Gateway thespians deliver heartfelt performance of ‘Almost, Maine’

Leslie Savisky TribLive Tue, Jan 20, 2026 • 06:02 PM

The team behind Gateway High School’s production of “Almost, Maine” include (front) set director Charles Chase; (first row, from left) Parker Abel, Ethan Settlemire and Kei’on Hughes; (second row, from left) set designer Liv Chase, stage manager Ava Anderson, lighting designer Josh Fry and sound and light technician Logan Artim; (back row) producer Mary Chase, Janiah Witcher, Ava Lockhart, Mya Turner, Quinn Yocum, Gabrielle Gressem, Carson Settlemire, Brandon Guthrie, Miranda Humphries, Nathan Guthrie, Em Pugh and director Kaylie Wallace.

On Jan. 16 and 17, Gateway’s talented high schoolers delivered three genuinely heartfelt performances of “Almost, Maine.”

The 2004 play by John Cariani consists of nine short stories about love and loss in a fictional New England town.

Overseen by first-time Gateway director Kaylie Wallace, 15 high school musical students gave it their all in a profound performance. Due to only having two or three actors on stage at any given time, the audience also was “seated” on the stage, which only added to the intimate, yet casual, setting.

In addition to the cast, the stage crew, lighting designer Josh Fry, sound and lighting technician Logan Artim and set designer Liv Chase rounded out the team.

Producer Mary Chase praised sophomore Ava Anderson, who took on the role of stage manager this year.

“Ava was on stage crew for the past two years. Halfway through preparing for ‘Once Upon a Mattress,’ the assistant stage manager pulled out,” said Chase, who joked that she then “permanently borrowed” Ava from the stage crew, ultimately leaving her husband — set director Charles Chase — short-staffed.

“Ava’s been amazing,” Mary Chase said. “She’s been doing a great job.”

“It’s been a very fun experience. It made me realize how much work Kennedy did,” said Anderson, referring to Kennedy Edwards, the previous stage manager.

Everyone behind the Gateway musical offered a special thank-you to the Gateway School Board and administration, Gateway High School Principal Justin Stephans, music department chair Erich Lascek, Evergreen Elementary School Principal Mike Matteo, high school office staff member Christine Giunta, the custodial and maintenance staff, Gateway Theater Guild, Larry Cervi, Rebecca Abel, Deborah Settlemire, Joshua Crist, Chase N Wraps and all of the musical families.