Out and About for the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine Jan. 17-23

Out and About for the Mid Coast Lakes Region of Maine Jan. 17-23
January 16, 2019
Out and About for the York/Sanford Lakes Region of Maine Jan. 17-23
January 16, 2019

Out and About for the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine Jan. 17-23

“The Secret Garden,” Oak Hill High School, Wales

Jan. 17, Thursday, 12pm, “Great Falls Forum with Paul Doiron,” Maine novelist Paul Doiron, with a talk entitled “Telling Maine Stories.” Mystery novels have long been viewed as entertaining but unserious books. In his Great Falls Forum talk, Paul will discuss how crime novelists often deal with social issues other literary genres struggle to address. From the opioid crisis to rural homelessness to post-traumatic stress among veterans of our most recent wars, Paul has found himself addressing topics that Mainers themselves identify as major problems for our state — all while trying to spin good yarns, of course, free, Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207-513-3135, lplonline.org.
Jan. 17, Thursday, 6:15pm, “Prince Edward Island musicians Richard Wood and Gordon Belsher,” Old South Church concert series kicks off 2019 season with internationally acclaimed and award-winning Prince Edward Island musicians, Richard Wood (fiddle and step dancing) and Gordon Belsher (guitar/vocals) on Thursday, January 17th. Doors open at 6 pm. Jam Session 6:15. Concert 7 pm, refreshments by donation, $15, $10/students, Old South Congregational Church, 235 Main Street, Farmington. FMI: 207-491-5919, www.farmingtonucc.org.
Jan. 17, Thursday, 7pm, “Maine Event Comedy presents Chris Thomas,” Maine Event Comedy presents Rhode Island’s Chris Thomas at Bear Bones Beer, Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. He’ll be joined by Liam McGurk, David McLaughlin, and Nick Gordon. An open-mic will follow the show.Originally from Cleveland, Thomas weaves his unique perspective on society and culture into hilarious stories. He’s worked Laugh Boston, ImprovBoston, Nick’s Comedy Stop, and the Rhode Island Comedy Connection.McLaughlin hails from Billerica, Mass and is not shy about taking his familial issues to the stage. He’s an assistant editor at Sugar Films and produces the Clean Comedy Showcase at ImprovBoston.Despite his sleepy demeanor, McGurk is one of Boston’s fastest rising stars. He’s a regular at the Comedy Studio, Laugh Boston, and Giggles Comedy Club.New Gloucester’s Gordon lives in a barn and was recently in a hockey fight. He’s been winning audiences over with his self-deprecating brand of humor, 21+, free, Bear Bones Beer, 43 Lisbon Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207-513-0742, www.sunjournal.com.
Jan. 17-20, Thursday-Sunday, 7:30pm/Thurs.-Sat, 2pm/Sun, “Lend Me A Tenor,” in this hilarious farce set in 1934, opera star Tito Merelli, in a fit of despair after a huge fight with his wife, takes too many pills and suddenly slips into unconsciousness only minutes before the curtain. Max, the lowly office assistant and opera singer wannabe, is ordered to take Tito’s place and fool the opera aficionados of Cleveland. With countless doors and several mistaken identities, passion runs rampant as the situation resolves in a spectacular ending. This fast-paced comedy will leave sides aching from laughter, $18, $15/seniors, $12/students, Great Falls Performing Arts Center, 30 Academy Street, Auburn. FMI: 207-783-0958, www.laclt.com.
Jan. 18, Friday, 1:30pm, “French Sing-Along with Les Troubadours,” Les Troubadours will lead attendees in singing a selection of local Franco favorites, such as “C’est Dans le Temps du Jour de L’An” and “Mon Dieu Bénissez la Nouvelle Année”. Providing musical accompaniment will be pianist Jeannette Gregoire, free, University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn College, 51 Westminster Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207-576-4109, www.sunjournal.com.
Jan. 18-20, Friday-Sunday, 7pm/Fri. and Sat, 2pm/Sun, “The Secret Garden,” this enchanting classic of children’s literature by Frances Hodgson Burnett is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of ‘Night Mother. Orphaned in India, 11 year old Mary Lennox (played by Rachel Lovell) returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive Uncle Archibald Cravin (played by James Greenwood) and his invalid son, Colin (played by Elise Worth). The estates many wonders include a magic garden that belonged to Archibald’s now deceased wife, Lily (played by Haley Gunn), which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the Dreamers, spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her life, dramatizing the Secret Garden’s compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal. The play is directed by Lucy Rioux with musical direction by Gary Fuller, Jason Paquette, and Rebecca Caron, $8, $5/students, Oak Hill High School, 56 School Road, Wales. FMI: www.oakhillhigh.info.
Jan. 20, Sunday, 4pm, “Sankofa,” an open dress rehearsal for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day production by the student performance group Sankofa. The students explore the stories of the African diaspora through dance, music, theater, spoken word, and more. Sankofa’s annual MLK Day production is a symbol of pride and accomplishment for members of the African diaspora at Bates, and a diversifying experience for the Bates community, free/but tickets required, Schaeffer Theatre Bates College, 329 College Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207-786-6161, www.bates.edu.

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