Love is in the air for Lincoln County Community Theater (LCCT), the resident theater company at Damariscotta’s Lincoln Theater, as it  brings the Rodgers and Hammerstein (R&H) revue “A Grand Night for Singing” to the stage. The LCCT ensemble of over 20 performers, complete with live orchestra, deliver an emotional journey through the various stages of love with musical numbers selected from the R & H canon by the original developers, Walter Bobbie and Fred Wells – who pored over scores for all 11 R & H musicals, searched for trunk songs and rarities, and waded through the archives for several months resulting in “A Grand Night for Singing” and an evening of romance.

“A Grand Night for Singing” begins with courtship and young love, and the arc continues into mature love and relationships. A fitting storyline for many of the LCCT company, as there are a number of real-life romances appearing on the stage and behind the scenes. Director and choreographer, Emily Mirabile, and ensemble member Nick Mirabile first met performing in shows together at Boothbay Region High School. As close friends through their early 20s, their relationship blossomed into romance and the two were married in 2013. The two have appeared in countless shows together, their first roles opposite each other being Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry in Boothbay Region High School’s production of “Oliver.” Other favorites have been “South Pacific,” where they appeared as Billis and Bloody Mary, and “Spamalot” as Patsy and Lady of the Lake.

But Emily and Nick aren’t the only real-life love stories helping to make up this summer production.  Cast members Carissa McCurdy and Joel Biron (also the Best Man in Emily and Nick Mirabile’s 2013 wedding) have been together for six years. They originally met in Boothbay Harbor where they happened to be performing at two different theaters — Carissa was at the Carousel and Joel was at the Boothbay Playhouse. They have done a number of small productions together, but nothing prior has met the caliber of “A Grand Night for Singing,” and they are excited to once again share the stage with each other.

Soren Barker and Emily Sue Barker, also in the cast, will be celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary on Aug. 3. Another story of love developed in the theater as the two met in a college stage makeup class, while also working on a show together – Emily Sue performing on stage, and Soren doing technical work behind the scenes. They have performed in four shows together and worked in other capacities on many more.

Join the LCCT company, and its real life couples, for an incredible evening of music that will leave you feeling the powerful messages and emotional sophistication of the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein. From the great pick-up number, “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” to numbers like “Hello, Young Lover” and “I Cain’t Say No” the awakenings of love in life and on stage fall into place.

“A Grand Night for Singing” will run for two weekends, with performances Friday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 10 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Aug. 17 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20/adult, $18/members and $5/youth 18 and under, and are on sale now through the Lincoln Theater box office - in person at 2 Theater St., Damariscotta, by phone at 563-3424, and at the door one hour before show time.

Please join in  this night of incredible R & H music and let the LCCT company reach out to you through song, celebrating the possibilities of love!