Mineola’s theater scene has a new player: Mezzo Theatrical. The family-run production company is beginning to rehearse “Almost, Maine,” its inaugural play in a new location, which will open May 1.
Co-founders and spouses Cathryn and John Mezzo said they have high hopes for theMineola theater, and are looking to the future for cooperation among local businesses and government. They said they want to “light the darkness” both literally on stage and figuratively, bringing art to difficult moments.
“We’re hoping to find a home in downtown Mineola. That’s our goal,” said Cathryn Mezzo, who also works as creative director, said. The Mezzos are renting a stage at the village’s First Presbyterian Church on First Street. and Main Street, but the church is not in partnership with the company.
“The building next door to the 140-year-old church is a community event building,” Cathryn said.“There is a beautiful little black-box theater that has been standing vacant. John discovered it, and we felt it was the perfect place to set up shop.”
The Mezzos describe “Almost, Maine” as a funny, poignant play set in a fictional Northern Maine town called Almost. The play of vignettes by John Cariani is surreal and romantic, with a melancholic blur between the realistic and the fantastic, they said.
The couple said they hope to forge relationships with Mineola’s business community, a partnership that could eventually include promotional events such as dinner-and-a-show deals.
“We believe to revitalize a village, you have to make it a destination for the arts,” Cathryn said. “We want to help boost the restaurants in our downtown area as well as our theater company.”
They said they enlisted the help of two friends, award-winning editorAndrew Morrealeand assistant director Melissa Ryan, who are each working on a portion of the vignettes.
Source: LI Press
