BWW Blog: Paisley Haddad - It's De-Lovely By The Sea

This weekend was my first ever visit to the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. I have been vacationing in the Ogunquit area for years, always driving by the iconic sign on the scenic Route 1, but have never actually been inside. I have always loved Anything Goes, and my inner Gilmore Girls fan was dying to see Sally Struthers , Ogunquit Playhouse veteran, in a show. The Playhouse had almost every seat in the house filled and everybody was very excited for the show to start.

From the minute the show started to the last second, every cast member was on their A game. The sets were perfect, and every cast member was "deck"ed out in beautiful costumes by the late Martin Pakledinaz, who had been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Costumes in a Musical for Anything Goes in 2011. It was also very cool to see Broadway Legend, Andrea McArdle, as Reno Sweeney. Her voice was as distinct as when she had her start as Annie. Many of the ensemble members said in their bios that this was their first time performing on The Playhouse stage but they all worked together as if they had been working together for years.

The "old meets the new" atmosphere of the Ogunquit Playhouse is amazing,it keeps the glamour and history of theatre alive while also incorporating new technology. As you arrive you see that you can have cocktails on the grass terrace, the old fashioned classic exterior, and the lobby that holds the history of The Playhouse on it's walls. As you enter the theatre you feel the combination of the new age with the lighting, technology, and projections of their sponsors on the walls. Many different generations filled the audience all experiencing the magic of theatre together. Theatres like the Ogunquit Playhouse show that theatre is timeless and that it does not plan to go anywhere anytime soon.

If you want to experience the magic of the Ogunquit Playhouse, they still have three shows left of the season, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" from July 13-August 6, "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" from August 10-September 3, and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" from September 7-October 1. Anything Goes is still playing at The Playhouse for another week and a half. If you live in the New England area, I highly recommend that if you are looking for a great weekend away, Ogunquit, Maine is the perfect place. Spend a day at the beautiful Ogunquit Beach and then catch a great show at the Ogunquit Playhouse at night.