show history

  • 2024 Season,  auditions

    Upcoming Gaslight Auditions

    Gaslight Theater has auditions in February for 2 new shows. The musical “Nunsense” by Dan Googin Directed by Bill Haley with Musical Direction by Marcia Gallagher and the play “Four Old Broads” by Leslie Kimbell directed by Lucy Rioux.

    “Nunsense”

    AUDITIONS: Saturday February 3rd and Sunday February 4th, at 1:00 pm
    SHOW DATES: June 6th through the 9th


    “Four Old Broads”

    AUDITIONS: Monday Feb 12th and Tuesday February 13th, at 6:00pm
    SHOW DATES: April 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14


    All auditions held at Hallowell City Hall Auditorium, located at 1 Winthrop Street in Hallowell.


    “Nunsense” the Musical by Dan Googin
    Directed by Bill Haley with Musical Direction by Marcia Gallagher

    Bring a song to sing and be ready for cold readings from the show.

    Rehearsals expected to take place on Sundays with one midweek evening, dates to be announced. Come join us as we mount Gaslight’s first musical since 2017! Nunsense is a hilarious spoof about the misadventures of five nuns trying to manage a fundraiser. When the majority of the sisterhood dies from botulism after eating vichyssoise prepared by Sister Julia Child of God, the remaining nuns stage a talent show in order to raise the money to bury their dearly departed.

    With catchy songs and irreverent comedy, Nunsense is sure to keep audiences rolling with laughter.

    Sister Mary Regina – The Mother Superior, a feisty Sophie Tucker-type who can’t resist the spotlight.
    Sister Mary Hubert – The Mistress of Novices, the second in command, is always competing with the Mother Superior.
    Sister Mary Amnesia – The sweet but befuddled Sister who lost her memory after a crucifix fell on her head.
    Sister Mary Leo – The novice, who has entered the convent with the firm desire to become the first nun ballerina.
    Sister Robert Anne – The street-wise, tough character from Brooklyn. A constant source of aggravation for the Mother Superior.


    “Four Old Broads” by Leslie Kimbell
    Directed By Lucy Rioux

    Retired burlesque queen Beatrice Shelton desperately needs a vacation – and NOT another trip up to Helen, Georgia to see that “precious little German village for the umpteenth time.” A Sassy Seniors Cruise through the Caribbean may be just the ticket if she can just convince her best friend, Eaddy Mae Clayton, to stop praying and go with her.

    Unfortunately, things have not been very pleasant at Magnolia Place Assisted Living since Nurse Pat Jones began working there. The newest resident, Imogene Fletcher, is suddenly losing her memory. Maude Jenkins is obsessed with her favorite soap opera and planning her own funeral. Sam Smith, retired Elvis impersonator, keeps trying to bed every woman in the building. A mystery unfolds with laughter as the gals try to outsmart the evil Nurse Pat Jones and figure out why so many residents have been moved to “the dark side,” what exactly IS that mysterious pill, and what happened to Doctor Head? Hilarity ensues as Imogene goes undercover and Maude enters the Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Pageant to throw Pat off their trail. If they can solve the mystery, they may make it to the cruise ship after all.

    BEATRICE SHELTON – A former burlesque star with an attitude – Senior Citizen
    EADDY MAE CLAYTON – A former nurse and “religious” lady – Senior Citizen
    IMOGENE FLETCHER – The newest resident at Magnolia Place – Senior Citizen
    PAT JONES – A rude and pushy nurse – 40s–50s
    MAUDE JENKINS – A funeral and soap opera obsessed frump – Senior Citizen
    SAM SMITH – Retired Elvis impersonator and Casanova – Senior Citizen
    RUBY SUE BENNETT – A quiet, romance novel loving nurse – 30s

    Note: Although written with senior actors in mind, the roles of the four old broads and Sam can be played by any adult aged actor through the magic of theatrical make-up.

  • show history

    2010’s

    Year Month Production
    2010 March Accomplice [photo album]
    April One-Act Plays [photo album] #235
    June Bells Are Ringing [photo album]
    September Born Yesterday
    November My Three Angels
    2011 February-March Key for Two [photo album]
    April An Evening of One-Act Plays [photo album] #240
    June The Importance of Being Earnest [photo album]
    August-September And Then There Were None [photo album]
    November Cinderella (Enchanted Edition) [photo album]
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  • show history

    2000’s

    Year Month Production
    2000 March/April Where’s Charley?
    June/July You Can’t Take it With You
    August/September Laura (show #195)
    November Divorce, Southern Style (Winter Chicken)
    2001 March Misery
    June Drop Dead
    August/September A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
    October/November Our Town (200th Show)
    2002 March Painting Churches
    April (one-act) The Last Cigarette
    June Moon Over Buffalo
    August Soup du Jour
    October/November A Party to Murder
    2003 March The Odd Couple (female version, #205)
    June Light Up the Sky
    August Kiss Me Kate
    November The Haunted Through Lounge and Recessed Dining Nook at Farndale Castle
    2004 March/April Mastergate [photo album]
    April One-Act: Gaslight Cafe (MEACT)
    June/July Of Thee I Sing [photo album] (#210)
    August Don’t Drink the Water [photo album]
    November The Manchurian Candidate [photo album]
    2005 February Omar Ricardo’s “That’s Italian” [photo album]
    March Death of a Salesman [photo album]
    April One-Act: Gaslight Cafe (MEACT and Regional)
    June/July How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying [photo album]
    September Dinner With Friends [photo album] (#215)
    November Arsenic and Old Lace [photo album]
    2006 March Omar Ricardo and his Many, Many Women (fundraiser) [photo album]
    May The Real Inspector Hound [photo album]
    June Jake’s Women [photo album]
    August Songs for a Summer Night (musical revue) [photo album]
    November The Mousetrap [photo album]
    2007 March Almost, Maine [photo album]
    April One Act: Almost, Maine (selections: MEACT)
    June/July Lucky Stiff [photo album]
    August Crimes of the Heart [photo album]
    November Over the River and Through the Woods [photo album]
    2008 March Don’t Dress for Dinner [photo album] (#225)
    June Bye, Bye Birdie [photo album]
    August Wonder of the World [photo album]
    November Private Lives [photo album]
    2009 March Bell, Book and Candle [photo album]
    April The Ties That Bind (one-act plays) [photo album]
    July Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [photo album]
    August/September Five Women Wearing the Same Dress [photo album]
    November Rabbit Hole [photo album]
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  • show history

    1990’s

    Year Month Production
    1990 March Catch Me If You Can (show #150)
    May 2 One_Acts: (Love Course; The Actor’s Nightmare)
    August Blithe Spirit
    November Baby
    1991 April The Tempest
    June The Music Man (#155)
    August On the Verge
    November A Loss of Roses
    1992 March On Golden Pond
    June The Odd Couple (Female Version)
    August Oklahoma (#160)
    November Of Mice and Men
    1993 February Love Changes Everything (musical revue)
    March Barefoot in the Park
    June Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
    August Wait Until Dark (#165)
    November Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe
    1994 February Brother, Can You Spare A Dime (fundraiser: musical revue)
    March Lend Me A Tenor
    June Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Maine Premiere)
    August Dames at Sea (#170)
    September Come Back Little Sheba
    1995 March The Front Page
    June The Foreigner
    August 2 Albee One-Acts: (The Zoo Story and The American Dream)
    November Agnes of God (#175)
    1996 March One Act Festival in Camden: Zoo Story
    March Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will
    July Steel Magnolias
    September Gaslight (Angel Street)
    November House of Blue Leaves (#180)
    1997 April Do Not Disturb
    June/July Infidelities
    August A Cheever Evening (Maine Premiere)
    November Twelve Angry Men
    1998 March Harvey (#185)
    June Inherit the Wind
    Augusta Nunsense
    November The Taming of the Shrew
    1999 March Rehearsal for Murder
    July The Complete works of Wllm Shkspr, Abbr. (#190)
    August/September Plaza Suite
    November The Country Girl
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  • show history

    1980’s

    Year Month Production
    1980 Summer Aaron Slick of Pumpkin Crick
    October The Magical Pied Piper of Hamlin
    December A Christmas Carol
    1981 April Pajama Game
    June The Madwoman of Chaillot
    August Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
    October Song by Song by Sondheim (musical revue)
    1982 January The Lion in Winter
    March/April Bye Bye Birdie
    June Carousel
    July America the Musical (musical revue)
    October The Butler Did It (#125)
    December Sounds Like White Christmas (musical revue)
    1983 April Anything Goes
    July America the Musical II/Broadway on the Kennebec; musical revue)
    1984 March The Mousetrap
    July Sparklers (#130)
    November Guys and Dolls
    1985 May Bus Stop
    July/August You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
    November Camelot
    1986 April Twelfth Night (#135)
    June 3 One-Act Plays (The Anniversary, Aria da Capo, Thursday Evenings)
    October On The Air (original radio show)
    1987 April Vanities
    July ESSays (Original Music show)
    July I Do, I Do (#140)
    October California Suite
    November James and the Giant Peach
    1988 March 2 One-Acts: (Who Dunnit?, The Real Inspector Hound)
    May/June Crimes of the Heart
    July Company
    November All My Sons (#145)
    1989 March See How They Run
    June The Lady’s Not for Burning
    October Once Upon a Mattress
    December Performance at a Christmas Ball
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  • show history

    1970’s

    Year Month Production
    1970 February Write Me a Murder (#93)
    April Everyone Loves Opal (#94)
    May When Shakespeare’s Ladies Meet
    November Cactus Flower (#95)
    1971 Under the Yum Yum Tree (#96)
    Spring Wait Until Dark (#97)
    Fall Camelot (#98)
    1972 March Invitation to a March (#99)
    April Auntie Mame (100th Show)
    October Don’t Drink the Water (#101)
    1973 March Oliver (#102)
    November Kiss Me Kate (#103)
    1974 May Forty Carats (#104)
    December The Music Man (#105)
    1975 April Mrs. McThing
    June An Endless Line of Splendor (pageant)
    September Curse You, Jack Dalton (Gay 90s Revue)
    November Our Town
    1976 April Arsenic and Old Lace
    August Broadway (revue)
    November Broadway Revisited (revue, #109)
    1977 May Sorry, Wrong Number/The Spiral Staircase
    August Ladies Night at the Theater (revue)
    1978 January Bits from Hollywood Hits (revue)
    1979 Early summer Lil Abner
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  • show history

    1960’s

    Year Month Production
    1960 French With an Accent (Show #70)
    1961 The Potting Shed (#71)
    November Golden Fleecing
    1962 March Midas and the Golden Touch (children’s play)
    April/May Design for Murder
    Send Me No Flowers
    1963 February The Emperor’s New Clothes (children’s play)
    April Teahouse of the August Moon (#75)
    November Picnic (#76)
    1964 April Critic’s Choice (#77)
    November John Brown’s Body (#78)
    1965 February/March Snow White and Rose Read (children’s play)
    April A Shot in the Dark (#79)
    October The Elves and the Shoemaker (children’s play)
    November Diary of Anne Frank (#80)
    1966 March Mary, Mary (#81)
    April Angel Street (#82)
    November Never Too Late (#83)
    1967 February The Bat (#84)
    April King of Hearts (#85)
    April Sky High (Youth Theater)
    November A Thousand Clowns (#86)
    1968 February Bell, Book and Candle (#87)
    April Barefoot in the Park (#88)
    November The Odd Couple (#89)
    1969 February Any Wednesday (#90)
    April The Chalk Garden (#91)
    November Come Blow Your Horn (#92)

     

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  • show history

    1950’s

    Year Month Production
    1950 April Little Foxes
    Hansel and Gretel (fundraiser)
    October The Torch Bearers
    1951 January Bell for Adano
    April Ten Little Indians
    May Jack and the Bean Stalk (fundraiser)
    October The Velvet Glove (show #42)
    1952 January The Petrified Forest (#43)
    April Life With Mother (#44)
    May Rumplestiltskin (fundraiser)
    November Ladies of the Jury
    1953 February The Corn is Green (Kerosene Circuit)
    April Born Yesterday
    November The Silver Whistle
    1954 February The Hasty Heart
    April The Happy time (#50)
    November Harvey (#51)
    Cinderella (Fundraiser)
    1955 February Stalag 17
    May My Three Angels
    The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
    Sabrina Fair
    1956 January Dial M for Murder (#55)
    #56?
    October The Tender Trap
    November The Desperate Hours
    December Nativity Scene
    1957 April You Can’t Take It With You (#59)
    Gentleman Prefer Blondes
    1958 March Come Back, Little Sheba
    Witness for the Prosecution
    Monique
    1959 May 27-29 Visit to a Small Planet (by Gore Vidal, directed by Maybelle Tarr)
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  • show history

    30’s and 40’s

    Year Month Production
    1938 Arms and the Man
    1939 April The Late Christopher Bean
    September The School for Scandal
    1940 February The Cap’n Alden Place
    May The Royal Family
    October The Bat
    1941 January Smiling Through
    April Hay Fever
    May The Prince of Liars
    November George Washington Slept Here
    1942 February Aaron Slick of Pumpkin Crick
    March The Bishop Misbehaves
    May Icebound
    October Arsenic and Old Lace
    1943 January First Lady
    May Papa is All
    July Pure as the Driven Snow (A Working Girls Secret)
    September Ladies in Retirement
    December First Year
    1944 March Bundy Pulls the Strings
    June It Pays to Advertise
    October Junior Miss
    1945 February The Woman
    June Angel Street (Gaslight)
    November SNAFU
    1946 March Blithe Spirit
    May Night Must Fall
    Summer Oh Promise Me (Kerosene Circuit)
    1947 January I Remember Mama
    April Pygmalion
    Summer Sweetwater Train
    October State of The Union
    1948 January The Barretts of Wimpole Street
    April Skylark
    September Volunteer Bride (Kerosene Circuit)
    November Trial of Mary Dugan
    1949 Jan Joan of Lorraine
    April French With an Accent
    May The Emperors New Coat (fundraiser)
    Oct Three Man on a Horse
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  • 2009,  show history

    Bell, Book and Candle

    By John Van Druten

    THE STORY: Gillian Holroyd is one of the few modern people who can actually cast spells and perform feats of supernaturalism. She casts a spell over an unattached publisher, Shepherd Henderson, partly to keep him away from a rival and partly because she is attracted to him. He falls head over heels in love with her at once and wants to marry her. But witches, unfortunately, cannot fall in love, and this minute imperfection leads into a number of difficulties. Ultimately, the lady breaks off with her companions in witchery, preferring the normal and human love offered her by the attractive publisher. But before the happy conclusion of the romance, Gillian comes very near to losing him—but doesn’t.

    • Gillian Holroyd (Jen Cart) and Shep Henderson (Mike Clements) discuss her unusual aunt.

    John Van Druten

    John van Druten was born in 1901 in London, England. His first successful play was YOUNG WOODLEY, produced in 1928. His best-known plays, primarily light comedies, include OLD ACQUAINTANCE (1940), THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE (1943), I REMEMBER MAMA (1944), BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE (1950), and I AM A CAMERA (1951). After several years and considerable success in the U.S., he became an American citizen in 1944. He passed away in 1957.
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