FREEPORT – Jason and Matt Tardy have been in the Caribbean, performing their juggling act on a Disney Cruise Lines ship.

However, fans of Freeport Theater of Awesome, which the Tardy brothers opened last year, need not worry – it remains in good hands.

Deb Doherty and her husband, Tom Scannell, of Steep Falls, who recently took over the lease of the 99-seat theater on Depot Street from the Tardys, have much more in store for the public. Magicians, jugglers and yo-yo artists will perform, as they have since the Tardys began Freeport Theater of Awesome last March. But Doherty and Scannell also plan a music series, a cabaret series and a children’s theater.

“We’re thrilled to be stepping into the Freeport community,” Doherty said. “It’s such a happening place.”

Scannell agreed.

“Freeport is known worldwide as a source of highest quality provisions, and we here at the Theater of Awesome intend to continue that experience in our entertainment venue,” he said.

The new owners’ opening show is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, when the Yo-Yo People – John Higby and his wife, Rebecca Loomis Higby, who grew up in Yarmouth – entertain. According to their website, they hold four Guinness world records and have performed on the “Late Show with David Lettermen,” the Discovery Channel, PBS Kids and at Walt Disney World.

The theater’s new Cabaret Series opens with “Our Funny Valentine” on Feb. 7-8, and the Children’s Series debuts with “The Commedia: Tales of King Arthur,” on Feb. 14-16. They encourage the public to visit the website, www.theaterofawesome.com, for ticket information. Most evening performances are at 7, with Saturday matinees beginning at 2.

Matt Tardy, who has just moved to Texas, said Monday that he and Jason, who lives in Auburn, had just returned from a Disney cruise. The Tardys are pleased that Doherty and Scannell have such zeal for Theater of Awesome.

“We wanted somebody to do it with the same vision,” Matt Tardy said.

Tardy said that he and his brother loved their Freeport venture, but were looking for a little more freedom.

“The theater was awesome, no pun intended,” he said. “But it just took up a lot of time. We had a great time doing it.”

Tardy said that he and his brother will perform “everywhere.”

“We tour all over,” he said. “We have eight weeks of cruises this year, and we also have shows all around.”

Doherty, Scannell and their three adult children all have a background in theater, and will grace the new theater with their talents.

“It’s a family affair,” Doherty said. “We’ve always done it together and worked as a team. I’m very blessed.”

For the past 14 years, Doherty has been program and entertainment director at Point Sebago Resort, which hosts some 2,500 to 3,000 guests during the summer on the shores of Sebago Lake. Scannell is an actor and a photographer who, Doherty said, “does a little bit of everything.”

“We met 33 years ago in theater and have been living the dream ever since,” Doherty said.

T.J. Scannell has been technical director at Point Sebago, and will serve in that same capacity at Freeport Theater of Awesome. Meghan Doherty, who studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music, will bring Broadway cabaret to the theater. Jack Scannell will assume his mother’s position at Point Sebago, moving up from associate director.

Doherty and Scannell want to build on what the Tardys offered.

“The Tardy brothers were wonderful at what they did,” she said. “We want to continue in that same vein, but just add another facet to it – the theater, the cabaret and a children’s theater.”

The children’s theater, Doherty said, will be performed by and for children.

Doherty said that the Tardys “put the message out” that they were moving on with their careers, and the two parties came in contact with each other in December.

“They didn’t want to stop the business because they had built up such a clientele,” she said.

Now, Doherty and Scannell will do their thing in their own venue.

“It’s the first time we are working for ourselves,” she said. “That’s pretty exciting, after 30 years in the business. We’re excited about it.”

The Tardys took over the former Freeport Factory Stage last February.

Deb Doherty and her husband, Tom Scannell, will bring 30 years of theatrical experience as the new owners of Freeport Theater of Awesome.