Director Tips for Almost, Maine (ft. John Cariani)

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Playwright and Actor John Cariani advises actors and directors to imagine how they'd respond if the events in "Almost, Maine" happened to them. When confronted with the bizarre or different in life, people often pull away. In plays, however, one should delve into that oddity, ensuring there's drama for the audience.
Becoming the Character: Actors should not distance themselves from their roles. Instead of contemplating what the character would do, they should be in the moment, asking what they, as the character, are doing.
Highlighting Positive Drama: John emphasizes that theater often overlooks 'the drama of goodness and joy'. It's crucial to bring those values to the stage, given that happiness and sorrow occur in equal measure in life.
Making Room for Joy: While musicals tend to celebrate comedy, joy, and happiness, plays often don't. John feels that academics, who often influence theater, can at times lack a sense of humor, and thus theater should trust its 'workers' or actors more.
Challenges of Portraying Joy: John believes that portraying genuine joy on stage is challenging. It's physically demanding and necessitates a shift in mindset. Authentic joy, when represented on stage, is infectious and powerful.
The Romantic Perspective: Drawing from F. Scott Fitzgerald's concept, Cariani mentions that while the sentimental person expects everything to work out, the ‘romantic’ expects things to fall apart. This perspective can enrich an actor's portrayal- making moments of happiness even more poignant against an underlying sense of dread.
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More about John
John Cariani is a Tony Award-nominated actor and an accomplished playwright. As a playwright, he is best known for his first play, Almost, Maine, which premiered at Portland Stage Company in 2004, opened Off-Broadway in 2006, and has since become one of the most popular plays in the United States and around the world. The play has received over 5000 productions to date and has been translated into over a dozen languages. It’s also the most frequently produced play in North American high schools, outpacing classics like A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Crucible, and Our Town. A darker cousin to Almost, Maine, John’s third play, LOVE/SICK is a huge hit in Mexico City, where it has been made into a film starring Eréndira Ibarra (Sense8). The play will soon be touring Spain with Spanish television star Esther Acebo (Money Heist). John is also a novelist, and his debut novel, Almost, Maine-a novel, was recently published by Fiewel and Friends, an imprint of MacMillan.
As an actor, John is best known for his role on NBC’s long-running drama, Law & Order, on which he played Forensics Tech Beck for five seasons. He also had recurring roles on CBS’ Numbers and on IFC’s The Onion News Network. He has appeared in several Broadway shows, including Fiddler on the Roof. His portrayal of Motel the Tailor earned him an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Tony Award nomination. He originated the role of Nigel Bottom in the hit, Something Rotten! and received an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for his performance. He also originated the role of Itzik in The Band’s Visit, winner of the 2018 Tony Award for Best Musical, and he recently appeared as Stuart Gellman in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s acclaimed revival of Caroline, or Change.
John grew up in Presque Isle and now lives in The Bronx.
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