• 2022Season,  shows

    I Hate Shakespeare

    Dueling Juliets
    Dueling Juliets at a recent rehearsal of Gaslight Theater’s “I Hate Shakespeare”. Pictured left to right are cast members Kathleen Leopold, Cody Alexander Curtis, Desi-Rae Mason (as Juliet), Tony Vazquez, Eleanor Maranda (also as Juliet), Gregor Smith, Donna Loveland and Joe Maranda. Photo credit: Richard Bostwick

    We hate Shakespeare! At least that’s what the audience thinks until they get a rip-roaring rundown of Shakespeare’s classics. With zombies, talking cows, and an appearance by Jerry Springer, I Hate Shakespeare! is a hilarious and fast-paced introduction to Shakespeare — with a modern twist.

    Plus, someone gets a pie in the face.

    I Hate Shakespeare” by Steph DeFerie is a comedy presenting Shakespearean vignettes from a modern (and sometimes silly) point of view. This summer Gaslight Theater proudly presents six performances of  “I Hate Shakespeare” directed by Margaret Matheson assisted by Richard Bostwick. 

    The second weekend in July the Augusta Downtown Alliance will sponsor three performances of Gaslight Theater production of “I Hate Shakespeare” at Waterfront Park in Augusta, Friday and Saturday, July 8 and 9 at 6:00 PM and a matinee performance on Sunday, July 10 at 2:00 PM.

    The following week, during Old Hallowell Day weekend, Vaughan Historic Homestead will be hosting shows on Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16 at 6:00 PM and a matinee performance on Sunday, July 17 at 2:00 PM. Parking at Vaughan Homestead is strictly limited to showtimes only. 

    Choose your date and venue and bring a chair, blanket or maybe even a snack and make it an event!  For more information call 207-626-3698. Donations will be accepted at the show or anytime online to support the nonprofit Gaslight Theater. 

    If you go:

    What: Gaslight Theater presents “I Hate Shakespeare

    Cost: Free with donations accepted.

    When and where in Augusta:

    Friday and Saturday July 8 and 9 at 6:00 PM, Sunday July 10 at 2:00pm

    Waterfront Park in Downtown Augusta
    Front St, Augusta, ME 04330

    When and where in Hallowell:

    Friday and Saturday July 15 and 16* at 6:00 PM, Sunday July 17 at 2:00 PM

    Vaughan Historic Homestead Outdoor Pavilion
    2 Litchfield Rd, Hallowell

    * The Saturday show is on Old Hallowell Day. Parking at Vaughan Homestead is strictly limited to the duration of the show only.

    This is an outdoor event. However, to ensure the health and safety of our audience and performers, we are asking everyone in attendance to wear a mask if they are not current on their vaccinations. The actors will not be masked when onstage during performances. These are difficult times, and we ask that everyone remain considerate and respectful of others.

    Founded in 1937 as the Augusta Players, and since doing business as Gaslight Theater, we are the oldest continuously operating community theater in Maine. Productions have taken place in Hallowell City Hall since the late 1970s (until COVID intervened). We hope to return to our regular schedule in 2023 which is normally four shows a year, usually in late winter, early summer, late summer, and the fall, featuring a balance among musicals, mysteries, comedies, classics and new or experimental plays. For each show, we have at least six performances over two weekends, including Sunday matinees.

  • 2022Season,  auditions

    Auditions! Auditions for Summer Show

    The Gaslight Theater is holding auditions for I Hate Shakespeare, by Steph DeFerie, and directed by Meg Matheson.

    Auditions will be held Sunday, April 24 and Monday, April 25 at 5:30 at the Vaughn Homestead Pavilion in Hallowell. Show consists of comedic vignettes with doubling. Roles can be done by any gender; number and ages of cast can vary. Auditions are cold readings.

    Show dates are July 8, 9 and 10 in Augusta and July 15, 16 and 17 in Hallowell. If you are unable to make one of the audition dates, but wish to audition, please contact us.

    Please bring proof of Covid-19 vaccination to auditions.

    Auditions are at 5:30pm on Sunday, April 24 and Monday, April 25 at the:

    Vaughan Homestead Pavilion
    2 Litchfield Rd, Hallowell.

    I Hate Shakespeare

    I Hate Shakespeare by Steph DeFerie, directed by Meg Matheson will be presented on July 8, 9 and 10 in Augusta and July 15, 16 and 17 in Hallowell.

  • 2021Season,  shows,  Uncategorized

    Save the Dates

    August 20, 21, and 22 for

    A Review of Old Time Radio

    This play showcases radio comedies, dramas, and songs that were popular on radio in the 1930’s. 1940’s and 1950’s. The show will be presented August 20, 21 and 22.

    As our normal theater is still unavailable, the play will be presented at:

    Vaughan Homestead Pavilion
    2 Litchfield Rd, Hallowell

    More details to follow.

  • 2021Season,  shows

    Upcoming 2021 Season

    Prose, Roses, and Woes

    After much deliberation and soul searching, we have elected to postpone these performances from our original Valentines weekend date. We will reschedule when more vaccines has been administered and we are confident new cases are moving in the right direction. 

    POSTPONED

    Hallowell’s Gaslight Theater is planning an outdoor themed poetry event in downtown Hallowell for a TO BE DETERMINED weekend.

    This outdoor walking tour featuring live poetry readings, will take place on a future date TO BE DETERMINED at up to 6 locations in downtown Hallowell.

    Small audience groups will be revolved among all the venues, while adhering to social distancing and masking protocols to keep everyone safe.

    We have three ways you can participate, as a poet, as a reader or as part of the audience.

    Poets

    Submit a poem for us to consider, dealing with any aspect of  the theme of “love”: true love, new love, old love, or even lost love. It should be your own original work. We are not looking for an epic work but an original poem you would agree to have read by an actor or you can audition to read it yourself.  Our esteemed selection committee will choose favorites for the event.

    We will accept new submissions once we have a date specified.

    Readers

    You can audition to read poems at the event. Readers and audience at each outdoor venue will be socially distanced and we will not be using microphones so a good strong voice and the ability to project is required.

    We will accept new submissions once we have a date specified.

    Audience

    Reservations will be opened when we have a new date.

    Stay tuned for More Info

    Our home venue, Hallowell City Hall, is still not available at this time. It is not yet known when it may be. Social distancing for the safety of our cast, crew, and patrons is a priority and will reduce the size of audiences and will guide us as we look forward to presenting and acting again.

    207-626-3698
    Gaslighttheater@Gaslighttheater.org

  • shows

    Current Season 2020

    This is our Mid-year Update

    After we cut the run of “Last Gas’ short early on in the year, the path of the pandemic remained unknown and we had been waiting for some idea of what the future possibilities are. We still don’t know what the future looks like.

    We have postponed our entire 2020 season and will be moving “The Whales of August” and “Almost Maine” to the second half of next year.

    Between now and then, we are looking at some plays with a single actor and a small tech crew.

    Stay tuned.

    We are also looking at reader’s theater. Our home venue, Hallowell City Hall, is not available at this time. It is not yet known when it may be. Social distancing for the safety of our cast, crew, and patrons is a priority and will reduce the size of audiences and will guide us as we look forward to presenting and acting again.

    Fear not, we will return because.

    We Miss You.

    We Miss working the Boards.

    We Miss the Social fun that is Theater.

    207-626-3698
    gaslighttheater@yahoo.com

    Whales of August by David Berry – Postponed until 2021 season.
    Almost Maine By John Cariani – Postponed until 2021 season.

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