For Immediate Release: February 21, 2007
Media Contact: Ted Taylor, Act II Playhouse, 215.576.7212

“Almost Maine” an Off-Broadway comedy hit will be the fourth play of the 2006-07 season at Act II Playhouse. The run begins with previews on March 9 and continues until April 8. This play is sponsored by the June and Steve Wolfson Family Foundation.

Written by John Cariana “Almost Maine” is about the residents of a small, fictional, town in northern Maine, who are falling in and out of love at an alarming rate. Love is discovered, and hearts are broken – and mended – at an alarming rate in this midwinter night’s dream.

The play stars Alana Gerlach, John Morrison, Kathryn Petersen and Peter Schmitz. It is being directed by Dan Kern.

Prior to the previews, there will be a dress rehearsal open to the community benefiting The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Assn., Ambler, PA. Opening night is March 16, followed by a reception nearby at Agavé Grille in Ambler. Tickets are on sale at the box office, 56 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA, online at www.act2.org, or by calling 215-654-0200.

Tickets are priced at $25-to-$40 depending on the performances. Group discounts are available for parties as small as 10, and season-ticket discount packages for all remaining shows of the season remain available. For more information about group sales and season tickets, call the Act II Playhouse Box Office at 215-654-0200.

For additional media information – Ted Taylor, 215-576-7212.

PRESS CREDENTIALS FOR OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCES SHOULD ALWAYS BE REQUESTED DIRECTLY THROUGH THE BOX OFFICE - 215-654-0200.

The cast & director

ALANA GERLACH last appeared in Around the World In 80 Days at Bristol Riverside Theater and previously in Taking Leave with Theatre Catalyst/Palmer Project as part of the Philadelphia Live Arts & Fringe Festival. Regionally she has performed with the Arden Theatre Company, City Theatre, First World Theatre Ensemble, People’s Light and Theatre Company, Theatre Outlet, and Strawflower Productions. Alana has an M.F.A. in Acting from Florida Atlantic University. While in Florida, she worked with Florida Stage (world premier of William Mastrosimone’s play Benedict Arnold), Curtain Call Playhouse, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and Stage Door Theater.

JOHN MORRISON most recently appeared in Reinventing Eden at InterAct, Forrest: A Riot of Dreams at Walnut Street Theatre and Hamlet/As You Like It in repertory at Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival. Off-off Broadway productions include The Kissing Bandit (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Life Knocks (Theater for the New City), The Husband Plays (American Theater of Actors) and the American premiere of Joseph Brodsky’s Marbles (SoHo Rep). Regional credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Timon of Athens and Our Town (Utah Shakespearean Festival), She Stoops to Conquer, Richard III and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Texas Shakespeare Festival) and Loot, The Foreigner and Absurd Person Singular (Boston Post Road Stage Company). Television: Hack and Law & Order.

KATHRYN PETERSEN returns to Act II, having previously appeared here in Duet for One, Grace & Glorie, and Shrodinger’s Girlfriend. Kathryn has acted in over 60 productions regionally. She serves as an Artistic Associate at The People’s Light & Theatre Company. A produced and published playwright, Kathryn’s most recent works include Robin Hood, a panto produced at People’s Light in 2006, and Hearsay, which will be produced at Arcadia University in April 2007.

PETER SCHMITZ returns to the Act II stage, having just appeared in Scotland Road. He can soon be seen in the Walnut Street Theatre's upcoming production of Carousel. He would like to point out that that makes three plays in a row that are set in the beautiful state of Maine.

DAN KERN (Director) directed the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award winning production of Juno and the Paycock at the Interact Theatre. Other directing credits include Hair at the New Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago, Twelfth Night at A Noise Within, Troilus and Cressida at the Mark Taper Classics Lab and productions at such noted theatres as The West Coast Ensemble, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and, of course, Act II Playhouse’s successful production of Michael Frayn’s Alarms and Excursions. As an actor he's appeared at A Noise Within (Leontes in A Winter’s Tale [LADCC Award for Outstanding Lead Performance] and Volpone in Volpone), the Mark Taper Forum (Zhorzh in The Wood Demon), South Coast Rep (Salieri in Amadeus), The American Conservatory Theatre (Eben in Desire Under the Elms). Mr. Kern is also a member of the acting/directing faculty at Temple University. Film and TV appearances include, Frasier, Profiler, C-16, Star Trek: Voyagers, Melrose Place and White Mile.

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