NORFOLK, Neb. – A theatrical production comprising of nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical almost-town opens next week at Northeast Community College. The comedic-romantic play, Almost, Maine by John Cariani, opens Thur., May 4, at 7:30 p.m., on the Cox Activities Theatre stage, 801 E. Benjamin Ave. It will also play on Fri., May 5, and Sat, May 6, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., May 7, at 1:30 p.m.
The setting of the story is described as “a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.”
Adam Peterson, director of theatre and communications instructor at Northeast is the director of the show and serves as production manager. Several current and former Northeast students and faculty members are in the cast and crew.
Cast members include Kyra Anthony, Ashley Brown, Elise Fjell, Micah Goedeken, Denice Hansen, Carter Hasemann, Brandon Keller, Dustyn Loeffler, Alex McKeown, Kelly McKeown, Laurel Nelson, Joy Phelps, Jeremiah Polak, Josh Rajaee, Charlie Starkel, Melissa Temple, Tyler Wiesler, Presley Wolf, and Chad Young.
Crew members include Stacey Aldag, John Boeshart, Ashley Brown, Jaiden Ertzner, Elise Fjell, Libby McKay, Brody Maurer, Amy Okomoto, Hunter Patterson, Yatzari Ramirez, Charles Starkle, Kat Stuthman, Wendy Swenson, and Gabby Vaughn.
The New York Times described Almost, Maine as “a series of nine amiably absurdist vignettes about love, with a touch of good-natured magic realism … witty, romantic, unsentimental. A beautifully structured play, with nifty surprise endings (most but not all of them happy).”
Tickets for Almost, Maine are available at the theatre box office at $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for those with a Northeast ID.
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PHOTO CUTLINE
Tyler Wiesler and Laurel Nelson rehearse a scene from the Northeast Community College theatrical production Almost, Maine. The play comprises of nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical almost-town opens Thur., May 4, at 7:30 p.m., on the Cox Activities Theatre stage, 801 E. Benjamin Ave. It will also play on Fri., May 5, and Sat, May 6, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., May 7, at 1:30 p.m.