“Almost, Maine” is a two-act play about an unincorporated region in Maine “almost” in Canada, where residents and visitors clamor for the best views of the Northern Lights.
“Almost, Maine,” by playwright John Cariani, premiered in Portland, Maine, in 2004 and has since become one of the most popular plays in the U.S., with nearly 100 professional productions and over 5,000 community, university and high school productions to date. It is the most produced play in North American high schools over the past decade.
“Almost, Maine” is also Dara Hinshaw’s directorial debut for the Boerne Community Theatre, where the play runs through July 23. The theater is located at 907 E. Blanco Road.
Hinshaw has been active with BCT since 2016-17 and stepped up when the group’s playwrighting committee selected “Almost, Maine” as one of this year’s productions.
“My word is love, and when I read the play, I knew I had to direct it,” Hinshaw wrote in the play’s director’s notes.
The two-act play involves eight scenes set in the tiny unincorporated mythical town of Almost, Maine. Hinshaw assembled a cast of 10 to play the roles in the show’s eight scenes.
“It is such a joy. These actors have gone in wholeheartedly,” Hinshaw said prior to Thursday’s dress rehearsal, staged in front of an audience of family and friends. “From the novice to our seasoned actors, it’s been beautiful to see them bring their experiences with love. It’s been a joy to witness.”
Hinshaw received a bachelor’s degree in acting/ directing along with theater ministry from Abilene Christian University. She took her love of theater to the next level, earning her master’s degree in stage management from UC-Irvine in California.
Hinshaw said she can relate to the play and its characters on several levels.
“I grew up in a small town of 2,000, Canton, Texas. ‘Almost, Maine’ is this little, unincorporated town, a beautiful place to see the Northern Lights.”
She said she “was raised by a mother who was in love with love.'
“When we were growing up, my mother had a day care center in our home, and she taught us to love everybody,” Hinshaw said. “Love is pain, hurt, loss, but also joyful, full of magic and hope.'
She dedicated Thursday’s dress rehearsal to her mother, who was seated in the front row. “It’s dedicated to my mom and my husband, Dennis. I never experienced true abiding love until I met Dennis.”
She said she hopes all the play’s attendees will relate to one or more of the play’s characters, as she did. “It’s like putting love in literal terms.”
The opening weekend concludes with Sunday’s 2:30 p.m. matinee. Remaining showtimes are: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13.; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 14-15 and July 21-22; and 2:30 p.m. matinees Sunday July 16 and 23.
Tickets are $24 or $22 for seniors 60 and over and $18 for military and students. Reservations can be made online at BoerneTheatre.org or by calling the box office at 830-249-9166.
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