Musical theater. For some people it’s always been where it’s at. Some people actually prefer it to “straight theater” – you know the plays/shows in which no one sings. And, until about three years ago, I had been one of those “hold the singing, please” theater patrons. And, I know the fact that I’m admitting musicals can actually be pretty cool is putting a smile on many of my friends’ (and fellow thespians’) faces right about now. Yeah. Whatever. 

During the five or six years I was a waitress at Maxfield’s Harbour High Restaurant, the late Franklyn Lenthall and Jim Wilmot were regulars. If you’ve been around this region long enough, you’ll remember they raised the first curtain  at the Boothbay Playhouse - and, nary a musical was produced during their years. And there was a reason for that: Franklyn just didn't go for musicals. Like me, it was all about the words; we had no use for the notes. Ironically, when the Boothbay Playhouse was revived by Susan and Dean Domeyer, the venue was all about musicals … and that’s when my opinion about them began to change - they were so well done.

Having openly confessed my earlier feelings about musicals, there were exceptions, “B.C.” ( before conversion!): “The Wizard of Oz,” “Mary Poppins,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and, that delicious cult classic, “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” “Rocky Horror.” Two carloads of us happened upon it at a midnight show outside of Hartford back in ’75. We had no idea what it was – or how much we would dig it. After sitting down – there were only single seats left in the theater – the person sitting next to me handed me some newspaper for the rain scene. The actress in me was tickled to be in a theater where props were required by the audience! As I looked around I noticed people had large bags loaded with things like bread, cards, confetti, water guns, flashlights, rubber gloves … yeah, my curiosity was definitely piqued! It’s the only theater that actually had ushers with water hoses who sprayed the audience during the scene Brad and Janet are caught in the rain making their way to the “Frankenstein place!” And the audience responses – back then, anyway – were hysterically funny. “Rocky Horror” became our regular midnight experience for several years. I also used it to screen potential boyfriends; if they couldn't get into this musical … it was a “one and done” situation. Ahh, still chuckle about that unusual screening process...

Musical theater venues in Maine are not hard to find. About four years ago I was contacted by Maine State Music Theater inquiring about my writing reviews of their shows. I’d only been there once before – my friend Debbie Beam, knowing what a big time fan of Monty Python I am, brought me along to see “Spamalot.” So many musical lovers in our region go to every show. MSMT is definitely where it’s at when it comes to musicals and its first show opens June 6 with “Million Dollar Quartet” marking that day in December 1956 when Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins all showed up at Sun Records at the same time! Should be a rockin’ good time! For more on MSMT’s shows this year, visit https://msmt.org – and check out the link to this cast in rehearsal!

And, right here in Boothbay Harbor there’s the Carousel Music Theater – local historic home of the original musical revue, but that’s changing. This year the Theater will present “You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown” in August. The theater that also offers light dinner fare opens June 21 with “100 Years of Broadway.” There are matinees offered on Wednesdays July 11 - Aug. 22. Doors open at high noon. Visit www.carouselmusictheater.org for more info on this season’s shows and about the talented 2018 cast.

Me, a musical theater fan? 

Well, I think Andrew Lloyd Webber said it best (for both of us – unknowingly, of course!): “My love of musical theater was certainly not typical. I mean, it was considered to be very, very abnormal, in fact!”