First Light Theatre Project

training...collaboration...performance

F.H. Tuttle Middle School
500 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
ph: 802.652.7117
dbailey@sbschools.net

January 2018

Almost, Maine comes to the South Burlington Stage

“almost broken, almost fixed, almost there”

Almost, Maine, a tiny town so far north Vermont is considered the South. One winter night with the aurora borealis creating celestial enchantment, eight couples fall under the spell of that funny little unpredictable thing called love. By events: touching, comic, warm, gentle, magical and altogether surprising, Almost, Maine is a funny and poignant look at what makes our lives matter.

Almost, Maine is a play by John Cariani comprising nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical almost-town called Almost, Maine. Each scene features a different, offbeat, authentic couple trying to make sense of their lives. It premiered at the Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine in 2004 where it broke box office records and garnered critical acclaim. Currently, it is one of the most produced plays in the U.S.

Two elements added to this production will be linking word sounds taken from the work of Vermont poet Hayden Carruth and original music by the cast. As the Northern Lights appear in the sky above, the audience will find themselves admiring these hardworking honest characters who take time to wonder about things, the same things that unite us all.

In association with the First Light Theatre Project, Almost,Maine is directed by David Bailey and will be performed at South Burlington High School, Friday and Saturday, January 12 and 13, 2018, at 7 pm.

Tickets go on sale in mid-December at www.firstlighttheatrevt.com and at the South Burlington Community Library during school hours, and will be available at the door before the show. For more information, contact dbailey@sbschools.net.

Almost, Maine Cast and Crew Travel to the State of Maine

In November 2017 the cast and crew of Almost, Maine took a trip to the state of Maine for an acting workshop and tour of the Portland Stage Company (the theatre where Almost, Maine had its premiere).

Team-building also involved a visit to nearby Saco where cast and crew and director David Bailey plus a parent volunteer spent 1.5 hours on the challenge course. It was a long but great day.

Portland Stage invited the First Light Theatre cast and crew to send questions they had about the play. They further promised to forward them to playwright John Cariani who will videotape his answers and send those back to the FHTMS cast and crew. What a great opportunity to be able to have dialogue with the playwright of the show!