The roadside ferns are turning brown, sumac bushes are turning red and the shadows at five o’clock are getting quite long. Those are among the telltale signs that mark the end of the summer season. On the performing arts calendar, a pair of festivals mark the end of the summer. Biggest by far is the […]

Greater Portland Books & Authors Thursday 8/22 David Little, author of “Art of Katahdin,” 7 p.m., Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Portland, 774-1822, free. Tuesday 8/27 Ted Kerasote, author of “Pukka’s Promise,” 6 p.m., Planet Dog, 211 Marginal Way, Portland, 347-8606. Wednesday 8/28 Elise Richer, author of “Always in Season” cookbook, 11 a.m., Portland […]

Greater Portland Books & Authors Thursday 8/15 Gail Rowe, author of “The Roots of a Family,” 6:30 p.m., South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway, South Portland, 767-7660. Elise Richer and Teresa Lagrange, author and illustrator of “Always in Season,” 6:30 p.m., Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square, Portland, 836-3344. Friday 8/16 Mary Elizabeth Nordstrom, […]

Three choices on the musical theater menu are the top picks of the tix this mid-August week. Maine State Music Theatre is wrapping up its 2013 season with “Mary Poppins,” the stage version of the celebrated 1964 Disney film. “Mary Poppins” was a big hit on Broadway, and now the Maine premiere is a big […]

Greater Portland Books & Authors Friday 8/9 Susan Lebel Young, author of “Food Fix,” 12 p.m., Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700 ext. 723, free. Tuesday 8/13 Rich Rubin, author of “The Last Doughboys,” 7 p.m., Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road, Scarborough, 883-4723. Thursday 8/15 Elise Richer and Teresa Lagrange, author and […]

As we approach the middle of August, summer stock musical theater continues at a torrid pace, but the classical music festival season gradually draws to a close. Ogunquit Playhouse is offering an outstanding production of the earliest collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” There’s one more concert […]

Greater Portland Books & Authors Wednesday 7/31 Phillip Hoose, author of “Moonbird: A year on the wind with the great survivor B95,” 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Library, 20 Library Drive, Freeport, 865-3307. Roxanna Robinson, author of “Sparta,” 12 p.m., Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700 ext. 723, free. Tuesday 8/6 John Ford, author of […]