Hackmatack Playhouse Gears Up for 40th Season

When the snow melts this year, "not much" will have changed as rehearsals will begin for the opening of Hackmatack Playhouse's 40th anniversary season of laughs, music, and drama in Berwick, Maine. That's the way The Playhouse's founder, the late S. Carleton Guptill, would have liked it. With only simple improvements and barn face lifts over the years, Guptill's vision of a summer stock theatre that would showcase the talents of professional and developing thespians lives on.

The same opening show 40 years ago, "Ten Nights in a Barroom" will open the 2011 Hackmatack season! Blaine Pickett returns to re-create the original Hackmatack villain. Hiss and boo him, cheer our hero and listen to the plea of dear little Mary as she begs her father to come home from the Barroom. Expect surprises, music and fun as The Hackmatack entertains with this prohibition era melodrama. This special, 40th Anniversary show plays Wednesday, June 29 through Saturday, July 2 only and includes matinees Thursday, June 30 and Saturday, July 2. Watch for special announcements about this show.

Michael Guptill (hackplayhouse@aol.com) is inviting Hackmatack veteran actors to be in touch for this special 40th anniversary season. Hackmatack veterans will receive special consideration for roles in the opening show, and general auditions for other shows will be announced soon.

Following "Ten Nights in a Barroom" will be "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", a show that sold out at Hackmatack in 1974, 1986, and 1999. "Forum" is slated for Wednesday, July 6 through Saturday, July 23.

"Singin' In the Rain" became one of Hackmatack's most Popular Productions in 1996 so it will return for the 40th celebration! This show runs Wednesday, July 27 through Saturday Aug 13.

Closing this 40th anniversary season (Wednesday, August 17 through Saturday, September 3) will be the Alfred Hitchcock fast paced comedy/mystery/thriller, "The 39 Steps".

Tickets and 2011 Hackmatack Playhouse ‘Flexi-Passes" are now available. Hackmatack Playhouse continues a tradition of affordable ticket prices with student, senior, and group discounts. Tickets and more information is available on-line at www.Hackmatack.org or by phone, 207-698-1807.

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