PURCHASE TICKETS: penobscottheatre.org/project/broomstick/
What if you wandered deep into the woods, found a cozy cottage, sat beside the fire...
…and discovered the woman telling you her life story was a witch?
You'd probably stay.
At least until she started talking about justice.
Broomstick, written by John Biguenet, brings a dark, atmospheric tale of magic, love, revenge, and the complicated nature of the human heart to Penobscot Theatre Company in Bangor this fall.
Running October 22 through November 8, 2026, this haunting theatrical experience invites audiences into the cottage of a witch who has spent a very long time learning exactly what people are capable of.
And she has some stories to tell.
Step Into the Witch's Cottage
Imagine a cottage hidden deep in the woods.
A fire is burning.
The outside world feels very far away.
And there's a witch waiting to tell you about her life.
That's the setup for Broomstick.
She welcomes you inside and invites you to sit by the fire as she recounts the extraordinary events that shaped her existence—including her first love affair, the discovery of her powers, and the ways she chose to use them.
It sounds cozy.
It is probably not.
A Witch With Nothing Left to Prove
This isn't your stereotypical fairy-tale witch waiting for a handsome hero to defeat her.
She's lived a long life.
She's experienced love.
She's experienced betrayal.
She's experienced the consequences of human choices.
And she's developed a very particular philosophy about justice.
Described as a completely unsentimental moralist, she understands the human heart because she's spent her entire life being both its victim and its avenger.
She's not interested in excuses.
She's not particularly interested in pleas for mercy.
And she's definitely not here to make you feel better about your questionable life decisions.
Magic, Love & Revenge
At the heart of Broomstick is a story about the ways people affect one another—and how the choices we make can follow us for years.
Her story encompasses love, power, betrayal, justice, and revenge, creating a theatrical experience that feels more like being invited into a dark fairy tale than simply watching one from a distance.
And because the storyteller is a witch with centuries of perspective?
Let's just say she's probably got a different definition of "forgive and forget."
Perfect October Theater
There are certain plays that feel particularly appropriate in October.
A Christmas Carol belongs in December.
A sunny romantic comedy works just about anytime.
And a story about a witch living in an isolated cottage deep in the woods?
That's October material.
With its dark atmosphere and supernatural themes, Broomstick offers theatergoers a wonderfully spooky way to spend the Halloween season without needing a haunted house, a chainsaw, or someone in a questionable monster mask chasing you through a cornfield.
Just sit down.
Listen to the story.
And maybe don't annoy the witch.
A Storytelling Experience
Broomstick runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission, making it a focused theatrical experience centered on the witch and the story she's come to tell.
That intimate setup gives the tale an especially personal quality.
You're not just hearing about her life.
You're being invited into her world.
And once you've entered the cottage, you're going to hear things you probably weren't expecting.
Not Suitable for Younger Audiences
This is a production intended for mature audiences and is not suitable for younger audiences.
Considering we're talking about a witch, revenge, the darker side of human nature, and justice delivered without much concern for our excuses...
That feels like a fair warning.
Parents: maybe stick with the family-friendly Halloween activities.
Adults: welcome to the woods.
See Broomstick in Bangor
Broomstick runs at Penobscot Theatre Company from October 22 through November 8, 2026.
📍 131 Main Street
Bangor, Maine
For 90 minutes, step away from the ordinary world and into a secluded cottage where a witch sits beside the fire and tells the story of a very long life.
A story about discovering power.
A story about love.
A story about revenge.
And a story about what happens when someone finally decides that justice is more important than mercy.
So if you're looking for something dark, atmospheric, and decidedly witchy this October, Broomstick might be exactly what the forest ordered.
Just remember:
When a witch invites you into her cottage, listen carefully.
She may be telling you a story.
Or she may be telling you a warning.
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