Corvallis High School held a theatre production that ran during the weekends from May 3-11, with many students and parents alike filling the seats to witness the heartwarming and heartbreaking stories in Almost, Maine.

Almost, Maine centers around themes of love, loss, and the journey of the heart through eight emotion-invoking vignettes. On one fateful night in which the aurora borealis can be seen from the small not-quite town of Almost, Maine, many hearts are broken, mended, and changed. Each story has the power to bring both smiles and tears to the eyes of audience members from all walks of life, sharing the power of the human spirit and traversing through universal understandings of love, loss, sadness, and hope.

I was honored to interview one of the talented actors who performed in the CHS production, Mars Wuhs (they/he).

What was your role in Almost, Maine?

“I played Sam in “Almost Maine”. They are a young person, around high school age, trying to figure out who and what they are, especially in relation to their gender. This is all complicated by their feelings for their friend Casey.”

What story was the most impactful to you?

“Although I found every story impactful, the most impactful story for me was the one I was in because I relate to Sam’s character and was able to delve into the character and story by playing them.”

What were the production’s biggest aspects of success?

“I think one of the play’s biggest successes was how many new actors and tech people we were able to bring together. We were also able to get quite a large audience at all of our shows.”

What do you hope people will take away from Almost, Maine?

“I think the cast and crew of “Almost Maine” will take away the community, inside jokes, and friendships we made. I personally hope that the audiences that saw “Almost Maine” are left with a message about how complex, but ultimately worthwhile, love is, and how there are many factors that play into love and relationships.”

A truly memorable experience for all those who watched it, Almost Maine was a beautifully crafted production that everyone who worked on it should be proud of.