As opposed to taking the expected path and doing a holiday show for their first semester play, NPHS Drama will be performing a show that is set in winter, but not necessarily rich in the miracles or holiday warmth  that one might expect – Almost, Maine. The play will be performed in mid-December, but the exact dates and times have not yet been released. The co-directors are Lisa Pasonelli and Melissa Thomas, who are both English teachers here at NPHS, with the latter currently serving as the English Department Chair.

Almost, Maine is a romantic comedy set in a village of northern Maine that is almost a town, but not quite. The show is made up of nine vignettes, or mini plays, that revolve around the common theme of falling in and out of love. Almost, Maine premiered in Portland, Maine in 2004 and ran off-Broadway from January to February of 2006. Despite its brief off-Broadway run, Almost, Maine received critical acclaim and was the most produced high school show in North America from 2009 to 2012.

Auditions for the NPHS Drama production of Almost, Maine, took place after school on September 30th in the auditorium. Students auditioning for one of the seventeen roles in the play auditioned in pairs by reading through a section of the script on the stage. On Tuesday, October 1st, the cast list was posted outside the auditorium and room 313. The cast is as follows:

• Joseph Lariviere, as Pete

• Laura Barilari, as Ginette

• Tyree Berdecia, as East

• Sara D’Angelos, as Glory

• John Avanesov, as Jimmy

• Rose O’Gara, as Sandrine

• Binta Payne, as the Waitress

• Ariana Dickie, as Marvalyn

• Brian O’Gara, as Steve

• Haley Bourne, as Gayle

• Jacob Kaufman, as Lendall

• Marcus DaRosa, as Phil

• Arianna DePalma, as Marci

• Tiantian Gousie, as Hope

• Joshua Howell, as Man

• Megan Brasil, as Rhonda

• Chris Clemente, as Dave

Mrs. Thomas and Ms. Pasonelli both hold Almost, Maine close to their hearts, and hope that after seeing it, the audience will too.

By: Brian O’Gara