Summer Stages: Maine's Theatre Samplings

With the snow finally off the ground, birds returning home, and the beaches beckoning, it is once again summertime in Maine. With the major professional companies ending their seasons in late May, Maine's numerous summer theatres soon go into full swing with an exciting lineup of summer theatre. Here are some of the highlights of the 2014 season:

Maine State Music Theatre opens with the Buddy Holly Story (June 4-21), followed by Chamberlain- A Civil War Romance (June 25-July 12), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (July 16-August 7),and Footloose (August 6-23). In addition, the company will present Teacher from the Black Lagoon (June 11) and The Little Mermaid (August 18) for children, as well as several special one-night events, among them a concert staging of Godspell (July 28). Performed at the Pickard Theatre on Bowdoin College's lovely campus, MSMT offers consistently dazzling productions of Broadway shows. MSMT has also inaugurated a free to the public series of Conversations with the Artists to be held at Brunswick's Curtis Memorial Library on June 13, July 2, 23, and August 20 at noon. Tickets: 207-725-8769 or www.msmt.org.

Ogunquit Playhouse in the lovely resort town of Ogunquit opens with Grease (May 21- June 21), followed by Billy Elliot (June 25-July 26, Mary Poppins (July 30-August 30, The Witches of Eastwick (September 3-27), and The Addams Family (October 1-26). Tickets: 207-646-5511 or www.ogunquitplayhouse.org.

Theater at Monmouth is Maine's professional state Shakespeare company. Tucked away in the bucolic town of Monmouth in central Maine, it presents plays in repertoire at the historic Cumston Hall, a baroque gem of a theatre. This year's calendar is programmed around the theme of "The British Invasion." Plays include Oscar Wilde's A Woman of No Importance, Joe Orton's What the Butler Saw, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It, and Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer. The season runs July 10-September 28. Tickets: 207-933-9999 or www.theatreatmonmouth.org.

Arundel Barn Playhouse has an ambitious lineup: The Sounds of the 70s (June 17-June 28), A Chorus Line (July 1-July 12}, My Fair Lady (July 15-August 2), Legally Blonde (August 5-August 16), and the Marvelous Wonderettes (August 19-August 30) at 53 Post Road, Arundel, ME. Tickets: 207-985-5552 or www.arundelbarnplayhouse.com.

Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick, ME will present two straight plays and two musicals, beginning with Arsenic and Old Lace (June 20-July 5), and then continue with The Music Man (July 9-July 26), Spamalot (July 30-August 16), and The Trip to Bountiful (August 2-=August 30. Tickets: 207-698-1807 or www.hackmatack.org.

Acadia Repertory Theatre, located on beautiful Mount Desert island near Acadia National Park, gives visitors an additional reason to make the trip north. This season they will present John Logan's Tony-award-winning Red (June 30-July 13), Moli?re's The School for Wives (July 15-27), Patrick Barlow's The 39 Steps (July 29-August 10), and Agatha Christie's The Unexpected Guest (August 12-30). Tickets: 207-244-7260 or www.acadiarep.com.

Other companies closing out their spring and early summer seasons include:

Portland Players with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas from May 16- June 1, Lyric Music Theater with Much Ado About Nothing from June 20-28, and the Madhorse Theater with a Maine premiere of the Tony and Drama Desk award -winning musical, Grey Gardens, from May 29-June 22.

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