The opening words of “June is Bustin’ Out All Over” from the musical “Carousel” seem the right way to celebrate the opening of Maine State Music Theatre’s upcoming season.

“March went out like a lion
Awakin’ up the water in the bay
Then April cried and stepped aside
And along come pretty little May!
May was full of promises
But she didn’t keep ‘em quickly enough for some
And a crowd of doubtin’ Thomases
Was predicting’ that the summer’d never come.”

And then, at last, “June is bustin’ out all over.”

MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark brimmed with optimism as we discussed the upcoming season. Our meeting occurred shortly before the start of MSMT’s Fifth Annual Yard Sale, an amazing event that raised over $60,000 the previous year.

“Over 30 volunteers have spent several weeks on this event,” marveled Curt. Their enthusiasm confirms how much MSMT means not just to the volunteers but to the entire Midcoast area.

Curt is delighted with ticket sales to date.

“All four of our main stage shows are doing well, the concert series will definitely sell out, and we have more subscribers than ever for the series of family shows.” He says that MSMT has budgeted for 92% capacity, and he believes that the season will break all records.

Curt selected main stage shows which have wide audience appeal: “Hairspray,” ”1776,” “Frozen” and “Come From Away.”

“Hairspray is exactly the kind of show you want to kick off a season,” he said. “It is joyful, high-energy, and full of heart. It brings people together in the best possible way, and it sets the tone for an incredible summer ahead.”

As in previous summers, the MSMT singers will add much to MSMT’s positive impact on the community. These eight young singers, selected from over 1,200 auditions around the country, each combine enormous energy with the abilities to sing, dance and act. You will no doubt see them around town at Gelato Fiasco or Hannaford’s or popping in at sponsor restaurants to perform short numbers. If the success of the previous singers is any indication, members of this year’s crop will also go on to pursue fulfilling careers in musical theater.

Casual musical theater fans may not fully appreciate what it takes to put on four superb main stage shows every year. Curt must get the rights for each show, which can be a real challenge for the extremely popular shows, such as the ones on the menu this summer. Moreover, filling roles for each production can be difficult because many of the best musical theater performers are committed to other shows on and off Broadway and around the country.

Happily, MSMT’s consistent record of high-capacity attendance is attractive to booking agents. Moreover, actors who come to MSMT for a show or a season invariably want to return again and again. Curt noted that this year’s season will feature some top new talents as well as some MSMT favorites.

So there you have it. We’re coming off a very long season of very bad weather. The snow, the rain, the mud. Will it ever end? The media is filled with horror stories about here and abroad. June can’t come fast enough. We’re all ready to bust out all over. And nothing can lift our spirits as much as MSMT’s wonderful array of summer offerings overseen by the incomparable Curt Dale Clark.

David Treadwell., a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at [email protected].