In an usual but not unprecedented move, Portland Stage Company and Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick will co-produce the Frank McCourt musical “The Irish … and How They Got That Way” this summer in Portland.
It will open Aug. 16 at Portland Stage and run through Sept. 4, which falls near the end of Maine State’s traditional summer season in Brunswick and the fall opening of the new season at Portland Stage. The musical satisfies a desire of both organizations to expand their offerings and, potentially, audiences.
“For a long time, Portland Stage has been looking at, how do we expand what we do beyond our traditional season,” said Portland Stage Executive and Artistic Director Anita Stewart. “We have tried little experiments, doing one-offs in the middle of the summer to greater or lesser success, but obviously none has been so successful that we said, ‘Aha, this is the solution. Let’s do it this way.’ ”
The collaboration with Maine State is another experiment, but on a larger scale than Portland State has attempted in the recent past.
For Maine State, the McCourt musical provides a small extension of its short summer season. Maine State performs at Picard Theater on the Bowdoin College campus and has between mid-June and late-August to present its season. Because of the college schedule, the best chance to do additional work is through collaboration, said Maine State Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark. Coming to Portland extends the season by a few weeks and offers the chance to reach new audiences.
“We have wanted to extend our season for years, and we do not have access to the Bowdoin stage at any other time of the year,” he said. “When I looked at (the Portland Stage) season and realized they had some open space on both ends of our season, it got me thinking.”
He proposed “The Irish … and How They Got That Way” because of the region’s rich Irish heritage and his familiarity with the show. Clark performed in it in Chicago for nearly two years. His partner, Mark Robin, will direct.
The theaters will collaborate on all aspects of the show, including casting, artistic direction and promotion.
McCourt, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, celebrates the Irish experience on both sides of the Atlantic. The piece debuted Off-Broadway in 1997 and includes music from Ireland and America, including “Danny Boy,” “The Rose of Tralee,” You’re a Grand Ole Flag” and “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy.” It also includes music by the Irish rock band U2.
The theaters worked together in 1998 on a one-person show. This one has a cast of five and a small musical ensemble. Tickets go on sale April 28.
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