THEATRE + COMEDY

Brave Dog Players Present: Almost, Maine by: John Cariani.  A magical valentine about the residents of Almost, Maine. (Did we mention it’s funny?!)

The author, John Cariani’s website describes his play, Almost, Maine like this: On a cold, clear, moonless Friday night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised; hearts are broken. Love is lost, found, and confounded.

But the bruises heal and the hearts mend—almost—in what has been described as “a comic, romantic roundelay” by The Wall Street Journal, “a wooly midwinter night’s dream” by The Dallas Observer, “love in the time of frostbite” by The New York Sun, “a sweet-natured valentine to fools and idioms” by The Los Angeles Times, “a gem” by Florida Weekly, “an unapologetically romantic fable” by The Arizona Republic, and “an effervescent yet deeply felt tragicomedy” by The Melbourne (Australia) Age. Almost, Maine inventively explores the mysteries of the human heart, touching audiences with laughter, heartbreak and hope.

This is the Houston Debut of Almost, Maine, and marks the first production of an exciting new Houston theatre company, Brave Dog Players. Brave Dog Players will strive to produce unique and acclaimed plays that have been overlooked or passed over by Houston’s flagship theatres. The founding members are Philip Lehl, Kim Tobin, Georgi Silverman & Rick Silverman.

About the playwright: John Cariani’s first play, Almost, Maine, debuted at Portland Stage Company and was named one of the ten best plays of the 2004/2005 regional theatre season by The Wall Street Journal. Two years later, Almost, Maine opened off-Broadway, and is now featured in New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2006. Since its debut off-Broadway, Almost, Maine has been produced by some 300 theatres all over the United States and in places as far flung as Mexico, Korea, Canada, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

John is currently working on two new plays: Last Gas (also set in northern Maine); and an untitled new collection of one act plays, which he describes as “the flip side” of Almost, Maine.

Philip Lehl will direct Almost, Maine. Philip is known throughout the Houston arts community for his outstanding acting career. He has appeared numerous times at The Alley, Stages, TUTS, The Houston Symphony, BCCM and the Houston Shakespeare Festival.

The cast consists of Chris Hutchison (Alley Theatre Company Member), Kim Tobin, Georgi Silverman and Rick Silverman. Kim, Georgi and Rick all came to Houston from New York City, where they were members of the award-winning theatre company, The Barrow Group. The Barrow Group held early workshops in 2003 that helped John Cariani shape the scenes that would eventually become Almost, Maine. Rick Silverman, Georgi Silverman and Kim Tobin all participated in those workshops, and have held a fondness for the play ever since. They are delighted to get the chance to bring the play to Houston audiences.

Brave Dog Players has assembled a talented crew to help realize the world that will become Almost, Maine. Heading the team will be lighting designer, Matt Schlief from Rice University, and composer/sound designer, Jessie Gustin.

The production is being done in cooperation with Stages Repertory Theatre. It will run in their Yeager Theatre from Feb. 5, through Feb. 21. For more information please log on to bravedogplayers.com.

All tickets are $20, Student Tickets are $10, and can be bought through the Stages Box Office: 713 527-0123, or through their website: stagestheatre.com.