Wood River High School actors David Fox, Sara Hope, Kim Cortez, and Crystal Millspaugh will play a variety of characters in eight scenes from the play "Almost, Maine" by John Cariani. The performance will be part of the Performing Arts showcase May 19-21 at the Community Campus theater in Hailey.
All shows are at 5 p.m. Tickets are $8 adults, $5 seniors and $3 students. A pot-luck barbecue for family and patrons will take place after the show on Saturday, May 21. The shows are a fundraiser for the Performing Arts program.
The play takes place in the fictitious town of Almost, Maine. The brilliant Northern Lights are not only part of the set, but play an emotional role as the residents of Almost, Maine find themselves falling in and out of love with breaking hearts and hearts on the mend.
The scenes and play take on the problems of relationships—all kinds of relationships.
"Every foible of love is played out," said Hope.
Wood River High School Performing Arts teacher Karl Nordstrom said he choose the play after seeing it at Rocky Mountain Community College.
"We watched several shows and this is the one we liked," Nordstrom said. "I used the scenes for acting class, and I thought it would be a good show."
Actors are advanced acting students at Wood River High School. In addition to the several scenes that will be staged, an acting movement piece will also be a part of the performance.
Teachers directing scenes including Nordstrom, Julie Fox-Jones, Cathy Reinheimer, Janis Walton and Wood River High School graduate Erin Burbank.
Reinheimer said the performance is similar to an off-Broadway experience, and it's wonderful.
"The kids are making an emotional leap," she said.
Nordstrom said he is trying to build a competitive drama club and this play is part of the students' desire to do more.
"When the school switches to semesters next year, it will be nice to have the time to work on building a competitive program," he said. "We did well in our first competition in Pocatello. With some time, work and focus, I think the kids will be really competitive in District 4."
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
The Wood River High School Performing Arts group will perform “Almost, Maine” at the Community Campus theater in Hailey May 19-21. Photo by David N. Seelig
