Over 50 years ago, a “kid with glasses” from Lubbock, Texas, changed the face of popular music forever. Buddy Holly's meteoric rise to stardom was cut short when, at the age of just 22, he died tragically in a plane crash.

Maine State Music Theatre’s (MSMT) production of “Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story,” tells the tale of the three years in which he became the world's top recording artist. The show will have audiences 'dancing in the aisles' and is filled with such timeless hits as “Peggy Sue,” “That'll Be the Day,” “Rave On,” “Everyday,” “Oh Boy,” “La Bamba,” “Chantilly Lace,” and many more.

"This show is infectious…you don’t want it to end,” said MSMT’s Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark.

The production is directed by Donna Drake, who has appeared on Broadway in the original production of “A Chorus Line” and later in “Sophisticated Ladies,” “Woman of the Year” and “Wind in the Willows.” In 2009, she choreographed Catherine Zeta Jones for the American Film Institute Awards and The AFI 2011 honoring Morgan Freeman and starring Betty White.

'Buddy' is one of the very few musicals produced at MSMT without a pit orchestra because the show requires the actors to play all the musical instruments in the show. Even Music Supervisor Jason Wetzel joins the actors on stage at the piano. Andy Christopher leads the cast as Buddy Holly. His band, The Crickets, includes Joe Cosmo Cogen as Jerry Allison, and Sam Weber as Joe B. Maudlin.

They are joined in the cast by Xander Chauncey as Ritchie Valens, Jayson Elliott as the 'Big Bopper' J.P. Richardson, Luke Darnell as Norman Petty, Lori Eure as Vi Petty, and Steve Gagliastro as Hipockets Duncan.

The design team includes Scenic Designer Robert Andrew Kovach, Lighting Designer Jeffery S. Koger, Costume Designer Colleen Grady, Sound Manager Colin Whitely, Props Master Kyle Melton, Stage Manager Mark Johnson and Assistant Stage Manager Amy Bertacini.

This show is sponsored by Bath Savings Institution, Maine Natural Gas and Lebel & Harriman LLP. Maine State Music Theatre’s entire 2014 Season is sponsored by The Highlands and Highland Green.

Talk back series date

Maine State Music Theatre will be holding their talk back series “A Peek Behind The Curtain: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” at the Curtis Memorial Library on June 13 at noon. Panel participants will include actors, administrative staff, technical staff and member(s) of the creative team. Audience participants will have an opportunity to learn about each member of the panel and ask questions about their involvement in the production. Audience members are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch for the event.

'Buddy' will run from June 4 through June 21. Ticket prices range from $38 to $63 and are available through the MSMT Box Office at 207-725-8769 or online at www.msmt.org.

The theatre is located at 22 Elm Street in Brunswick.