Meet the Centennial Celebration Play Festival Adult Playwrights!
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is proudly celebrating 100 years of Children’s Theatre! 2023 marks the Centennial of the country’s longest-running children’s theatre.
Centennial Celebration Weekend
CMTM will mark 100 years of performance and play with a Centennial Celebration Weekend of theatre-focused events for adults, children, and their families from May 18 - 21, 2023.
The festivities include a two-day play festival on May 20 and 21 for children and families. Over a dozen original plays written by local and national youth and adult playwrights will be performed throughout the weekend. CMTM’s exhibits inspired the plays, which will be shown throughout the facility.
Guests attending the Centennial After Dark: Theatre event (May 18, 7-10 pm, 21 +) will also have the opportunity to see pop-up plays written by adult playwrights. Learn more about After Dark: Theatre here.
Theatre History
Having journeyed from parks to flatbed trucks, storefronts, and temporary locations across Portland since 1923, the Children’s Theatre of Maine merged with the Children’s Museum of Maine in 2008. Organizational leaders dreamed of one day finding a permanent home for the museum and theatre that allowed both to flourish and weave together narrative, play, performance, and learning all under one roof. The new Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine at Thompson’s Point is the realization of that dream and the product of 100 years and countless individual’s hard work to retain a precious community resource for current and future generations.
Adult Playwrights
The Centennial play festival will feature eleven original plays by eleven adult playwrights! Read on to learn more about their plays and about the playwrights themselves.
The Emotion Song by Nathan Lapointe
Directed by Robbie Harrison
I have big feelings, you have big feelings, time to get lost in them…or just lost in the woods, maybe singing this song will help…
Playwright Bio:
Nathan Lapointe aka Unique Unknown is a Conscious Hip Hop artist, musician, improviser, comedian, actor, teacher and currently a Theater Program Associate at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.
Adrift by Linda Shary
Directed by Juliet Moniz
“Im soooo thirsty!” “Whatever you do DO NOT drink the ocean water, also is that a shark!?”
Playwright Bio:
Linda Shary is an actor, director, and founder of Guerrilla Downtown, a site-specific performance collaborative. She has also been on the board of advisors before the Children’s Theatre of Maine merged with the Museum and continues to enjoy being part of that brain trust, aiming to engage all ages in the world of theatre.
Dr. John Dactylian Telmer Under The Sea by Elliot Nye
Directed by Robbie Harrison
A classic story! Human vs Shark, or in this case Dr. vs Megalodon! Who will win?
Playwright Bio:
Elliot Nye is a puppeteer, performer, and theater-maker based out of Portland, ME, with a passion for the silly and the strange. A repeat puppet/prop maker for Maddy's Theatre (Dragons Love Tacos, Blueberries For Sal, Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, Gruff, and more) (usually with Michela Micalizio), they are super psyched to put up an original puppet play at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.
Sources of Light by Ciara Neidlinger
Directed by Reba Askari
You didn't think lightbulbs worked off of electricity did you? Its fairy…excuse me…fairly more complicated than that…
Playwright Bio:
A recent graduate of the University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre, Ciara (KEER-uh) (she/her) is thrilled to be performing at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) once again! Previous credits include; Chas Gravitas in Jack & Phil, Slayers of Giants INC (CMTM), Maria/Bart Simpson in Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play (USM), and Sister Berthe and Nun Ensemble in The Sound of Music (Rochester Opera House & Maine State Music Theater).
Roller Coaster Caper by Annika Johnston and Nolan Ellsworth
Directed by Nathan Lapointe
You know what's totally sick? Riding a roller coaster with your best friend! “We both have totally done this before!”...
Playwright Bios:
Annika Johnston works as a Visitor Program Associate at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine. This was her first experience as a playwright, and she greatly enjoyed stepping out of her comfort zone to help celebrate 100 years of children's theatre. She would like to thank her spectacular co-writer, Nolan Ellsworth!
Nolan Ellsworth works with Annika as a Visitor Programs Associate at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, where he is delighted to be a small part of these 100 years of children’s theater. He would like to thank Annika for helping him face two of his fears with this project: roller coasters. and creative writing deadlines. His most recent creative work includes Surprise! Inc. and Aardvark Boat Tours!, and his most recent roller coaster caper includes Excalibur at Funtown Splashtown.
Finding Sheila by Zack Handlen
Directed by Caleb Eugley
Do elephants like surprise parties? Do we follow the rabbit trail? Will we get to eat cake? Find out on the next episode of Finding Sheila…
Playwright Bio:
Zack Handlen is a writer and actor living in Portland. You might have seen him last fall at Maddy's Theatre as Teacher in Snow In the Jungle/ Nieve en la jungla. He's currently working on a play, a novel, and keeping the elephants happy.
An Unlikely Story by Kelsey Tribble
Directed by Juliet Moniz
Seeking the truth about the fate of its species, a primordial creature named Sacco travels across millions of years, finally landing in the present moment. Alas, the search for answers leads only to more questions, but at least Sacco makes a new friend along the way.
Playwright Bio:
Kelsey Tribble hails from the semi-mythical town of Ojai, California. She completed a BA in Anthropology at UC Berkeley, and in the fall, she'll be starting an MA in English at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, where she currently resides. Along with reading and riding, she enjoys planting things, watching them grow, and grappling with the unique dilemmas of the 21st-century human.
The Legend of the Night Moose by Megan E. Tripaldi
Directed by Caleb Eugley
Are you really thinking about taking a night hike?? Haven't you heard the legend of the night moose!? Don't worry, we’ll tell you…
Playwright Bio:
Megan (She/They) is an actor, internationally produced playwright, educator, and almost-mom living and working in Portland, ME. They graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a BA in Theatre in 2012 and have recently received a Masters's Degree in Playwriting from Goddard College. They are happy to keep creating with their theatre company, Polyphonic Theatre Ensemble, and can’t wait to meet their little nugget this May!
Dr. Winkle and the Nightmare Factory of Doom by Jessie Raspbury
Directed by Emily M. Dixon
“They say if you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life. Well, time for work at the Nightmare factory, I wonder what I'll be doing…”
Granny Fairy and the Boomsy Feather Cake by Jessie Raspbury
Directed by Allison McCall
So many ingredients/so little time/I've got to make the best cake for my grandchild/I have what I need/ with time to spare/ maybe just a little nap/ in Granny's favorite chair…
Insect Play I: Metamorphosis by Charlotte Wimple
Directed by Allison McCall
“I'm just a caterpillar with one wish, I want to fly. Do you think it's possible? Also what do I do with these sopping wet wings!?”
To learn about the Centennial Weekend Play Festival youth playwrights, visit: