“Spitfire Grille,” Penobscot Theatre, Bangor

Apr. 26-29 and May 2, Thursday-Sunday and Wednesday, 7pm/Thurs, Fri, and Wed, 5pm/Sat, 3pm/Sun, “The Spitfire Grille,” music and book by James Valcq, lyrics and book by Fred Alley, based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff, a feisty parolee follows her dreams to sleepy Gilead, Wisconsin, and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. The diner is for sale but with no offers on the table, Hannah decides to raffle it off. Whoever submits $100 and the most compelling essay will win the grill. Soon, mail is arriving by the barrel and things are definitely cookin’ at the Spitfire Grill, see site for ticketing details, Penobscot Theatre, 131 Main Street, Bangor. FMI: 207-942-3333, www.penobscottheatre.org.
Apr. 27, Friday, 7pm, “Macbeth-National Theatre Live Broadcast,” National Theatre Live will broadcast Manchester International Festival’s electrifying production of Macbeth, with Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn, Hamlet) in his first Shakespeare performance in over a decade as Macbeth, and Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, ER) as Lady Macbeth. Directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford (Anna Christie at the Donmar Warehouse, Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway) and BAFTA Award-winner Kenneth Branagh, this unique production of Shakespeare’s tragic tale of ambition and treachery unfolds within the walls of an intimate deconsecrated Manchester church, $15/adult, $10/senior, $8/student, Collins Center for the Arts, UMO, 2 Flagstaff Road, Orono. FMI: 207-581-1755, www.collinscenterforthearts.com.
Apr. 28, Saturday, 1pm, “Author Talk: Hope Rowan, 10 Days in Acadia: A Kids’ Hiking Guide to Mount Desert Island,” Hope Rowan will discuss the inspiration behind her kids’ hiking guide, as well as speaking to the importance of getting kids outdoors. The book follows a fictional young girl and her family on their vacation to Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island. Twelve-year- old Hattie describes ten different hiking trails, giving details of everything she sees, hears, smells, and feels while hiking with her family. The guidebook also includes hiking tips, rainy-day ideas, and a resource list, plus full-color trail maps, photographs, and illustrated field notes by Maine artist Jada Fitch. The hiking guide Includes: Large overview map of Mount Desert Island; Color trail maps of each hike, with trails marked by level of difficulty; Photos of each hike; Illustrations and field notes of animals and plants you might see on each hike; Hiking and safety tips; Rainy-day resources and ideas. The event will include book sales and signing, free, Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow Street, Bangor. FMI: 207-947-8336, www.bangorpubliclibrary.org.
Apr. 28, Saturday, 1pm, “The Met: Live in HD-Cendrillion,” for the first time ever, Massenet’s sumptuous take on the Cinderella story comes to the Met, with soprano Joyce DiDonato starring in the title role, $25/adult, $20/senior, $10/student, Collins Center for the Arts, UMO, 2 Flagstaff Road, Orono. FMI: 207-581-1755, www.collinscenterforthearts.com.
Apr. 28, Saturday, 4:30pm, “Concert for Hope,” Bangor pianist Patricia Stowell is presenting her final benefit concert, performing two Scarlatti Sonatas, Schubert Moments Musicaux, Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses, the Bach French Suite in G Major, Franz Liszt’s Un Sospiro and Gershwin’s 3 Preludes. The concert benefits Lina’s Hope in Cambodia, which was founded by a woman from Lamoine, Maine and provides therapy to children with severe brain injuries, $20/suggested donation, All Souls Congregational Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor. FMI: 207-942-7354, www.allsoulsbangor.com.
Apr. 29, Sunday, 4pm, “Bangor Band Members Memorial Concert,” this annual concert honors the memories of band members who have passed. Admission is free. The concert will feature a wide range of musical favorites, such as a medley from the musical “West Side Story”, Gustav Holtz’s “Second Suite in F”, and other pieces. This concert will be conducted by Assistant Conductor Dr. Philip Edelman, and by Associate Conductor Scott Burditt, free, Bangor High School, Peakes Auditorium, 885 Broadway, Bangor. FMI: 207-992-550, www.facebook.com/pages/Peakes-Auditorium/163989850328345.
Apr. 30, Monday, 3:30pm, “Sylvia Earle: Exploring the Ocean in the 21st Century,” her lecture will include underwater film of her research and conservation efforts in many coastal and deep areas of the global ocean. Earle is a National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence, and Founder and Chair of the non-profit Mission Blue (mission-blue.org/). She has been called a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. and a short program of Maritime folk music about the sea will be provided by the New Brunswick folk duo “Frantically Atlantic” from 3:50-4:20 as the audience is being seated, free, tickets must be reserved by visiting the box office or by calling, Collins Center for the Arts, 2 Flagstaff Road, Orono. FMI: 207-581-1755, www.collinscenterforthearts.com.