Misplaced Pages

Maine State Music Theatre

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

Curt Dale Clark (Artistic Director)

#230769

51-577: Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) is a professional performing arts organization based in Brunswick, Maine . MSMT presents a summer season of four fully staged musicals , a concert series, and a Theatre for Young Audiences series. MSMT began as Brunswick Music Theatre (BMT). Founded by Victoria (Vicki) Crandall, BMT opened in 1959 with a summer production of Song of Norway . In the next decade, playhouses became quite prevalent in New England . BMT

102-475: A Boston company is off, spelling financial ruin; he does not want to lie to his stockholders but gives in to the pressure. He plans to go to Boston to try to revive the merger and presses his temporary secretary, Flaemmchen, to accompany him and "take care of him". She dreams of Hollywood stardom and fears she might be pregnant, but flirts with the Baron. She also agrees to a dance, at the Baron's suggestion, with

153-680: A 1991 cabaret fundraiser for Equity Fights AIDS , singing the Baron's song, "Love Can't Happen". The production was reproduced by the same team in Berlin, Germany, in 1991, in German, at the Theater des Westens , with Leslie Caron as Grushinskaya. The first West End production opened on July 6, 1992, at the Dominion Theatre , where it ran for slightly less than four months. In 2004, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio starred as Elizaveta in

204-451: A Hotel) , and the subsequent 1932 MGM feature film , the musical focuses on events taking place over the course of a weekend in an elegant hotel in 1928 Berlin and the intersecting stories of the eccentric guests of the hotel, including a fading prima ballerina ; a fatally ill Jewish bookkeeper , who wants to spend his final days living in luxury; a young, handsome, but destitute Baron; a cynical doctor; an honest businessman gone bad, and

255-563: A day between the Portland Transportation Center and Brunswick Maine Street Station with its Metro Breez bus service. A local bus service is provided by Brunswick Link . Grand Hotel (musical) Grand Hotel is a musical with a book by Luther Davis , music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest , and additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston . Based on Vicki Baum 's 1929 novel , its eponymous spin-off play, Menschen im Hotel (People in

306-405: A lot of money if the dancer failed to show up for her contracted engagements. Raffaela has feelings for Elizaveta. Jewish bookkeeper Otto Kringelein, who is fatally ill, wants to spend his life's savings to live his final days at the hotel in the lap of luxury. The Baron helps him secure a room. Meanwhile, Hermann Preysing, the general manager of a failing textile mill, hears that the merger with

357-476: A native village. Three or four native men were shot in retreat. When Church discovered five captive settlers in the wigwams, six or seven prisoners were butchered as an example, and nine prisoners were taken. A few days later, in retaliation, the natives attacked Church at Cape Elizabeth on Purpooduc Point, killing seven of his men and wounding 24 others. On September 26, Church returned to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The 1713 Treaty of Portsmouth brought peace to

408-611: A number of historic districts recognized on the National Register of Historic Places : The book Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe while she was living in Brunswick, during the time that her husband was a professor at Bowdoin. She got a key vision for the book in the First Parish Church. A scene in the 1993 movie The Man Without a Face was filmed in the town. According to

459-724: A small-scale production directed by Michael Grandage at the Donmar Warehouse , garnering an Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. A further production opened on July 31, 2015, at London's Southwark Playhouse , running for five weeks. Grand Hotel: The 25th Anniversary Reunion Concert at the nightclub 54 Below in New York City on May 24, 2015, was written and directed by Walter Willison. Willison starred alongside fellow Broadway cast members Montevecchi, Barrett, Jerome, as well as Karen Akers , Ben George , Ken Jennings , Hal Robinson and Chip Zien . Dance consultant

510-432: A struggle, Preysing kills the Baron with the gangster's gun. Preysing is arrested. Raffaela struggles with how to tell Grushinskaya that her lover is dead and ultimately decides not to, leaving Grushinskaya ecstatic to see him at the train station when she leaves. Otto offers to take Flaemmchen to Paris; he has plenty of money now so that they can enjoy the good life for as much time as he has left, and she realizes that she

561-408: A typist dreaming of Hollywood success. The show's 1989 Broadway production garnered 12 Tony Award nominations, winning five, including best direction and choreography for Tommy Tune . Big-name cast replacements, including Cyd Charisse and Zina Bethune , helped the show become the first American musical since 1985's Big River to top 1,000 performances on Broadway. Menschen im Hotel marked

SECTION 10

#1732787440231

612-471: Is fond of him. Erik has a son and finds out that his wife came through the labor just fine. Doctor Otternschlag observes: "Grand Hotel, Berlin. Always the same – people come, people go – One life ends while another begins – one heart breaks while another beats faster – one man goes to jail while another goes to Paris – always the same. ... I'll stay – one more day." Broadway: (1989–92) After thirty-one previews, Grand Hotel opened on November 12, 1989, at

663-447: Is having a difficult labor. Baron Felix Von Gaigern, young, good-looking, and destitute, uses his charisma to help him secure a room in the overbooked hotel while stiffing a tough gangster who pretends to be a chauffeur. Aging Russian prima ballerina Elizaveta Grushinskaya arrives with her entourage who tries to persuade her that she still can and must dance. Her confidante and dresser, Raffaela knows that they would have to come up with

714-936: Is included in the Lewiston-Auburn , Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 21,756 at the 2020 United States Census. Part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area , Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College , the Bowdoin International Music Festival , the Bowdoin College Museum of Art , the Peary–MacMillan Arctic Museum , and the Maine State Music Theatre . It

765-509: Is the last remaining of the town's formerly twenty-six one-room schoolhouses. Brunswick's sister city is Trinidad, Cuba . The town is served by Interstate 295 , U.S. Routes 1 and 201 , and Maine State Route 24 , Maine State Route 123 and Maine State Route 196 . Amtrak 's Downeaster train service terminates at Brunswick Maine Street Station and connects the town to the Portland Transportation Center and Boston's North Station . Greater Portland Metro provides several trips

816-576: The Martin Beck Theatre , and later transferred to the George Gershwin Theatre to complete its total run of 1,017 performances. The show is played without an intermission. The original cast included Liliane Montevecchi as Elizaveta, David Carroll as the Baron, Michael Jeter as Otto, Jane Krakowski as Flaemmchen, Tim Jerome as Preysing, John Wylie as Otternschlag, and Bob Stillman as Erik. Replacements later in

867-702: The Massachusetts Bay Colony . During King Philip's War in 1676, Pejepscot was burned and abandoned, although a garrison called Fort Andros was built on the ruins during King William's War . During the war, in Major Benjamin Church 's second expedition a year later, he arrived on September 11, 1690, with 300 men at Casco Bay. He went up the Androscoggin River to Fort Pejepscot (present day Brunswick, Maine). From there he went 40 miles (64 km) upriver and attacked

918-698: The Mid-coast region of the state. By this time, the number of professional theaters in New England had been significantly reduced. MSMT was one of the very few remaining musical houses. During the late 2000s, as the severity of the housing crisis grew, MSMT was presented with an opportunity to make the Gorham campus of the University of Southern Maine its home base. The Board of Trustees opted to remain in Brunswick , as they were committed to remaining in

969-483: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 54.34 square miles (140.74 km ), of which 46.73 square miles (121.03 km ) is land and 7.61 square miles (19.71 km ) is water. Brunswick is located at the north end of Casco Bay , as well as the head of tide and head of navigation on the Androscoggin River . As of 2000, the median income for a household in the town

1020-429: The census-designated place of Brunswick . The population density was 433.9 inhabitants per square mile (167.5/km ). There were 9,599 housing units at an average density of 205.4 per square mile (79.3/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 93.0% White , 1.7% African American , 0.3% Native American , 2.1% Asian , 0.5% from other races , and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of

1071-550: The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat • The Color Purple • Kinky Boots Titanic • Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story • 9 to 5 • Something Rotten! South Pacific • Funny Girl • White Christmas • Beautiful: The Carol King Musical Anastasia • Tootsie • Footloose • West Side Story MSTM has gained recognition for its theater costumes. Maine State Music Theatre launched MSMT Costumes in 2010. This branch of MSMT rents out

SECTION 20

#1732787440231

1122-550: The Baron helps him to his room, resisting the temptation to steal his wallet. Otto rewards the Baron with some cash. The gangster confronts the Baron and directs him to steal Preysing's wallet; he gives the Baron a gun. Preysing has cornered Flaemmchen in their adjoining rooms and pressures her for sex. The Baron, who was in Preysing's room trying to steal his wallet, hears Flaemmchen's cries next door and walks into her room to defend her while still holding Preysing's wallet. After

1173-1021: The Beast • Aida • The Full Monty West Side Story • Thoroughly Modern Millie • Grand Hotel • Hairspray Jesus Christ Superstar • All Shook Up • The Producers • Les Misérables The Light in the Piazza • Crazy for You • Dirty Rotten Scoundrels • The Drowsy Chaperone Always, Patsy Cline • My Fair Lady • Chicago • Spamalot The Marvelous Wonderettes • Annie • Xanadu • The Wiz A Chorus Line • Legally Blonde • Sunset Boulevard • 42nd Street Dreamgirls • Les Misérables • Gypsy • Mary Poppins Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story • Chamberlain: A Civil War Romance (Knapp & Alper) • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers • Footloose The Full Monty • Sister Act • The Music Man • Young Frankenstein Ghost • Evita • Fiddler on

1224-661: The Grand opened to mixed reviews and good business in Los Angeles and San Francisco , but when it became apparent to the creators that Muni was ill and would not be able to sustain a Broadway run, producer Edwin Lester decided to cancel the Broadway opening scheduled for September 25, 1958, and everyone moved on to other projects. Three decades later, Davis, Wright, and Forrest decided to dust off their original material and give

1275-613: The Grand were incorporated into what was now called Grand Hotel , although two were dropped during the Boston tryout. During the Boston run in 1989, Wright and Forrest acquiesced when Tune requested Maury Yeston , with whom he had worked in Nine , be brought in to contribute fresh material. Yeston wrote seven new songs in the first week, including "Love Can't Happen", "I Want to Go to Hollywood", "At The Grand Hotel", "Bonjour Amour", "Roses at

1326-646: The Roof • Mamma Mia! Always, Patsy Cline • Guys and Dolls • Grease • Newsies Million Dollar Quartet • Beauty and the Beast • Saturday Night Fever • Singin' in the Rain Sophisticated Ladies • Treasure Island (Robin & Clark) • Hello, Dolly! • The Wizard of Oz Titanic • Mamma Mia! • The Sound of Music • Something Rotten! Kinky Boots • Cinderella • The Color Purple • Jersey Boys The Sound of Music • Joseph and

1377-583: The Station" and "Grand Parade" (the new opening number), as well as additional lyrics for some of the Wright and Forrest songs. At Tune's request, Peter Stone came in as uncredited play doctor, though the book remained entirely the work of Davis. Yeston received billing for Additional Music and Lyrics and was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards for his work. Ballroom choreography was by Pierre Dulaine and Yvonne Marceau , who played The Gigolo and The Countess in

1428-526: The beginning of the career of popular Austrian novelist Baum in 1929 and she dramatized her novel for the Berlin stage later in the same year. After the play became a hit, its English-language adaptation enjoyed success in New York in the early 1930s and was made into the blockbuster 1932 Academy Award -winning film, Grand Hotel , starring Greta Garbo , John Barrymore and Joan Crawford . Davis, Wright, and Forrest first adapted Baum's story in 1958 under

1479-544: The birthplace of the organization. This commitment prompted them to purchase the Maine Line Bus Garage at 22 Elm Street. The space was renovated to become a permanent home for MSMT, complete with administrative offices, rehearsal spaces and technical facilities. Performances would still be mounted in the Pickard Theater. In 2015, MSMT announced a three-year $ 2 million capital campaign. The purpose of

1530-464: The campaign was multi-faceted: The COVID-19 pandemic forced MSMT to cancel its previously announced 2020 season, the first time a summer season had been canceled by the organization. MSMT created the Lifeline Fund to offset losses and remain strong and prepared for 2021. Subscribers and patrons, businesses and organizations rallied to support the theatre during this difficult time, preserving

1581-442: The company in 1890 persuaded the town to move Maine Street. Principal employers for Brunswick include L.L. Bean , Bath Iron Works , as well as companies that produce fiberglass construction material and electrical switches. A number of health services providers serving Maine's mid-coast area are located in Brunswick. The former Naval Air Station Brunswick was a major employer in Brunswick prior to its closure. Brunswick has

Maine State Music Theatre - Misplaced Pages Continue

1632-471: The falls. But during Dummer's War on July 13, 1722, Abenaki warriors from Norridgewock burned the village. Consequently, Governor Samuel Shute declared war on the Abenakis. In 1724, 208 English colonial militia left Fort Richmond and sacked Norridgewock during Dummer's War . Brunswick was rebuilt again in 1727, and in 1739 incorporated as a town. It became a prosperous seaport , where Bowdoin College

1683-911: The legacy of the organization. Though a 2021 season was announced, the pandemic forced MSMT to cancel all events, other than its production of Jersey Boys . In 2022, MSMT returned for a full summer season. Theatre artists who have gone through the MSMT Educational Fellowship Program include: Big River • The Sound of Music • Swingtime Canteen • Titanic • Victor/Victoria Footloose • Little Shop of Horrors • Oklahoma! • The Scarlet Pimpernel Chicago • The King and I • Ragtime • She Loves Me Hans Christian Anderson ( Loesser ) • Jekyll & Hyde • La Cage Aux Folles • Smokey Joe's Cafe Brigadoon • Follies • Kiss Me, Kate • Pump Boys and Dinettes Cats • Mame • Miss Saigon • Swing! South Pacific • Beauty and

1734-502: The original costume packages for previous shows produced by the company. MSMT Costumes also owns and rents out the costumes from the original West End production of Spamalot , designed by Tim Hatley . 43°54′45″N 69°57′57″W  /  43.912552°N 69.965835°W  / 43.912552; -69.965835 Brunswick, Maine Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine , United States. Brunswick

1785-441: The population. There were 8,469 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 44.7% were married couples living together; 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present; 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present; and 42.3% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

1836-629: The region between the Abenaki Indians and the English colonists. In 1714, a consortium from Boston and Portsmouth bought the land, thereafter called the Pejepscot purchase . The Massachusetts General Court constituted the township in 1717, naming it "Brunswick" in honor of the House of Brunswick and its scion, King George I . A stone fort called Fort George was built in 1715 near

1887-485: The run included Zina Bethune and Cyd Charisse (in her Broadway debut at age 70) as Elizaveta, Rex Smith , Brent Barrett , John Schneider , and Walter Willison as the Baron, and Chip Zien and Austin Pendleton as Kringelein. The production captured 12 Tony nominations, winning five awards, including best direction and choreography for Tommy Tune . The original cast recording was released nearly two years after

1938-437: The show another try, returning the show to its original setting in 1928 Berlin. This time it was placed in the hands of director-choreographer Tommy Tune , who envisioned it as a two-hour, non-stop production comprising dialogue scenes, musical numbers, and dance routines overlapping and at times competing with each other, thereby capturing the mood of a bustling hotel where something is happening at all times. Seven songs from At

1989-412: The show premiered. By the time the recording was made, Carroll was seriously ill with AIDS and died from a pulmonary embolism in the recording studio as he was about to record his vocal tracks. Brent Barrett , his understudy, who had appeared as the Baron in the national tour, sang the role for the cast album, released by RCA Victor . The cast album features a bonus track of Carroll's performance during

2040-442: The show, and as a favor to Tune, Thommie Walsh choreographed a brief dance section in "I Want to Go to Hollywood". The roaring '20s are still in high gear, and Berlin is the center of high life. Guests come and go at the opulent Grand Hotel, as cynical Doctor Otternschlag, who still suffers from World War I wounds, injects his morphine. Assistant concierge Erik, busy at the front desk, waits to hear of his son's birth; his wife

2091-416: The story familiar to fans of the film. When Paul Muni agreed to portray Kringelein, the role was changed and expanded, with the character becoming a lowly hotel employee whose stay in a hotel suite is kept secret from the management. Flaemmchen became a dancing soubrette , Preysing and his dramatic storyline were eliminated completely, and two deported American gangsters were added for comic relief. At

Maine State Music Theatre - Misplaced Pages Continue

2142-475: The surprised and delighted Otto. Elizaveta suffers through another unsuccessful dance performance and rushes back to the hotel. She bursts into her room to find the Baron as he is about to steal her diamond necklace to pay back the gangster, but he pretends to be her biggest fan. The two fall in love with each other and spend the night. He agrees to go with her to Vienna so that she can fulfill her dancing engagements, and they will get married; they plan to meet at

2193-414: The title At the Grand , changing the setting from 1928 Berlin to contemporary Rome and transforming the ballerina into an opera singer closely resembling Maria Callas to accommodate Joan Diener , who was scheduled to star under the direction of her husband Albert Marre . All of them had collaborated on the earlier musical Kismet and anticipated another success, but Davis' book strayed too far from

2244-461: The train station. Two African-American entertainers, the Jimmys, sing at the bar and dance with Flaemmchen. Erik tries to get off work so that he can join his wife at the hospital, but the unpleasant hotel manager, Rohna, refuses to give him any time off. The Baron has persuaded Otto to invest in the stock market, and Otto has made a killing in the market overnight. But Otto is not feeling well, and

2295-705: Was Yvonne Marceau . The show was produced by Encores! , directed by Josh Rhodes, in New York City from March 21–25, 2018. Grand Hotel: A 30th Anniversary Celebration in Concert at the nightclub The Yellow Pavilion (aka The Green Fig), presented by The Green Room 42, in New York City on November 11, 2019, was again written and directed by Willison, as a benefit for the Actors Fund of America , and dedicated to Montevecchi. Willison starred alongside Akers, Jerome, Jennings, Schneider, Jill Powell , Judy Kaye and Sachi Parker . The associate director and choreographer (in

2346-433: Was $ 40,402; and the median income for a family was $ 49,088. Males had a median income of $ 32,141 versus $ 24,927 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 20,322. About 5.0% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over. As of the census of 2010, there were 15,175 people, 7,183 households, and 6,498 families residing in

2397-509: Was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age in the town was 41.4 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 14.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.1% male and 52.9% female. The Brunswick School Department operates the town's public schools, including: Other local educational institutions include: The Growstown School , on Woodside Road,

2448-509: Was chartered in 1794. The Androscoggin River falls in three successive stages for a total vertical drop of 41 feet (12 m), providing water power for industry . Brunswick became a major producer of lumber , with as many as 25 sawmills . Some of the lumber went into shipbuilding . Other firms produced paper , soap , flour , marble and granite work, carriages and harness , plows , furniture , shoes and confections . The town

2499-418: Was formerly home to the U.S. Naval Air Station Brunswick , which was permanently closed on May 31, 2011, and has since been partially released to redevelopment as "Brunswick Landing". Settled in 1628 by Thomas Purchase and other fishermen , the area was called by its Indian name, Pejepscot , meaning "the long, rocky rapids part [of the river]". In 1639, Purchase placed his settlement under protection of

2550-502: Was one of the few that exclusively produced musical theatre . In the 1970s, BMT changed to a non-profit organization in order to focus on establishing an intern program that intended to help equip young and emerging theatre artists for their intended industry. In 1988, BMT celebrated its 30th anniversary. Governor John R. McKernan presented an award to founder Vicki Crandall, and the organization changed its name to Maine State Music Theatre to reflect that its influence had reached past

2601-687: Was site of the first cotton mill in Maine, the Brunswick Cotton Manufactory Company, built in 1809 to make yarn . Purchased in 1812, the mill was enlarged by the Maine Cotton & Woolen Factory Company. In 1857, the Cabot Manufacturing Company was established to make cotton textiles . It bought the failed Worumbo Mill and expanded the brick factory along the falls. Needing even more room,

SECTION 50

#1732787440231
#230769