As August’s midpoint passes, the summertime arts and entertainment schedule decelerates. Three southern Maine producers and presenters are offering their final shows of the summer. Maine State Music Theatre is closing its 2017 season in Brunswick with “Newsies,” a rousing Disney show about economic turmoil in the newspaper business –more than 100 years ago. Deertrees […]

Talk of Portland gentrification is peppered with pros and cons. Pros come from fat-cat real estate investors, many who don’t remember when it was easy to pick a place to eat in the Old Port. Cons are heard from natives losing their sunrise views of Casco Bay to the insta-condos outside their bedroom windows. The […]

Greater Portland Auditions Boy Singers of Maine at the Portland Conservatory of Music is accepting singers from age 7 to high school seniors. Auditions through Paul Schnell, paulschnell@portlandconservatoryofmusic.org.  Portland Community Chorus 2017-18 season auditions, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Aug. 22-23, Episcopal Church of St. Mary, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth. Schedule at portlandcommunitychorus.org. Renaissance Voices, Portland’s classical a capella concert choir, […]

American cultural history is the common denominator that connects this week’s picks of the tix. The first two decades of the 20th century are the setting for “Ragtime,” a 1998 Broadway musical that won four Tony Awards. A massive and powerful production is currently running at Ogunquit Playhouse. “The Taffetas” is a little jukebox musical […]

Everyone in the hospitality business has a not-so-fond memory of a buser, bartender, or even a manager who went on “a quick break” and never came back. Food sat orphaned under a heat lamp because the expediter/runner was now too busy to serve it. Encrusted saute pans and silverware became a precarious Jenga tower. Drink […]

Greater Portland Auditions Portland Community Chorus 2017-18 season auditions, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Aug. 22-23, Episcopal Church of St. Mary, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth. Schedule at portlandcommunitychorus.org. Renaissance Voices, Portland’s classical a capella concert choir, openings for experienced choral singers. Contact Harold Stover at harold@haroldstover.com. Snowlion Rep, professional Portland theater company, three actors needed for two 2018 shows at […]

August has arrived, and that brings goldenrods, earlier sunsets and cooler temps. It also brings a pair of long-standing annual music festivals to the Port City. Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ produce Orgelfest, which runs Tuesdays in August. A string of guest artists will command the keyboard of the mighty instrument, with the final concert […]

Greater Portland Auditions Renaissance Voices, Portland’s classical a capella concert choir, has openings for experienced choral singers. Contact Harold Stover at harold@haroldstover.com. Exhibits “Hard Pics,” photos by Cristy Heckler, CIA Cafe, 72 Ocean St., South Portland. Artist reception 5-7 p.m. Aug. 12, on view to Sept. 13. “Paper and Metal,” by Sarah Clifford with Cristy Heckler, CIA Café, 72 Ocean St., South Portland. […]

Two of America’s iconic musical genres are featured in the top two items of this week’s performing arts schedule. In each case, there are significant twists and alternate takes. The Ossipee Valley Music Festival began about two decades ago as one of several fine bluegrass festivals in Maine. But over the years this annual South […]

Two of America’s iconic musical genres are featured in the top two items of this week’s performing arts schedule. In each case, there are significant twists and alternate takes. The Ossipee Valley Music Festival began about two decades ago as one of several fine bluegrass festivals in Maine. But over the years this annual South […]