Audiences will see a repeat of an onstage building-block construction of the city of Lewiston.
LEWISTON – The acclaimed original musical production that marked Lewiston’s bicentennial celebration is coming back in a concert performance format.
“Lewiston – A New Home” will be presented by soloists and chorus members on Jan. 13, 14 and 15 at Franco-American Heritage Center on Cedar Street.
Richard Martin, who directed the original show, is also heading this production of “Lewiston – A New Home,” and Steve Dupont, who had the lead role 10 years ago, returns as Donovan. Singing the role of young Madeleine is Rachel Hanscom.
The concert version will include new vocal arrangements and new orchestrations for the 20-piece orchestra.
Paul G. Caron, who composed the show’s music and lyrics, said the new orchestrations add instruments, such as a string section, that were not in the staged production at Lewiston Middle School.
Looking back on the decade since the show’s debut, Caron said many of his Lewiston neighbors have told him they were delighted to see the story of their lives on stage.
“Dreams of My Younger Days,” a ballad from the show, is dedicated to the people of Lewiston, he noted.
Caron said his inspiration came from his youth “when I would walk by the mill and I could hear the rattle of the looms and I could smell the cotton.”
The Franco-American Heritage Center in the former St. Mary’s Church near Lewiston’s mills is a particularly appropriate place for this revival, said Caron, who was an altar boy at St. Mary’s and a student at St. Mary’s School. One of the show’s light-hearted songs portrays a class in that Catholic school many years ago.
Martin also “grew up in the shadow of St. Mary’s,” Caron said. Besides directing the bicentennial show 10 years ago, Martin had a part in writing the show’s book along with Michael Rosenthal and Lynne Geiger.
In addition to “Lisbon Street,” which was a show-stopping production number, the show’s memorable songs include a rock-‘n’-roll-style song about Christmas at Peck’s, a nostalgic going-to-war dance, and a gritty true-to-life look at mill work called “The Factory Waltz.”
Caron said the finale song, “Lewiston in Me,” is among his favorites, and it was the toughest for him to write.
The show’s story unfolds with a brief history of Lewiston’s development from 1795 to 1895. That prologue is highlighted by a memorable onstage building-block construction of the city. Martin said the audience can expect to see the large blocks again in this production.
The next 100 years of the story follow the lives of Donovan and Madeleine, whose Irish and Franco-American backgrounds parallel the lives of many Lewiston residents.
More than 60 local actors playing 120 roles sang and danced in the Sept. 28, 29, 30 and Oct. 1 performances at Lewiston Middle School Auditorium in 1995. An encore production took place in mid-February of 1996. All shows were sold out.
Colin Britt is musical director for the concert performance. Martin noted that Britt was not yet in high school when “Lewiston – A New Home” had its debut.
Caron, who composed the music and lyrics, is vocal director for this production.
Annette Bourque, who was the theatrical version’s choreographer, has prepared video clips that will augment the concert presentation and narration of the play. Adam Blais is stage manager.
The chorus consists of Rebecca Poppke, who is chorus director at Lewiston High School, as well as Jeremy Gervais, Kaitlin Ryder, Brandon Dubois, Bob Morin, Alma Morin, Josie Baum, Al Farrington and Joline Caron.
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