BLUE HILL — The New Surry Theatre turns 40 this year, and while no longer new, nor located in Surry, the robust theater troupe plans to celebrate its anniversary all year by doing what it does best: bringing first-rate theater to the community.

Bill Raiten and Sheldon Bisberg moved from New York City to Surry in 1972 and decided to start a theater school and summer performance company in their new hometown.

Located just down the street from the highly acclaimed and internationally known Surry Playhouse, the thespians named their fledgling company the New Surry Theatre.

Their theater school attracted students from across the country, as well as locally.

That summer the troupe mounted its first production, “Fiddler on the Roof,” featuring the Robinson Ballet and the late Herb Mitchell, who would later move to Hollywood and earn recognition acting in movies and television.

“We rehearsed that production in the gravel driveway of my house,” Raiten recalled. “We never had a building until five years ago when Herb Mitchell, the star of our first play, came back and started to work with us again.”

Raiten says Mitchell insisted that the theater company needed its own home, and after joining its board of directors, he convinced the board to approach the Blue Hill selectmen about locating the theater permanently in the Town Hall.

NST had used the building for theater classes and productions for four years, beginning in 1973.

It was there in 1973 that NST mounted its first production of “Man of La Mancha,” which is being reprised this month as part of the 40th anniversary celebration.

Until finding its permanent home five years ago, NST led a nomadic life.

Frequently staging productions at the Surry Opera Barn over the years, the troupe also traveled far and wide, with productions in Russia and Scotland to its credit.

Closer to home, NST has trod the boards at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono, Blue Hill Consolidated School, The Grand in Ellsworth, the Criterion in Bar Harbor, Reach Performing Arts Center in Deer Isle, Ellsworth High School, the Troy Howard School in Belfast and others.

In recent years, the indefatigable Raiten has turned his attention mostly to teaching. He said he is now serving in a consultant capacity with NST.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary, Raiten has planned three shows this year that were each produced by NST at least once during its history. Each show will celebrate the troupe’s anniversary with photos and other memorabilia from past performances.

Raiten said each show was selected by graduates of NST classes who will direct the productions.

The first, “Man of La Mancha,” is directed by Shari John and opens Friday, March 30, at 7 p.m. in the Blue Hill Town Hall.

“Man of La Mancha” draws on the immortal characters created some 400 years ago in the novel “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes.

In this musical, which first opened on Broadway in 1965, Cervantes, himself, plays a role in the story-within-a-story that unfolds after Cervantes and his manservant are imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisition.

Fellow prisoners seize Cervantes’ manuscript and hold a mock trial to determine whether to return the work. In his defense, Cervantes offers the story of Don Quixote.

“The music is intricate and interesting,” John said of the upcoming production. “It pulls you into the story. I learned the music for this long before I read the play.”

Scott Cleveland, who teaches singing for the stage classes for the NST School, will direct the music for “Man of La Mancha.” He also plays piano in the four-piece performance orchestra that includes Wellington Gordon on bass, Chris Poulin on guitar and percussionist Bill Friederich.

John said veteran NST set designer Annie Poole designed a set for the production — a 16th-century prison that, like the music, “pulls you into the story.”

This production and those to follow throughout this year continue a tradition firmly set 40 years ago when Raiten and Bisberg decided to start a theater school.

“New Surry Theatre always felt connected to the community,” Raiten said. “Our mission is to bring professional theater to the community.”

“Man of La Mancha”

Where: New Surry Theatre, Blue Hill Town Hall

When: March 30 and 31, 7 p.m.; April 1, 3 p.m.; April 12-14, 7 p.m.; April 15, 3 p.m.; and April 19-21, 7 p.m.

How much: $18 per adult, $15 for seniors and students.

Contact: 200-4720, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.newsurrytheatre.org

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