Arts! Oglethorpe brings stories to stage with ‘Almost, Maine’

By Addison Simmons on Thursday, February 12, 2026

For The Oglethorpe Echo

Arts! Oglethorpe will take its Historic Crawford School audience on a journey north — to a small town near the Canadian border for a night full of hope, disappointment, joy and heartbreak. 

Following its 30th season, members of Arts! Oglethorpe chose to perform a unique collection of scenes following residents of a small town in Maine that will allow cast members to both act and direct. 

“That was sort of our goal, was to encourage people to break out of their comfort and try something new,” said Penny Miller, who is both acting in and directing scenes. 

Tyler Spears, who has performed in five musicals with Arts! Oglethorpe, is not only trying out acting in his first non-musical production with the organization, but is also directing for the first time. 

Spears said this play is also unique due to the array of characters in each scene. 

“It offers a wide range of different roles, from comedic to dramatic. It lends itself to being a romantic comedy,” Spears said. “But ultimately, there are a plethora of scenes that can be played by a lot of different age ranges.” 

Though some scenes follow characters falling in love, others aren’t so fortunate. 

There are scenes depicting loss, betrayal and heartbreak just as much as romance. Some scenes lean into the comedy that romance can cultivate, while others allow for a more heartfelt touch. 

What sets this show apart for cast members is the element of surprise it carries. Due to scenes being rehearsed separately, the show won’t fall into place until the week of the production. 

“It’s going to be more exciting for all of us to see the pieces come together, because we have been separate,” said Bly Hartley, one of the charter members of Arts! Oglethorpe. 

This production is a perfect fit for the organization, according to the nearly dozen involved.

“It is a place where you can go, where you can be accepted, where you can be encouraged to try new things and do something different,” Miller said. “You can be free to be yourself and you have immediately a group of people that are there to cheer you on, to laugh at your jokes and to support you however you need.”