News & Reviews

A Very Special 40th Birthday Gift

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:28:54 -0500

The Theater Project is beyond excited to announce that an anonymous donor has pledged a $100,000 matching gift challenge for the Theater Project's 40th anniversary. On Saturday, November 19, they held a reception and celebration to reveal the news to friends, former board members and employees, donors, sponsors, and patrons. Close to 100 people attended the special event which formally kicked off the Theater Project's 2011-2012 season and annual fund drive. A feature article by Bob Keyes on the matching challenge was just published in the Audience section of the Maine Sunday Telegram.

To ensure that they meet the $100,000 matching challenge, Theater Project Executive Director Wendy Poole, Artistic Director Al Miller and The Theater Project board have been working with Alicia J. Nichols, Fundraising Counsel since last winter. "We are so honored that someone believes so much in what we do that they want to help make sure we are here for another 40 years" said Poole. "We know we have our work cut out for us but we know we can do it, and that the community believes in us too." The Theater has already raised close to $13,000 in donations and pledges since September of this year.

The Theater Project is a donor-supported nonprofit organization governed by a board of 8 community volunteers. The Theater Project's mission is to change young and old; to enrich and inspire their living, and to provide a safe environment for original and dynamic exploration. Find The Theater Project on Facebook. For more information call 207-729-8584 or email thetheaterproject@mac.com. Visit our Support Page to contribute online. Contributions can be sent to The Theater Project, 14 School Street, Brunswick ME 04011-2104.

Al Miller Recognized with Award

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:12:41 -0400

For immediate release: October 26, 2011
Contact: Joanna Patterson 729-8584

At an Independence Association dinner on Thursday, October 13, Theater Project founder and Artistic Director Al Miller was the recipient of The Charles & Frances Payne Award.

Presented by Rep. Peter Kent, The Charles & Frances Payne Award is awarded to a community member in recognition and appreciation for distinguished service to Independence Association in supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Over the last 30 years, Miller has forged a lasting and inspiring collaboration between the Theater Project and Spindleworks. Celebrating its 40th Season this year, The Theater Project is a teaching and professional theater in Brunswick, Maine. Spindleworks is a non-profit art center for adults with disabilities and a program of the Independence Association of Brunswick, whose mission is to help children and adults with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives in their chosen community.

At The Theater Project, these artists are embraced for their unique perspectives and are given a stage from which their voices can be heard. Over the years they have become part of The Theater Project family, and together with Miller and his fellow teachers they create thoughtful, entertaining, funny pieces of theater that consistently move and inspire audiences.

In addition to the Payne Award, Miller also received a certificate of thanks for helping with the recent Spindleworks fundraiser, which took place at The Theater Project in August and raised money to help replace computers and cash stolen from Spindleworks in June.

Spindleworks Program Manager Liz McGhee notes that "this award is long overdue for Al Miller. There is no way to properly thank him for how much he has given to the Spindleworks artists and other individuals in programming at Independence Association. He has made friendships that span over thirty years and his generosity and spirit have made a difference in so many people's lives. He LIVES community inclusion, and understands the creative potential of all people. It is an honor to present Al with this humble token of our appreciation".

The Theater Project is a donor-supported nonprofit organization governed by a board of 8 community volunteers. The Theater Project's mission is to change young and old; to enrich and inspire their living, and to provide a safe environment for original and dynamic exploration. For more information call 207-729-8584 or email thetheaterproject@mac.com. Visit our support page to contribute online. Contributions can be sent to The Theater Project, 14 School Street, Brunswick ME 04011-2104.

AUDITIONS Midsummer Night’s Dream 2012

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 10:05:45 -0400

Calling Adult and High School Aged Actors!

Auditions for The Theater Project’s Production of Midsummer Night’s Dream!

ADULTS (over 18):
Auditions will be MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011 between 6 - 9 PM at The Theater Project. Please call to set up an appointment. Prepare ONE monologue, no more than two minutes long.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Auditions will be WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 from 4 - 6 PM.

Rehearsals will begin in January 2012. Performance dates are March 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 & April 1.

Questions can be directed to The Theater Project at 729-8584 or via email. The Theater Project is located at 14 School Street in Brunswick.

Our 40th Season Announced

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:16:09 -0400

Theater Project Celebrates 40th Season, Announces Line-Up

For our 40th season, Founder/Artistic Director Al Miller and Executive Director Wendy Poole have crafted a season of comedy, collaboration, and creativity - three things that exemplify The Theater Project's open and joyous approach to theater.

The 40th season opens on September 23 with a benefit performance by Birdie Googins (aka The Marden's Lady) in her one woman show ACCIDENTALLY MAINE'S ONLY SUPERMODEL. The evening promises a kooky, over-the-top performance by a wildly popular, wickedly funny lady.

Now officially a part of The Theater Project, the reader's theater group known as The Center Stage Players will be onstage October 14 - 16 with a new show titled GETTING OLD IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

As the leaves start falling, The Theater Project will present a Young Company production of GET SMART. Adapted from the 60's sitcom, Agent Maxwell Smart and the beautiful Agent 99 must stop the evil forces of KAOS from carrying out their latest dastardly plan. The ultimate spoof of secret agent thrillers, GET SMART will run October 28 - November 6.

MIRACLES ON SCHOOL STREET is the holiday offering this year, featuring actors of all ages, from third graders to senior citizens, and will be on stage December 9 - 18. Also during the holiday season, Al Miller and company will present the annual treat WALES AND TALES for one show only, on December 20.

The new year opens with the Professional Ensemble in repertory from January 19 - February 20, as the acting company presents CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION by Annie Baker and WINTER CABARET. Baker's CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION is the story of four New Englanders who enroll in a 6-week long community center drama class to experiment with harmless theater games, and find that hearts can still be broken, and tiny wars of epic proportion can be waged and won. WINTER CABARET is that audience favorite, an evening of short plays that delight, poke fun, get zany, and let loose. Featuring live music and delicious desserts, CABARET is the perfect antidote to cabin fever.

Shakespeare takes center stage from March 23 - April 1 as an all-ages collaboration of adult and Young Company actors brings A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM to luminous life. April 27 - 29 will feature a performance that highlights the ongoing collaboration between The Theater Project and the artists from Spindleworks. And we'll stay in the woods as The Young People's Theater performs Roald Dahl's FANTASTIC MR. FOX from May 4 - 6.

Another Center Stage Players production will be onstage May 18 - 20, and at the other end of the spectrum, June 1 - 3 brings the 16th annual production of VOICES IN THE MIRROR. VOICES is the wildly original sketch comedy creation by The Theater Project's Young Company - think SNL by and for local teens.

And while it may seem early to be talking about next summer, The Theater Project's summer line up will include THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, an original adaptation by the Young People's Theater summer camp, and BOXERS, A COLLECTION OF SHORTS by the Young Company theater camp - an entire evening of short plays put together in one week!

The Theater Project's momentous 40th season will finish August 10 - 12 with an exciting Alumni Weekend, featuring any and all alumni who want to come back and perform in an evening onstage. More information on The Theater Project's schedule can be found on our Season at a Glance page, or by calling 729-8584.

Auditions - June 22

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:58:38 -0400

Teen Shakespeare Auditions

This year's teen Shakespeare production will be Twelfth Night, directed by Al Miller.

Auditions are June 22 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at The Theater Project, for actors 13 -18 years of age.

Rehearsals will be July 5 through August 5 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Performances are August 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14 (7:30 Friday/Saturday and 2:00 pm Sunday)

Camp fee is $400, with some scholarships available.

Come audition!

*****************

If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour!

Twelfth Night, 1. 1

William Shakespeare’s comedy involving love, deception and mistaken identity.

Young Company Fund Raiser for Brunswick Fire Victims

Mon, 9 May 2011 09:38:43 -0400

Theater's Teens Raise $500 for Fire Relief

The Theater Project's Young Company held a benefit on Friday, April 29
to support the victims of the recent fire at 45 Maine Street in
Brunswick. The event raised $500, with donations still arriving in
support of the event. Talented local teens, including Cameron Toy,
Sunday Porch Band, and Genevieve Beaudoin took to the Theater Project
stage to perform various musical acts. Coffee for the event was
donated by The Little Dog Cafe in Brunswick, and raffles were held for
a gift certificate to The Great Impasta and season passes to The
Theater Project. "I'm so proud of the Young Company", said Executive
Director Wendy Poole. "They put this whole thing together - they are
great kids, and they wanted to do something to help."

All funds raised have gone directly to the Brunswick Downtown
Association's dedicated fire relief fund.

We Need You: The Gift of Sponsorship

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:56:17 -0500

Become a Sponsor!

The Theater Project is a non-profit theater producing shows for both children and adults, and has been part of the Brunswick community for 38 years. Our mission is to change young and old; to enrich and inspire their living, and to provide a safe environment for original and dynamic exploration. The work of The Theater Project is supported by tax deductible contributions made by individuals, companies and organizations.

Your donation will go directly to performance costs: costumes, props, set pieces, scripts, royalties, publicity and more.

Below are different options offered throughout the year:

SEASON SPONSORSHIP - $10,000
Includes TWELVE shows – three Professional Company, five Young Company and three Young People’s Theater shows.

What you get:
One full – page advertisement in the season program
Naming rights on all posters: “The Theater Project in association with Your Company, is proud to present Alice in Wonderland”
Exclusive display space on the sponsor board in our lobby
Your Company logo on all advertisements associated with the show including posters, print and mailings
Advertising space on our website
Your Company thanked at every curtain speech
Four Season Tickets
Four complimentary seats at every opening night performance and gala reception

What we get:
The chance to do what we love to do!

PROFESSIONAL COMPANY PERFORMANCE SPONSORSHIP - $2,500
Includes two shows and one collaboration with the Young Company

What you get:
One half-page advertisement in the season program
Display space on the sponsor board in our lobby
Advertising space on our website
Your Company logo on the poster
Your Company thanked at the opening night curtain speech
Six opening night tickets

What we get:
The opportunity to bring you innovative, original, amusing and thought provoking theater by local talented actors.

YOUNG COMPANY PERFORMANCE SPONSORSHIP - $5,000
Includes five shows

What you get:
One full – page advertisement in the season program
Display space on the sponsor board in our lobby
Your Company logo on the poster
Advertising space on our website
Your Company thanked at the opening night curtain speech
Six opening night tickets
The knowledge that many high school students are very appreciative

What we get:
The opportunity to enable high school students to explore, create and grow in a safe environment while producing high quality theater.

EDUCATION SPONSORSHIP - $1,000
Includes our education program for the year and a percentage of the donation towards our Vitelli Scholarship fund

What you get:
Your Company Logo on all our class mailings and flyers
Display space on the sponsor board in our lobby
Knowledge that no child will be turned away from participating in our programming
Advertising space on our website

What we get:
The opportunity to continue the high quality of classes and workshops the community has come to rely on.

THE CENTER STAGE PLAYERS SPONSORSHIP - $500
Includes two shows

What you get:
One half-page advertisement in the Center Stage Players program
Your Company logo on the poster
Your Company thanked at the opening night curtain speech
Four opening night tickets

What we get:
The opportunity to bring you original memories and stories told directly from the source.

For more information, please contact our Executive Director, Wendy Poole at 207.729.8584. You can download our Season Sponsor form here.

Other ways to show off your support!

Own a Seat at The Theater Project
$500.00

Honor a loved one
Celebrate your family name
Honor your club or organization
Recognize your company
Own it forever!

We will engrave and mount a brass plaque with the inscription of your choice on your seat. Your investment will be a permanent symbol of your generosity for hundreds of audience members to view each year. Please click the link below to download a printable form, or call 729-8584 for more information.
BuyaSeat.doc

Turn Your Cell Phone Off Sponsorship
$50.00

Pick one performance during a run of a show. The Director, Board Member or Theater Manager will thank your company for sponsoring the evening during the curtain speech, by saying:

“Tonight, YOUR COMPANY NAME HERE, asks you to please turn your cell phones and pagers off.”

You will also receive two complimentary tickets to that performance, as well as display space on the sponsor board in our lobby.

Please contact us to proudly declare your support of The Theater Project in one or both of these two new ways!

Our 40th Season - You Pick It, You Sponsor It

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:01:46 -0400

Calling all Theater Project Fans!

Our 40th Anniversary is next year 2011 - 2012!

We want you to pick our season. Tell us what to do.

Is there a show you have always wanted to see?

Something unique, something funny, something poignant.

Well you are in luck.

Our 2011 – 2012 Season is going to be decided by You.

You pick it, You pay for it.

Depending on the show, cast size and rights, we will produce the show of your choice as long as you sponsor it.

Maybe you want to get your business involved, or a group of friends or just you! Shows will be sponsored from $5,000 - $10,000, depending on what is needed to get it up and running (The Executive Director with the Sponsor will decide Budget).

We are up for the challenge! How about you?

To propose an idea, please call the box office and speak with Joanna or e-mail us thetheaterproject@mac.com

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:55:24 -0400

The Theater Project is seeking volunteers for the 2010 – 2011 season.

Box Office Manager
Weekends during the run of a show.
Check messages
Check ticket sales
Sell tickets
Time commitment:
2-3 weeks
3-4 days
3 hours per day

House Manager
Weekends during the run of a show.
Set up concessions food and drink
Make coffee
Management of ushers
Clean – up
Time commitment:
2-3 weeks
3-4 days
4 hours per day

Poster Hanging
Hang 10 posters in a designated area and get two free tickets to that show.
Time commitment:
10 shows per year
1 afternoon per show

Mailings
Stuff envelopes
Seal envelopes
Collate envelopes
Time Commitment:
3 times per year
As often as you can!

Ushering
Usher for a show and get to see it for free
Time Commitment:
1 Hour before show time
As often as you’d like!

Grant Writing
Writing and researching appropriate grants for The Theater Project aided by Theater Project staff.
Time Commitment:
As long as it takes and can be done from home

If you are interested or need more information please call the Box Office at 729-8584 and speak with Joanna or e-mail her at thetheaterproject.com

AUDITIONS - Sept 15

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:35:21 -0400

Calling High School Aged Actors!

Auditions for the Young Company Production of The Crucible
Wednesday, September 15th
4:00 - 6:00
$100 Company Fee When Cast
High School students only, no preparation necessary.

Questions can be directed to The Theater Project at 729-8584 or via email. The Theater Project is located at 14 School Street in Brunswick.