By TAMMY WELLS

Senior Staff Writer

SANFORD — Jo Speidel and Jennifer Davie have shared interests: Speidel, who moved here with her husband eight years ago, raised four children, while Davie and her husband also have four young children.

Both want to be active in the community, and Speidel has a background in drama and dance.

So here’s what happened:

The two formed Maine Street Players, a theater group that is mostly made up of children. In fact, along with a slew of parents and other adults who volunteer with in various ways, young people are the actors and dancers, and also take on other roles with the company.

Their first production, “Give My Regards to Broadway,” was performed earlier this month at Nasson Little Theater. Their next production ”“ they’re not saying just yet what it will be ”“ is expected sometime in August.

For Speidel, who owned and operated a dance and drama studio in Colorado for more than 20 years, being a director for a company of young people is lots of fun. And, she said, she likes to work with lots and lots of folks, once directing a production of “The Music Man” with a cast of 130.

“I just turned 60 years old,” she said. “This is on the bucket list. It came along at the right time.”

Speidel is animated as she talks about the young people who performed in “Give My Regards to Broadway.” She talked about how the youngsters shined in their roles ”“ even the shy ones bloomed, she said. 

“They just fell in love with it,” said Speidel. “One girl played one of the bad guys. I cast her in a gangster’s role. She’s really shy, but she came into her own. She was funny, bright and exciting. And for me, this was a joy and a pleasure.”

Davie’s role is organizational. 

Her children love theater, and Davie said she was looking for opportunities for her kids built around a busy family schedule ”“ one that leaves Sundays free for church activities and family time ”“ and so no rehearsals or shows on that day of the week.

And, she said, she wanted something more for kids in the community, not only for her own children but for the ones who find that while sports doesn’t work for them, the arts may.

“When you have arts, it lifts the community,” she said. “I’m passionate about kids in my community and I want them to know something worth having is worth working for.”

“Give My Regards to Broadway” had a cast of 22 young people.

“They all danced, they all sang, they all spoke. That was my goal,” said Speidel.

Davie concurred.

“I want all the kids to feel valued in their roles; I know it sounds idealistic,” she said.

And while shows need a lead character, she said she’s interested in productions where the lead isn’t the entire focal point of the play.

The first show broke even and Maine Street Players has just concluded a fundraiser to help pay for the costs of the next production ”“ like theater time, royalties, scripts, props, costumes and more. Davie said no one in the company gets a paycheck, as their time is all volunteer, so if the August production shows a profit, that money will be reserved for the next show, and so on.

Davie said young people interested in Maine Street Players, whether they live in Sanford or further afield, may call her at 608-9601.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.