By: Asha Tompkins, Arts and Culture Editor
The USM Department of Theatre (DOT) will present two vibrant and whimsical performances this spring semester. They will kick off the spring season with Unlock’d beginning on March 1, with The Foreigner beginning April 19. Both will take place at Russell Hall on the Gorham campus.
Unlock’d, “a modern-ish musical romance,” showcases a classic coming-of-age story in a unique way by “fusing baroque and classical with contemporary pop musical theatre,” according to the USM DOT. website
The musical will be a collaborative experience between the School of Music and the DOT, making for a total of nine, well-constructed performances. Unlock’d will be directed by Sara Valentine with musical direction by Edward Reichhart.
The Unlock’d score was originally created by the 2014 Richard Rogers Award recipients Sam Carner and Derek Gregor, an American musical theatre songwriting duo. Carner is known for his skills as a lyricist and Gregor is known for his musical compositions. The creation of this musical highlights the roles that people are born into and translate them into the people they hope to be.
The second musical, The Foreigner, created by Larry Shue, presents the “depressed, painfully shy, socially petrified and introverted” persona of young man named Charlie, according to the DOT In search of isolation and peace for a weekend, he stays at a fishing lodge in rural Georgia. However, nature has other plans in store for him.
This unique and original comedy showcases the very real characteristics of Charlie’s flawed humanity in a comical way and it is sure to make the audience experience a relief due to the relatable circumstances the characters face.
In a total of nine productions, The Foreigner, directed by Michael Boudewyns, will close out the spring semester.
More information on these performances can be found at https://usm.maine.edu/theatre/. You can contact the USM Theatre Box Office to purchase tickets at 207-780-5151, or e-mail at [email protected].