Video: UW-Green Bay theatre rehearses ‘Almost, Maine’
The UW-Green Bay theatre program is hoping its latest production will knock people right out of their seats.
They’re rehearsing the romantic comedy Almost, Maine to be presented later this month. One of the actors likens it to “a very good date movie,” and the director likes the sharp dialog and situations.
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“It’s nine separate little vignettes that all take place on the same night, in the same tiny town in northern Maine,” said UW-Green Bay theatre Prof. John Mariano, who is directing the play.
Mariano says the play features different couples in different situations but all revolving around a common theme.
“Each one is facing some sort of crisis in their romantic life,” Mariano said. “It’s basically a play about love affairs and they all kind of reach this critical moment at the same time on the same night and you get to watch each of these scenes play out.”
Mariano says the play is perfect for a college theatre group because it has so many roles.
“I think it’s a really enjoyable play. I think it’s a really well-written play,” Mariano said. “I think the cast is doing a great job. It gives us a chance to get a lot of our student actors on stage and you get to see their work.”
Thirteen students will perform in the play, including UW-Green Bay junior Alyssa Falvey who plays Glory.
“At some point I feel we all can relate to at least one of the stories that are in there,” Falvey said.
“It’s what I would describe as a very good date movie,” said UW-Green Bay senior Derek James Knabenbauer who plays two characters, East and Phil. “There are relationships that work out and there are relationships that don’t work out. It’s very heart-warming and very heart-breaking at the same time.”
The play is the first by John Cariani, an actor and playwright. It originally debuted in Maine in 2004. The UW-Green Bay performance opens on Oct. 14.
The theatre program will enter Almost, Maine into the American College Theatre Festival, a national theatre competition through the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Performances will be held Oct. 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jean Weidner Theatre at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts on the UW-Green Bay campus, 2420 Nicolet Drive.
Tickets for Almost, Maine are $15 in advance, $18 at the door for adults and $12 in advance, $15 at the door for students and seniors. Order online at www.uwgb.edu/tickets/ or by calling (920) 465-2217 or (800) 328-8587.
