November 21, 2024

Fall play “Almost, Maine” opens Friday

Noah Geller and Lilly Fuller perform in their scene, "Where It Went" Theirs was the final scene of Act I of "Almost, Maine." Courtesy of Sene Gray.

By Madeleine Powell

Staff Writer

The Mira Costa Drama Department’s new play, “Almost, Maine,” will premiere on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Costa small theatre.

Students participating in the play had Tech week last week, where they worked on technical areas of the production, such as lighting. Yesterday marked the beginning of Hell week, Executive Producer and Drama teacher Carol Mathews said.

“[Hell week] is adding in all the elements of the play,” said Matthews. “Now it’s everything-costumes, makeup, lighting, set, cues, transitions, changes, and all that.”

Senior Cameron Planka and junior Tiffany Smith rehearse a scene together.
Senior Cameron Planka and junior Tiffany Smith rehearse a scene together.

John Cariani wrote “Almost, Maine,” which takes place in a fictional, remote town in Maine called Almost. The play consists of nine short vignettes, or scenes, and each vignette contains new characters, but each scene relates to the entire play’s theme of love.

Photos: The Mira Costa Drama Department performs “Almost, Maine” on Friday, November 4.

“I’m playing a girl named Deena,” senior cast member Daisy Hummer said. “My scene is with my friend who is playing a girl named Shelly. Our scene is about friendship and about going on a date and it not working out. Then, we basically fall in love with each other.”

The play opens and closes with a prologue featuring junior Jack Drinker as Pete and senior Marley Kaliban as Ginette. In total, the play features 20 cast members.

Senior Marley Kaliban and junior Jack Drinker rehearse their scene together.
Senior Marley Kaliban and junior Jack Drinker rehearse their scene together.

“Normally this play is done with four to six people, so they’re playing all the parts,” Mathews said. “Having done several of these scenes before, we felt that this was a good choice because there are different vignettes in this play that can provide more opportunities for students.”

Senior Connor Tree sits down to rehearse his scene.
Senior Connor Tree sits down to rehearse his scene.

Students acting in “Almost, Maine” will perform on a thrust stage, which can be viewed from three sides because it extends into the audience itself. This will enhance the production for viewers and take cast members out of their comfort zones by exposing them to new ways of performing, Mathews said.

Visit the Mira Costa Drama Boosters Website for more information on their past, current, and future productions.

“It takes actors out of their comfort zone,” said Hummer. “We are so used to looking in one direction, and now we are going to have to cater to everyone.”

Seniors Connor Tree, Isabel Gray and junior Ava Alexiades rehearse a group scene.
Seniors Connor Tree, Isabel Gray and junior Ava Alexiades rehearse a group scene.

The second show is on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and upcoming shows will be on Nov. 9 at 4 p.m., Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. and Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. The final showings will be on November 12 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $10 for students and senior citizens and $12 for adults, plus a $1 additional PayPal fee for online orders, and $12 and $15 respectively at the door. Click the links below to buy tickets online or visit the Booster website for more information.

Click here to buy tickets to the production.

“It is going to be a really cool experience for the people involved,” Hummer said. “It’s just an awesome show, and I’m really excited.”

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