This week • Throughout the world, June 16 is known as Bloomsday, marking the day on which James Joyce’s epic novel “Ulysses” takes place. Portland joins in the celebration, as the Maine Irish Heritage Center and the American Irish Repertory Ensemble have planned Bloomsday Portland events for Tuesday and Wednesday. “This isn’t an esoteric gathering […]
Bob Keyes
Bob Keyes writes about the visual and performing arts for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He appreciates that his job requires him to visit museums and attend plays and concerts across Maine, and most enjoys interviewing artists in their studios. He’s a New Englander by birth, and has lived in Maine off and on, most recently since 2002. He lives in Berwick with his wife, Vicki, and their son Luke.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Keyes: CMCA back in a big way
ROCKPORT – The Center for Maine Contemporary Art is back in the headlines this month, for all the right reasons. The art center, which has championed contemporary art in Maine since 1952, recently reopened after flirting with financial doomsday. The center closed its doors last fall after its board dismissed the staff, citing a lack […]
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Maine connection links trio of Tony hopefuls
Three theater professionals with ties to Maine are in the running for Tony Awards, which will be presented tonight in New York. Christopher Fitzgerald, Donald Holder and Linda Lavin each received nominations last month. The awards celebrate the best of Broadway. Fitzgerald was nominated for best performance by a featured actor in a musical for […]
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Feature Obituary: A. Laurence Ralph, 62, teacher, lawyer, outdoorsman
MANCHESTER – The first time Stephanie Ralph met her future husband, they were together as strangers on an outing club trip to Lake George, N.Y. He was a student at the University of Pennsylvania, and Stephanie had just moved to Philadelphia for a teaching job. She joined the outing club to meet people, and that’s […]
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World Cup: Touting different teams
PORTLAND – His face turning red and veins bulging, Alan Pugsley shot ramrod from his bar stool and waved his first like a madman. “Get in there! Get the hell in there. Christ!” Pugsley, otherwise known as the mild-mannered brewmaster for Shipyard Brewing Co., joined several dozen boisterous mates at G&R DiMillo’s Bayside on Preble […]
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Feature obituary: Constance Middlesworth, 78, a lifelong lover of song
Constance Middlesworth was born to sing. “If she hadn’t married, she could have been a movie star,” said her daughter, Beth Cook of Gorham. “She was a beautiful singer and had a lovely voice. She loved to entertain. She was a natural actress. She entered a room, and she could fill it with smiles.” Mrs. […]
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Bonny Eagle defies critics
Bonny Eagle High’s senior class president says: ‘This community is not going down.’
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Piqued by the people of Peaks Island, photographer creates a book of them
A few years ago, photographer Fran Houston began taking pictures of old-timers who make their home on Peaks Island. She lives on the island, and she worried that some of Peaks’ older residents were dying without having their stories recorded and told. So she set out to change that. Her project, “For the Love of […]
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For veteran director, challenge is in reimagining ‘Always’
Chan Harris is best known to audiences of Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick as an actor. He appeared many years ago in “Tommy” and two years ago in “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Harris is back this summer, and this time he’s working as director for the season-opening show “Always Patsy Cline.” The musical pays tribute […]
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Art and Theater: Have a seat
Ogunquit Playhouse opens its season today with ‘The Drowsy Chaperone,’ starring Carson Kressley as the Man in Chair.