playbill vip

When Almost, Maine first appeared off-Broadway in 2006, it ran for just two months to lackluster reviews and was ultimately canceled. Normally that would be the end of the life of a play, but something about the play resonated with others and it began to be produced in more and more theatres across the country. Fast forward to today: it has become and continues to be one of the most produced plays in the world! Why is that? Well you are about to find out for yourself as you watch tonight’s show. 

Almost, Maine is comprised of nine short vignettes that take place in the same northern town over the same ten minutes on a Friday night in the middle of winter. Each scene features two characters who are dealing with love, which as we all know can be quite comical, very tender, but also heartbreaking. It’s a snapshot of love in all its facets. 

When I read the script for the production, I knew that lighting effects would be one of the most important elements of the show. It was the first thing that I imagined and wanted strewn throughout!  The Theatre Department’s Technical Director, L.W. Miller, became the lighting designer and the scenic designer for this production. I cannot wait for you to see the magic that was created. If you are reading this in the theatre right now,  you will already notice that we have the night sky full of stars and northern lights above the audience’s head.  

One of our goals of the Theatre Department is to create an environment that promotes

and exemplifies inclusion, diversity and belonging. This carries over to our productions as we strive for our cast (and crew) to represent the diversity of the world; students of different races, cultures, abilities, body size, gender, and experience level. All of this is thoughtfully integrated in every aspect of the production and something that I care very deeply about. From the casting, to even the music choices, I wanted us to be mindful and purposeful about inclusion and diversity.

It has been an honor to direct the first in-person theatre production at Eastern in over a year! The joy of rehearsing in the same space, building an ensemble of the cast and crew, and being together to create this production has been a joy-filled process.  

We hope you enjoy the show!

Lois Abdelmalek

Director