Beneath the lights of the aurora borealis, the humorous, thoughtful and sincere characters of Almost, Maine share stories of love, heartbreak, surreal experiences and changes.
This weekend, the Brown County High School Theatre Department will bring their stories to life on stage.
Theater teacher and auditorium manager Daniel Lyng said that when it’s time for him to choose a production, he always asks himself, “What will the students learn from being in this show?”
He chose “Almost, Maine” because it can feature many actors and give each a significant and sizable acting experience, he said.
Written by playwright John Cariani, the play is divided into eight separate scenes, each featuring two actors.
Lyng said no player is in the background of this show and that everyone has an opportunity to be “front and center.”
“These students needed that kind of training and experience,” he said.
Earlier this year, the spring musical production of “Mamma Mia” featured seven out of the eight leading characters played by graduating seniors.
In choosing “Almost, Maine,” Lyng said he hoped to give the younger actors a chance to hone their skills and gain experience being a lead actor, even if it’s just for one scene.
“It’s the stepping stone they need in their acting training as they prepare to take on bigger roles later in our season,” he said.
The spring musical for 2023 is “Shrek the Musical,” which requires a large cast of characters each requiring considerable acting skill, Lyng added.
“It is my hope that what the actors learn in ‘Almost, Maine’ will prepare them for that challenge.”
The production is also the second most-produced high school play of the last 15 years, Lyng said. The first is “Clue,” which they performed last fall.
“The company has created a show that is uniquely and individually theirs,” Lyng said.
‘Everyone is a lead’
Claire Roberds is a freshman in the play who is an understudy, as well as making announcements at the beginning of the show.
Having friends who were in “Mamma Mia,” Roberds thought theater seemed like a fun outlet and decided to join.
”I’m really glad I did, because I was really anxious at first. I had not tried out before … I’m glad I did because I have made so many friends and met so many amazing people,” Roberds said.
Basil Grimes, a senior, plays Dave, whom he described as a quiet and timid man trying to express his feelings to his best friend, Rhonda, a strong and independent woman.
This is Grimes’ first time on stage, but not his first time involved in shows. He was a techie for “Mamma Mia” in the spring and “Matilda” over the summer before joining the actors.
After seeing the dedication made and fun had by actors during “Mamma Mia,” he thought he’d try out for “Almost, Maine,” since it was not a “tech-heavy” show.
Lilly Voils is a junior this year and a veteran theater member who will play two characters in “Almost, Maine.”
Her first character, Ginette, is young and innocent girl who is in love, while her other character, Gayle, is headstrong.
“She knows what she wants, when she wants it, she’s trying to explain it the best she can,” Voils said.
Voils has been in theater since she was in sixth grade and was one of the lead characters, Sophie, in “Mamma Mia.”
“I always knew I was going to come back (this year) and try out, but this show I was excited to try out for because everything else I have done has been more, ‘big acting,’ not ‘in the moment,’” she said.
With this production, Voils said she has learned how to express different emotions with different types characters than what she has played before.
All actors, she added, have had a good time understanding their “as if” concepts — a method of acting taking actors through a step-by-step process of understanding their characters’ situation, as if it were happening to themselves.
From the sound booth, lighting, backstage to the front of house, everything has gone well and the department is looking forward to sharing their show with audiences, the actors said.
Voils said she’s enjoyed getting back into the groove of theater as a hobby and outlet.
Grimes said his favorite part is the people.
“It attracts people from a wide variety of backgrounds, they don’t all have to be the same person,” he said.
“So many people, both actors and techies have put time into this. They’ve dedicated a good portion of their afternoons into learning and understanding the intricacies of the show. And how characters work, how set building works for the show and even how tech itself works.”
For those interested in seeing the show, Roberds said there are many talented people in the department who are doing “amazing” at making the play entertaining, no matter how many times you see it.
“I personally have seen the scenes multiple times and I think they’re entertaining every single time,” Roberds said.
Voils said the show itself is different than anything that the troupe has done so far.
“It’s something new,” she said.
“Instead of it being focused on a few lead characters, everyone is a lead,” Grimes added.
“Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight.”
To Lyng, the special part about the show is that the production, from concept to execution, is all from the students.
“I might be their coordinator, but I have tried to put them in the driver’s seat for this show to push them to be designers of their own theatrical work.”
Because of the nature of the play, with simple technical demands and individual scenes as “isolated vignettes,” Lyng said actors and technical theater students alike were able to personalize their work in a way that they haven’t been able to in past productions.
“It is a much more nuanced and individualized learning experience for them that provides incredible opportunities for them to grow in their craft,” he said.
“People should come see ‘Almost, Maine’ because it showcases our students creating art that is uniquely, individually, and personally theirs.”
Almost, Maine
See the show at 7 p.m., Thursday, Friday or Saturday, Nov. 3, 4 and 5. A matinee performance will be at 2 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Tickets are $10 for reserved seating, $7 for general admission and $5 for students.
For tickets and more information visit browncountytheatredepartment.com.
Meet the cast
Sawyer Kelp as Pete, Man
Lilly Voils as Ginette, Gayle
Conner Henderson as East
Aubrey Harden as Glory
Jakob Prairie as Jimmy
Taylor Myers as Sandrine
Rebekah Myers as Waitress
Abby Williams as Marvalyn, Rhonda
Alex Foster as Steve
Oliver Tincher as Lendall
Joey Denison as Randy
Cadence Cox as Chad
Wesley Bethards as Phil
Maya Huber as Marci
Preston Zimmer as Hope
Basil Grimes as Dave
Claire Roberds as Swing (understudy)
