October 9th, 2008

FARMINGTON, ME (October 9, 2008)--University of Maine at Farmington's
Theatre UMF will be performing Lisa Loomer's award-winning comedy,
"Expecting Isabel," as its premier fall 2008 theater production. This
amusing and honest glimpse at the efforts of a 21st century couple to have
a child will be presented at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Oct.
23--25; and 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at the UMF Alumni Theater.

Under the direction of Peter Simmel, UMF associate professor of theater,
"Expecting Isabel" takes the audience on an "Alice in Wonderland-esque"
ride through the booming baby business and all its pitfalls as a modern-day
couple tries to have a baby by any means possible.

With a student-based cast and crew, this University production features 22
students playing more than 30 roles. "The UMF theater program gives our
students, many without any previous stage experience, the opportunity to be
innovative, develop communication skills and grow in self confidence," said
Simmel. "The visual and performing arts experience helps create
well-rounded, engaged individuals with the ability to lead within the arts
arena and beyond."

A comic sometimes tender narrative, "Expecting Isabel," tells the story of
Miranda and Nick, a thirty-something Manhattan couple, who decide it's time
to have a child, though Mother Nature has other ideas. As they discover
that growing their family may not be as easy as they expected, they
struggle with the maze of modern medicine, the hope of adoption, and the
strain that expectation and disappointment can impose on their lives.

Winner of the American Theatre Critics Association Award for "Best New Play
1999", "Expecting Isabel" also received the Kennedy Center Fund for New
American Plays award for 1998 and the Charles MacArthur Award for
Outstanding New Play. A playwright, screenwriter, actress and comedian,
Loomer co-wrote the screenplay for the Academy Award-winning "Girl
Interrupted" and has received numerous awards for her literary works on
contemporary family life.

Theatre UMF, the University of Maine at Farmington student theater
organization, provides studies and practical application experience in the
performance, technical, theory, history and criticism areas of theater.
UMF's Alumni Theater, the theatrical performance venue on campus, is a
versatile studio style space with the ability to provide multiple staging
configurations from thrust to full theater in the round.

Tickets for the performance are $6 for adults, $5 for non-UMF students,
$3.50 for seniors and free for UMF students with an I.D. This
presentation's content is of an adult nature and suitable for mature
audiences only. Tickets are available at the time of the performance and
can be reserved by calling the Theatre UMF box office at 207-778-7465.

CAST

Miranda . . . . . Sarah O Blenes -- Salisbury, Mass.
Nick . . . . . Joe Leonard - Holden
Tina . . . . . Brittney Blais - Garland
Eugene, Clerk . . . . . Matt Black - Jay
Lila . . . . . Jade Wells -- Pittsfield
Richard, Harvey . . . . . Ryan Patstone - Waterboro
Lisa, Nurse . . . . . Eryn Neptune - Readfield
Sal . . . . . Mark Lemos - Durham
Group Therapist, Taylor . . . . . Lindsay Ward -- Newfields, N.H.
Lupe, Nurse . . . . . Margaux DePue - Sidney
Gary . . . . . Adam Randall -- Braintree, Mass.
Isabel, Nurse, Woman in Park . . . . . Dorie Pierce -- Bristol, Vt.
Dominic . . . . . Jared Boghosian - Belgrade
Pat, Group Leader . . . . . Nikki Hartwell - Hiram
Dr. Watson . . . . . Aaron Watson - Phippsburg
Cabbie . . . . . Ryan Verrill - Belgrade
Judy . . . . . Rebekah Church - Vienna
Val, Junkie . . . . . Kenneth Lamb - Portland
Heather, Mother in Grocery, Mother in Park . . . . . Maria Skillings -- Cape
Elizabeth
Boss, Waiter . . . . . Kyle Morison - Sidney
Yolanda . . . . . Micaela O'Shaughnessy - Caribou
Paula . . . . . Kristin McCormack -- E. Montpelier, Vt.

Director . . . . . Peter Simmel, UMF associate professor of theater
Scenic/lighting design and Theatre UMF technical director . . . . . Daniel
Brunk -- Geneseo, N.Y.
Stage manager . . . . . Allisia MacDonald -- Charlestown, N.H.
Assistant stage manager . . . . . Kathleen Powers - Lovell

More about the Performing Arts at UMF

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Maine at
Farmington offers courses in art, dance, music and theater, as well as
interdisciplinary courses which integrate the arts with other fields. UMF
performing organizations, including: Theatre UMF, orchestra, band, chorus,
chamber choir and the UMF Dancers present many productions and concerts
each year. These productions, along with a wide range of exhibitions
offered by the UMF Art Gallery, are open to both the campus and general
public. The University is a vital partner with the western Maine arts
community with a long-standing collaborative relationship with many of the
regional arts organizations.

# # #

For more information, please contact of Peter Simmel, UMF associate
professor of theater, at 207-778-7461, or simmel@maine.edu.


EDITOR'S NOTE: You will find photo at
http://www.umf.maine.edu/campus/docs/RP089-007.jpg

Photo Credit: UMF photo

Photo Caption: (Left to right) Joe Leonard and Sarah O Blenes are featured
as Nick and Miranda in University of Maine at Farmington's fall production
of Lisa Loomer's "Expecting Isabel."