Live theater tends to be more thrilling than film, largely due to the heightened odds of seeing someone deliver a stirring monologue while sitting in your lap. Vicariously live the free-wheeling thespian life with today’s Groupon to Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick. All performances are held in the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin College campus and seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Choose between the following options:

• For $24, you get one orchestra-level ticket to Xanadu on Sunday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. (a $49 value).
• For $24, you get one orchestra-level ticket to The Wiz on Sunday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. (a $49 value).

Boasting an impressive slate of Broadway-bound performers, Maine State Music Theatre's top-notch displays of timeless musical theater performances have delighted show-goers for more than half a century. Inspired by the 1980s cult classic film of the same name, Xanadu unleashes a glitzy onstage roller disco populated by a roller-skating roster of tuneful board-gliders, each sporting sparkling costumes while belting out memorable hits from the likes of Olivia Newton John and Electric Light Orchestra. The Wiz's soulful take on L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz blends rock, gospel, and soul music to craft a captivating medley of toe-tapping ditties, such as "Brand New Day," "Mean Old Lion," and "Ease on Down the Road."

Orchestra-level seats grant guests stunning panoramic views of the dazzling sets, radiant lighting design, and eye-blurring jazz squares pervading each show. The Pickard Theater's air-conditioned environs comfortably ensconce show-goers, and an appetizing array of local restaurants ensures grumbling bellies won't derail performers, dancers, and crewmembers into mid-line flubs.