PORTLAND – Mad Horse Theatre Company will kick off its 22nd season with John Steinbeck’s controversial masterpiece, “Of Mice and Men.” The 1937 American classic is the haunting tale of George and Lennie, two lonely migrant workers who dream of a place they can call their own, until their plans spin out of control.

The novel has repeatedly been banned from many American school libraries for “promoting euthanasia” and for being “full of racism, profanity and foul language,” but remains required reading in many other American, Australian, British, New Zealand and Canadian high schools. It appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 at No. 6.

“We are honored to be bringing this powerful play to the stage,” said director Christine Louise Marshall. “We only hope we can do justice to Mr. Steinbeck’s beautiful story.”

“Of Mice and Men” will be presented at the Portland Performing Arts Center’s Studio Theater with an additional, two-week exclusive run at Maine State Ballet Theater in Falmouth.

Previews will be offered at the Portland Performing Arts Center’s Studio Theater Thursday, Sept. 27, and Friday, Sept. 28. The show will open at the arts center Saturday, Sept. 29, and close Sunday, Oct. 14.

“Of Mice and Men’s” exclusive run at Maine State Ballet Theater in Falmouth will open Thursday, Nov. 1, and close Sunday, Nov. 11.

Mad Horse Theatre Company’s regular ticket price is $18. All performances opening weekend, Sept. 27-30, will be pay what you can.

Portland Performing Arts Center’s Studio Theater is at 25A Forest Ave. The Maine State Ballet Theater is on 348 U.S. Route 1.

For more information on showtimes and tickets, call 730-2389; or log on to www.madhorse.com.