Special contributor

The 12th season begins in a couple of weeks at the Arundel Barn Playhouse located just off Route 1 in Arundel.

During the past week, as tourists found their way across the Piscataqua River Bridge, another group from as far south as Georgia treked north to cross into unknown territory and begin their summer at the Arundel Barn Playhouse. Each of them hoping to hone their skills and begin a season of collaboration amongst actors and directors.

The past dozen years, Adrienne Grant, producing artistic director, has provided the opportunity for many artists to not only experience a summer in Maine but assist them in acquiring skills that perhaps will lead to a national tour or fulfill their aspirations in theater. 

Nolan Boulouvoir, the music director and pianist from last season, became one of Grant’s success stories.

“He had just graduated from the University of New Hampshire and he came here. The musical director, the year before, went to work for the Rockettes and so Nolan applied for a job with the Altar Boyz tour, “Grant said. “I was able to call the past musical director and say ‘I just heard that Nolan applied to you and I just want you to know that he is studious and a great musician.’ People think that theater is a huge big business but everybody knows everybody else. It is really a small world and networking is so very important.” 

Brian Saxton from Statesboro, Ga., is the scenic designer and technical director this year at the Playhouse.

“I am going into my third year of my master’s at the University of Arkansas in scenic design. This is my fourth Summerstock and I have worked in North Dakota, upstate New York and theaters in South Carolina. This is an amazing space to design in and a great atmosphere,” Saxton said. “I am really excited about the directors and actors getting here and seeing what the space is going to be like with all of the excitement and everyone on stage. We are working on Suds, which Christopher Rhoton is designing. What has been really great is that we have this house. We all get together at night to sit and look at our sketches and renderings. We talk about how we are going to build the set.”

Rhoton, who is designing the set, emphasized how setting the mood is important.

For this production, he sees lots of squares and circles with a bubble theme.

“Many people think that when [the directors and designers] get the script that it tells them exactly what the set should look like. In some scripts, they do have a suggestion in the back if you are doing it for a high school theater,” Rhoton said. “What I do is read the script and see what kind of feeling I get and if it is a musical I make sure I listen to all of the music. I will start with some abstract sketches from feelings I get and so for Suds, what kept coming to my mind was bubbles. I did a lot of research about 1960’s laundromats, the culture, and interior design color.” 

Tim Cobb, from North Carolina and a recent graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., is the lighting designer and master electrician.

“Currently, my job is familiarizing myself with the space, unpacking all of our lighting equipment, and making sure it is in proper working order. In addition, making any repairs that are necessary and collaborating with Adrienne on any upgrades we can make to have the shows the most they can be for the maximum pleasure for the audience,” Cobb said. “I am really looking forward to the season. The shows that are lined up are fun, colorful, a fun silly, inspirational and we’ve got love.”

Christopher Manns, part of the technical staff, is from Spencer, Va.

He earned his undergraduate degree in theater arts with a concentration in acting two years ago from Averett University in Virginia. 

Stephen Tabor from Bowling Green, Ky., took twenty hours to get to the Playhouse.

“I will be helping out with the high school apprentice program that we have that allows the high school students to come in and get some experience with the professional theater,” Tabor said. “We have a wonderful high school apprentice program that is free. It is to familiarize students in what happens in a professional theater. There is a focus on technical work, music, acting, marketing, directing and playwriting,” Grant said, adding that openings are still available.

Taylor Marum from Long Island, N.Y., is the stage manager and is excited to be working on two shows: Altar Boyz and Godspell.

She graduated from Hollins University in Roanoke, Va. As one of the stage managers, she runs rehearsals, calls the show, and runs the production meetings. 

The season is just a couple of weeks away with a variety of plays that have been selected and a technical staff who are full of excitement and eager for theater attendees to experience their designs.

Ticket prices range from $28 to $32. For prepaid reservations and information, call 985-5552.