Celebration Barn in South Paris, Maine, offers Vaudeville-style Performances in the Sebago Lakes Region

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Celebration Barn in South Paris, Maine, offers Vaudeville-style Performances in the Sebago Lakes Region


Celebration Barn in South Paris, Maine
Set in the middle of the lakes and mountains region of Maine is a performing arts center of a different sort. Celebration Barn Theater was the inspiration of Tony Montanaro, a 20th-century mime artist who studied with Marcel Marceau.
In the early 1970s, Tony purchased a farmstead in South Paris, Maine, and converted the barn into a performing/teaching space. Thus, the  “world-renowned theater school for mime, improvisation, storytelling and other performing arts” was founded. The facilities on the farm include two large rehearsal studios, a 125-seat theater, housing and a large kitchen. The Barn is available for rent.
Students come from throughout Maine, the United States and around the globe to study and develop their skills in such areas as juggling, clowning, miming and storytelling. Three-day to two-week workshops and residencies include Celebration Barn Boot Camp, Neutral Mask, Eccentric Performing, 500 Clown: Risk and Play, Performance for Musicians and the Art of Movement.
In her DownEast magazine article “Clown School,” Kathleen Fleury describes Celebration Barn as the “tucked-away, tuned-in performance mecca.” Celebration Barn is located at 190 Stock Farm Road, just off Route 117 North in South Paris. It’s about an hour from Portland. This separation from the city allows students a chance to truly focus on their art form.
Over the years, Tony Montanaro’s students included folks like Tom Bergeron, host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Dancing with the Stars,” and Fred “Garbo” Garver, the acrobat who played Barkley the Dog on Sesame Street. Tom recently returned to Celebration Barn to promote his memoir, I’m Hosting As Fast As I Can, which includes a chapter titled “I’ll Always Have (South) Paris,” about his studies with Tony at the Barn.
Tony Montanaro passed away in 2002, but his wife, Karen, and executive director Amanda Huotari, have kept his spirit alive at the Barn. Vaudeville-style public performances occur each Saturday from June through September. The Saturday night shows feature favorite artists and visiting guests. Tickets are $20 and under. Most shows cost $14 for adults and $8 for children. Shows begin at 8 p.m., but the doors open 30 minutes earlier. The Box Office number is 207.743.8452.
With over 33 pristine lakes and ponds in the area, whether you are attending a workshop or a Saturday night performance at the Barn, be sure to make time to check out lakefront properties. You’ll find many options in nearby Norway.

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