Digital Program: February 14-15, 2025

ALMOST, MAINE was developed by The Cape Cod Theatre Project. Professional Premiere Production: Portland Stage Company, Anita Stewart, Artistic Director, Tami Ramaker, Managing Director. Originally produced in New York by Jack Thomas/Bulldog Theatrical and Bruce Payne. Original Music by Julian Fleisher

- Setting -

Various locales in Almost, Maine.
The present; everything takes place at 9pm on a cold, clear, moonless, slightly surreal
Friday night in the middle of the deepest part of a northern Maine winter.

- Act One -

Prologue: Pete & Ginette

Her Heart: East & Glory

Sad and Glad: Jimmy, Sandrine & Waitress

This Hurts: Marvalyn & Louis

Getting It Back: Gayle & Lendall

- Act Two -

Interlogue: Pete

They Fell: Deena & Shelly

Where it Went:  Phil & Marci

Story of Hope: Hope & Man

Seeing the Thing: Rhonda & Dave

Epilogue: Pete & Erica

  • Natalie Johnson (Sandrine, Marci)

    Natalie is delighted to be returning to Runway Theatre! She last appeared in 2018 as Poopay/Phoebe in Communicating Doors. Other credits include Lucy Westenra in Dracula (Theatre Three), Mrs. Ravenscroft in Ravenscroft (MILC), and Jane Netherfield in Suckers (Imprint Theatreworks). Outside the theatre, Natalie can be found performing lightsaber choreography as a member of Saber Guild (SG-1086). Natalie holds a BA in Supply Chain & Operations Management from the University of Northern Iowa, lives in Dallas with her Dalmatian Tillie, and is currently employed as a Planner/Buyer at Siemens. Keep updated on Natalie’s projects at www.nataliehopejohnson.com!

  • Erica Hawvermale (Ginette, Gayle, Deena)

    Erica is ecstatic to be involved in this production with her fellow cast members and friends. Erica loves performing and has spent the last 5 years volunteering with the local Saber Guild chapter doing choreographed lightsaber combat. She has always had a strong lover for theater, and has participated in a number of shows, including Hello Dolly, White Christmas, Les Misérables, Shrek the Musical, and Peter Pan. This will be, however, her first time out of the pit orchestra. Being on-stage has been a fun and new experience; a huge thanks to Rae for organizing this memorable show!

  • Louis Harvill IV (Steve and Phil)

    Louis is excited to be making his stage debut at Runway Theater. He has worked in the booth and on set builds for numerous productions. He's also served on the Board of Directors. On stage Louis played Ernie in Rumors at Rockwall Community theater. He as also performed as Jedi Master Locke and Sith Inquisitor Mos for short runs at numerous small venues. He sends all his love to his wife Rae and son Quin. -SG-747

  • Pedro Ramos III (Dave)

    Pedro is excited to be in his first theater production! He met the rest of the cast through Saber Guild and jumped at the chance to be part of the show. Working on Almost, Maine has been an incredibly fun and rewarding experience for Pedro. He would like to thank the audience for attending and hopes that you enjoy the show! He sends his love to his wife Natallia, who is also in this play, as well as his gratitude for her help in learning his lines.

  • Natallia Flores-Ramos (Rhonda, Shelley, Waitress)

    Natallia is thrilled to make her stage debut in Almost, Maine. She has loved working alongside her husband, Pedro, and friends from Saber Guild, and has found the entire experience to be both rewarding and inspiring. A fan of movies, Natallia has gained a newfound appreciation for actors and the craft of theater. Learning her lines was a fun challenge that she got to tackle with Pedro by her side. She is grateful for the support of everyone who attended and for the opportunity to be a part of this production!

  • Gareth Ortiz-Timpson (Pete, Lendall)

    Gareth’s experience mostly lies backstage as a sound engineer and stagehand. He has a degree in Audio Production and has done a variety of events ranging from small community events in Arizona (where he grew up) to working as a stagehand for bands like Mötley Crüe, Oasis, and Mark Antony as well as Disney on Ice and ECW. Gareth currently does choreography performances with Saber Guild’s Coruscant Temple, a LucasFilm recognized Star Wars charity organization. This is his first time acting in a theater performance, though he played Han Solo in Showdown on Sriluur, a Star Wars fan film.

  • David Snowden-Bailey (East, Jimmy, Man)

    David is happy to take part in his first production at Runway. Some of his previous productions include A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Little Night Music, The Marriage of Figaro, and Songs For a New World. David enjoys performing and creating choreography for Saber Guild in his (limited) spare time.

  • Natsumi Snowden-Bailey (Glory, Hope)

    Natsumi is delighted to make her debut at Runway with several others from Saber Guild! Natsumi is excited to be back on stage after a break recording audio books. Natsumi adores Shakespeare and has loved being Queen Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Feste in Twelfth Night. One of her favorite theatre experiences was being in the premier of Doom McCoy and the Death Nugget. Natsumi also loves musicals and opera, as she was Christmas Eve in Avenue Q, and has performed scenes from The Crucible and The Magic Flute with Opera Theatre of the Rockies.

  • Rae Harvill (Marvalyn)

    Rae is honored to direct this special production and share the stage with talented friends. Rae has been involved at Runway since 2010- onstage, backstage, in the booth, as an assistant director, on the Board of Directors and now as a director. She has met so many people throughout the years here at Runway, many that have become friends near and dear to her heart. She dedicates this show to all her Runway family, whom she loves so much. IV&V

CREW:

Director: Rae Harvill

Stage Manager: Mark Polzin

Light Design: Emily Ann Moriarty Phillips

Sound Design: AJ DeLaOsa

Set Design: Greg Phillips

Prop Design: Misty Baptiste

Board Ops: Hayden Casey and Pedro Ramos

- Thank You -

Allen Contemporary Theatre, Bessie Boynton, Dave Lancaster,
MHS Culinary Arts, Russell Sebastian, Theatre Coppell, and Bill Wash.

From the Director, Rae Harvill:

Almost, Maine is a collection of vignettes about people falling in and out of love. The play’s magic lies in its gentle humor and moments captured with a deep understanding of human connection. The characters might be quirky, and the situations surreal, but at the heart of each story is a truth that resonates with us all—the messiness and wonder of relationships. Each scene provides a window into the hearts of its characters, where love, loss, and personal growth are revealed in both the smallest and most profound of moments. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we don't need to be somewhere perfect to find what we're looking for—we just need to be almost there.

The playwright had this note at the front of the script, and I think it is worth including here: “Almost, Maine is for the romantics, not the sentimentalists…”

Thank you for joining us at Runway Theatre for our journey to Almost, Maine. We hope this evening of theatre touches your heart as deeply as it has touched ours.

From Runway’s President of the Board, John Grissom:

Thank you for joining us for our special event, fundraiser production. Almost, Maine feels like the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day together, as the stories shared on our stage explore love from all of its many angles; and I really do love spending hallmark days with you, honoring and investing in our creative home! The entire board of directors can’t thank this cast and crew enough for their willingness to give their time and energy - and we also want to thank YOU for all you do for Runway. Your support, patronage, and advocacy are the only reason we continue to be able to create these stories after more than forty years. In many ways, special events like this are a love letter to our creative family, and we hope you feel the sentiment this weekend.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention we’d also love to see you back here in April as our historic 40th season continues with Catch Me If You Can, the Musical. And, we’d be tickled pink to see you onstage, backstage, or behind the concessions stand soon, too! However you show your love to Runway, we appreciate it more than you could know.