portland Stage, acclaimed actor Dustin Tucker has created an intriguing theatrical evening featuring a potpourri of horror tales by Maine authors, told with a mercurial blend of wit and terror. The brilliantly theatrical eighty-minute piece, which is based on six stories and short plays by John Cariani, Tess Gerritsen, Ike Hamill, Chris F. Holm, Callie Kimball and Stephen King, employs a wide variety of staging devices, and runs the gamut in tone and mood all combining for a sophisticated and satisfying experience.

Actress, singer, comedienne extraordinaire Charis Leos has performed over one hundred roles on more than twenty-eight leading regional theaters across America. Known as a brilliant and endearing character actress with a powerful voice, she has made a name for herself in major roles like Rose in Gypsy, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Jolene in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Louise in Always Patsy Cline, and countless more parts that speak to her versatility and charisma. While Leos performs all over the country, Maine holds a special place in her heart.

???????Portland Stage Affiliate Artists present a 'Studio Series Workshop Staged Reading' of John Cariani's cul-de-sac, Monday, July 31st at 7:30 pm, followed by an open discussion between the playwright, director and audience, Portland Stage Studio Theater, 25A Forest Avenue in Portland. Tickets are a $10 in advance, or $15 at the door.

Actor Dustin Tucker is a critically acclaimed and popular figure on the Portland, Maine, theatre scene.  Known especially for his work at Portland Stage and the Theater at Monmouth, Tucker's artistic journey began in Amarillo, Texas, continued at Interlochen Arts Academy, and then on to Broadway, off-Broadway, and the national regional theatre scene. In recent years he has come to call Maine his home base.

Portland Stage's current production, Jonathan Tolins' one-man, bitter-sweet comedy, Buyer & Cellar, offers Maine audiences a chance to revel not only in the protean talents of Dustin Tucker, who gives a compelling, engaging, irresistible ninety-minute virtuosic performance, but also in Tolins' agile sense of situation and ear for subtle character interaction. That all the characters (some five) are played by Tucker with the uncanny ability to make each unique is no small part of the charm and appeal of this production.

Portland Stage is pleased to present BUYER & CELLAR by Jonathan Tolins, and Staring Dustin Tucker.  Previews run Tuesday, February 28 - Thursday, March 2, and opening Friday, March 3 and running through Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Having had the privilege to serve as Broadway World's Maine Editor for more than three years now, I can say with pride that the state, though remote as it may seem from the epicenter of the theatre world, Broadway, is blessed to be home to so many thriving theatre companies who produce exciting, vibrant seasons. As I compiled my list for 2016 with many familiar names, I was also struck by the extraordinary consistency of excellence these companies maintain. Here are my personal choices of the best in Maine, grouped by theatre and show.

Portland Stage's gleeful, wickedly funny send-up of the Sherlock Holmes classic, Hound of the Baskervilles, as adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson, makes for a perfect antidote to the winter blues! Mounted with breathless energy by director Daniel Burson and brought to life by an agile, inventive, endearing trio of actors, this irreverent take on one of the best loved tales of the Holmes canon will keep you chuckling long after the curtain falls.

In his program notes for Great Lakes Theater's production, director Joseph Hanreddy states, 'KING LEAR, with its titanic range of emotional, vast physical landscape, dark ironic humor and snarl of mysteries, contradictions, ambiguity and paradoxes, render it one of the theater's greatest challenges to realize in performance.' To his credit, Hanreddy creates a production which lives up to the challenge.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Birmingham, Washington, DC., New Orleans, Germany and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include The University of Alabama's AVENUE Q, UNCLE VANYA in DC, and JOSEPH in New Orleans, just to name a few.

William Shakespeare is considered by most experts on English language theatre as being the greatest of all writers. His vast folio of plays, consisting of tragedies, comedies, histories and dramas have lasted for over four hundred years. He is one of the few writers who has theatres, let alone festivals, dedicated exclusively to his works.

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 60 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2014 Cleveland winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cleveland Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cleveland Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!