Almost, Maine

by John Cariani
October 28-29 & November 2-6, 2011

Director
John E.R. Friedenberg

Scenic Designer
Bland Wade

Composers
Jacob Eichhorn, John Kostler

Sound Designer
Ashley Singer*

Costume Designer
Mary Wayne-Thomas

Lighting Designers
Jay Lawson, J.R. Roberson

Assistant Director
Isabella Curry

Stage Manager
Paige Klasing*

CAST

Prologue-Interlogue-Epilogue
Pete............................................................Dean D. Guerra*
Ginette..................................................Elizabeth Patterson*§

Her Heart
East................................................................Taylor Hagely*
Glory.............................................................Rebecca Speas*

Sad & Glad
Jimmy...............................................................Matt Dowell*
Sandrine.....................................................Anita Ostrovsky*§
Waitress.....................................................Emily Nedvidek*§

This Hurts
Steve....................................................................Andy Belt*
Marvalyn..................................................Margaret Mulkerrin

Getting It Back
Lendall.................................................................Kyle Maloy
Gayle.................................................................Alyssa Gera§

They Fell
Chad...........................................................Solomon Jordan*
Randy.............................................................Nick Reichert*

Where It Went
Phil...............................................................Nate Brickhouse
Marcie............................................................Mandy Emma*

Story of Hope
Man.............................................................Joseph Belangia*
Hope...........................................................Johanna Beach*§

Seeing the Thing
Dave................................................Zachary Pierce-Messick§
Rhonda............................................................Jessi Wagner*

 *denotes a member of the Anthony Aston Players         
§denotes a Presidential Scholar in Theatre

PRODUCTION STAFF

Technical Director......................................................R. Trevor Anderson
Assistant Stage Managers.............................Natalie Brashear, J.B. Robards
Pianist.....................................................................................Cheng Liu
Properties........................................................................... Chris Garcia*
Master Electrician............................................Donald “Ducky” Davidson§
Scene Shop Assistants.........................Chris Garcia*, Adam Lavis, Danielle Thorsen*§, Donald “Ducky” Davidson§, Alex Aceituno, Mara McCaffray*, Chandalae Nyswonger*, Alex Priore*§, Nathan Musgrove, Perry Ransbottom*, Monty King
Lightning Assistants....................... Jim French, Chris Gonzalez La Corte*§
Scenic Artists....................................Emma Northcott, Perry Ransbottom*
Costume Studio Supervisor......................................................Lisa Weller
Props Supervisor.................................................................Alice Barsony
Costume Assistants................................................. Sara Lindsey*, Lomar Osbourne, Alyssa Gera*§, Chakayla Taylor
Sticher........................................................................... Taylor Williams
Wardrobe Assistant..........................................................Wayne Lindwell
Hair & Makeup Assistant.................................................Sarah Wheeler*
Light Board Operator.......................................................Lizzie Stothart*
Sound Board Operator.............................................Mackenzie Finnegan*
Photography.................Ken Bennett, Bill Ray III, Leslie Spencer, Dean D. Guerra*
Audience Services Coordinator...........................................Leslie Spencer
Box Office Staff.................................Dean D. Guerra*, SheRea DelSol*, Brandon Ferri, Jake Skillings, Hayden Newman, Emma Stockert, Emma Northcott, Ben Benzing

*denotes a member of the Anthony Aston Players                                                                  
§denotes a Presidential Scholar in Theatre

director’s note

            I first came across Almost, Maine at a High School One-Act competition and thought it was a clever little piece of theatre. As I kept stumbling across it and seeing more scenes, I began to be intrigued by its substance – underneath the deft, cute, clever surface, these characters were grappling with life and relationships in a way that was unforced, unadorned and incredibly honest and truthful.

            This summer I had the chance to visit ‘Almost’ and see the people in the play and the world in which they live. I visited Easton, Lake Portage, stomped up Groundhog Mountain, grabbed a milkshake in Caribou, got coffee and doughnuts from Tim Horton’s, visited the Maine Potato Board headquarters, and stood amazed in a potato field that felt on top of the world under a sky that could have been a planetarium ceiling for all its vivid clarity. Unfortunately, I did not see the Northern Lights.

            One exchange with the clerk at my hotel (The Budget Traveller Inn: “We Welcome our Canadian Neighbors”) typified my experience. When I asked the young man where he’d recommend for dinner, I was met with a long pause as he stopped to think (and stared out the window at the cemetery across the road) before he looked back and answered, “There’s not any place here I would really recommend.” That’s the degree of frankness I met with everywhere. That’s the sort of folk who inhabit ‘Almost’ – people getting by, searching for truth, for honesty, and for the way ahead.

            We were fortunate to have the opportunity we had to bring John Cariani in to a rehearsal early on to look at the scenes from underneath – from how they worked and functioned – and to share his insights into the characters he created (and the real people he borrowed from for their creation) with each of the actors portraying them. John was an actors’ playwright, generous and kind, an effective teacher and a wonderful warm Maine guide and all involved found it an enlightening and rewarding afternoon.

            I hope the insights and honesty we discovered during those shared hours endured through the remainder of rehearsals. I hope the spirit of John’s community infuses our performance for your all. I hope you enjoy your visit to ‘Almost’ as much as we have enjoyed discovering this special place, and I hope you see the Northern Lights in your life.