MAINE REPERTORY THEATER

An update from our Creative Entertainment Officer Steve

11-01-20

Happy November Folks,

So much going on this month…what with a full moon kicking things off, the end of Daylight Savings, the election, Thanksgiving, and I’m getting my tires rotated.

We pray you’re successfully avoiding this awful pandemic that has dug its ugly heels in for now and what some experts are suggesting, for a while still. For those who have been personally affected by this, our thoughts and well wishes go out to you and your loved ones.

With such nastiness still floating about a number of bars and restaurants that had been counting on expanding their available seating and hours have just been dealt another blow with renewed restrictions. We urge you to show your support by continuing to do business with these fine establishments as they already operate on a tight budget, and this COVID garbage combined with the oncoming winter months certainly isn’t helping.

Speaking of support, as most of you already know we moved out of our digs of nearly two years at the end of August after being closed by state mandate since the middle of March due to this COVID-19 outbreak. In late July we were presented with a 30-day notice to vacate if we didn’t pay up everything that was past due. We simply didn’t have all the funds they demanded, so we moved. Still we are several thousands of dollars shy of fulfilling our financial obligation - as full rent, utilities and related costs were still due during our time there, despite our closed doors and no ticket revenue being generated since there were no shows to sell tickets to. So if you have the means with which to toss us a dime or two to help offset this unfortunate cost we’d be most grateful for your help.

In addition to that we still have a number of ongoing operational expenses as we sit in storage, waiting for clearance to play again; and as we wait we are also busy scouring the greater Kennebunk to South Portland area in search of where our new home just might be. So if you know of a space or have an idea please get in contact with us. We’ll also have start-up expenses to deal with again as well. We’ve just recently applied for the second phase of that CARES Act grant. Unfortunately we had no luck with the first phase so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for better news this time around.

We are so eager to return to the stage, wherever that may be, and create laughter and good times again while contributing to the communities we serve just as we did before, before we had to close up and move out. Many of you have attended any one of our numerous benefit performances or fundraising events, and you probably also contributed to the more than one ton of food we collected and delivered to the local food pantries.

But in the meantime, treat yourself to some belly laughs by checking out any one of our several weekly updates. I think we have ten or so of these comedy gems posted below. Just scroll down, and below our screaming Amanda you should find a plethora of them. Most of these updates run roughly ten minutes, but if you’ve got twenty minutes to spare I recommend checking out our Halloween special. But do check out some of the older updates from September and October as well if you have the time. Our own Dave Hanright is really in his element, starring as Thrust Magnus in our 10/10 episode, one of my personal favorites. Our Halloween special just might scare you, not so much because of its spooky nature, but more like, “These guys get to vote?” kind of scary.

Be well.

Steve

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WITH HEARTFELT GRATITUDE…

We would like to thank the following individuals who have shown such generosity and faith in our work before this pandemic forced us to close more than eight months ago. We feel extremely blessed for the help from our Maine Rep and Chamber of Comedy friends and family. If not for your financial aid or in-kind contributions during this down time Maine Repertory Theater and The Chamber of Comedy would be just a memory. But because of you, we still have a future.

Lois Samuels Doctor Harry Chamberlin Alan Burnette

Brenda Hoyt Brackman Dixie Squires Molly McGill

Sherry Corbeil David Hanright Pam Stevens

Melissa Suey Stephanie Wigginton Alyssa Hochheiser

Sarah S. Thompson Randy Hunt Ann Fisher

Lucy Brown Samuel Kuykendall Lulubell Anzalone

Andrew D’Angio White Lori Sukalas Cindy Kueck

Emily Judkins Kelly Thayer Bill Southwick

Dan Jackson Maureen Cain Ted Freeman

Joan Brochu Kathleen Burke Cordelia Lane

David Ciampa Jill Irving Mary Ellen White

Donald Wiggins Kelly Gunn Dorothy Mathes

Andrea Perry Anne Morin Kathyryn Letellier

Ian Hoyt Courtney Kurlanska Joe Pagano

Gail Krusec Jon Cofield Girth Spangley

Christine Leach Christine Madden Sean Murphy

Sandy and Joe Mekonis Dennis and Laura Hunt

Ottilie and Spiros Droggitis Nathan and Erin Greene

Joyce and Stan Sobus

Mike Israelson, General Courier

Deb Whitworth, HR Studio Group LLC

Jennifer Bourgeault, Collective Motion Arts Center

Bob LeBlanc, Balderdash Academy

Don Furman

Bob Letellier, RE/MAX

And the list keeps growing. May we add YOUR name next?

MAINE REPERTORY THEATER, LLC

Welcome to the Maine Repertory Theater website. We’re glad you stopped in, if even for just a bit.

Founded in 2018 by Steve Burnette and David Hanright Maine Repertory Theater is the region’s newest production company, presenting a variety of entertaining, thought-provoking, typically light-hearted productions; including improv, sketch comedy, mystery dinner theater, original radio shows, trivia nights, game shows, comedy festivals, published works, special events, and the occasional world premiere of an original script.

Maine Rep is dedicated to helping non-profits and others in need in our community, providing a number of benefit performances for various causes and individuals while also raising over one ton of food for the local food pantries through our Legacy Project's United We Weigh Foodraising Campaign.

The CHAMBER of COMEDY

What’s a show by The Chamber of Comedy about? Your guess is as good as ours as the area’s top improv comedy performers present a two-act evening of jaw-dropping, knee-slapping, beverage-spurting-through your nose original comedy, based on suggestions by you, our mostly lovely audience. Five or six of our ensemble of thirteen improv comedy masters perform on any given night, and since no two casts are ever alike, and no two audiences are ever alike, no two shows are ever alike, and that’s great, especially if our previous show stunk like a wet towel hidden under the front seat of a hot Buick in August.

With The Chamber of Comedy, every night is opening night!

The Chamber of Customized Comedy

The Chamber of Customized Comedy is a unique and exciting entertainment option, reaching out to corporations, fraternal organizations, small businesses, wedding parties, and non-profits for private, customized performances.

Ideal for any small-to-midsize group or organization looking for a fresh alternative to thank your fellow industry professionals, employees, their families, potential customers, or those just looking for an outside the box evening of laughter. Come to think of it, we're not such a bad idea for your next fundraiser as well.

THE LEGACY PROJECT

We encourage our patrons attending any performance to bring with them a donation of non-perishable food items. At the end of each month we will deliver your donations to Seeds of Hope, right here in Biddeford. This program we like to call our United We Weigh Foodraising Campaign. Because of your generosity, Maine Rep collected and delivered over one ton of food in 2019 between the Biddeford Food Pantry and Saco Food Pantry.

LAUGH You, Comedy Academy

Ever wanted to try your hand at improv comedy?

Looking for a class that can help with your shyness or public awkwardness?

Tired of reading these questions in italics?

LAUGH You is an affordable school for improv and sketch comedy creation and performance taught exclusively at Maine Rep.

Ninety-minute workshops are offered to three age groups, 7th and 8th graders, high school students, and adults. These small size groups will meet once a week for six weeks, then if interested and if requirements have been met students will have the option to advance to the next level after a brief break.

LAUGH You Student Progress Performance Nights for invited friends and family are offered following the completion of level two and level four, with a public performance presented at the completion of the entire program.

Given the current COVID-19 Virus outbreak we are reassessing when and where we will be offering our next session of classes. Please visit this section often or drop us an email requesting schedule updates as we have them available.

MAINE REPERTORY THEATER

MAINE REPERTORY THEATER

An update from our Creative Entertainment Officer Steve

GOT CASH?

Maine Rep's Thanksgiving Special - November 26th , 2020

The Weeks in Review: Autumn 2020

The Week in Review November 21st, 2020

The Week in Review November 14th, 2020

The Week in Review October 31st, 2020

The Week in Review October 25th, 2020

The Week in Review October 18th, 2020

The Week in Review October 10th, 2020

The Week in Review October 3rd, 2020

The Week in Review September 26th, 2020

The Week in Review September 19th, 2020

The Week in Review September 12th, 2020