The Northwestern Oklahoma State University fine arts department will present its first theater production of the spring semester, “Almost, Maine,” in Herod Hall Auditorium in Alva on Feb. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
Mickey Jordan, director of technical theatre and Herod Hall facilities manager, said “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani is set in the current time at the highest tip of Maine bordering Canada—an area too small to be considered a township or yet not quite large enough to be called a half-post so it is simply named, “Almost.” Under the Northern Lights, the story occurs at 9 p.m. one night, but visits scenes of multiple characters and gives clues to how the lives may intertwine. Jordan added that the play is about finding love and different kinds of love through a series of different kinds of scenarios.
Although some may cringe at the first thought of a love story, Kimberly Weast, professor of theatre arts and chair of the department of fine arts, and Jordan agreed that these various love stories are not the kind some would typically think. Jordan added that the scenes are relatable to real life, are very pointed, and audience members will be able to sympathize with characters from personal firsthand or secondhand experience. Weast also said the stories are not stereotypical, sappy ones, but the production will leave one with a sense of hope and realizing how diverse and different relationships can be.
Of course, as with any theatrical production, many hands and hours of hard work have continued to play a major role in preparing to bring “Almost, “Maine” to the stage. For this production; however, the work has been divided a bit differently than other productions. “Almost, Maine” has a production team that includes 20 Northwestern students in the cast and five directors consisting of three Northwestern students, Weast and Jordan.
“We love to give students opportunities to try their skills and their knowledge,” Weast said. “We have three students who will be doing their directing debut on some of the short scenes within the play. And, although none of them are [theater] majors, they have all taken Directing I and are very enthusiastic and excited about the opportunity to use the skills they have learned.“
The students joining Weast and Jordan as directors are Madison Wilson, history senior from Enid; Dakota Retherford, vocal music sophomore from Cushing; and Peyton Lucas, psychology junior from Fairview.
Weast said the department is excited to provide directing opportunities to students who are not theater majors because while they may not face directing a play in their future, the experience may equip students to feel more comfortable presenting or leading in their future.
Cast members for this production include the following:
Angela Cook, early childhood education freshman from Mutual; Tyler Coker, sociology senior from Jones; Tanya Crain, music freshman from Lamont; Austin Morton, mass communication sophomore from Buffalo; Adria Lujan, nursing freshman from Blair; Kennedy Murphy, psychology freshman from Carnegie; Aliyah Bidwell, mass communication freshman from Greenfield; Trinity Mendez, social work freshman from Clinton; Chuy Dominguez, mass communication sophomore from Laverne; Justin Meyer, business administration and general business freshman from Alva; Duncan Brown, chemistry junior from Alva; Jeffery Cher-Aime, music junior from Newkirk; Brenner Clark, nursing freshman from Amorita; Maleah Schmitz, speech and theater sophomore from Alva; Erin Lehr, theatre alumna; Sydney Endsley, speech and theater sophomore from Meno; and Michael Day, vocal music junior from Okeene; as well as Lucas, Retherford and Wilson.
For more information about “Almost, Maine” or the theatre program, contact Weast at (580) 327-8462 or kkweast@nwosu.edu.
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