SecondStory Theatre Company

Staged Readings

Black background with the following text in white: "The Laramie Project By Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project. Staged reading and conversation June 30, 2023 730pm Mechanics' Hall 519 Congress St Portland. Directed, produced, and facilitated by Tommy Waltz. Proceeds will benefit MaineTransNet and The Equality Community Center. Co-presented by Mechanics Hall.

The Laramie Project

On June 30, 2023 we performed a staged reading of The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman and Members of the Tectonic Theater Company, followed by a talkback at Mechanics Hall in Portland, ME. The reading and talkback were directed, produced, and facilitated by company member, and board president, Tommy Waltz, with proceeds from the reading benefiting MaineTransNet and The Equality Community Center.

Black and dark blue background with white lightning zig zags. The top center, in white writing, reads What You Leave by Dani Martineck. In the bottom right corner there is a white pigeon flying.

On August 15th and 16th, 2025, we held our second staged reading of a new, original full length play, What You Leave by Dani Martineck at First Parish Church in Portland, ME.

A time-traveling pigeon. A depressed 19th-century genius inventor. An ambitious 20th-century master builder. When faced with a near future-present that absolutely cannot must not happen (and that feels eerily like our own), these three heroes out of time must stand together — or fall apart — as they work to craft the unknowable potential of time into a future worth saving.

A pencil drawing on a tan background. A man sits in a chair with his legs crossed in the lower left corner. A pigeon is flying in the upper right corner. Across the page are lines of electricity, like lightning bolts. Black text on the bottom half of the page reads "What You Leave By: Dani Martineck. A staged reading. Directed by: Ian-Meredythe Dehne Lindsey. August 15 & 16, 2025 7:30pm First Parish Church, Portland, ME. The words SecondStory Theatre Company are in the bottom left corner beneath the seated man.

At the end of the show, we encouraged folks to check out several mutual aid organizations: Maine Needs, Food not Bombs Portland, and Theater Ensemble of Color’s Support for Survivors: Building a Healing Arts Sanctuary

Directed by company member Ian-Meredythe Dehne Lindsey, with stage management by company member, and board president, Tommy Waltz, the cast featured Maya Williams as Pigeon, Caroline Chung as Nikola Tesla, and Sararose Willey as Robert Moses, with Violet Ferlito reading stage directions.

SecondStory company members, the cast of What You Leave, and Dani Martineck, the director, all stand on red carpeted steps. Behind them is a large wooden pulpit with one of the cast members standing behind it.

Cabaret Fundraisers

Part of a rusty step from a fire escape, with a cobblestone street and brick building in the background. On the step is a yellow post-it with the words Love Is.... At the top of the image, in white text is, SecondStory Theatre Company presents. At the bottom right corner of the image is white text that reads Friday, July 26, 2024 8pm One Longfellow Square Portland, ME

Love Is…

On July 26, 2024, we held our first fundraising cabaret event titled Love Is… live at One Longfellow Square in Portland, ME, and livestreamed. This was our premiere event as SecondStory Theatre Company and was an intimate cabaret where a love of theatre, music, and our fellow humans was celebrated. The goal was to raise enough seed money to create and finalize our 501c3 non-profit organization status, which we were able to do, and which we couldn’t have done without the support of our amazing community!

The cast of Love Is... stand on stage in a line with the arms around each other. They are all wearing bright solid colors.
Image of a setting sun, behind some trees. The sky is orange, fading to blue. The trees are silhouetted against the sky. There are a few clouds in the sky. Writing over the image reads SecondStory Theatre Company presents Life Is... a Fundraising Cabaret. Text across the bottom reads September 20 & 21, 2025 with the logo for One Longfellow Square and the logo for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention underneath. Across the bottom is the web address for One Longfellow Square.

Life Is…

On September 20th and 21st, 2025, we held our second annual cabaret fundraiser Life Is… live, and livestreamed, at One Longfellow Square in Portland, Maine. This year we partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an organization bringing hope to those affected by suicide through research, education, advocacy, and community programs. We collected donations for our SecondStory team for the Greater Portland Out of the Darkness Walk. In addition, this year’s fundraiser will help support us in bringing to life our final production of the season.

Black words on a golden background. The words read SecondStory Theatre Company Life Is... A Fundraising Cabaret September 20-21, 2025 One Longfellow Square Portland, ME. Directed By Cory Osborne Assistant Directed By Rachel Jane Henry Music Directed By Sarah Phinney. To the side of the writing are two dandelions with their seeds starting to blow away. Across the bottom of the image are the logos for One Long Fellow Square and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The SecondStory company is standing on stage, in a staggard line, wearing a variety of outfits. Everyone is singing.

StageTime

A black background with various sized tan confetti. In white writing it reads StageTime with SecondStory Theatre Company. An open scene study event. Thursday April 24, 2025 630-830pm Three of Strong Spirits - Portland ME, swipe to reserve tickets. Across the bottom of the image are the SecondStory Theatre Company logo and the Three of Strong Spirits company logo.

On April 24, 2025, we hosted our first of many StageTime events at Three of Strong Spirits in Portland, ME. Honoring our roots as a ‘scene study group,’ we wanted to bring the fun to the community with an open scene study! StageTime is all about collaboration, community, and creativity. At this free event, folks can choose to participate or just sit back and enjoy the fun. Participants select scenes, team up with fellow theatre lovers, and bring those moments to life in front of an enthusiastic audience. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or new to the stage, this recurring event is designed for maximum fun and for everyone to shine.

A black background with various sized tan confetti. In white writing, in the center and top half it reads StageTime with SecondStory Theatre Company. To the left it reads June 30, 2025 7-9pm and to the right is the Three of Strong logo. In a white bar that cuts the image in half, it reads An open scene study event. The bottom half of the image has a black background. In the center is an intersex inclusive pride flag. In white writing next to the flag it reads With Special Guests. Underneath is the Equality Community Center logo in red.

On June 30, 2025, we hosted our second StageTime event at Three of Strong Spirits in Portland, ME. For this special Pride edition, we partnered with the Equality Community Center.

A table that has the intersex inclusive pride flag hanging in the front. On the table are two posters, one for the Equality Community Center and one for The Equality Commons. On the table are brochures, pins, stickers, and a sign up sheet for the ECC