News

The Public Theatre's exciting 19th season opens soon!

September 1, 2009

Get ready for a heart-pounding, heart-wrenching and heart-warming season at The Public Theatre! “It's a great cardio workout”, says Artistic Director Christopher Schario, “and a satisfying combination of plays you're going to fall in love with.” Opening with a thrilling new adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and closing with Southern Comforts, a heartwarming comedy about falling in love after 50, you’ll find a play that will appeal to everyone this season.

A cornerstone in the cultural life of Lewiston/Auburn and Central Maine, The Public Theatre's mission statement of providing high quality professional theatre at an affordable price is more relevant and important than ever during these complicated economic times. “We believe the Arts are a necessity, not a luxury. With a top ticket price of only $18, we are committed to keeping exciting, Broadway-quality professional theatre accessible for everyone.”

And speaking of excitement, get your Halloween muscles in shape this fall when The Public Theatre opens its season with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, playing Oct 16 - 25. Indulge your dark side with this fiendishly clever adaptation of this classic story of inner demons. Journey with Dr. Jekyll to a secret room in London, and discover the evil that lurks within the heart of each of us.

Humor and happiness arrive in December, with two delightful productions guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit. For one weekend only, Public Theatre favorite, and DownEast Magazine humorist Susan Poulin performs her hilarious new show, A Very Ida Christmas, Dec 4, 5, and 6th. It's Christmas time in the tiny Maine town of Mahoosuc Mills, and Ida Le Clair's holiday spirit is so bright it could light up a Xmas tree. Come on over to Ida’s for the best Christmas ever and get the latest update on her Christmas craft projects with her pals, The Women who run with the Moose. Pick up hilarious tips on the do's and don'ts of holiday decorating, and discover Ida's secret in her not-so-secret Santa plan. Ida's no Scrooge, so banish your humbugs and come prepared for the funniest Christmas show in Maine!

And keep your holiday spirit glowing the following weekend with The Public Theatre’s acclaimed and beloved adaptation of A Christmas Carol, playing Dec 11, 12, and 13th. Created by The Public Theatre, and now published and performed by theatres around the world, this inventive adaptation has been a Lewiston/Auburn tradition for over 16 years! Featuring six actors and a fiddler, Dickens' language and characters come to life in a way you’ve never seen before. With family friendly performance times, and tickets for children 12 and under only $10, this production makes a great gift for the whole family.

The new year begins with the humorous, poignant and thoughtful play Visiting Mr. Green, playing Jan 29 - Feb 7. When an elderly Jewish dry cleaner walks into the path of an oncoming yuppie's car, a judge with a sense of humor requires the young man to pay a series of weekly visits to his victim. What starts out as an "Odd-Couple" style comedy about two worlds colliding becomes a surprising and powerful story about the dangers of intolerance and isolation. Pay a visit to Mr. Green. This poignant award-winning Off-Broadway play is a trip worth taking.

Just in time for spring, TPT presents the provocative new play Magnetic North, March 19 - 28. The laws of attraction cannot be denied, but when temptation pulls you, which direction will you go? Told with startling honesty, intelligence and humor, Magnetic North explores the faith in faithfulness and the fine line between flirtation and betrayal when a husband stumbles upon the email address of a former girlfriend and is pulled towards the past. Follow your compass to TPT for this sexy and compelling play.

The 2009-2010 season ends with the delightful comedy, Southern Comforts, playing May 7 - 16. This Off-Broadway comedy follows the awkward and endearing romance between a taciturn Yankee widower and a spunky southern grandmother and the reality of falling in love after 50. Set in their own ways, with separate families, habits, political opinions and households of furniture, these stubborn old dogs learn a few new tricks about the importance of compromise and the rewards of change.

Individual tickets, subscriptions, gift certificates and group rates (for parties of 10 or more) are available for all productions. In our busy world, going to the theatre is a great way for a busy group of friends to “finally get together”. For more information visit thepublictheatre.org or call 782-3200. The Public Theatre is located at Lisbon & Maple St. in downtown Lewiston.