Streamwood High School's fall play: 'Almost, Maine'

Streamwood High School's Fine Arts Department will present John Cariani's "Almost, Maine" at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 26-27 and at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, in the school's auditorium. The show is directed by Linnea Grooms.

Almost, Maine is a place that's so far north, it's almost not in the United States. It's almost in Canada. And it's not quite a town because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn't exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the Northern Lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend - almost- in this delightful midwinter night's dream.

At its core, "Almost, Maine" is nine separate stories with no more than three actors on stage at a time dealing with love and loss. The audience sits on stage with the actors and become part of the magic.

Behind the scenes is a tech crew of 10 students, under the direction of auditorium manager and technical director Emmalie Hall. The crew is designing and constructing the set, designing and controlling the lighting, organizing all of the props, and handling all of the sound engineering. Costumes are being designed by Ashley Santiago.

Victoria L., a junior playing Pete and Deena, says, "I feel like one of the best parts of 'Almost, Maine' is the close relationship between everyone; it makes for genuine reactions, sincere connections, hilarious jokes, and makes the experience all the more enjoyable to watch."

Keira H., a senior playing Marci, says, "Being a part of 'Almost, Maine' has been one of the most memorable experiences I have had over the past few years. The rapport that we castmates has grown stronger the more time passes, and I couldn't be more grateful for them. I also really appreciate our director and tech director, as they were super supportive of me and everyone else. When I graduate later in the school year, I will be proud to have been a part of 'Almost, Maine' and the Sabre Ensemble Theater."

Tickets for these performances will be $7 dollars for students and $8 for a general admission seat and available for purchase at the door with cash.