Maine Summer Theater Preview
Acorn Productions, Dana Warp Mill, 90 Bridge Street, Westbrook. Richard II May 11-22. 854-0065 or acorn-productions.org
Arundel Barn Playhouse, 53 Old Post Road, Arundel, presents ‘Summer Season 2009: SONG, DANCE & LAUGHTER: A Sound Investment’. SUDS: The Rockin’ 60’s Musical Soap Opera June 9-20; Godspell June 23-July 11; The Mikado July 14-August 1; Altar Boyz August 4-15; Almost, Maine August 18-29. 985-5552 or arundelbarnplayhouse.com
Belfast Maskers, 43 Front Street, Belfast. Crimes of the Heart April 30; Three Little Pigs at the Universalist Unitarian Church May 16; Oliver! July 21-31; Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap October 1-11; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever November 26-December 7. 338-9668 or belfastmaskerstheater.com
Camden Opera House, 29 Elm Street, Camden. The Last Dragon on Earth May 3;
Lasansky School of Dance presents: A Celebration of Dance and Poetry May 9; Doo Wop & Oldies Spectacular May 16; Jungle Book, presented by staff and students of the Rockport Elementary School June 4; An Evening of One Act Plays by Ives June26-28 and July 3-5; Sweeney Todd August 7-9 and 14-16. 236-7963 or camdenoperahouse.com
Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, 142 Free Street, Portland. Now partnering with the Children’s Museum of Maine to create Maine’s first environment of interactive exhibits, programs, and theatre. Raggedy Anne and Andy May 8-17.
878-2774 or childrenstheatremaine.com
Community Little Theater of Lewiston- Auburn, Great Falls Performing Arts Center, 30 Academy Street, Auburn. The Community Theatre has been entertaining the Lewiston-Auburn community since 1940. This summer’s performances include Disney Through the Years May 23-24; Lost in Yonkers June 19-28; Miss Saigon at the Lewiston Middle School Auditorium August 14-23. 783-0958 or laclt.com/public
Criterion Theater, 35 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor. Opened in 1932, the Criterion is a beautifully preserved Art Deco theatre listed on the National Registry of Historic Places featuring live music, movies, and theater. Watch them from the rare ‘floating balcony.’ 288-3441 or criteriontheater.com
Deertrees Theater and Cultural Center, 162 Deertrees Road, Harrison. Opened in 1936, the Deertrees opera house was deemed as fine a theater as any on Broadway. Now listed on the National Registry of Historical Places, the Deertrees presents an eclectic mix of theater and music every summer. Rick Charette children’s songs July 1; Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans August 1-2; Sebago Long Lake Music Festival with chamber music performances every Tuesday July 14-August 11; Comedy Night every Thursday July 9-30 featuring Bob Marley July 30; The Deertrees Theatre Festival August 6-September 5. 583-6747 or deertreestheatre.org
Fenix Theatre Company, 81 Spruce Street, Portland. Shakespeare in the Park featuring Taming of the Shrew every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Deering Oaks Park June 4-27; Zoo Story every Friday and Saturday on the Eastern Promenade August 7-8 and 14-15 with matinee performances August 8-9 and 15-16. 400-6223 or fenixtheatre.org
Freeport Community Players, Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook Street, Freeport. The Players are a community-based volunteer organization providing entertainment to the Freeport community since 1989. Performances include Side Man late September-early October; Radio tribute to the Golden Age of Radio December 5-6. 865-2220 or fcponline.org
Gaslight Theater, City Hall, 1 Winthrop, Hallowell. Gaslight began as an outgrowth of a women’s theater class held at the Augusta YMCA in 1937. Still a thriving community theater, this summer’s season features: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes June 12-14 and 18-21; Five Women Wearing the Same Dress August 13-15 and 20-22; Rabbit Hole November 5-7 and 12-14. 626-3698 or gaslighttheater.org
Good Theater, at The St. Lawrence Art Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland. Light Up the Sky April 16-May 10. 885-5883 or goodtheater.com
Hackmatack Playhouse, 538 Route 9, Berwick. A quaint summer theater situated on an old family farmstead dating back to the mid-1600’s, the Hackmatack presents Royal River Chorus June 13; The Irish Music Guy, Kevin Farley June 19; Tuckermans at 9 June 20; Our Town June 24-27 and July 1-4; Anything Goes July 8-11, 15-18 and 22-25; The Mystery of Edwin Drood July 29-August 1 and August 5-8; The Producers August 12-15, 19-22 and 26-29; Richard Conrad and the Bostonians present: Masters of American Operetta September 4-5. 698-1807 or hackmatack.org
Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Road, Madison. America’s oldest summer theater, now in it’s 109th season. Rumors May 21-24 and 27-30; Snake in the Grass June 4-7 and 10-13; A Bad Year For Tomatoes June 18-21 and 24-27; Curtains July 2-5 and 8-11; Duck Hunter Shoots Angel July 16-19 and 22-25; The Producers July 30-31; August 1-2 and 5-8; The Dixie Swim Club August 13-16 and 19, 21-22; Treasure Island August 27-30 and September 2-5; What the Bellhop Saw September 10-13 and 16-19.
474-7176 or lakewoodtheater.org
Lyric Music Theater, 176 Sawyer Street, South Portland, is proud to announce From Screen to Stage: Lyric’s 57th season. Summer selections include The Producers, Disney’s High School Musical On Stage, and Guys and Dolls–all of which were adaptations of or were adapted to Hollywood silver-screen hits. 799-1421 or lyricmusictheater.org
Mad Horse Theatre Company, 955 Forest Avenue, Portland. The History of Boys April 23-May 10; The Dresser at Portland Stage Company’s Studio Theater September 4-October 11, Thursday thru Sunday. 730-2389 or madhorse.com
Maine State Music Theater, Bowdoin College, Brunswick. Presenting more than 300 musicals in the past 50 years, MSMT remains one of the few resident stock companies dedicated strictly to musical theater. The Light in the Piazza June 3-20; A Year with Frog and Toad June 8; The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe June 12; Crazy for You June 24-July 11; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels July 15-August 1; Schoolhouse Rock Live! August 19; The Drowsy Chaperone August 5-23. 725-8769 or msmt.org
Ogunquit Playhouse, 10 Maine Street, Ogunquit. “America’s foremost summer theatre” presents A Chorus Line May 20-June 13; SHOUT! A swinging 60’s Sensational June 17-July 11; High School Musical on Stage June 27-28, July 25-26, and August 29-30; Cinderella Kids July 4-5; Guys and Dolls July 15-August 8; Fairy Houses the Musical July 18-19; Beauty and the Beast Jr. August 1-2; Singin’ in the Rain August 12-September 12; Aladdin Jr., August 22-23; All Shook Up September 16-October 11. 646-5511 or ogunquitplayhouse.org
Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor. This 450-seat multipurpose facility supports artistic life in the region by offering a venue for a diversity of events. This summer’s events include Baghdad on the Wabash: World Premiere April 29-May 3; What Is This Life? May 16; Forever Plaid June 11-13 and 18-20; Das Barbecu July 1-2. 633-5159 or boothbayoperahouse.com
Penobscot Theatre Company, 131 Main Street, Bangor. ‘America’s Northeastern-most’ professional theater company presents Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure June 10-21, The 3rd Annual Northern Writes New Play Festival June 22-July 3. 942-3333 or penobscottheatre.org
Player’s Ring, 105 Marcy Street, Portsmouth. Fireflies May 8-24; Julius Caesar May 29-June 14. 603-436-8123 or playersring.org
Portland Opera Repertory Theater, Merrill Auditorium, Portland. PORTopera summer Main Stage performance is PORTopera Celebrates 15 years of Grand Opera July 30. 879-7678 or portopera.org
Portland Players, 420 Cottage Road, South Portland. The oldest community theater in Maine and the second oldest known in New England. Sweeney Todd May 15-31; Company September 11-27. 799-7337 or portlandplayers.org
Portland Stage Company, 25 Forest Avenue, Portland, Maine’s largest fully professional, non-profit theater founded in 1974. The Drawer Boy April 28-May 24; Little Festival of the Unexpected May 12- 16; McGuire July 23-25; Third September 22-October 18. 774-0465 or portlandstage.com
The Public Theatre, 31 Maple Street, Lewiston. High artistic quality and a top ticket price of only $18 puts The Public Theatre right on track with its mission of bringing first-rate professional theatre to the people of Maine at an affordable price. The Last Mass at St. Casimir’s May 1-10. 783-3200 or thepublictheatre.org
St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland. The St. Lawrence Arts & Community Center operates the 110-seat Parish Hall Theater in half of the rehabilitated historic St. Lawrence Church. Vivid Motion presents: The Legends of King Arthur June 4-7, Jake Brooks: Alternative Queer June 18, Zing! June 25, The Naked Comedy Show June 27. 775-5568 or stlawrencearts.org
Sanford Maine Stage Company, 1 Hill Top Lane, Springvale. As a community based company, Sanford Maine Stage Company involves high school and college students in productions, and supports a strong children’s-theater program every summer. 324-9691 or sanfordmainestage.org
Schoolhouse Arts Center, Route 114, Sebago Lake Village. Rural community arts organization dedicated to arts education and the presentation of the arts. Over the River and Through the Woods April 3-19; Oklahoma July 9-26; Honk Junior performed by the Musical Theater Workshop Students August 7-9; A Shakespeare Production performed by the Teen Shakespeare Workshop Students August 14-16; Zombies from the Beyond October 15-November 1. 642-3743 or schoolhousearts.org
Studio Theatre of Bath, 880 Washington Street, Bath. Resident theater company at the Winter Street Center in historic Winter Street Church. Songs from shows of Andrew Lloyd Webber ‘Andrew Lloyd Webber and Friends’ June 5-7 and 12-14; Bad Day at Gopher’s Breath October 30-November 1 and November 6-8; Scrooge December 4-6 and 11-13. 443-2418 or studiotheatreofbath.com
Theater at Monmouth, 795 Main Street, Monmouth. The year round repertory company of professional theater artists in its 40th summer season is housed in a magnificent Romanesque revival building including a 260-seat theater as well as the local library, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Black Fly Follies: Special Event Variety Show June 27; Twelfth Night July 9-12, 15, 23, 29 and August 5, 8, 11, 14, 16, 19, 22; The Mousetrap July 16-19, 22, 30 and August 5, 7-9, 12, 18, 22; A Little Hotel on the Side July 31 and August 1, 2, 6, 12, 15, 20; Hamlet July 24-26 and August 1, 4, 13, 15, 19, 21; The Wind in the Willows August 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20-21; Carousel September 24-27 and October 1-4. 933-9999 or theateratmonmouth.org
The Theater Project, 14 School Street, Brunswick. Operated for 38 years as a nonprofit community-based theater and now, with the new PAY-WHAT-YOU-WANT ticket policy, there’s no reason for audiences of all ages to miss out. Attacks on the Heart May 1-17; Voices in the Mirror May 29-31; Wonder of the World July 10-26; Arabian Nights July 31-August 2; Aladdin August 14-16. 729-8584 or theaterproject.com
Vacationland Theater Company, 1 Hill Top Lane, Springvale. Located in the Sanford Mainstage Theater, Vacationland Theater runs a young Performer’s Camp from June through August. This season’s productions are You’re a good Man, Charlie Brown June 11-27; The Foreigner July 9-18; Evita July 24-August 8; The Wizard of Oz August 5-7; Little Shop of Horrors August 14-29. (866) 584-0770
–Complied by Allison Richards
Galleries
Art Gallery at UNE, Westbrook College Campus, University of New England, 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland. “Black and White and Color: A Group Show of New Photography from Maine“ to June 7, followed by the “Eighth Annual Sculpture Garden Invitational“ June to October. 221-4499 or une.edu/artgallery
Bates College Museum of Art, Lewiston. “Studies of the Somali Diaspora” shows to May 29, “Senior Exhibition” through May, and “Mao Jacket” to December. 786-6158 or bates.edu/museum.xml
Center for Maine Contemporary Art, 162 Russell Avenue, Rockport. “On and Off the Midway,” a photography exhibit curated by Bruce Brown, highlighting nearly 30 annual festivals and fairs from Fort Kent to Old Orchard, shows to June 13 with an artist talk by Brown on June 7, “Amy Stacey Curtis Biennials” gallery talk, May 26; “You are Here: Linden Frederick, Studies, Paintings” to July 18, and “Comic-al” to June 18. 236-2875 or cmcanow.org
Colby College Museum of Art, Mayflower Hill, Waterville. ”Prints from the Lunder Collection,” “Alex Katz Collection,” and “John Marin Collection” ongoing. “John Coffer, ‘Photograhist’” to May 31; “Andy Warhol: Screen Tests & Photographs,” “Hannah Collins, Beshencevo: A Current History”. 872-3228 or colby.edu/museum
Farnsworth Museum of Art, 16 Main Street, Rockland. “Maine in America” the permanent collection, includes works by Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully, Thomas Eakins, Eastman Johnson, Fitz Hugh Lane, Frank Benson, Childe Hassam, and Maurice Prendergast. Current exhibits include: “Confronting Abstraction: Painting in Maine, 1945-1955” to May 17; “Andrew Wyeth: Winter Exhibiton” to May 18; “Four in Maine” to May 24; and “Jamie Wyeth - Seven Deadly Sins”, May 16 to August 30. 596-6457 or farnsworthmuseum.org
A Fine Thing: Edward T Pollack Fine Arts, 25 Forest Avenue, Portland. “PORTRAITS: Prints, Drawings and Photographs” and “New Work by New Artists” May 1- 31. Opening event May 1st, during Portland’s monthly art walk. 699-2919 or edpollackfinearts.com
Gleason Fine Art, 545 Congress Street, Portland, and 31 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor. Portland shows include: “Clarence K. Chatterton (1880-1973): Estate Collection,” May 1 to June 3. 633-6849 or gleasonfineart.com
Greenhut Gallery, 146 Middle Street, Portland. “Joseph Nicoletti” to May 30 followed by “Thomas Connolly,” June 4 to 27 with a reception June 4 . 772-2693 or greenhutgalleries.com
Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art, 522 Congress Street, Portland. “MFA Thesis Exhibition”, May 9 to June 7 followed by “Magnify” June 24 to August 16. 775-3052 or meca.edu
Maine Historical Society Museum, 489 Congress Street, Portland. The exhibit “Main Street, Maine: Downtown Views from the Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company” shows to May 31. 774-1822 or mainehistory.org
Museum of African Culture, 13 Brown Street, Portland. The African Humanities Gallery includes a collection of artifacts and stories of courage from 15 Sub-Saharan African cultures. May exhibits include “Carly Stewart: Drawing Exhibit.” A discussion with Tim Honey, “Be Global,” is scheduled for May 29. 871-7188 or africantribalartmuseum.org
Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square, Portland. Current exhibits include: “Art of the Cranberry Isles” to June 28; “The Coldest Crucible: Arctic Exploration in American Culture, to June 21; and 2009 Portland Museum of Art Biennial, to June 7. 773-ARTS, (800) 639-4067 or portlandmuseum.com
Whitney Art Works Projects, 45 York Street, Portland. “Blue Hammer: A Trans-Historical-Burlesque Dinner Theater Performance by Leon Johnson, to May 2; and works by Mike McFalls, Diana Cherbuliez, Jaime Gili, Molly Levine, and Elianna Mesaikos show from May 6 to May 30. 780-0700 or whitneyartworks.com
Music
The Maine Music Society, 215 Lisbon Street Lewiston at the Franco-American Heritage
Center, Cedar Street, Lewiston. The American Songbook 2 - Guys and Dolls, performed by the Androscoggin Chorale on May 16 and 17. 782-1403 or mainemusicsociety.org
Maine Art Gallery, 15 Warren Street, Wiscasset. “The Lure of the Sea,” opening with a reception May 7, to May 31. maineartgallery.org
One Longfellow Square, Portland. A myriad of musicians perform, including: Peter Mulvey, May 9; The Wiyos, May 15; Steve Forbert with Rebecca Pronsky, May 16; Cheryl Wheeler, May 17; Primo Cubano, May 21 and June 18; John Jorgenson Quintet, May 23; Putnam Smith with Ramblin’ Red, May 29; Darol Anger and Friends, June 5; Richie Havens, June 6; Food Films finale-Evangeline meets Babette’s Feast, June 7; Johnny A, June 12; and An Evening with Poco, June 13. 761-1757 or onelongfellowsquare.com
Portland String Quartet, Woodfords Congregational Church, Woodfords Street, Portland. The Maine Festival of American Music: Its Roots and Traditions, New Gloucester, June 24 to June 27 and the 2009 PSQ Workshop with concerts and free master class open to the public, Alfond Hall, Saint Joseph’s College, July 19 to August 2. portlandstringquartet.org
Portland Symphony Orchestra, Merrill Auditorium, Portland. Brahms Symphony No. 1, May 5; Percussion: Wood, Metal, Skins! May 18 to 29 (different locations); MPBN MaineStage Broadcast, Robert Moody, conductor and Ryan Anthony, trumpet, May 27; Season Finale: Rites and Rhythms, with Senagalese drummers, June 9; MPBN MaineStage Broadcast, Robert Moody, conductor and Zuill Bailey, cello, June 24; and MPBN MaineStage Broadcast, Robert Moody, conductor and Mark Sunkett, Sonya Branch, Medoune Gueye, Abdou Kounta, drummers, July 29. 842-0800, 842-0812 TTY or portlandsymphony.com
Dance
University of Southern Maine School of Music, Russell Hall, Gorham. “Skordalia”: Traditional Greek music and Rembetica, May 1; Classical Saturday, May 2, Youth/ Vocal Saturday, May 16. 780-5151.
Don’t Miss
Comedienne Karen Morgan, “Maine’s Funniest Mom,” presents “Legally Funny” at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover Street, Manchester, New Hampshire, June 19; at The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, August 6; and City Theater, Biddeford, August 17.
Maine Audubon, 20 Gisland Farm Road, Falmouth. Weekly bird walks Thursday mornings, Yoga Mondays. 781-2330 or maineaudubon.org
Maine Historical Society Museum, 489 Congress Street, Portland. Reading & book discussion, Museum of Human Beings by Colin Sargent, 21 May, 7 p.m., 774-1822 or mainehistory.orgMaine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum, 58 Fore Street, Portland. Museum open weekdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to May 19 with train rides weekends 11 a.m.-3 p.m., to May 19. 828-0814 or mngrr.org
Rockport: Pop the Cork! 2, hosted by Cellardoor Vineyard. This multi-venue event celebrating wine, food, art and culture, with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport. 763-4478 or mainewine.com
PORTopera’s Dinner, Dance, and Auction Fundraiser, Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks, June 5.
Skyline Farm, 95 The Lane, North Yarmouth. Horse Drawn Vehicles of “The Age of Innocence” Carriage Exhibit, Sundays, 12-3 p.m. or by appointment. Showcasing carriages and sleighs similar to those used in New York during the 1870s, the backdrop for Edith Wharton’s book. May 24 to August 23, free admission. 799-7614 or skylinefarm.org
Walker Memorial Library, 800 Main Street, Westbrook. Reading & book discussion, Museum of Human Beings by Colin Sargent, 19 May, noon, 854-0630 or www.walker.lib.me.us
–Compiled by Diane Hudson