One of the summer’s best music festivals takes place this weekend, and Portland’s only resident opera company is busily preparing its big summer production. Both have been high on my personal must-do list for years. Ossipee Valley Music Festival got its start with bluegrass in 1999. Since then its offerings have broadened to include many […]

Greater Portland Books, Authors  Wednesday 7/13  Katy Rydell, author of “Wind Says Good Night,” 6:30 p.m., with folk musician Ross Altman, Summer Reading Program event, Freeport Community Library, Library Dr., Freeport, freeportlibrary.com. Thursday 7/14 George Dalphin, author of “Bob Wacszowski, Necromancer,” 5-8 p.m. book signing, Bull Moose Store, 456 Payne Road, Scarborough, bullmoose.com. Friday 7/15 […]

July marks the high season for Maine’s many music festivals, and Brunswick is the venue for two of them this weekend. The Bowdoin International Music Festival is Maine’s biggest classical gathering, boasting about 80 concerts by established professional musicians, well-known ensembles and the upper echelon of conservatory students. Most of these performances are held on […]

Maine is an incredible place to be in July, with an abundance of music and theater happening all over the Pine Tree State. Let’s start with Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick. First item, of course, is “Annie,” the wonderful Broadway musical that represents the quintessential American spirit of optimism. MSMT’s musicals run six days […]

Greater Portland Auditions, Calls for Art Monday 7/11 Auditions for “Sigourney Square Park,” written by Jeffrey Kagan-McCann of The Blue Moon Chronicles, multiple roles available, prepare to do cold reading from play, 6-8 p.m., Lucid Stage, Baxter Blvd., Portland, performance dates Sept. 7-25, FMI, 899-4440, Pearwater88@yahoo.com or on Facebook, Pearwater Productions. Books, Authors  Wednesday 7/6 […]

It seemed an impossible undertaking, but we recently turned an early morning dental appointment into an absolutely delightful experience by tacking on a two-hour exploration of Portland’s Deering Oaks Park and the surrounding neighborhoods. I have lived in the Portland area for 58 years and feel embarrassed that I have never taken the time to […]

Nearly every summer theater schedule sports at least one “jukebox musical,” a stage show that is built around hit tunes that were originally created for diverse audiences at different times by disparate writers. “Summer of Love” is Ogunquit Playhouse’s offering in this department. It’s an East Coast premiere and it runs through July 16. Freeport […]

Greater Portland Books, Authors  Wednesday 6/29 Book Launch and Author Event, with Jim Witherell, author of “L.L. Bean: The Man and His Company,” 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Dr., Freeport, freeportlibrary.com. Thursday 6/30 Book Launch and Signing, with Linda and Martha Greenlaw, authors of “The Maine Summers Cookbook,” 7 p.m., Nonesuch Books & […]

Greater Portland Auditions, Calls for Art Sunday 6/26 Freeport Players Auditions, for “The Foreigner,” 1-2:30 p.m., and 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, June 27, be prepared to cold read from script, try southern and/or British accents, Freeport High School cafeteria, Holbrook St., Freeport, FMI, fcponline.org/auditions, 865-2220. Books, Authors  Thursday 6/23 Michael Sims, author of “The Story of […]

Greater Portland Auditions, Calls for Art Sunday 6/26 Freeport Players Auditions, for “The Foreigner,” 1-2:30 p.m., and 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, June 27,  be prepared to cold read from script, try southern and/or British accents, Freeport High School cafeteria, Holbrook St., Freeport, FMI, fcponline.org/auditions, 865-2220. Books, Authors  Wednesday 6/15 Melissa Coleman, author of “This Life is […]