Sheet music and coffee mugs cover the tables; the rehearsal sounds of three-part harmonies echo throughout the house with only the working lights of a theater to dimly reveal the stage.

Tucked away on Townsend Avenue, in the historic Carousel Music Theater, you will discover four aspiring performers who have left their hometowns and moved to Boothbay Harbor to study musical theater and entertain residents and visitors to the community. Make that five performers. Julie Anne McNamara of New York City arrived July 18 for the rest of the season.

Speaking with this new family of singers/actors cast a light on what goes on behind the scenes and their sense of gratitude and growing appreciation for this summer stock venue where they have the opportunity to grow and perform.

“I love Boothbay and the Carousel. It’s such a family atmosphere and the people you meet … there's a real community feel,” said actor Ricky Marchese from Rochester, New York. “Even if you are performing for 10 or for 60, the people of Boothbay really cheer for you.”

While developing their talents each night through improvisation, and learning a lot of musical material, these performance interns deliver three shows that vary in era, style and sound.

“As a performer, it’s a great opportunity to be able to sing and perform six days a week in a good, safe and fun atmosphere. You can grow so much as a performer. For example, before the show we'll do a Broadway cabaret or the cabaret will be a 40's music revue,” Marchese said.

It is clear that the cast shares a mutual energy and excitement for the work they do together. “My favorite part about this is definitely the sense of family. We all live in the house just next to the theater and it’s really great. We all get along nicely. We are definitely like a little family,” said actor Paul Urriola, also from Rochester, New York.

The casts of the Carousel are also involved in a form of “communal” entertainment. At the Carousel Music Theater, a light dinner is served during each evening's cabaret (although tickets are available for just the entertainment), before the main stage performance, by each season's actors who also take on the role of server.

“There is a relationship with the audience because you are waiting tables,” added actor Laura Kaye Chamberlain from Washington state. “There's no separation between us and the audience. There's no illusion, which is something that I think distances people in the theater because the audience is literally so far away from you. But here, the fact that I am talking to them about what they did that day and then I burst into song, it makes them feel included and it engages them more. The audience feels like they have a relationship with us.”

This talented cast is busy rehearsing and is about to open a 1940’s Elvis-inspired musical, “Happily Ever After.”  Music director T.C. Kincer will not be at the piano. Nell Britton of Cape Elizabeth will be at the keyboard for this lively rock ‘n roll sensation of a show.

“Our shows are really fun because we are encouraged to play! It is such a gift to discover something new about yourself and the material every night with a cast you are truly comfortable working with,” Chamberlain said with a smile.

The Carousel Music Theater is located at 196 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For reservations and more information, call 207-633-5297, email Paulette at pcarter@carouselmusictheater.org, or visit www.CarouselMusicTheater.org.