The Lanyard Theatre Company is the only one in Maine that exclusively presents original plays.  Now prepping for its 5th production, Lanyard has quickly become a well-respected venue for good local theatre. The Lanyard’s production of The Devil’s Elbow played to standing-room-only audiences last August. 

These are American writers with distinctly American points of view concerning the ever-changing, pressing issues which confront our global community”, O’Leary said.

To support this challenging endeavor (running a theatre company in the black) O’Leary and his merry band are holding a fundraising event November 24th in Phippsburg at the home of Channa and Dikkon Eberhart. This event features a reading of David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre performed by O’Leary and Michael Howard. The Benefit is open to the public by calling 389-9146 for reservations. All proceeds from the event will support the December production of The Chief Engineer.

I hope I’m not betraying a confidence when I tell you that author O’Leary had tears in his eyes when he discussed his upcoming play about Emily Roebling, a fascinating woman of the 1870’s who was basically responsible for the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Chief Engineer, like its playwright, should be delightfully passionate. Personally, I’m looking forward to the play’s five performance run which opens December 28th.

In the meantime, the Benefit in Phippsburg on Saturday, November 24th, will be a good teaser by this talented theatre company. The event is free but reservations are requested by calling 389-9146.