Canceled North Carolina High School Production of ALMOST, MAINE to be Produced Independently

This fall, the Maiden High School's production of John Cariani's "Almost, Maine" was canceled because of one scene in which two young men realize they have feelings for each other. Now students are producing the play off-campus with the help of former local elementary school teacher, Carmen Eckard, according to Howard Sherman.

The production will be hosted by the United Arts Council of Catawba County and will be performed at the SALT Block Auditorium in Hickory NC on January 15, 16 and 17 at 8 pm.

The play features seven current Maiden High School students and two recent graduates. Student-director Conner Baker is now in the cast as well, so local attorney William Morgan, who has directed the show in the past at a local community theatre, will co-direct.

To fund the independent production, Eckard and Baker started a Kickstarter campaign hoping to raise $1,000. They ended up receiving over $6,500, plus more in program ad sales. The production plans to share the extra donations with Arts Council and OutRight Youth Catawba, which seeks, in their words, "to reduce the isolation felt by LGBTQ youth by providing a sense of community and developing programs and services to counteract the prejudice and oppression that LGBTQ youth often face."

Tickets and program ads are available from the production's website: almostmaiden.com

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