Mark Torres called on the phone the other day to talk about the lineup of plays for the new season at Penobscot Theatre in Bangor. He loves that the opening show is Moliere’s hilarious “Tartuffe,” which opens March 8 in the Opera House, and he divulged that the production staff has been laughing uncontrollably during run-throughs.

“We’re just tickled at every rehearsal,” said Torres, who is directing the show. “It’s a world classic and it’s an extraordinarily funny play.”

Torres, whose background is equal parts director and theater junkie, happily runs through the shows for the rest of the season: Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal,” directed by New York-based Gregg Brevoort in April; and Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” with Torres as director in May. Then, later in the year: Jane Martin’s “Jack and Jill: A Modern Romance” and Wendy Kesselman’s adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

Also, there’s the Maine Shakespeare Festival on the waterfront in July and August with “Richard III,” “The Tempest,” “The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged),” and “Anne of Green Gables.”

This is the first year that Torres and casting and administrative director Colleen Frasier, who is also Mrs. Torres, held auditions in New York City. They will also attend upcoming auditions in Boston, as well as cast from the pool of local talent.

It’s all very exciting, he said, because, as producing artistic director, Torres is defining the character of the theater’s two performing spaces. The Opera House, with its large stage and handsome d?cor, will be home to spectacle productions, such as classics and Broadway hits. The “little theater,” the original renovated-church home of the theater, will be reserved for more actorly, intimate shows, ones that work well when the audience sits close and can nearly reach out and touch the action.

“Of course, we want people to come to both theaters,” he said. “But by defining the works in each space, we may see audiences defining themselves, too.”

Torres explained that “Betrayal,” a triangular love affair that plays in reverse time sequences, and “Jack and Jill,” a modern look at modern romance, are perfect for the little theater because they are small plays with poignant themes – whether comic or tragic. “The Odd Couple” and “The Diary of Anne Frank,” both classics in their own genres, will both be mounted in the Opera House. “Diary,” said Torres, will be accompanied by public forums and outreach.

“The Holocaust is such an extreme,” said Torres. “We can say that’s all behind us, but there’s still intolerance in the world. We want to explore that.”

As for programming “The Odd Couple,” Torres caught himself by surprise.

“It’s the first Neil Simon I’ve produced,” he said. “Why haven’t I done more Simon? That’s the question I asked myself. How can this be?”

Torres read several less well-known plays by Simon before choosing “The Odd Couple.”

“I resisted doing Simon’s more popular plays, but you open that play to any page and you begin laughing. Simon is a laugh machine. His craft is stainless steel. He, like Shakespeare, is a businessman of the theater, a craftsperson who understands his work thoroughly.”

Torres said that “A Christmas Carol” will be the centerpiece for the holidays. He also said the theater will hold public events around the theatrical process. Last week, the theater sponsored an open technical rehearsal, in which participants were given a backstage view of the show’s preparation. For subscribers, the events will be free. For nonsubscribers, the events will cost $4. For everyone, there will be coffee and cookies.

Then, just before Torres hung up, he dropped a bomb.

“We have a new heating system in the Opera House!” he chortled. “How could I have forgotten that? Listen, you won’t believe this. You know how you go into a place – like Wal-Mart or a movie – and you take it for granted that you will be warm? The reverse had been happening at the Opera House. You’d have to stop by L.L. Bean before going to a show. Well, now that’s completely changed.”

Torres gave details: three heating zones, 327 feet of copper pipe, a nice toasty feeling.

And the little theater?

“We’re working on that,” he said assuredly. “We were thinking of using the slogan: ‘You thought the other place was cold.'”

But it sounds as if Torres has planned a season that will be steamy enough to heat up an audience no matter what the temperature.

Penobscot Theatre will present Moliere’s “Tartuffe,” adapted by Richard Wilbur, March 6-17 at the Opera House on Main Street in Bangor. For more information, call 942-3333.

Penobscot Theatre Company 2002-2003 Season

“Tartuffe” by Moliere, adapted by Richard Wilbur, March 6-17, Opera House

“Betrayal” by Harold Pinter, April 3-21, Penobscot Theatre

“The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon, May 8-19, Opera House

Maine Shakespeare Festival 2002, July16-Aug. 17, Bangor Waterfront

“Jack and Jill: A Modern Romance” by Jane Martin, Oct. 2-20, Penobscot Theatre

“The Diary of Anne Frank” adapted by Wendy Kesselman, Nov. 13-24, Opera House

“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, Dec. 12-23, Opera House

For information, call 942-3333.