Rubicon Theatre of Ventura Announces the Third Production of its 2022-2023 “Welcome Home” Season! ALMOST, MAINE
by John Cariani
Directed by Stephanie A. Coltrin
Limited Engagement Opens on Saturday September 10 at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District
“Poignant and witty. Its charm is real.”– New York Daily News
RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY, Ventura’s non-profit professional theatre company, presents the third production of its 2022-2023 Season with ALMOST, MAINE, written by JOHN CARIANI and directed by STEPHANIE A. COLTRIN. ALMOST, MAINE begins previews on Wednesday, September 7; opens on Saturday, September 10 at 7 p.m.; and runs through Sunday, September 25 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District.
Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place so far north, it’s barely in the United States. Where the residents are so disorganized, it’s not quite a town. On one cold clear winter’s night, as the Northern Lights float magically in a star-filled sky, the inhabitants of Almost find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways.
In nine entwined stories, strangers become friends, friends become lovers and lovers become strangers. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend – almost. Sweet, witty, full of laughs and surprises, this romantic comedy has broken box office records and received critical acclaim throughout the nation.
About the Playwright
JOHN CARIANI (Playwright) is an award-winning actor and an accomplished playwright. He is probably best known for his role as CSU Tech Julian Beck on television’s “Law & Order,” and for his performance as Motel the Tailor in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof for which he received a Tony Award nomination and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Cariani made his New York stage debut in It’s My Party (And I’ll Die if I Want To), starring Joyce Van Patten and Academy Award Winner F. Murray Abraham. His recent Broadway appearances include Stuart Gellman in Caroline, or Change, Itzik in The Band’s Visit, and Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten.
Cariani has shared the screen with such legends as Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Edward Asner. In addition to his five-year stint on “Law & Order,” Cariani has had recurring roles as Professor Otto Bahnoff in the final season of CBS’ “Numb3rs,” and as reporter Michael Falk on the IFC’s “The Onion News Network.” Almost, Maine, Cariani’s first play, premiered at Portland Stage Company in 2004, opened Off Broadway in 2006, and is featured in Smith and Kraus’ “New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2006.” Since its debut Off-Broadway, Almost, Maine has become one of the most frequently produced plays in the United States, with nearly 2,000 productions to date. It has also been translated into eight languages. His second play cul-de-sac premiered off-Broadway in a 2006 Transport Group production. Last Gas and Love/Sick premiered at Portland Stage Company in 2010 and 2013 and is slated for an Off Broadway engagement. Originally from Presque Isle, Maine, Cariani is a graduate of Amherst College, and now lives in New York City.
The cast of ALMOST, MAINE features (in alphabetical order): LEAH DALRYMPLE, TARA DONOVAN, JOSEPH FUQUA, BRENDAN KANE, KATIE PELENSKY and PATRICK VEST.
The award-wining design team for ALMOST, MAINE includes Set Designer MIKE BILLINGS, Lighting and Projections Designer BRIAN GALE, Costume Designer JEFFREY SCHOENBERG, AJS Costumes, and Prop Designers TYLER GABBARD and KEVIN WILLIAMS. STEPHANIE A. COLTRIN serves as Executive Producer, and JULIA DONLON is Production Stage Manager.
Schedule and Pricing
Low-priced previews of ALMOST, MAINE begin Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00 p.m. and continue Thursday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. and Friday, September 9 at 8:00 p.m. The production opens on Saturday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. The production runs through Sunday, September 25.
Performances are Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (followed by a talkback), Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Ticket prices range from $30.00 – $59.50.
Previews:
Wednesday, September 7 & Thursday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m.; Friday, September 9 at 8:00 p.m.
Opens:
Saturday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Runs:
Saturday, September 10 – Sunday, September 25, 2022
Performances are Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Talkback following), Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
