The Drama club opens its winter play, “Almost, Maine,” on Jan. 9, 2026. The show takes place over one night as 10 couples experience the highs and lows of love. Directed by Anna McReynolds, the play is a personal and deep tale where viewers and actors alike connect with the characters. 

“I think that we have done a bunch of background on character work and relationship communication work. I believe it shows in how the characters are and the emotions,” McReynolds said. “And the actors feel like they can show these powerful emotions, do to all the great prep work.”  

The play is a rollercoaster of emotions as each character dives into new tropes and connections. With the storyline They Fell, the audience gets to see a comedic friends-to-loves tale; however, with This Hurts, viewers get to enjoy a strangers-to-lovers tale. Another scene which is different is Where It Went. This part stars Elena White ‘26 and Camden Brown ‘27. The two come face-to-face as they realize where things went wrong. 

“I feel that the show is very heartfelt and details the ups and downs of falling in love,” White said. 

Another strangers-to-lovers scene, stars Sursh Gadi ‘27 and Camron Lay ‘27; however, the most important part of the scene is not the romantic story, it’s the real grief. While big and dramatic, the scene manages to make you laugh. This is something the show “Almost, Maine” does on a constant basis. From divorce, death, abuse, and loss, this show keeps the audience’s attention.   

With deep topics, the show was a leap. While the cast performed at a high level, everything came to a halt on Wednesday night of tech week. During a cast meeting, McReynolds spoke to the performers about the next step.

“It’s about jumping off that cliff, and knowing everyone is below you waiting to take care of you,” McReynolds said. “This show requires you not to hold back, so don’t. We are here for you, that’s our job.”

“Almost, Maine” became more than a simple high school activity for the students involved. Each actress, actor, and crew member found a story they connected with. Backstage, you could find students as they chose to watch certain scenes. Whether they wanted to watch a friend or rewatch a moment they felt a connection to, the wings were full of quiet students in awe. 

However, for all of these moments to come together, the cast had to work hard together. From late nights spent on character worksheets to tedious blocking rehearsals, the actors and actresses put in hours upon hours of work on the show. “Almost, Maine” challenged the students as they faced new roadblocks, and while stressed, the cast agreed they improved as performers. 

“The northern lights were hard to come up with. We brainstormed a lot of effects to create the visual. It was a massive group project as the set crew built a CD wall and the lights crew managed the magic of them coming to life, ” Stage manager Tiya Kotwani ‘27 said.  

But the cast was not alone. The show had an over 60-person crew who worked long hours to create magical moments. One of the technical highlights of the performance was the northern lights. The lights serve as a vital part of the story. Made with CDs and reflection, student technical director Logan Wolford and the lights team created the iconic northern lights. 

The show also features music, mics, and sound effects. The sound crew manages over 100 cues throughout the show, along with 10 microphone changes. The team is led by Connor Roy ‘26 and Kai Wardlow ‘27. 

“The music in the show sets the vibes, and it defines the mood of the scene, as well as helps the audience feel the evocative emotions, ” Roy said.

Another part of the tech team helped support the illusion of the small town of Almost, Maine. The set crew had to create multiple sets to fit 10 scenes. From a laundry mat to outside a cabin, the team built an impressive set which moves, along with a whole cabin. 

“Almost, Maine” is full of magical moments with the help of the tech team, performers, and directors. The show opens this Friday at 7:00, as well as other shows on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $5 for students, $10 for adults, and are free for staff (https://ohsperformingarts.ludus.com/index.php_). The show will take the audience through heartbreak, laughter, and love; however, it would be impossible without the talented students and staff of ‘Tangy.