Out and About for the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine April 5-11

Out and About for the Mid Coast Lakes Region of Maine April 5-11
April 4, 2018
Out and About for the York/Sanford Lakes Region of Maine April 5-11
April 4, 2018

Out and About for the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine April 5-11

“The Producers,” Opera House, Waterville

Apr. 5, Thursday, 7pm, “LeBlanc Family Concert,” For more than 25 years the three-generation LeBlanc family has played Franco-American Music at festivals throughout New England, and Canada, $15, North Church, 118 High Street, Farmington. FMI: 207-778-2006, www.facebook.com/North.Church.Concert.Series.
Apr. 6, Friday, 6pm, “Dancing with Realtors,” The Kennebec Valley Board of Realtors is excited to announce that this year’s competition will be held in Waterville at the Thomas College Mahaney Gymnasium. Over the past 6 seasons we have raised over $100,000 for Habitat for Humanity. Last year’s event raised over $27,000 alone, and this year hopes to be just as successful. Just like the hit TV show Dancing with the Stars, 15 local competitors will be dancing with professional ballroom dancers from Aquarius Ballroom Dance Studios and then judged on their performance. This year we are featuring 2 levels of dancing, an amateur competition where dancers are learning the Fox Trot and East Coast Swing, and a professional level, where the dancers are performing the Salsa! Tables of 8 and individual tickets are available, and refreshments and a cash bar will be available throughout the show. As in past years, we will also auction off the 3rd judges seat to the highest bidder! In addition, there will be live and silent auctions as well. This year we will also have a Photo Booth so you can take your #selfies and post them on your favorite social media account! Cocktail Social is from 6-7, with a live performance by Waterville High School Musicians. All proceeds from ticket sales, donations and the auctions will benefit Habitat for Humanity & Western Maine Community Action in Farmington, $25-$35, Thomas College, Mahaney Gymnasium, 180 West River Road, Waterville. FMI: 207-314-1039, www.mainetoday.com.
Apr. 6-8, Friday-Sunday, 7:30pm/Fri. and Sat, 2pm/Sun, “The Producers,” This laugh-out-loud musical is based on Mel Brooks’ classic cult comedy film. A down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his nervous accountant scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history, thereby bilking their backers out of millions of dollars. The antics of Max and Leo as they maneuver their way through finding a show (the gloriously offensive “Springtime for Hitler”), hiring a director, and raising the money is a lesson in comedy and friendship. This show is rated PG-13 for profanity, $24/adults, $22/students and seniors, prices do not include ticket handling fees, Opera House, 93 Main Street, Waterville. FMI: 207-873-7000, www.operahouse.org.
Apr. 6, Friday, 7:30pm, “Jim Gallant Band,” presented by Concerts for a Cause. This show benefits the church, as well as the Immigrant Resource Center. Mix a little Americana, Blues, Folk, Bluegrass and Rockabilly with some great original music and you have the music of the Jim Gallant Band. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Jim Gallant has been making music throughout the Northeast. Whether he’s finger picking a Celtic jig, a New Age instrumental, or singing a Delta blues song, his distinctive fingerstyle has won him both applause and accolades. His original compositions have brought him awards and high honors throughout the country. Gallant has shared the stage with such nationally recognized artists as Doc Watson, Taj Mahal, Livingston Taylor, Mark Collie, the New Grass Revival, and Bill Staines. Jim’s band includes Rick Masters on guitar, lead guitarist Big Al Downing, bassist Billy Belskis, and Mark Burns on vocals and percussion, $16, First Universalist Church, 169 Pleasant Street, Auburn. FMI: 207-783-0461, www.uuconcerts.org.
Apr. 6, Friday, 7:30pm, “Christian McBride and New Jawn,” Four-time Grammy-winning jazz bassist Christian McBride has been likened to a force of nature, fusing the fire and fury of a virtuoso with the depth and grounding of a seasoned journeyman. For his debut concert at Colby, McBride will be joined by Josh Evans (trumpet), Marcus Strickland (saxophones), and Nasheet Waits (drums). This is the second of two concerts this year made possible by a generous anonymous donation. The concert is free of charge. Doors to the chapel open at 7pm for seating. There are no reserved seats. Space is given on a first come first served basis, free, Lorimer Chapel, 4000 Mayflower Hill Drive, Waterville. FMI: colby.edu/musicdept.
Apr. 8, Sunday, 2pm, “State Street Traditional Jazz Band,” based in Portland and performs traditional New Orleans Jazz referring to Dixieland and ragtime styles of the early 1990’s. Each musician in this seven-piece band has a passion to play and preserve this music. Come prepared to share an exciting afternoon in old New Orleans, $10, $5/students, free/12 & under, Jewett Hall Auditorium, University of Maine at Augusta, 46 University Drive, Augusta. FMI: www.concertsatjewett.com.
Apr. 8, Sunday, 4pm, “UUCC Concert: Joelle Morris & Timothy Burris,” The Unitarian Universalist Community Church (UUCC) hosts this fundraiser called “20th Century Folk Music for Voice and Guitar.” Joëlle Morris, from Evian, France, is a singer, actor, choral conductor and voice teacher. Recognized for her warm mezzo voice and her ability to sparkle on stage, she is admired for her versatility — from the concert stage to the operatic arena, in intimate jazz settings and French cabaret. Timothy Burris has performed throughout Europe and the US, both as a soloist and an accompanist. He has appeared in concert with esteemed artists as the mezzo Jennifer Lane, the keyboardist Robert Hill, and under the baton of Peter Schreier and René Clemencic. In a review of The Songs of Philip Rosseter, Part II, The Lute Society Magazine said of his skills as an accompanist, “Burris … plays with beautiful tone and is an absolutely first- class accompanist,” $10, Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Augusta, 69 Winthrop Street, Augusta. FMI: 207-622-3232, www.augustauu.org.

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