Betrayal Opens Tonight! Russell Hall at 7:30 p.m.

The USM Department of Theatre is pleased to present Betrayal, a tangled chronicle of dishonesty, deception and desire, written by Harold Pinter, directed by Thomas Power. Performances in the Russell Hall auditorium on the Gorham campus are at 7:30 p.m. November 12, 13, 18, 19, 20; November 14, 21 at 5 p.m. $8 students, $11 seniors/faculty/staff/alumni, $15 general public. $5@five Show on November 17 at 5 p.m., all seats $5. To make reservations please call the USM Theatre Box Office at 207.780.5151

"I have been intrigued by Pinter's work for years and directed many of his plays including The Homecoming, The Birthday Party, The Lover and a number of his shorter one-acts. Betrayal was first produced in London in 1978 following a difficult time in the playwright's life and although viewed as a stretch for college acting students the play remains a continual favorite for students in acting classes,” said director Thomas Power. "The universal theme is clear and the challenge to making this work with young actors with an intentionally intimate performance concept will become evident to audiences. The show is performed in the 'round' and as in life, characters must occasionally turn their backs on each other."

The setup: Inspired by the playwright’s own seven-year affair, Betrayal reveals its treacherous story in reverse chronological order, beginning at the end of the deception and ending at the start. For five years, Emma and Jerry carry on behind Robert’s back. Emma eventually confesses her infidelity to Robert while continuing the affair. The duplicity persists in woven layers of lies and deceit, only to be stripped bare, exposing the human capacity for betraying ourselves, and the ones we love.

Senior theatre major, Jacqueline Cascella is the set designer; senior Danny Gay is the sound designer; the remainder of the production is designed by Theatre faculty. Renee Garcia is costume designer; and Shannon Zura is the lighting designer. USM theatre major, Sebastian Ascanio, is stage manager.

The cast includes talented USM theatre majors; Jerry is performed by sophomore Sage Landry of Nobleboro, ME; Emma is played by senior Meredith Lamothe of Wells, ME; Robert is sophomore Patrick Molloy of Orono, ME; the Waiter is performed by junior Alec Rose of Orono, ME

For more information on show times and tickets call the USM Theatre Box Office at 207.780.5151

Coming in February, Airswimming, a gravity-defying tale of friendship, directed by Meghan Brodie.

Coming in November...a tangled chronicle of dishonesty, deception and desire

Betrayal, written by Harold Pinter, directed by Thomas Power

Inspired by the playwright’s own seven-year affair, Betrayal reveals its treacherous story in reverse chronological order, beginning at the end of the deception and ending at the start. For five years, Emma and Jerry carry on behind Robert’s back. Emma eventually confesses her infidelity to Robert while continuing the affair.The duplicity persists in woven layers of lies and deceit, only to be stripped bare, exposing the human capacity for betraying ourselves, and the ones we love.

Blue Wrap Project Runway

Kris Hall, Costume Director at USM Theatre, is collaborating with the chair of the Art Department, Jan Piribeck on a fashion show that will feature medical "blue wrap" in all of the designs. The fashion show will raise funds for Partners for World Health who ship unused, but still sterile medical supplies to third world countries. Theatre and Art students will be producing and modeling the fashions. The show will take place Thursday, December 2 · 5:30pm - 8:30pm at the Portland Museum of Art.

Out & Allied Project

Actors dance at the start of Monday’s performance of the Out & Allied Project. (photo courtesy of the Portland Press Herald)

Read the Portland Press article.

USM Theatre and AddVerb Productions present performances from the Out & Allied Project, directed by Meghan Brodie. The production is a collection of theatre pieces by and for LGBTQ youth & allies. Come show your support during National Ally Week! Free admission! All shows at 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 USM/Gorham
Oct. 19 UNE/Biddeford
Oct. 20 First Parish Church/Portland

Lend Me a Tenor

Lend Me a Tenor opens October 8th. Have you reserved your ticket yet? Performances at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, 9, 14, 15, 16; October 10, 17 at 5 p.m. $8 students, $11 seniors/faculty/staff/alumni, $15 general public. $5@five Show on October 13 at 5 p.m., all seats $5.

Lend Me a Tenor 7:30, Friday, October 8, 2010 - Events, MaineToday.com

Lend Me a Tenor 7:30, Friday, October 8, 2010 - Events MaineToday.com

Straight from a successful run on Broadway, starring USM Theatre alumni Tony Shalhoub, comes a comedy of theatrical calamity. It’s opening night at the opera in Cleveland on a September night in 1934. The audience murmurs in the sold-out theatre, the stage is set and it’s three minutes to curtain. But Tito Merelli, the greatest tenor in the world—known to his fans as “Il Stupendo”—is missing! Head-spinning turns of mistaken identity, perpetual entrances and exits and belly laughs abound. October 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m.; October 10, 17 at 5 p.m.

Pricing Update for the 2010-2011 Season

Plays: $8 students
$11 seniors/faculty/staff /alumni
$15 general public

Spring Musical: $10 students
$15 seniors/faculty/staff /alumni
$21 general public

$1 extra charge at the Box Office on the day of the show

Online ticketing coming soon!

Season Flex-Pass: $45, good for six tickets, in any combination (limit two tickets to the musical) to the play or plays of your choosing.

Tickets for each show go on sale one month before opening night. For more information on show times please call the USM Theatre Box Office at 207.780.5151.

More pictures...

Sarah Dube is the mysterious Raven in "Inook and the Sun."

Taylor Russeau, playing The Spirit of the Ice atop his berg, speaks harshly to Inook, played by Sage Landry.

WHEN: April 23, 24, 29, 30 & May 1 at 7:30 p.m.; April 25 & May 2 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Russell Hall on the University of Southern Maine's Gorham Campus
TICKETS: $14 for the general public; $10 for seniors and USM staff; $7 for students
SPECIAL: "$5 @ Five" show will be held on April 28 at 5 p.m., all tickets just $5
BOX OFFICE: (207) 780-5151 Reservations are recommended

"Inook and the Sun" pictures...

Megan Jackson — as The Dream — tells Inook about his future.

The Arctic Fox, played by Clarissa Lawrence, tells Inook a tall tale. Wednesday is $5 at 5 p.m. — all seats just five bucks.

USM Performing Arts Academies for young people

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Youth Band Day Camp
(For incoming 5th and Outgoing 6th Graders)

Junior Music Academy
(For incoming 7th and outgoing 8th graders)

Music Academy
(For incoming 9th and outgoing 12 graders)

Theatre

Theatre Academy
(For incoming 8th and outgoing 12 graders)

Wednesday $5 @ Five!

All seats for this Wednesday's 5 p.m. performance are just $5. Call the box office at 207-780-5151 for reservations.

Ryan Nash is the cold, mocking, spirit of the Moon.

Inook, played by Sage Landry, grieves for his father, played by Kyle Joyce.

INOOK AND THE SUN opens tonight!

Presenting the epic story of an Inuit boy who must brave the frozen ends of the Earth to save his people from endless winter....

INOOK AND THE SUN

WHEN: April 23, 24, 29, 30 & May 1 at 7:30 p.m.; April 25 & May 2 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Russell Hall on the University of Southern Maine's Gorham Campus

TICKETS: $14 for the general public; $10 for seniors and USM staff; $7 for students

SPECIAL: "$5 @ Five" show will be held on April 28 at 5 p.m., all tickets just $5

BOX OFFICE: (207) 780-5151 Reservations are recommended

Puppets – Masks – Trapeze — Original Music

The Sun, played by Julianne Pictou (South Lancaster Academy, Lancaster, MA 2008) extends her hand to Inook, played by Sage Landry (Lincoln Academy 2009) in his quest to put the seasons right.

The University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre
presents the epic story ofan Inuit boy
who must brave the frozen ends of the Earth
to save his people from endless winter in

INOOK AND THE SUN

by Henry Beissel, April 23 – May 2, 2010
Directed by Dr. Assunta Kent.

WHEN: April 23, 24, 29, 30 & May 1 at 7:30 p.m.; April 25 & May 2 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Russell Hall on the University of Southern Maine's Gorham Campus

TICKETS: $14 for the general public; $10 for seniors and USM staff; $7 for students

SPECIAL: "$5 @ Five" show will be held on April 28 at 5 p.m., all tickets just $5

BOX OFFICE: (207) 780-5151 Reservation recommended

Inook and the Sun, based on Inuit folk tales, follows a boy’s epic quest to bring the sun back and save his people from starvation in an endless winter.

“It looks like winter will last forever. People are starving. It’s too cold. The Moon is in charge and he’s cold, distant and mocking,” says Director Dr. Assunta Kent. “This boy, Inook, must make a journey to the frozen ends of the Earth, under the sea, and into an ice berg to try and bring back the Sun — who is trapped there — and put the seasons right again.”

Costume designer Kris Hall, using Facebook, has organized a small army of USM student designers to help come up with the fantastical creatures that help, and sometimes hinder, Inook on his journey. Costume creations include full-body musk ox, shark and polar bear puppets, as well as an angry sea godess made from beach detritus.

“We have a sea monster that takes eight people to run and that fills the entire stage,” says Dr. Kent. “It takes three big guys to perform the polar bear.”

Collaboration has been ongoing since January between Dr. Kent, costume designer Kris Hall and her students. It’s the first time either of them have employed the Internet in a collaborative design process.

“Facebook is a great tool for collaboration among student designers,” says Hall. “They can immediately share their ideas and sketches — even videos — and get instant feedback from myself and the director. Plus they already check the site religiously.”

The Angry Godess of the sea, Sedna, played by Desiray Roy (Stonington High School, 2006) orders mischievous seals, played by Katelyn Smith, left, (Sanford High School, 2005) and Laura Collard (Freeport High School, 2008) to stop hindering Inook, played by Sage Landry (Lincoln Academy, 2009) on his quest to return the Sun.

Big-time, full-color musical!

Emily Holden and Chris Ellis star as "Babe" and "Sid" in the University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre and School of Music joint production of THE PAJAMA GAME. Ellis is a 2008 graduate of Oak Hill High School and Holden graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 2008.

The University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre and School of Music present the full-on, over-the-top, singing-and-dancing, romantic comedy: THE PAJAMA GAME - March 5-14, 2010.

WHEN: March 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 at 7:30 p.m. and March 7 & 14 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Russell Hall on the University of Southern Maine's Gorham Campus

TICKETS: $20 for the general public; $14 for seniors and USM staff; $10 for students

SPECIAL: "$5 @ Five" show will be held on March 10 at 5 p.m., all tickets just $5

BOX OFFICE: (207) 780-5151 Reservation recommended

The University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre and School of Music team up to present the Tony Award winning show March 5 to 14, 2010, in Russell Hall on the USM Gorham campus. Director Wil Kilroy says he and his cast are reveling in the full-sized musical flavor of this audience favorite.

"What we're doing is a big piece of classic American theatre," he said recently at a rehearsal in Russell Hall. "There's major dancing and lots of singing - and it's a romance, definitely a romance."

The original production opened on Broadway in 1954, winning multiple Tony Awards. Musical director Edward Reichert notes the show includes sassy, jubilant song and dance numbers like "Steam Heat," "Hernando's Hideaway," and the timeless ballad "Hey There." Music/lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and the script by George Abbott and Richard Bissell.

The large cast includes talented musical theater majors - with the direction and design being handled by theatre professionals and faculty members. Vanessa Beyland is choreographer; Charles Kading is set designer; Kurt Alger is costume designer; and Shannon Zura is the lighting designer.

Here's the story setup -- amid a looming labor dispute at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory, love blooms! While Babe (played by Emily Holden, Fryeburg Academy 08) and her fellow union stitchers agitate for a seven-and-a-half cent raise, she's also falling in love with the new superintendent, Sid (Christopher Ellis, Oak Hill High School 08). Hines, the popular efficiency expert (Jeremiah Haley of Portland), is in love with Gladys (Autumn Pound of Portland), the secretary of the company President, Old Man Hasler (Michael Frier, Camden Hill Regional High School 07). And the head of the union, Prez (Joey Valliere, Old Orchard Beach High School 07), is courting several women at once, even though he's married!

Also in the cast are Greer Vashon of Waterville as Mae; Rylee Doiron of Wilton as Brenda; Caitlyn O'Reilly of Farmington as Poopsie (and a Steam Heat dancer in Hernando's Hideaway); James McDonald of Malden, Mass., as Lewie; Kyle Robert Dennis of Pittsfield as Cyrus; Patrick Molloy of Orono as Babe's dad, Pop; Matthew Defiore of Mexico as Max; Kelly Mosher of Marstons Mills, Mass., Kelly Mosheras as Sid's secretary, Mabel; and Jacob Cote of Bangor as Charley the handyman.

Factory Workers include Sarah Flagg of Hampden, Alice Hofgren of Waterville, Jonathan Marro of Claremont, N.H., Jericah Potvin of Millinocket, Kyle Skillin of Biddeford, and Abigail Worthing of Arundel.

The success of the show spawned the making of a film version in 1957 starring Doris Day, and several revivals. The 2006 Broadway revival, starring Harry Connick Jr., earned multiple Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.

Caitlin O'Reilly, left, Joey Valliere and Emily Holden sing and dance in "Steam Heat" a show-stopping number from the University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre and School of Music joint production of THE PAJAMA GAME. O'Reilly is a 2008 graduate of Mt. Blue High School. Valliere is a 2006 graduate of Old Orchard Beach High School and Holden is a 2008 graduate of Fryeburg Academy.