“Maine Maple Sunday at Norlands,” Livermore

Mar. 19-21, Thursday-Saturday, 7:30pm/Thurs. and Fri., 6pm/Sat., “While the Lights Were Out,” a murder-mystery-comedy by Jack Sharkey, A thunderstorm! The lights go out! An agonized voice! A pistol shot! The lights come up! A blonde in black lace stands over the dead man holding a bloody dagger! The detective examines the body and announces, “He’s been strangled!” This delightful evening of mayhem gallops madly about the stage and will leave the audience breathless with surprise and laughter, $15/adults, $12/seniors and students, Greely High School, Main Street, Cumberland. FMI: 207-829-4805, www.greelydramaboosters.org.
Mar. 19-22, Thursday-Sunday, 7:30pm/Fri.-Sat., 5:30pm/Sun., “Catch Me If You Can,” come along for the ride as teenager Frank Abignale Jr. ditches suburban life for a high-class world of glitz and glamour-and fake IDs, forged checks and a tail by the FBI! The world-class con artist successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer, winning the hearts of women and the trust of men, all while playing a cat-and-mouse game with FBI agent Carl Hanratty. Based on the hit film and astonishing real-life story, this fast-paced new musical has an infectious, hard-driving jazz and glorious big-band sound, $21/general, $15/seniors, $10/students, Russell Hall, USM, Gorham. FMI: 207-780-5151, www.usm.maine.edu.
Mar. 20-22, Friday-Sunday, 7pm/Fri. and Sat., 2pm/Sat. and Sun., “Little Mermaid Jr.,” Ariel and all her friends sing and dance to such songs as “Part of Your World,” and “Kiss the Girl.” Two casts of over 35 children each, have been working hard to bring you a wonderfully entertaining show, $10/general, $8/seniors and students, Windham Center Stage Theater, Windham Town Hall, 8 School Road, Windham. FMI: 207-893-2098, www.windhamtheater.org.
Mar. 20-22, Friday-Sunday, 7:30pm/Fri. and Sat., 2:30pm/Sun., “Anything Goes,” classic Cole Porter musical, set aboard the ocean liner S. S. American, where nightclub singer/evangelist Reno Sweeney is en route from New York to England. Her pal Billy Crocker has stowed away to be near his love, Hope Harcourt, but the problem is Hope is engaged to the wealthy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Joining this love triangle on board the luxury liner are Public Enemy #13, Moonface Martin and his sidekick-in-crime Erma. With the help of some elaborate disguises, tap-dancing sailors and good old-fashioned blackmail, Reno and Martin join forces to help Billy in his quest to win Hope’s heart, $10, $6/seniors and students, McCormack Performing Arts Center, 41 Morrill Avenue, Gorham. FMI: 207-839-5754, www.goghs.org.
Mar. 21, Saturday, 9am, “Blue Lights and Funny Cider,” John Ford, a veteran of the Maine Warden Service and author of “Suddenly, the Cider Didn’t Taste So Good,” and “This Cider Still Tastes Funny,” along with Mark Nickerson, a veteran Maine State Trooper, and author of “Blue Lights In the Night,” share their stories and adventures during their years of working in the Greenville and Unity areas. Guaranteed to make you laugh, $5, Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Road, Windham. FMI: 207-892-1908, www.windham.lib.me.us.
Mar. 21, Saturday, 8pm, “Song Stage,” featuring artists Robbie Fulks, Erin McKeown, and Jenny Scheinman, a great night of song swapping and collaboration, artists are on stage together all night like a songwriter round up Bluebird Café Style, lots of great music and banter, and unique glimpse into these artists through the music of their fellow guests, $30/pp plus $5 handling fee, Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Road, Brownfield. FMI: 207-935-7292, www.stonemountainartscenter.com.
Mar. 22, Sunday, 9:30am-2pm, “Pancake Breakfast and Old-Time Maple Sugaring,” experience a late winter ritual done the old-fashioned way at Norlands’, Maine’s oldest living history farm and museum. In celebration of Maine Maple Sunday, enjoy fresh hot pancakes and sausage, served with Norlands’ own mapley syrup, in the historic farmer’s cottage. Sap boiling demonstrations take place in the sugar house. Help tap trees and collect sap. Meet the school’marm in the one-room schoolhouse who will encourage you to practice your mental arithmetic and penmanship using a quill pen under her watchful eye. Bring snowshoes or sleds and enjoy the beautiful 445 acres, $5-$7/pancakes and sausage, free/sugaring event, Washburn Norlands Living History Center, 290 Norlands Road, Livermore. FMI: 207-897-4366, www.norlands.org.