ROCKPORT – Camden Hills Regional High School presents its spring Dinner Theatre production of John Cariani's Almost, Maine beginning May 9 through May 11. Almost, Maine is a series of love stories told through vignettes that take place in the mythical town of Almost, Maine, an unorganized township in northern Aroostook County.

"We just never got around to becoming a town, but we almost did, that's why we're Almost, Maine," Director Margaux DePue told Penobscot Bay Pilot about the production.

"We are a cast of 13 and a very small technical crew, so we're a nice small intimate group," she said. "It is a dinner theater, so our diners will be eating lobster, cheese or butternut squash ravioli, fresh fiddlehead salad and blueberry cobbler for dessert."

The shows are at 6 p.m., with a special 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday, May 11 that does not include dinner, and are presented in the Black Box Theater, behind Strom Auditorium in Rockport.

DePue also directed Camden Hills' students in The Great Gatsby as their entry into the one act competition in March.

"This is my second time directing and my first time doing a dinner theater so this is a whole new experience for me, but I'm lucky to have Kim Murphy here, she directed last year's dinner theater, and she's been helping with organization," said DePue. "She has been just amazing as has all the help we've received. We don't have any more shows this year, but next year we have Shrek the Musical in the fall, so that should be a lot of fun and something to very much look forward to. There's a lot of great technical stuff and a lot of great music."

On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost's residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways.

Comedy is a hard thing to do well. It takes an incredible sense of timing, and the students pulled it off quite nicely.

"The chemistry between these kids is amazing," said DePue. "We are a family, I can tell you that much. I haven't met anybody like these kids and you can tell they love each other. We really came together with this production and we came together so quickly, too."

Technical director for Almost, Maine is Tom Heath. Dinner is being provided by Susan Boivin and the Wave Cafe. The cast includes: Alden Parker as East and Lendall, Beth Vix as Marvalyn and Suzette, Caitlin Pieri as the Waitress and Gayle, Eddie McCluskey as Chad and Dave, Emily Grotz as Glory and Hope, Hope Orsmond as Ginette, Jac Bakley as Steve, Lauren Zontini as Rhonda, Noah Holt as Daniel, Peter Gimlewicz as Pete, Randy and Phil, Tori Arau Sandrine as Marci, and Trevor Fowles as Jimmy.

DePue is from Sydney, Maine. She said the show is very close to home for her.

"I've lived in Maine all my life," she said. "I came here because I wanted to teach. I've always had a lot of passion for English, for theater, I've grown up with theater my entire life and I just want to help share that passion, that same love with the kids in the community."

Students will be serving and clearing tables before the production and in between the acts. Student wait staff includes Alex Henthorn, Ann Hoffmann, Louisa Klemperer, Audrey lane, Sarah Mitchell, Alice Podolsky, Emily Quinn, Kate Sensenig and Caleb Stern.

Tickets are $16 per person for the dinner performances or $6 for the May 11 matinee and are available by emailing tickets@fivetowns.net or calling 236-7800, Ext. 282.