Fall in and out of love

Moab Community Theatre is presenting a romantic comedy this Valentine’s weekend.

“Almost, Maine” is a play about how people fall in and out of love.

The curtains will rise at 7 p.m., on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13, 14 and 15, at Star Hall. All proceeds will fund scholarships for the Youth Garden Project’s summer camp theater week program.

Chaz Howard, who is directing the play with Mike Dunton, said he stumbled upon “Almost, Maine” this winter. Two scenes from the play were used during the Grand County Education Foundation’s fund raiser “Miracle on First North” during the holidays.

“Two of the three pieces were from this show, directed as little shorts,” Howard said.

He asked if he could borrow the script and chose to do a full-length play.

“Almost, Maine” by John Cariani has been produced by over 70 professional theater companies and by over 2000 non-professional theater organizations across the United States and around the world. The play is comprised of nine short plays that explore love and loss.

The play is set in a town so far north that it’s “almost” not in the United States. It’s “almost” in Canada.

Howard said that Moab Community Theatre has had a long tradition since the 1980s and 1990s of providing local entertainment. His goal was to “intentionally cultivate” new talent and has been looking for people who may have an interest in the theater.

It will feature both veteran and new actors in the Moab Community Theatre troupe and includes thespians Cas Melanson White, Kaitlin Harris, Lisa von Koch, Eric Plourde, Shane Bartosh, Jeremy Ross Lynch, Chris Baird and Sarah Sidwell.

“It’s worked out pretty good,” he said. “We have people who have done other performances before and some who are brand new.”

Howard developed a love for the theater while attending University of Utah. He was an English literature major and attended performances at Pioneer Memorial Theater.

After he moved to Moab in 1993 he saw a few Moab Community Theatre performances.

“I wanted to get new people involved and carry on the tradition,” he said. “I want to watch shows over the next few years.”

Moab Community Theatre presents “Almost, Maine” for Valentine’s weekend

“We have people who have done other performances before and some who are brand new.”

When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13, 14 and 15

Where: Star Hall, 115 E. Center St.

Cost: $10. Tickets available at Back of Beyond Books and at the door.

For more information, call: 435-259-2529

Author: Moab Sun News Staff Report

View all posts