Theater at Monmouth's 50th Anniversary Season


  • March 25, 2019

“We’re on the Road to Nowhere…Come Take That Ride” and celebrate Theater at Monmouth’s 50th Anniversary Season

Monmouth, Maine – This summer, take a break from the hustle and bustle and journey to the lakes region of Central Maine to celebrate Theater at Monmouth’s 50 years of producing classic theatre in Maine. TAM’s What Dreams May Come Season is bursting with plays to make audiences laugh, cry, gasp, and experience a sense of wonder. Through Shakespearean thrillers, contemporary romances, and classic comedies, TAM’s Golden Anniversary with sparkle and shimmer all season long.

The 2019 Summer Repertory includes Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor directed by Catherine Weidner and Hamlet directed by Dawn McAndrews; Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair’s Murder for Two directed by Adam P. Blais; Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery directed by Matthew Arbour; and Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel directed by Josiah Davis. The Family Show is The Jungle Book adapted by Greg Banks anddirected by Dawn McAndrews. For the Fall Show, opening September 13, TAM presents Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility adapted and directed by Dawn McAndrews.

“It’s been my personal mission to foster a more diverse, more inclusive, more welcoming environment for audiences and artists alike,” says producing artistic director Dawn McAndrews, “to educate young minds, engage patrons with new and differing points of view, and to program seasons that represent a range of perspectives, beliefs, and circumstances.”

WHAT CRITICS AND AUDIENCES SAY ABOUT THEATER AT MONMOUTH

"The cherubs that adorn the ceiling in Cumston Hall are smiling this summer as the magic stirred up last season continues to enchant and awe audiences at the Theater at Monmouth." –Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News

The famous film version of Dial “M,” starring Grace Kelly, is as much an exercise in style as in plot. Monmouth’s production carries on the tradition, with luxuriously atmospheric sound design by Rew Tippin — high-end jazz sweeps us through scene breaks, and tension heightens in minor-key orchestrations, in high-pitched strings sustained like raw nerves. Lighting design, too, by Jennifer Fok, raises classic shivers, as the apartment lights dim and shadows grow long, as the room cools in a blue that’s somehow spookier than real darkness. –Megan Grumbling, Portland Phoenix/Conway Sun Journal

“It is important for venerable institutions (in a remote state like Maine) to dare. Kudos to TAM for daring.”

Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold, Broadway World

Diamond M For Murder If you haven’t visited this summer live theater, I highly recommend it! There is a variety of plays all summer long—some Shakespeare and some just good old fun plays! Such a talented group of professional actors simmering in this Maine community. The historic Cumston Hall is such a beautiful place—we’ll worth the visit as well!”– mainelymarti, Clearwater, FL, Tripadvisor review

This Place is a Hidden Gem I have lived in Maine almost 30 years and only recently visited this theater. The building is amazing. Beautiful reconstruction of an old theater. The shows are inspired community theater. This is a "must see" when you are in Maine or have visitors.” – April G., Wilton, ME, Tripadvisor review

SUMMER REPERTORY SEASON

Performances take place in Cumston Hall, a 250-seat Victorian opera house designed by Harry Cochrane. Since its founding TAM has rehearsed and performed in rotating repertory, inviting audiences to see the actors in different roles in different shows in one weekend. Each of this season’s seven productions features artists “From Away” and “Made in Maine” both newcomers and TAM favorites including Mark S. Cartier, James Noel Hoban, and Bill Van Horn.

Murder for Two | June 22 – August 16

book and music by Joe Kinosian & book and lyrics by Kellen Blair | directed by Adam P. Blais

Everyone is a suspect in Murder for Two, a hilarious musical murder mystery with a twist: One actor investigates the crime. The other plays all of the suspects. And they both play the piano! A zany blend of musical comedy and madcap mystery, this fast and funny whodunit is a highly theatrical duet loaded with killer laughs. The perfect blend of music, mayhem, and murder!

“Brilliantly Hilarious! This bawdy, gutsy, old-fashioned comedy comes to life as two people play more than a dozen characters combined, play the piano beautifully, sing, dance, and pull every trick out of the trunk of comedy while solving a murder. If you want to laugh until you cry, see Murder for Two." –Will Gallagher, Discover Albany (Capital Repertory Theatre)

Adam P. Blais has been directing musicals and plays throughout Maine since receiving his BA in Theatre from the University of Maine. He’s been involved with TAM’s Fall Musical since 2013 choreographing productions of Of Thee I Sing, Patience, The Sorcerer, and Ruddigore. He’s worked at The Public Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, and Waterville Opera House, among others. During the day, Adam is the Drama Director at Mt. Ararat High School and Middle School.

Merry Wives of Windsor | July 4 – August 18

by William Shakespeare | directed by Catherine Weidner

In Shakespeare’s only domestic comedy, laughter reigns and feminine wisdom triumphs over jealous husbands, confused lovers, and one corpulent knight. Sir John Falstaff needs money. Instead of searching for work, he plots to woo not one, but two wealthy women. Complications abound as the two women teach Falstaff a loving lesson with manipulative messengers, secret scandals, and a flurry of forgiveness.

Merry Wives is both fun and funny — and neither is easy to pull off. The silliness is rooted in Shakespeare’s grasp of the travails that transcend time. The heart behind the performances is warm and true.”–Nancy Steele Brokaw, The Pantagraph (Illinois Shakespeare Festival Theatre)

Catherine Weidner is Chair of the Theater Department at Ithaca College. She appeared in A Streetcar Named Desire at The Kennedy Center, Mary Stuart and Blithe Spirit at CenterStage, and has worked at Guthrie Theater, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and La Jolla Playhouse. Directing credits include: Richard III, Much Ado About Nothing, Measure for Measure, Waiting for Godot, Caligula, Otherwise Engaged, Animal Farm, Reckless, Cloud 9, The Visit, and Ubu.

Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery | July 11 – August 15

by Ken Ludwig | directed by Matthew Arbour

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must solve the mystery before the Baskerville family curse dooms its next heir. Watch as the intrepid investigators escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, and disguises as five actors deftly portray more than 40 characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from “elementary” the truth can be.

"The joy in watching [the] witty new play Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery is not in solving the crime but in the plethora of wildly imaginative characters you meet along the way. By dispensing with British formality, Ken Ludwig has given us a play that is ingeniously funny and will keep you guessing until the curtain call." –Benjamin Tomchik, Broadway World (Arena Stage)

Matthew Arbour returns to TAM where he previously directed The Illusion, Barber of Seville, The Real Inspector Hound, Romeo and Juliet, and Tartuffe. Regional credits include Pioneer Theater Company, Two River Theater, PlayMakers Repertory, Chautauqua Theater Company, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Portland Stage Company, and Penobscot Theatre Company. Matthew was Co-Artistic Director of the Hangar Theatre Lab Company, and resident dramaturg and literary manager at Portland Stage Company.

Hamlet | July 18 – August 17

by William Shakespeare | directed by Dawn McAndrews

In the wake of his father’s abrupt death, Hamlet returns home to find his personal and political world turned upside down—his mother remarried, his uncle on the throne, and a world seemingly gone insane. When his father’s ghost appears and demands vengeance, the desperate Danish prince must decide: submit or resist. Accept or avenge. Live or die.

“The play's subject … is neither mourning for the dead or revenge on the living. … All that matters is Hamlet's consciousness of his own consciousness, infinite, unlimited, and at war with itself,"–Harold Bloom, Hamlet Poem Unlimited

Dawn McAndrews has worked at theatres across the country including Shakespeare Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Arena Stage, Portland Stage Company, and Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. Directing credits: The Pajama Game (UMO); Haroun and the Sea of Stories (Colby); The Language Archive (Public Theatre); Richard III, The Winter’s Tale, Peter & the Starcatcher, The Mousetrap, Of Thee I Sing (TAM); The Glass Menagerie, Holiday, and Three Days of Rain (1st Stage); Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Antigone, as well as adapting and directing A Christmas Carol at Portland Stage.

Intimate Apparel | July 25 – August 16

by Lynn Nottage | directed by Josiah Davis

In 1905, an African American seamstress supports herself by creating exquisite lingerie for wealthy clients. When a letter arrives from a stranger, it awakens a desire within her that leads to the love that she’s yearned for, but is nothing like she expected. This historical romance by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage creates a portrait of a young woman’s determination and the true meaning of intimacy.

“Intimate Apparel is, by turns, beautiful and tragic, hopeful and heartbreaking.” –Patricia Mitchell, DC Metro Theater Arts (Everyman Theatre)

Josiah Davis is a recent graduate from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television pursuing an MFA at Brown/Trinity Rep. A member of the On the Verge Theatre Company in Santa Barbara, he was nominated by Broadway World for his direction of Sweet Child by Roxie Perkins, From White Plains by Michael Perlman, and his role of Joseph in Darlene Craviotto's Footprints at Laetoli. He has appeared on Glee (Fox), Idiotsitter, (Comedy Central), Killer Kids (Lifetime), and several Buzzfeed videos.

FAMILY SHOW

Each summer, TAM presents a play for families adapted from classic literature. Due to the popularity of these productions, the Family Show now opens in late June and runs throughout the season.

The Jungle Book | June 29 – August 15

adapted by Greg Banks | directed by Dawn McAndrews

Follow the rambunctious and curious man cub Mowgli and his adopted jungle family: Baloo the Bear, Bagheera the panther, and all the beasts who call the mysterious wilderness home. This fast-paced retelling keeps audiences on the edge of their seats as Mowgli tries to escape the clutches of Shere Kahn and find the true meaning of home.

“This coming of age story that just happens to take place in a jungle is a wonderful tale of friendship, family, community, interdependence with nature, and finally having the courage to strike out on your own.” –Jill Schafer, Cherry and Spoon (Children’s Theatre Company)

FALL SHOW

TAM presents a world premier adaptation of a classic Jane Austen for the 2019 Fall Show.

Sense and Sensibility | September 12-22

adapted & directed by Dawn McAndrews

Reason and passion collide in Jane Austen’s beloved tale of sisterhood and romance. Marianne and Elinor Dashwood could not be more different. Marianne is exuberant, impetuous, and recklessly romantic. Elinor is practical, thoughtful, and confoundingly reserved. Through a series of romantic misadventures the girls come to realize that the key to happiness may not lie in fiery passion or strict reason—but somewhere in between. 

MONMOUTH, MAINE

Monmouth is located just off Route 202 in the Winthrop Lakes Region of central Maine. By car, the Theater is 20 minutes from Augusta, 20 minutes from Lewiston, 45 minutes from the Mid-Coast region, 45 minutes from Portland, and 90 minutes from Bangor. Monmouth and neighboring towns Winthrop, Hallowell, Augusta, and Lewiston offer a variety of attractions suitable for the whole family, including the Monmouth Museum, Cobbossee Colony Golf Course, Mount Pisgah Hiking Trail, Children’s Discovery Museum, Maine State Museum, Viles Arboretum, Bates College Museum of Art, Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary, and more. These areas also offer a myriad of dining options including The Sedgley Place, Pepper’s Garden & Grill, DaVinci’s Eatery, Fish Bones, Gritty McDuff’s Brewpub & Restaurant, Joyce’s Restaurant, The Liberal Cup, and Slates Restaurant. Visitors can enjoy a stay in Monmouth at one of the several bed and breakfasts or nearby hotels, including A Rise and Shine B&B, The Roost, Hilton Garden Inn, and Senator Inn & Spa.

CUMSTON  HALL

All performances take place in historic Cumston Hall, which towers dramatically over Monmouth's Main Street. While Dr. Charles M. Cumston donated the funds for the building to the Town of Monmouth in 1899, it has always been a gift shared with the community at large. A registered National Historic Building since 1976, the building's architecture is a mix of Romanesque-style asymmetrical columns and towers and varying external textures of the Queen Anne period. The 250-seat opera hall features elaborate plaster carvings, and a fresco mural ceiling.

SUBSCRIPTIONS, SINGLE TICKETS, AND GROUP SALES

A TAM subscription offers savings and exclusive benefits like priority seating and ticket exchanges. Gold, Flex, General, or Senior Passes are available for purchase, so whether you want a ticket for each show or five tickets to one show, there’s an option for you. Single tickets for the Summer Repertory and Fall Play are $34 for adults, $29 for senior citizens, and $20 for students (18 and under). Family Showtickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children.

Opening Nights are Educator Nights. Educators receive 20% off tickets with a photo ID at the Box Office.

Under 30 Rush Tickets: For patrons under 30, twenty $10 Rush Tickets are available at each performance in the season. Sign up by contacting the Box Office, either by emailing boxoffice@theateratmonmouth.org or calling 207.933.999 the morning of the performance. Tickets can be picked up 30 minutes before curtain.

To reserve single tickets, subscriptions, or arrange group sales, please visit www.theateratmonmouth.org or call the box office at 207.933.9999.

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TAMonmouth, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TAMonmouth, and view photos on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/theateratmonmouth/

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Theater at Monmouth, founded in 1970, was named the Shakespearean Theater of Maine in 1975. The theatre’s mission is to present innovative approaches to Shakespeare and other classic plays through professional productions that enrich the lives of people throughout Maine. Since its founding, TAM has produced expertly crafted, engaging productions in its three-month Summer Repertory Season entertaining audiences from 36 states and through Education Tours annually reaching more than 15,000 students.

 

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TAM Box Office

PO Box 385
Monmouth  ME  04259 

207-933-9999
gro.htuomnomtaretaeht@gnitekram
www.theateratmonmouth.org