A Company of Girls' new production is "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." For several members of the acting troupe, that title sums up their experience with each show, and keeps them coming back year after year.Image may be NSFW.
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Four girls with more than 25 years of combined membership in the company took time out this week from rehearsal at Mayo Street Theater, where the show opens this weekend.
The venue conjured up many memories for the girls, as it was one of their first stages.
They talked about what the company has meant to them over the years, and while their experiences with ACOG are distinct, they all treasure the independence and sense of self they gained.
Maya Letourneau, a junior at South Portland High School, has been with ACOG for six years, took a year off, and is back this year for the show. She plays Mrs. McCarthy.
"My mom put me in this program because I was really shy, shy to the point where I couldn't talk to my own family," Letourneau said. "I was terrified in the early days. As the years progressed, everyone could see a change in me." She said the afternoons spent reading lines and expressing actions were a lot of fun, especially the theater games.
"It helped me in school, presenting in my classes," she said. "Now I'm not shy, or afraid to go and stand up for other people. I'm not afraid to talk to other students and my teachers."
Izzy Terracciano, a sophomore at Catherine McAuley High School, has been with ACOG for five years, took a year off, and is back this year for the show. She plays Mrs. Bradley, a mother who takes over as director of the show within the show.
"This is where I started doing theater," Terracciano said, agreeing with the others that Mayo Street Theater was like a second home.
"I used to be really shy, didn't talk much. It helped me come out of my shell. Not just here, but reflected elsewhere. I was able to be more outgoing and express myself."
Mackenzie Marles, a senior at Portland High School, has been with ACOG for six years as a member, two more as a volunteer with performances, and is interning this year. She plays Mrs. Armstrong.
"It is the place where I was first introduced to theater so my passion for theater started here in this actual building," Marles said. "You not only work on acting, but also on vocals and dance, so the whole theater aspect has drawn me back. Personally, I hate 'art' art, so for me, it's really theater that I enjoy."
Marles plans to attend the University of Maine at Farmington, where she will major in Early Childhood Education and minor in Theater.
"And I met my friends here, so to know that I could see them twice a week was special. At school, you have your school buds, but here it's different. You can totally be yourself," she said.
Eliza Skidgel, a senior at McAuley, has been with ACOG for eight years, and this is her second year volunteering. She plays Mrs. Slocum and Reverend Hopkins.
"It's really meant a lot to me. I started out in third grade. I was 8. It really gave me a new outlet on arts," Skidgel said. "I started coming to ACOG shows when I was five. I would go up and ask if I could be in it. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without theater. It gave me so many new friends. It gave me an understanding of accepting people of different places and backgrounds. I branched out and became myself more."
Skidgel is waiting to hear from her first choice, Pace University in New York City, where she hopes to major in Theater Arts and minor in Arts and Entertainment.
"I used to tell my mom I wanted to go here more than school," she said. "It gave me confidence. Coming here brings back so many memories. I pretty much grew up here. It's one of the reasons I wanted to do this show. It's like a circle, ending high school theater here."
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" plays Friday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo Street, in Portland. Call 874-2107 for reservations.
Clik here to view.
Four girls with more than 25 years of combined membership in the company took time out this week from rehearsal at Mayo Street Theater, where the show opens this weekend.
The venue conjured up many memories for the girls, as it was one of their first stages.
They talked about what the company has meant to them over the years, and while their experiences with ACOG are distinct, they all treasure the independence and sense of self they gained.
Maya Letourneau, a junior at South Portland High School, has been with ACOG for six years, took a year off, and is back this year for the show. She plays Mrs. McCarthy.
"My mom put me in this program because I was really shy, shy to the point where I couldn't talk to my own family," Letourneau said. "I was terrified in the early days. As the years progressed, everyone could see a change in me." She said the afternoons spent reading lines and expressing actions were a lot of fun, especially the theater games.
"It helped me in school, presenting in my classes," she said. "Now I'm not shy, or afraid to go and stand up for other people. I'm not afraid to talk to other students and my teachers."
Izzy Terracciano, a sophomore at Catherine McAuley High School, has been with ACOG for five years, took a year off, and is back this year for the show. She plays Mrs. Bradley, a mother who takes over as director of the show within the show.
"This is where I started doing theater," Terracciano said, agreeing with the others that Mayo Street Theater was like a second home.
"I used to be really shy, didn't talk much. It helped me come out of my shell. Not just here, but reflected elsewhere. I was able to be more outgoing and express myself."
Mackenzie Marles, a senior at Portland High School, has been with ACOG for six years as a member, two more as a volunteer with performances, and is interning this year. She plays Mrs. Armstrong.
"It is the place where I was first introduced to theater so my passion for theater started here in this actual building," Marles said. "You not only work on acting, but also on vocals and dance, so the whole theater aspect has drawn me back. Personally, I hate 'art' art, so for me, it's really theater that I enjoy."
Marles plans to attend the University of Maine at Farmington, where she will major in Early Childhood Education and minor in Theater.
"And I met my friends here, so to know that I could see them twice a week was special. At school, you have your school buds, but here it's different. You can totally be yourself," she said.
Eliza Skidgel, a senior at McAuley, has been with ACOG for eight years, and this is her second year volunteering. She plays Mrs. Slocum and Reverend Hopkins.
"It's really meant a lot to me. I started out in third grade. I was 8. It really gave me a new outlet on arts," Skidgel said. "I started coming to ACOG shows when I was five. I would go up and ask if I could be in it. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without theater. It gave me so many new friends. It gave me an understanding of accepting people of different places and backgrounds. I branched out and became myself more."
Skidgel is waiting to hear from her first choice, Pace University in New York City, where she hopes to major in Theater Arts and minor in Arts and Entertainment.
"I used to tell my mom I wanted to go here more than school," she said. "It gave me confidence. Coming here brings back so many memories. I pretty much grew up here. It's one of the reasons I wanted to do this show. It's like a circle, ending high school theater here."
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" plays Friday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo Street, in Portland. Call 874-2107 for reservations.
