The Grand Valley State University theater department will show GV the silver lining and remind the community how enchanting love can be with its upcoming performance of “Almost, Maine.”

“Almost, Maine,” which opens tonight in the Louis Armstrong Theater in the Performing Arts Center on GVSU’s Allendale Campus and runs through Sunday, is a romantic comedy being put on as part of the university’s Performance Studio Series, which features student-run productions beyond the four mainstage shows that are often student-directed, designed and performed.

Events also include workshops, class projects and faculty and student collaborations.

“The Performance Studio Series is a project for the most advanced student directors, so they don’t need much supervising as a rule,” said Karen Libman, faculty advisor for the show.

The 90-minute performance will be comprised of nine short, real-life scenes in which the audience will get a glimpse into a moment of different relationships, all taking place in Maine. The scenes take place mid-winter under the Northern Lights in Almost, Maine, a fictional town. The people who live in this town find themselves falling in and out of love. Through these experiences they learn different lessons of the heart.

The themes are straightforward and simplistic, giving almost all the spotlight and creative advantage to the actors, who portray characters who are experiencing love in a very realistic sense. While matters of the heart can typically weigh heavily, the performances capture a comedy about love to keep the performances lighthearted.

For these performances, the theater set up has been changed to mimic a black-box theater, a unique feature GVSU does not offer. The typical seating in the theater will not be used; instead, on-stage seating will be utilized. Those who wish to attend should know that seats are limited; the black-box theater seats 120 attendees per performance.

The curtain will go up at 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. General admission tickets cost $6, with a $1 price increase for tickets purchased on the day of the performance.

“The characters are all fairly realistic,” said Jason Flannery, a senior theater major who will appear as a few of the male characters in “Almost, Maine.” “But the circumstances in which they find themselves often drift into the metaphoric, or rather, the magical.”

Joseph Cox, a senior theater major who has appeared in a number of plays at GVSU, including September’s performance of “Twelfth Night,” will direct.

“Just like in life, it doesn’t always work out,” Cox said. “(The performance) will remind people that love is difficult and life is hard, but there is always a silver lining for those open to receive it.”

Cox said he is excited to experience theatre from a new perspective as a director rather than an actor.

“As someone of the male persuasion I’m always hesitant to admit how much romantic comedies enchant me,” Cox said. “I enjoy nothing more than being reminded that despite the difficulties of courtship love, it can and will work out for people who are true to themselves and honest to those around them.”

Flannery said he was excited to finally work under a student director.

“I wanted to be in a show. I love acting and theatre and just being a part of things,” he said. “It’s a fresh experience, and one that’s been a lot of fun to work on.”

Flannery said that live theatre as an art form is no longer as valued as it should be.

“It’s so much more personal than seeing a movie, in the same way that going to a concert is better than listening to a CD,” Flannery said. “Moreover, (theater) is just something you have to do in person. And this is a great show for it. It’s inexpensive, it’s student-directed and designed, and it’s just plain fun. I assure any perspective audience members that they will have a good time, that they will laugh, and that they may learn something about love. And really, what’s more important than that?”

“It’s a funny and warm piece that everyone can identify with. It’s about love, and relationships and the power of human beings to connect with each other,” Libman said. “It’s a great 90 minute study break at this stressful time of the semester. It’s only $6, which is less than a movie and I can guarantee that [everyone] will love it.”

Jack T. Lane, Louis Armstrong production and box office manager, encouraged people to see “Almost, Maine” because there are so few opportunities for live theater.

“Live theater only lives for that moment so for that reason alone, everyone should try to attend,” Lane said. “There is so much a person can learn from a performance because you become part of the characters and that magic can alter a person’s understanding. Most entertainment can provide a person with new perspectives, but live performances are always different and can impact people in a variety of ways.”

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