Sisters Madeline and Lucy Collins shine on stage together as the junior half of the family in Away Down East (A Wicked Good Time!). One young theatergoer remarked on the pair’s ‘real’-looking hugs on stage, and was tickled to hear that they are real hugs!
Following are some thoughts from Madeline and Lucy on their theater experiences. Please join us at EAC to see the sisters in action amidst the large cast of Away Down East (A Wicked Good Time!); tickets are available here: https://www.stageeast.org/buy-tickets.
Also, for more of Madeline and Lucy in the spotlights, please check out this video of the Children’s Theater Workshop’s fall 2021 performances.
Madeline
What’s your first memory of performing?
Probably when I was around 3-4, and was in a children’s theater thing of some kind. I was a unicorn. The director had written the skit to our desired roles; all I remember is running around in circles in my costume.
What have you done with EAC, performance-wise?
Not including Away Down East, I was in Almost, Maine last winter, and I did a monologue I wrote for a Children’s Theater Workshop.
How has it felt putting the musical together?
I have really enjoyed it! As someone with chronic pain it has definitely been difficult, but I really enjoy performing so it is worth it. I really enjoyed watching all the little parts come together into one production, it is very magical.
What do you prefer—speaking lines, singing or dancing on stage?
I enjoy the product as a whole the most, but I probably like singing or speaking the most. Anything with emotion is my favorite.
What is a project you’d love to participate in?
Oh! … Then to answer the question … I really want to be in a production of Beetlejuice or Hamilton someday. 🙂
Did you grow up in Eastport?
No, we moved here in October 2020 from Portland, OR. Our parents both spent most of their lives in Maine though, and before we moved we would visit here a lot.
Lucy
What’s your first memory of performing?
In Madeline’s musical, Annie, I was dancing in the background.
What have you done with EAC, performance-wise?
I’ve done two sessions of Children’s Theater Workshop and now this. (Editor’s note: Lucy also made a memorable appearance for Stage East’s Canned Sardine StorySlam last summer!)
How has it felt putting the musical together?
Very, very scary and also very, very fun and exciting. The people there are really nice and it’s really fun to perform for other people and to learn my lines.
What do you prefer—speaking lines, singing or dancing on stage?
Speaking lines because I get to act them out and put more me into them then I can with the song and the dance.
What is a project you’d love to participate in?
More shows and other things in the community.
Did you grow up in Eastport?
No, my parents are from Maine but I was born in Oregon. I’ve lived here a year and a half.
The work of Eastport Arts Center is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.