Season Aiming to Satisfy Nearly Every Theatrical Taste

By Anonymous

Here are other professional and college theater offerings scheduled for fall and winter:

MAD HORSE THEATRE

In Portland, Mad Horse Theatre Company’s 23rd season opens Oct. 9 with “The Children’s Hour,” by Lillian Hellman. The classic play centers on two women who run a school for girls and their rumored relationship. Rumor turns to scandal; scandal to tragedy.

It premiered in 1934 to critical acclaim but was banned in Chicago, Boston and London because of its controversial nature.

The play runs through Oct. 26 in the Studio Theater at Portland Stage Company before moving to the Maine State Ballet Theater, 348 U.S. Route 1, Falmouth, Nov. 6-16.

Also on the Mad Horse schedule this season is the Maine premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s comedy-romance “The Clean House,” one of the most- produced new plays in America since it won the Susan Smith Blackburn Award in 2004. It runs Jan. 22-Feb. 8.

In the spring (April 23-May 10), Mad Horse will present “The Normal Heart,” by Larry Kramer, a drama about the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York in the early 1980s.

For information, call 730-2389 or visit www.madhorse.com.

AIRE THEATER

The American Irish Repertory Ensemble offers Martin McDonagh’s “The Lonesome West” Oct. 30-Nov. 16 in the Studio Theater at Portland Stage.

In this comedy, two brothers torment each other as the local priest tries to keep them from killing each other. But beneath the sibling rivalry is an ugly secret.

“The Lonesome West” completes McDonagh’s Leenane Trilogy, joining “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” and “A Skull in Connemara.” For information, call 799-5327 or visit www.airetheater.com.

PCA GREAT PERFORMANCES

PCA Great Performances has several Broadway-style shows coming to Merrill Auditorium in Portland: Irving Berlin’s “I Love a Piano” on Oct. 2; the Bob Fosse-choreographed musical “Chicago” on Oct. 17- 18; a new traveling production of “Sweeney Todd” on Feb. 27-28; and the Tony Award-winning “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” on March 27-28. For information and tickets, call 842-0800 or visit www.pcagreat performances.org.

ACORN PRODUCTIONS

Acorn Productions will present a series of three festival-style events with varying content. Acorn’s season begins with Phyzgig, a vaudeville-style festival, Dec. 26-31 at Space Gallery in Portland and Portland Stage Company.

The Maine Playwrights Festival, with new scripts by Maine playwrights, will be March 26-April 5 at the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center in Portland.

Also continuing in 2008-09 is the Naked Shakespeare series, consisting of monthly evenings of “Sonnets and Soliliquies,” two scene nights at Space, and full productions of “Richard II” and “As You Like It” in the spring, at a venue to be announced. For information, visit www.acorn-productions.org.

PAIDEIA OF MAINE

Paideia of Maine will host a traveling production of “The Bacchae,” a Greek classic by Euripides, at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at John Ford Theater at Portland High School. The drama will be presented with English supertitles, and there will be a pre- performance discussion at 5:45 p.m. For information, send an e-mail to carnold@blazenetme.net or call 721-0439.

PUBLIC THEATRE

In Lewiston, the Public Theatre kicks off its season with the New England premiere of the Off-Broadway comedy “Secrets of a Soccer Mom,” by Kathleen Clark, playing Oct. 24 to Nov. 9.

The play focuses on the journey of three moms who recapture the spirit of their lives when they leave the sidelines and compete in the annual mother-vs.-son soccer game.

Because of the expected popularity of the subject, the Public Theatre has extended the run by adding an extra weekend of performances. Also new with this play is a “mommy matinee” performance at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 28, geared for moms who can’t stay up past 9 p.m. or have trouble finding a baby sitter.

Also on the schedule this season: “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 12- 14; “Collected Stories,” by Donald Margulies, Jan. 23-Feb. 1; “The 13th of Paris,” by Mat Smart, March 13-22; and “The Last Mass at St. Casimir’s,” by Tom Dudzick, May 1-10. For information, call 782- 3200 or visit www.thepublictheatre.org.

OGUNQUIT PLAYHOUSE

The Ogunquit Playhouse will stage “Les Miserables” through Oct. 12 with a cast of Broadway veterans, including Andrea McArdle and Ivan Rutherford, both of whom starred in the beloved musical on Broadway.

“Les Miserables” is the longest-running musical in the world and the third longest-running show in Broadway history. Tickets are available by calling 646-5511 or going online at www.ogunquitplayhouse.org.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE

In Gorham, the theater department at the University of Southern Maine has a full slate of shows on the schedule, starting Oct. 3 with a production of Sam Shepard’s “Fool for Love” on the main stage at Russell Hall. William Steele directs the show, which runs through Oct. 12.

Also on the USM schedule this year: “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Nov. 14-23; Dance USM, Dec. 11-14; “Moonchildren,” Feb. 12-15; “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” two one-act operas, March 13-21; and “Sylvia” by A.R. Gurney, April 24-May 3.

THEATER AT MONMOUTH

While most of its programming occurs in the summer, the Theater at Monmouth remains active at other times. It presents “The Mikado” Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Call 933-9999 for information.

USM PORTLAND

And finally, Cathy Plourde’s latest piece of social theater, “A Major Medical Breakthrough,” will be staged at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in Room 306 of Payson Smith Hall, 96 Falmouth St., on the USM campus in Portland. Admission is free. Plourde’s play examines the role of the medical community in mitigating partner violence and sexual assault.

(c) 2008 Portland Press Herald. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.