THOUSAND OAKS, CA - The California Lutheran University Theatre Arts Department will present “Almost, Maine” the first weekend in March.

The romantic comedy by John Cariani will be staged at 8 p.m. March 1, 2 and 3, and at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 4, in the Black Box Studio Theatre on the Thousand Oaks campus.

On a cold, clear, moonless Friday night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, residents of Almost find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised; hearts are broken. Love is lost, found, and confounded. But the bruises heal and the hearts mend – almost. In nine charming vignettes, “Almost, Maine” inventively explores the mysteries of the human heart, touching audiences with laughter, heartbreak and hope.

Advanced theatre arts students are producing and directing the production with department chair Michael Arndt advising. The productioncrew includes director Jeremy Hanna, a junior theatre arts major from Newbury Park; lighting director Shaun Hara, a senior theatre arts major from Honolulu; scenic director Seth Kamenow, a senior theatre arts major from Simi Valley;stage manager Sarah McKee, a freshman theatre arts and mathematics major from Sunnyvale; and assistant stage manager Erik Groth, a junior music major from Newbury Park. Ally Crocker, a junior theatre arts major from San Diego, is in charge of costumes.

Cast members include Jessica Butenshon, a junior theatre arts major from Astoria, Ore.; Lara Emery, a freshman from Cedar Park, Texas; Berlin Galvan, a freshman business economics major from Palmdale; Kelsey Goeres, a junior communication major from Santa Maria; Martin Gonzalez, a junior theatre arts major from Hesperia; Patty Jaramillo, a freshman theatre arts and psychology major from Van Nuys; Aubrey Kaye, a freshman computer and theatre arts major from Camarillo; Erik Klein, a sophomore theatre arts major from Newhall; Brenden MacDonald, a junior theatre arts major from Simi Valley; Chris Malison, a sophomore theatre arts major from Visalia; Will Cowles Meyer, a freshman theatre arts major from Spokane, Wash.; Michelle Miller, a freshman theatrearts major from Ukiah; Nolan Monsibay, a freshman music major from Burbank;Emma Peterson, a freshman communication major from Kansas City; Tommy Schofield, a junior theatre arts major from Edmonds, Wash.; Cooper Smith, a freshman English major from Trabuco Canyon; Alyssa Soto, a senior theatre arts major from Moorpark; and Stephen Wardle, a junior communication major from Reno, Nev.

Admission is free. The Black Box Studio Theatre is located in the Theatre Arts Building on the north side of Memorial Parkway. For more information, call the Theatre Arts Department at 805-493-3416.