Mark Martino News

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre has just the solution for you this season with the hit Broadway blockbuster The Producers, set to take the Theatre by storm January 10 through 29.

There was a buzz of excitement in theatres across the country on Wednesday, January 4, as Broadway World Regional Managing Editor Christina Mancuso announced each region's winners in the 2016 Broadway World Audience Choice Awards. Here in Maine within seconds of the postings, congratulations and comments poured in on social media and websites. Hoping to get a measure of the reaction, we contacted all the winners and took a sampling of responses to share with everyone.

So you wanna be a producer?

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.

Theatre Aspen announced the lineup for its 34th season today. The Hurst Theatre opens with the Tony Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY, running in repertory with Laura Eason's popular play Sex with Strangers, and a new version of the musical The World According to Snoopy. The organization also announced the return of the Aspen Theatre Festival for new work at the end of August.

'It's the music and the storytelling; the storytelling walks a fine line between being universal and silly. There is a lot of humor and a lot of warmth and so many relationships you can connect with. All that coupled with joyful, upbeat, recognizable music - those crazy tunes by those inspired creators - make for magic.' Leading lady Lauren Mufson is explaining what she believes to be the enduring appeal of the joyous ABBA musical, Mamma Mia! In which she is currently playing Donna Sheridan, a role she performed on Broadway and national tour. She is joined by a panel of other artists - actors Ian Knauer (Sam Carmichael), Mylinda Hull (Rosie), Chelsea Williams (Sophie) and stage manager Mark Johnson - all involved with the stunning revival that opened to rave reviews at Maine State Music Theatre on August 11th for the last in the Peek Behind the Curtain series of interviews by Broadway World's Carla Maia Verdino-Sullwold, held at Brunswick's Curtis Memorial Library on August 17th.

The electric, near ecstatic atmosphere in Brunswick's Pickard Theater last night more closely resembled that of a rock concert than a theatre company opening. For months in advance, the sold out box office has signaled the joyful anticipation of Maine State Music Theatre's new production of Mamma Mia! - one of the first regionally for the blockbuster Broadway hit. But anticipation aside, it is the delivery here that is the story: a stunningly executed, intelligently staged, deliciously performed rendition of the 2001 long running ABBA musical that transformed the intimate Pickard Theater into a boisterous celebration.

It's a party -under the blue skies and Mediterranean sun of a Greek island - or at least an evocation of that paradise on the stage of Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick. "It's a party and a great story, and I am so very excited to be part of it! I look forward to revisiting the ABBA music and to encouraging the audience to get up and dance and sing with us." Cory Jeacoma is talking about the anticipation swirling around this week's opening of MSMT fourth main stage production, Mamma Mia, in which he makes his MSMT debut in the leading role of Sky. The vibrant young actor, who just four months ago was graduated from Pace University's musical theatre program, has been working steadily for some years now and is already on his way to making his name and talents known.

If you were among the lucky theatre lovers who scored a ticket to the Broadway blockbuster hit, Mamma Mia! in 2005, you might have had the pleasure the pleasure of experiencing Lauren Mufson make her Broadway debut in the leading role of Donna Sheridan. Now more than ten years later, the actress returns to the beloved ABBA musical in a highly anticipated new production at Maine State Music Theatre that opens August 10. The musical theatre and cabaret artist, teacher and voice coach and mother of two is delighted not only to revisit one of her favorite parts, but to make her Maine stage debut in one of the first ever regional productions of the show.

'We are excited to have the audience open its eyes to some sunshine. [Artistic Director] Curt Dale Clark and I were just saying this morning that this has been an intense season so far, and Fiddler on the Roof and Evita cannot let in much sun. But we stream that light in Mamma Mia, and we hope it will provide a chance to breathe in the joy of the Greek Isles. If we do it right, we will all feel an uplift.' Director/choreographer Mark Martino is waxing eloquent about his latest project and one which constitutes his Maine State Music Theatre debut: a new production of the 2001 Broadway smash it musical Mamma Mia, based on the songs of ABBA. Martino has what he calls 'a very short history' with the show, having mounted a production for the first time in June of this year at the Theatre Aspen. 'The two will be staged very differently,' he explains. 'Aspen is a 200-seat thrust stage, and here they have a 600-seat proscenium theatre. The Pickard Theater gives me an opportunity to expand the show. Our cast at MSMT is about one third larger than in Colorado - some twenty-seven actors - which is even a bit larger than the twenty-four in the original Broadway production. The production values are going to be large and lavish, and the cast has a huge amount of energy, so for me it is an opportunity to revisit the show and make different pictures and entirely different choreography.'

Theatre Aspen announced the lineup for its 33rd season today. The Hurst Theatre opens with the regional premiere of the megahit musical MAMMA MIA!, running in repertory with the one man comedy Buyer and Cellar and the musical Dear Edwina. The organization also announced the return of the Aspen Theatre Festival for new work at the end of August.

The Colorado Theatre Guild's 11th Annual Henry Awards will take place Monday, July 18, 2016 at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue in Parker, Colorado. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and the awards ceremony will begin at 7 p.m., followed by an after-party. Tickets are $23 for CTG members (limit 2 per person online with the code Henry2016), $30 non-members or $50 VIP. Tickets go on sale June 20 through the PACE Center website, parkerarts.org, or by calling the box office at 303-805-6800. 

? Theatre Aspen announced casting for the organization's upcoming season of summer shows, which includes MAMMA MIA!, Buyer & Cellar and Dear Edwina.

Theatre Aspen today announced that single tickets for its summer season are now on sale. Full season passes with exclusive access to booking seats, no fees and other benefits, are among an array of available options, including specially priced preview passes and the popular Local's Pass for valley residents, offered through June 1. Tickets and passes are available through the organization's website at theatreaspen.org, where complete schedules and pricing are found.

Les Miserables, the inspiring musical about class struggle set against the backdrop of revolution, and Daniel's Husband, a powerful new play about the importance of marriage equality, took their respective places in South Florida theatrical history as Best Musical and Best Play on Monday, April 4th when the winners of the 40th annual Carbonell Awards were announced in a lavish ceremony at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

Theatre Aspen announced the lineup for its 33rd season today. The Hurst Theatre opens with the regional premiere of the megahit musical MAMMA MIA!, running in repertory with the one man comedy Buyer and Cellar and the musical Dear Edwina. The organization also announced the return of the Aspen Theatre Festival for new work at the end of August.

Get ready to celebrate the life of beloved American entertainer Will Rogers at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES: A LIFE IN REVUE! BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Can you hear the people sing? The Carbonell Awards judges did, honoring LES MISERABLES at Maltz Jupiter Theatre with 10 Carbonell nominations, the most of any musical production. Daniel's Husband at Island City Stage, a world premiere about the importance of marriage equality, garnered six nominations, the most of any play.

Get ready to celebrate the life of beloved American entertainer Will Rogers at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue!