The thing about summer in Maine is that when it finally arrives, it seems to vanish in no time at all. Summer theater is something like that, too.
If you want to attend a show, don’t dawdle. Time moves fast, and oftentimes so do tickets. Here are some of the highlights of the season ahead:
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MAINE STATE MUSIC THEATRE, Brunswick: Maine State’s 53rd season includes four mainstage musicals, three concerts and two children’s musicals.
The mainstage opens with “The Marvelous Wonderettes” (June 8-25), which finds four high school seniors — Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy — prepping for their 1958 high school prom. They reveal their lives and loves through popular hit songs of the 1950s. After intermission, they travel forward to their 10-year reunion, and reminisce through songs of the 1960s.
The show stars Brittney Morello, Lara Seibert, Danielle Erin Rhodes and Morgan Smith. Morello stepped in last summer at Maine State to play the lead in “My Fair Lady” when the original cast member lost her voice. She has performed at North Shore Music Theatre and Speakeasy Stage Company in Massachusetts, and with Summer Theatre Meredith Village in New Hampshire.
Seibert starred as the bride-to-be in 2009’s “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Maine State. Her Broadway credits include “Young Frankenstein,” and she was part of the national tour of “The Producers.”
Rhodes has toured in productions of “Grease” and “Oliver!” Smith has performed Off-Broadway and with multiple acclaimed regional theaters.
The rest of the mainstage season includes “Annie,” June 29-July 16; “Xanadu,” July 20-Aug. 6; and “The Wiz,” Aug. 10-27. Special events include a concert version of the Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening,” the folk duo Schooner Fare and the return of Tony nominee Euan Morton.
The children’s programming includes a musical version of the popular book “Click, Clack, Moo” and a new interpretation of “Beauty and the Beast.”
The company performs at Pickard Theater at Bowdoin College. For times, tickets and other details, visit msmt.org or call 725-8769.
LAKEWOOD THEATER, Madison: The season is currently under way with “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” through June 4, followed by “Up the Down Staircase” (June 9-18), “Heaven Help Me” (June 23-July 2), “Sugar” (July 7-16), “Moon Over Buffalo” (July 21-30), “Once Upon a Mattress” (Aug. 4-13), “The Red Velvet Cake War” (Aug. 18-27), “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Sept. 1-10) and “Wrong Window” (Sept. 15-24). Call 474-7176 or visit lakewoodtheater.org.
DRAMATIC REPERTORY COMPANY, Portland: The non-profit company concludes its inaugural, two-show season with “Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde” (June 2-12) at Portland Stage’s Studio Theater. Call (800) 838-3006 or visit dramaticrep.org.
ARUNDEL BARN PLAYHOUSE, Arundel: The season begins June 7 with “The 39 Steps,” through June 25, followed by “Crazy for You” (June 28-July 16), “The Wizard of Oz” (July 19-Aug. 6), “A Taffeta Wedding” (Aug. 9-20) and “I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett” (Aug. 23-Sept. 3). Call 985-5552 or visit arundelbarnplayhouse.com.
ACORN PRODUCTIONS: The Westbrook-based Acorn will present a unique version of Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” at 2 p.m. June 25-26. The company will present what it is calling “Cymbeline Underground” at Battery Steel on Peaks Island. Call 854-0065 or visit acorn-productions.org.
HACKMATACK PLAYHOUSE, Berwick: The season begins with “Ten Nights in a Barroom” (June 29-July 2) and continues with “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (July 6-23), “Singin’ in the Rain” (July 27-Aug. 13) and “The 39 Steps” (Aug. 17-Sept. 3). Call 698-1807 or visit hackmatack.org.
OPERA HOUSE ARTS at Stonington Opera House: Enjoy Shakespeare in Stonington with “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Elizabeth Rex” June 30 through July 17. Call 367-2788 or visit operahousearts.org.
ACADIA REPERTORY THEATRE, Mount Desert: The season opens with “The Mystery of Irma Vep” (July 1-17) and continues with “44 Plays for 44 Residents” (July 19-31), “Blithe Spirit” (Aug. 2-14) and “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily” (Aug. 16-Sept. 4). Call 244-7260 or visit acadiarep.com.
HEARTWOOD REGIONAL THEATER COMPANY, Damariscotta: Heartwood will present “Sunday in the Park with George” July 1-2, 8-9 and 15-17. Call 563-1373 or visit heartwoodtheater.org.
THEATER AT MONMOUTH, Monmouth: The Shakespearean theater of Maine presents its shows in repertory, so the schedule moves and shifts around. This summer’s productions include “Much Ado About Nothing” (July 7-Aug. 20), “Room Service” (July 14-Aug. 20), “The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare, abridged” (July 10 and 20, and Aug. 2 and 17), “Black Fly Follies,” an annual variety show (July 2), “Blithe Spirit” (July 22-Aug. 19), “King Lear” (July 29-Aug. 18), “James and the Giant Peach” (Aug. 2-19) and “On the Twentieth Century” (Sept. 23-Oct. 2). Call 933-9999 or visit theateratmonmouth.org.
FENIX THEATRE CO., Portland: Fenix performs free shows at Deering Oaks park. This summer’s lineup, in repertory, includes two shows: Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” on July 15, 21, 23 and 29, and Aug. 4, 6 and 12; and Shakespeare’s “Loves Labors Lost” on July 14, 16, 22 and 28, and Aug. 5, 11 and 13. Call 400-6223 or visit fenixtheatre.com.
NORTHPORT MUSIC THEATER, Northport: “The Bikinis” will be presented July 22-31. Call 338-8383 or visit northportmusictheater.com.
CITY THEATER, Biddeford: The City Theater will present “Gypsy” July 22 to Aug. 6. Call 282-0849 or visit citytheater.org.
FREEPORT SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, Freeport: The mainstage production of “Twelfth Night” opens at the L.L. Bean Discovery Park Stage Aug. 2 and runs through Aug. 12. All performances are free. The festival will host “Before Bill,” a comic romp through medieval times, at the Freeport Factory Stage, 5 Depot St., July 28 to Aug. 14. Call 865-9299 or visit freeportshakespearefestival.org.
DEERTREES THEATRE FESTIVAL, Harrison: This year’s festival has four shows, including three musicals: “The Bikinis” (Aug. 3-7), “Burt & Me” (Aug. 10-14) and “Monsters! The Musical” (Aug. 17-21). The drama “Breakfast with Mary” (Aug. 24-28) will close the season. Call 538-6747 or visit deertreestheatre.org.
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