MDI Drama Announces Local Premiere and Regional Festival Performance of Queens by Kristen Doherty

Mount Desert Island, ME — MDI Drama proudly presents its 2026 one-act production of Queens by Kristen Doherty, offering audiences a powerful and imaginative retelling of the stories of Henry VIII’s six wives. The local premiere will take place Saturday, February 28th at the Higgins-Demas Theater. Admission is by donation, with all proceeds benefiting the Black Rose Fund in support of the Higgins-Demas Theater.

Following the local debut, the company will bring Queens to the Maine Drama Festival Regional at Ellsworth High School on Friday, March 6th, sponsored by the Maine Principals Association.

Directed by Casey Rush, Queens blends historical fact, dark humor, and contemporary voice to explore the perspectives of the women who survived—or didn’t survive—marriage to Henry VIII. In a compelling blend of past and present, the queens confront their stories, challenge the narratives that defined them, and reclaim their places in history. The play features dynamic ensemble work, stylized theatricality, and thought-provoking themes of identity, power, and how history often (mis)remembers women.

The production features strong technical artistry led by Grey Burkart (Technical Director for Lighting and Sound), Carlene Hirsch (Technical Director for Scenic Design), Flannery Dillon (Costume Director), and Moxie McBreairty (Production Assistant, Intern).

MDI Drama invites the community to join them for an evening that celebrates student talent, theatrical storytelling, and the collaborative spirit of the performing arts. Your attendance and support help sustain the vibrant future of the Higgins-Demas Theater through the Black Rose Fund.

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CAST

Fenris Dubé – The Fool

Graham Carter as King Henry VIII (in Purgatory)

Kevin McDonough as King Henry VIII (in flashback sequences)

Jorge Waldrop as Catherine of Aragon

Ruby DeMuro as Anne Boleyn

Liana Johnson as Jane Seymour

Nayeli Monahan as Anne of Cleves

Fiona Lantheaume as Catherine Howard

Frances Stockman as Catherine Parr

TECH CREW

Braelynn Bird (lighting lead), Ila Boatright (scenic designer), Taebeck Boshko, Mabel Bureau (scenic designer), Jackson DaCosta, Jade Deal, Bee DeGeorge (sound designer), Harper DeGeorge (stage manager), Janelle Doucette, Aiden Furrow (metal fabrication), Hallie Hamblen, Kaya Haynes, Avery Kimball (sound designer), Marguerite Libby, Annabel McLane, Tobias McLean (video lead), Keiran Miller, Adam Raven (audio lead), Nolan Rivers, Syd Schnieder, Fred Sebelin (scenic designer), Adeline Smiley, Kaiana Stone (sound designer)

COSTUME & MAKEUP CREW

Delilah Damon Dong, Brie Chaples, Grace Rabasca and Angela Zhang

For more information, please visit MDIDRAMA.ORG