Hammer blows ring out from The Public Theatre’s stage as carpenters finish the set for the opening show of their 35th season: Stephen King’s spine-chilling classic, “Misery.”

The 2025-2026 Season

Buy single show or season tickets at thepublictheatre.org or call 207-782-3200

Stephen King’s Misery
Adapted by William Goldman
Oct. 24 – Nov. 9
Truth is stranger than fiction when a famous romance novelist veers off the road in a winter storm and wakes up incapacitated in the home of his “number-one fan”.

A Christmas Carol
Adapted by Christopher Schario
Dec. 12 – 14
Six actors and a fiddler conjure up Christmas magic and perform the Dickens out of this beloved holiday classic.

Still
By Lia Romeo
Jan. 30 – Feb. 8
Lost love is rekindled in this funny, heartbreaking, sexy and smart play, when a couple who broke up in their 30s reunite in their 60s. Don’t miss the Maine premiere of this Off-Broadway hit.

Whit’s End
By Norm Foster
Mar. 20 – 29
From the author of last season’s hit, “Halfway There”, comes the US premiere of a hilarious and heartwarming new comedy about love, family and getting married.

Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk
By Catherine Bush
May 8 – 17
At the age of 67, “Grandma” Emma Gatewood set out with her duffel bag and a pair of Keds sneakers to become the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail.

Hansel and Gretel
Created and performed by the Tanglewood Marionettes
May 30
Based on the classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, this beloved story comes to life with dazzling marionettes, music and a colorful set in the shape of a giant storybook.

Lewiston’s professional theater is the perfect location for this production. Since 1993, The Public Theatre’s home has been the beautifully renovated Ritz theater, a former movie-house showing sci-fi and horror films regularly attended by a young local boy named Stephen King.

Morbidly funny and brutally entertaining, “Misery” fits right into The Public Theatre’s reputation for providing high quality, accessible entertainment at an affordable price. No ticket is over $35 and there are even pre-show beer and wine tastings on select Thursday and Saturday nights included in the price of your ticket. If you’ve never been to a show here, this is the season to do it—and Portland-area audiences will be extra intrigued by the plentiful free parking in their lot.

Artistic Director Janet Mitchko is still visibly moved by the effort made over 30 years ago in ’92, when community members donated their time and materials to renovate the Ritz, including reupholstering the original movie seats. The next year, she and her then-husband, Christopher Schario, moved to Maine from New York City to take over as Co-Artistic Directors (Schario retired last year and Raymond Dumont is the theater’s new Executive Director). Arriving in Maine, their first goal was to sign a contract with Actor’s Equity Association, turning The Public Theatre into a fully professional company.

What’s special about being an Equity theater, of which there are only five in Maine, is that most of the actors who work here come from New York, and earn their living working on Broadway, in films and on television. While in Maine, the actors will rehearse 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. People working at the theater have ranged from regulars on popular television shows to Tony award-winning performers.

Mitchko says, “Our founders wanted to create a high-quality cultural experience right in their own community, challenging the perception that they would have to travel to a bigger city to experience great theater.”

Because of The Public Theatre’s national reputation for artistic excellence, it is now considered a cornerstone in the cultural life of Central Maine and proudly shares its spotlight with Lewiston, bringing awareness to the destination city it deserves to be.

The sound of hammering continues.

Unlike the iconic hammer scene in “Misery”, this noise was being made by set builders readying the walls to be mounted on the rotating set.

Upstairs at the theater, which houses its offices and extensive costume and prop archive, Artistic Director Janet Mitchko (also the director of “Misery”) shows off the model of the set, describing how its moving turntable will heighten the tension for the audience as Annie and Paul chase and hide from each other throughout the house. She also shares secrets about the many special effects in the show. “Even if you think you know the story, I’m certain you’ll see things that will surprise you” she teases.

Mitchko refers to her selection of plays each season like throwing a delicious dinner party, offering her audiences a balanced meal that is sweet, savory, surprising and satisfying. 

“I choose plays that speak from the heart,” she explains. “I pick stories audiences can relate to and respond to with laughter or tears that will hopefully provide a great conversation on the way home.” Whether it’s the latest Broadway or Off-Broadway hit or an exciting new play, The Public Theatre promises you a great story, well told.

Following the thrill of “Misery” will be The Public Theatre’s beloved production of Schario’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” This unique one-act version created at The Public Theatre has since been published and performed all over the world. Schario’s imaginative adaptation features only six actors and a fiddler and cuts right to the heart of Dickens’ classic.

The new year will kick off with the recent Off-Broadway hit “Still.” The Maine premiere of this smart, humorous, and provocative story tackles something many of us might relate to: how do you maintain a romantic relationship when you disagree with that person about almost everything but love?

As spring begins, audiences can catch the U.S. premiere of legendary Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s hilarious comedy “Whit’s End”, about the all too familiar family opinions we have about our loved one’s loved ones.

Closing out the season, Mitchko is thrilled to be mounting the new play “Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk”, based on the true story of Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, who in 1955, at the age of 67, was the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail—in Keds sneakers at that!

“Having the final moment of the play take place on the top of Mount Katahdin just seemed like the perfect way to end the season,” says Mitchko. “If, as a director, I can make something truthful happen on stage between the actors and share that magic with my audience, something will occur that everyone will remember.”

The Public Theatre has built its reputation on this magic. With affordable tickets, easy parking and some really good restaurants nearby, this is a professional theater experience without the big-city hassle. Devoted locals know the score, so this season is the perfect reason for first-timers to make the trip.

For more information, visit thepublictheatre.org.