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What is it that makes you smile and remember someone or something you love? The call of a bird, the smell of freshly baked bread, the heart-shaped rock or photo that sits on your dresser? Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas by Richard Blanco and Vanessa Garcia invites us to discover the poignancy that can be found in the everyday small things. We follow Bea and her friends and family through a short window of time on the cusp of spring in the heart of Maine. As we watch, the mundane events of a small town meld together to create a communal embrace of forgiveness and connection—a mourning for what has been lost and a hope for the future.

Seeing this play, I am reminded that small things matter. The call to your mom, the smile you offer a person you pass on the street, taking the time to talk with a coworker— for through these everyday connections our lives become richer.

In our world, news breaks every second. Weather events change landscapes in the blink of an eye; pandemics, political upheaval, and prices all impact our personal lives. As we witness calamity after calamity, it is hard not to feel overwhelmed and alone.

In the description of the stage, Richard and Vanessa imagine the frames, or the islands we each inhabit. So what happens when we make time to connect? It may not feel as big as events in the news, but I’m convinced that if we all took time to share a simple memory or idea with one another, the world might feel less scary.

The making of this play has been a labor of love. An impromptu and theatrical poetry reading by Richard in 2016 prompted me to ask if he had ever considered writing a play. The seed was planted and a commission for a play about Maine followed a few years later. In the midst of COVID and shifting sands, Vanessa Garcia added her voice to the writing process. Then with a three-hour script in hand, Sally Wood, our literary team, and numerous actors entered. We added a pinch of this and cut a cup of that to come up with the “Made in Maine” play you see today. Much gratitude to all the voices who have joined in the creative process that helped bring Sweet Goats & Blueberry Señoritas to life.

At the end of the performance today, I invite you to join your fellow travelers here in the theater to share a memory, or a story you carry with you. Listen to one, and share one. Perhaps you could even share with someone you don’t know as we all relearn how to connect.

Anita Stewart, Artistic Director