September 28 - October 16, 2011
by Theresa Rebeck
A single mom juggles her crazy life which includes raising her teenage daughter, managing a New York restaurant (run by the Romanian mob) and “getting back in to dating”. Bad Dates is a guilty pleasure, offering hilarious reflections on relationships, jobs, fashion, and dating through genuinely captivating monologues.
October 19 - October 23, 2011
By A.R. Gurney
The short play is staged as a concert work, with five performers. The five are playing members - grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, son -of a rich WASP family in Buffalo, NY between 1935 and 1942, with a brief coda from the 1960s... This is a magical play... a nuanced reminiscence full of time and change and loss and suffering…
as well as joy.” New York Post
'Ancestral Voices' a warm, witty snapshot of Americana
'
The Maine Sunday Telegram, By April Boyle, 10/22/11
It seems like just yesterday when the Good Theater opened its doors with a production of Brandon Thomas' "Charley's Aunt." In actuality, the theater is now in the midst of performing the second production of its 10th season, A.R. Gurney's "Ancestral Voices." And, to bring the apropos play to the stage, the Good Theater is revisiting its own past.
"Ancestral Voices" reunites Bob McCormack, Lee K. Paige and Stephen Underwood, three actors from Good Theater's inaugural 2002 production. The play also gives audiences the rare opportunity to see both of the theater's founders, Underwood and Brian P. Allen, performing together.
A mismatched, five-piece set of chairs, along with five music stands and two rugs, comprise the stripped-down set of "Ancestral Voices," Fittingly, two of the chairs also made their Good Theater debut in "Charley's Aunt."
Each chair has been carefully chosen to accentuate the unique personalities of the characters -- a striped, upholstered chair for the spirited grandmother; an aristocratic chair for the proper father; a velvet chair for the pampered mother; a luxurious leather chair for the affluent grandfather; and a high-back, wooden chair for the lovable Eddie.
The 90-minute, one-act play is set in Buffalo, New York between 1938-1942, with a brief coda in 1960. It's staged as a concert work, with the five performers reading from scripts, discreetly placed on the music stands in front of them. In many ways, the style resembles the old-time radio broadcasts of the play's era, but with an added bonus that radio couldn't offer listeners: priceless facial expressions and character-transforming body language.
The most dramatic character transformation is Eddie, who is both the narrator and focal character. At the opening and end of the story, Eddie is a man in his thirties. Throughout the rest of the production, though, he's a little boy, age eight to 11.
Allen won over the audience Friday with his adorable portrayal. He unleashed his inner child with boyish glee, glowing with childlike wonder and inquisitiveness. It was easy to forget that Allen is a man in his early fifties as he whined, fidgeted in his chair and scrunched up his face with expressions that captured every nuance of a child's personality.
Underwood dug into his two-part role as Eddie's grandfather and "Uncle" Roger, his grandfather's home-wrecking, former friend.
He donned glasses Friday to mark the shift in characters, but props really weren't necessary. Underwood's change in demeanor and facial expressions gave the illusion that two very different men took turns occupying the same chair.
Paige and McCormack added to the overall humor of the production as Eddie's well-intentioned but socially biased parents, Jane and Harvey.
Veteran actress Jocelyn Lavin Pollard deftly rounded out the cast as Eddie's grandmother, a woman who scandalously divorced her husband of many years to marry Roger.
"Ancestral Voices" is a sweet, funny snapshot of Americana, endearingly told through the eyes of a child. Good Theater has embraced the wit and warmth of A.R. Gurney's play, delivering a production heartwarming from start to finish.
April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at: aprilhboyle@yahoo.com.
November 2 - 20, 2011
by Tracy Letts
We are honored to bring back the original Good Theater cast for an encore production of the company’s biggest hit of all time. Audiences will have 15 more opportunities to see the Weston clan in all their glory. When the patriarch goes missing, the matriarch summons her three daughters and their families to the Oklahoma homestead. What follows is an explosion of repressed truths and unsettling secrets.
“…an impeccably cast and monumentally acted production… ‘Osage County’ a powerful drama…masterfully directed…”. - The Phoenix
“And by using a scaled-down set, Good Theater artfully gives even greater focus to the characters in this already character-driven play. The result is an intense dark comedy, packed with unforgettable performances and stimulating wordplay.” - Portland Press Herald
“Under the direction of Brian P. Allen, this powerful drama is enjoying a wonderful professional production...I’ve been attending Good Theater since its inception, and “August: Osage County” is definitely the most powerful drama the company has mounted to date. It’s well worth the drive to Portland to see it.” - The Times Record
January 25 – February 19, 2012
By Geoffry Nauffts
Good Theater presents the Maine premiere of this recent Tony Award nominee for Best Play. NEXT FALL takes a witty and provocative look at faith, commitment and unconditional love and goes beyond a typical love story. This timely and compelling new American play forces us all to examine what it means to “believe,” and what it might cost us not to.
“The funniest heartbreaker in town…A smart, sensitive, immensely appealing and utterly contemporary New York comedy.” - New York Times
“Five Stars. The best new American play of the Broadway season…” - Time Out New York
“Compassionate, laugh-filled and enormously entertaining.” - Associated Press
“A daring new drama.” – Entertainment Weekly
NEXT FALL by Geoffrey Nauffts opened off-Broadway in the spring of 2009. Rave reviews resulted in three extensions to the limited engagement. Subsequently the show transferred to the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway opening March 11 2010 after previews began on February 16. The show received two 2010 Tony Award nominations for Best Play and Best Director. NEXT FALL was also nominated for two Drama Desk awards including Best Play as well as the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play. It won the Outer Critics’ John Gassner Award for playwriting.
The Good Theater production of NEXT FALL stars Equity actors Rob Cameron, Moira Driscoll and Abbie Killeen along side Joe Bearor, Matt Delamater and Tony Reilly. Brian P. Allen, Good Theater’s Artistic Director, directs with set design by Craig Robinson, costume design by Justin Cote, who also serves as the production stage manager, lighting design by Iain Oddlin, and Stephen Underwood is the technical director.
The story of NEXT FALL revolves around Luke who believes in God and Adam who believes in everything else. NEXT FALL portrays the ups and downs of this unlikely couple’s five-year relationship with sharp humor and unflinching honesty. And when an accident changes everything, Adam must turn to Luke’s family and friends for support
and answers. NEXT FALL paints a beautiful and funny portrait of modern romance, asking the hard questions about commitment, love, and faith.
March 7 - April 1, 2012
book Neil Simon, music Cy Coleman, lyrics Carolyn Leigh
What better way to end our 10th Anniversary season than with a wildly and crazy musical comedy?! This is the show that put Good Theater on map ten seasons ago and we are giving it a whole new production. Stephen Underwood stars as seven men in the life of one woman in this musical comedy hit from Neil Simon (book), Cy Coleman (music) and Carolyn Leigh (lyrics). A cast of 12 will leave you rolling in the aisles.
“Do not miss…” – Portland Press Herald
“Underwood is ridiculously funny in all of his roles… His physical comedy is something to behold, and his facial expressions add to the carnival atmosphere.” - The Phoenix
“…the show stealer is Good Theater co-founder Steve Underwood playing multiple male characters…who gets cascades of laughs in the multiple roles.” - The Forecaster
Our annual concerts featuring a major Broadway star, the fabulous Marva Pittman, a gospel singer from North Carolina in her 6th year at Good Theater, plus a dozen of your favorite local performers. With songs from Broadway and music of the holiday season, you and your family will want to experience this amazing event.
Bad Dates
Haley – Dana Cuomo
Directed by Brian P. Allen
Set Design – Stephen Underwood
Costumes/Production Stage Manager – Justin Cote
Lighting Design – Jamie Grant
Set Decoration/Scenic Artist – Janet Montgomery
Assistant Tech Director/Photographer – Craig Robinson
Production Assistant – Meredith Lamothe
Assistant Stage Manager – Heidi Therrien
Ancestral Voices
Eddie – Brian P. Allen
Jane – Lee K. Paige
Harvey – Bob McCormack
Grandmother – Jocelyn Pollard
Grandfather – Stephen Underwood
August: Osage County
Violet - Lisa Stathoplos
Beverly - Chris Horton
Barbara - Kathleen Kimball
Bill - Mark Rubin
Jean – Allison McCall
Mattie Fae - Cynthia Barnett*
Charlie - Charles Michael Howard*
Little Charles - Brent Askari
Ivy - Amy Roche
Karen - Janice Gardner
Steve - Paul Drinan
Sheriff Deon - David Branch
Johnna - Kate Davis
*Member Actors’ Equity Association
Director - Brian P. Allen
Set Design - Stephen Underwood
Lighting Design - Jamie Grant
Costume Design/Production Stage Manager - Justin Cote
Assistant Stage Manager – Heidi Therrien
Scenic Artist - Janet Montgomery
Assistant Tech Director/Photographer - Craig Robinson
Production Assistant – Meredith Lamothe
Next Fall
Adam – Rob Cameron*
Luke – Joe Bearor
Holly – Abbie Killeen*
Butch – Tony Reilly
Arlene – Moira Driscoll
Brandon – Matt Delamater
*Member Actors’ Equity Association
Directed by Brian P. Allen
Set Design/Assistant Tech Director/Photography – Craig Robinson
Costumes/Production Stage Manager – Justin Cote
Lighting Iain Odlin
Dramaturge/Assistant Director – Meredith Lamothe
Tech Director – Stephen Underwood
Scenic Artist – Janet Montgomery
Little Me
Cast: Stephen Underwood, Kelly Caufield, Lynne McGhee*, Glenn Anderson, Ian Carlsen, Todd Daley, Marie Dittmer, Betsy Dunphy, Meredith Lamothe, Jen Means, Erik Moody, John Robinson, Tyler Sperry
*Member Actors’ Equity Association
Director – Brian P. Allen
Musical Director – Victoria Stubbs
Choreographer – Tyler Sperry
Set Design – Janet Montgomery
Costumes/Production Stage Manager – Justin Cote
Lighting – Iain Odlin
Technical Director – Stephen Underwood
Assistant Tech Director/Photographer – Craig Robinson
Broadway
at the Good Theater 2011
Direction – Brian P. Allen
Musical Direction – Victoria Stubbs
Kevin Earley
Joe Bearor
Grace Bradford
Marc Brann
Kelly Caufield
Todd Daley
Marie Dittmar
Deirdre Fulton
David Goulet
Meredith Lamothe
Lynne McGhee
Jen Means
Erik Moody
Taylor Palmer
Marva Pittman
Amy Roche
Benjamin Row
Stephen Underwood
Lighting – Jamie Grant
Set Design & Stage Manager – Justin Cote