THEATER

“Jack the Ripper,” a dance performance by the Portland Ballet, will be presented on Fridays, Oct. 17 and 24; and Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25, at 8 p.m. at the Portland Ballet Studio Theater, 517 Forest Ave., Portland. Tickets are $20 at www.portlandballet.org. The ballet is set in fragmented scenes that depict the crimes of this mysterious and dangerous man.

“The Rocky Horror Show ”“ LIVE” will show at Nasson Little Theatre, 457 Main St., Springvale, presented by Our Theatre Company, Oct. 17-25. Audience members are encouraged to come dressed in Rocky Horror Show attire; participation and call-backs encouraged. Due to mature themes, this is an 18+ show. Performances will be Fridays, Oct. 17 and 24 at 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25 at midnight. Doors open half an hour before the show. All seating is $10 general admission. For advanced ticket reservations, visit www.myotc.org or call 294-2995. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

“The Addams Family,” will show at the Ogunquit Playhouse Oct. 1-26. Visit ogunquitplayhouse.org for ticket information.

“The Rainmaker” will show at the Good Theater in the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St., Portland, Oct. 1-19. Performance times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. Call 885-5883 or visit www.goodtheater.com for more information.

“POE: Tales of Mystery & Suspense” will show at Clay Hill Farm in Cape Neddick, Oct. 15 through Nov. 5. with performances on Wednesdays, at 6 p.m.; Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday matinees Oct. 19 and 26 at 1 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, guests are encouraged to dress up for a special Halloween production with a costume contest, trivia, prizes and surprises. The show features Kirk Simpson giving dramatic readings of famous Poe works. Tickets are $18 with an a la carte dinner menu. Reservations are suggested. Call 361-2272 or visit www.ClayHillFarm.com

Sesame Street Live “Let’s Dance!” featuring Elmo, Cookie, Ernie and others, will be at the Cross Insurance Arena from Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 19. The show offers an up-close, interactive experience that includes dance parties, music and professional staging.

“Alice in Wonderland” will show at the Childrens’ Museum & Theater of Maine on Friday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25: 1 and 4 p.m.; Sundays, Oct. 19 and 26: 1 and 4 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m.; and Friday, Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. The show is adapted, with live musical performance, by Brittany Cook, and is performed by kids, for kids. Advance tickets are $9. Processing fees apply. Buy Tickets here: http://cmtmalice.brownpapertickets.com/ or call 1-800-838-3006.

“Halloween Spooktacular,” a dance performance by the Portland Ballet, will be presented on Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25 at 2 p.m. at the Portland Ballet Studio Theater, 517 Forest Ave., Portland. Tickets are $18 adult/$12 child at www.portlandballet.org This family-friendly show takes a humorous look at the traditional Halloween themes with witches, specters and zombies haunting the theater. All ages are encouraged to come in costume and participate in the Costume Parade to be held during intermission. Choreography is by Nell Shipman, associate artistic director; with one piece choreographed by Vanessa Beyland.

“The Mousetrap,” an Agatha Christie murder mystery, will be presented this fall at City Theater, 205 Main St., Biddeford, Friday, Oct. 24 through Nov. 2. “The Mousetrap” has been running for 62 years on London’s West End making it the longest running play in recorded history. Since the play’s inception, each audience is asked to take a pledge not to talk about the ending of the play, allowing future audiences the opportunity to experience it fully. Showings are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. All tickets are $20 and are available at www.CityTheater.org or 282-0849.

ART

“Sacred Partners,” a series of artwork by Maine artist Debra Bickford, will be on display at the University of New England’s Biddeford Campus Center from Oct. 4 through Nov. 1. An artist’s reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 10 from 5-7 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public. UNE’s Campus Center is located at 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, contact Diane Noble by email at dbmn27@maine.rr.co or 284-6394.

“Andrew Wyeth: The Linda L. Bean Collection” will show through Oct. 31 at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art in Ogunquit. This collection celebrates the art of Andrew Wyeth, one of Maine’s best-known painters, through a collection assembled by Linda Bean of the L.L. Bean family.

“MATTER,” Amy Stacey Curtis’ eighth of nine solo-biennial exhibits of interactive installation, is nine large-in-scope works throughout 24,000 square feet of Parsonfield’s Robinson Mill, 10 Mill St. As with Curtis’ previous “solo biennials,” each installation has instructions for audience participation. MATTER will be open for participation through Oct. 24. Regular hours will be daily from noon to 5 p.m., with free admission, donations accepted. For more information, visit www.amystaceycurtis.com or call 838-3390. Curtis will discuss her work at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. Her solo exhibit, “Amy Stacey Curtis: Drawings,” will show at the museum through Oct. 31.

MUSIC

The Rhythm Future Quartet will peform at the Saco River Theatre on Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The quartet of jazz virtuosos performs dynamic and fiery arrangements of Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions. Tickets can be reserved by calling 929-6472 or visiting www.sacorivertheatre.org/events.

Renowned folk artist Arlo Guthrie will perform on Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. at Jonathans, 92 Bourne Lane in Ogunquit. Call 646-4777 or visit www.jonathansogunquit.com for ticket information.

The Rhythm Future Quartet, performing fiery arrangements of Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions, will perform at the Saco River Theatre on Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 929-6472 or visit www.sacorivertheatre.org/events.

Jason Anick and the Rhythm Future Jazz Quartet will perform at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art on Oct. 18. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a beer and wine cash bar. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35, and can be purchased at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, the Ogunquit Camera Shop, the Dunaway Center, or the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce.  For more information or to purchase tickets online visit ogunquitperformingarts.org. Call (603) 498-2059 for more information.

An acoustic concert featuring Frank Marston, Ali Kyle, Roger Busby, and Dean Richardson, all Christian artists from Maine, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene, 544 Post Road (Route 1) in Wells. This is a free concert, though an offering will be taken to support the artists. For more information, call 641-0603.

Back to Basics, a Maine bluegrass band, will perform Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall, 31 West Road in South Waterboro. The concert will benefit the Waterborough Historical Society. The band specializes in traditional and original bluegrass music with an emphasis on vocal harmonies. Tickets are $15 per person. This event is 21+. Tickets will be limited and can be purchased at Woodsome’s Feeds & Needs in East Waterboro and Woody’s Sports Restaurant on West Road in South Waterboro. For more information, contact Jim Carll at 247-5878.

The acclaimed duo of Susie Burke and David Surette will bring their signature brand of traditional and contemporary folk music to West Kennebunk on Sunday, Oct. 19, as part of the “Concerts in West K!” series. Their music features Burke’s heartfelt vocal style, and Surette’s instrumental work on guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki. The concert takes place Sunday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m., at the West Kennebunk United Methodist Church, 160 Alfred Road in West Kennebunk. Admission is by donation, suggested at $15 for adults and $10 for youth and seniors. A special suggested family rate of $35 for parents with children is also available.

La Madeleine will perform at the First Parish Federated Church, 150 Main St., South Berwick, on Saturday, Oct. 25, followed on Nov. 22 with singer-songwriter Caroline Cotter with special guest Julie Dougherty. For advance reservations, call 450-8746.

SPECIAL INTEREST

The Maine State Ballet will present Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” and the “Bach Concerti” on the weekend of Oct. 17. The two ballets have been choreographed by Linda MacArthur Miele. “The Firebird” is a dramatic piece featuring Elizabeth Dragoni in the title role, while “Bach Concerti” is a series of four selections featuring more formal, classical choreography for more than 20 dancers. Among them is Waterboro resident Alyssa Bryan. The show runs on Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. All performances take place at the Maine State Ballet Theater, 348 U.S. Route 1, Falmouth. Tickets are on sale online at www.mainestateballet.org or via phone at 781-3587. For more information, visit www.mainestateballet.org.

“At Home in the Victorian Era” will be on display at the Saco Museum through Nov. 9, featuring an examination of the Victorian home and its furnishings.

AUDITIONS

Auditions will be held for Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” done as a radio show on Friday, Oct. 17 from 1:30-4 p.m. at Nasson Little Theatre, 457 Main St. in Springvale. This is a Senior Theater production and the theater is seeking seniors 55 and older and a few young people for the parts of, Tiny Tim (age 6-8 and must be able to read), Young Belle (age 14-17), Young Scrooge (age 17-18 ) and also for a few minor parts. For more information, email mts@gwi.net, call 324-8227 or visit Sanford Maine Stage on Facebook.

The Academy of Dance, 25 River Road in Biddeford, is holding auditions for children in the community who are interested in participating in its amateur production of “The Nutcracker” this December. Call 283-1662 for more information.