Area Arts

Pippin! Come see your friends and neighbors, Barbara, Ali, Susie, and Jill Stauble, Joanne Rawlings-Sekunda, Jess Morrison, Jody Bagley, Grant Dodge, and Cynthia Grimm of Gray and New Gloucester and many more actors from the local communities as they sing and dance their way across the stage at Windham Center Stage Theater's 30th season opener, Pippin!!

Pippin is the story of King Charlemagne's son who through trial and error comes to find the true meaning of life and true happiness. You are certain to enjoy this hit musical preformed by our talented cast of all ages. The show will run November 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8pm and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m.

All shows are at the Windham Town Hall/ Community Center on School Road. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, and $12 for adults. Please call 893-2098 for reservations or visit our website www.windhamtheater.org. Pippin is directed by Cathy Ryder with musical direction by Dawn Sample by special arrangement with Music Theater International.

"Daylight Comes and I Wan' Go Home" sing the Four Plaids from the sold-out perfomances of Community Little Theatre's March production of "Forever Plaid."

The group, Dr. Ron Bouffard (Jinx), front, and L to R, Dr. Bruce Condit (Sparky), Harry Neidig (Smudge) and Dr. Paul G. Caron (Frankie) will perform the nostalgic 50's songs from the musical at the APL Centennial Concert on November 12 at the High Street Congregational Church. John Neal is accompanist. Barbara Ring, library trustee, is chairing the 8 pm fund raiser benefiting the Auburn Public Library. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door or at the library's location at the Auburn Mall. For more information, please call the library at 782-3191. (Rachel Morin Photo)

A series of fund-raising events have been held the past several months for the library, according to Tonie Ramsey, Chairperson of the Centennial Committee. She added "Patrons have been generous and supportive and we are truly appreciative of their response." The library has completed 100 years of service to the community and is in the process of expanding its facility in the heart of downtown Auburn.

Included in the program are performances by well known pianist Phil House, along with Ms Ring; Anne Caldwell, songstress in many CLT musicals accompanied by pianist-husband, Bob Caldwell; "Four on a Match," women's barbershop quartet from the Mollyockett Chapter of the Sweet Adelines-Rose Fredericks, baritone; Sue Bartlett, bass; Alda Reynolds, lead; and Darlene Glover, tenor.

Karl Dan Sorensen of Mt. Vernon who has been classically trained in the USA and Europe will make a special appearance. He has been in great demand on both the concert stage as well as in grand opera and light opera. He specializes in music of Bach, Mozart, Haydn and Early Music, as well as Broadway and barbershop. He has performed in many major choruses and orchestras as a guest soloist.

Barbara Randall, John Kelly and Dr. Otis Tibbetts are hosting the evening. Refreshments will be served by Eleanor Cummings and Maureen Tibbetts. Cheryl Ring is designing the program and Rachel Morin, the publicity.

Stephen Trumble of Gray in "Children of Eden" a special musical theater offering A "must see" for anyone interested in musical theater, young talent, or even the Book of Genesis -- two performances of the musical "Children of Eden" will be presented at the University of Southern Maine School of Music on November 20 and 21. Do not miss them!

Not well known because this show has not yet been produced commercially on Broadway, the heartfelt and humorous "Children of Eden" has had an extremely successful life in regional, stock and community theaters over the past ten years. This will be the third time only it's been seen In Maine. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Saturday November 20, and at 5 p.m. on Sunday 21, 2004 in Corthell Concert Hall on the USM Gorham campus.

A full orchestra of 12 musicians will perform the music and lyrics written by the masterful Stephen Schwartz (with book by John Caird). Directed by Edward Reichert, the show features musical theatre students performing the melodic, energetic score which is a mix of pop, folk, rock, reggae, gospel, and Broadway tunes. Tickets are $15 for the general public, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. For reservations call the Music Box Office at (207) 780-5555.

This production is sponsored by Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution. The book is based loosely on Old Testament stories, including the creation of the world, Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the conflict between Cain and Abel, and Noah and his family's survival of the great flood. The show may be based on well-known bible tales, but the themes addressed are universal. The story is a funny, moving and honest portrayal of how these well-known families deal with children, growing up, accepting responsibility, and learning that parents aren't always perfect.

Performers include "Father" Anthony Teixeira, Sandwich, MA, as "The Father"; Nick MacDonald, New Hampton, NH, as Ham; Stephen Trumble of Gray as Japheth; Sara Beth Johnson-Berz, Limestone as Yonah; Rosie Schoneberg of Limington, as Young Eve and a storyteller; Derrick Jaques from Windham, as Old Adam; and Jared Poulin, of Waterville, as Young Adam; Ashleigh St. Pierre of Brunswick, as a storyteller; Hallie Parmenter of Woburn, MA., as a storyteller; Michelle Sawyer of Windham, as a snake and Aysha; Casey Pratt of Greene, as a storyteller; Alexis Handy of Lewiston, as a storyteller and a snake; Alexandra Dietrich of Freeport, as Old Eve and a snake.

And All That Jazz
Jazz is alive and hopping this fall in the School of Music at the University of Southern Maine. Four different performances in November and December will feature jazz musicians ranging from student vocalists to the world famous Wycliffe Gordon. All events take place in Corthell Concert Hall on the USM Gorham campus. For more information call the Music Box Office at 780-5555.

The 2004-2005 Faculty Concert Series continues with "The Bill Street Songbook" at 8 p.m. Friday, November 19. This special concert celebrates Bill Street's 25 years at USM! A program of his new and old compositions will feature Chris Van Voorst Van Beest on string bass, Ryan Parker on piano, Chris Oberholtzer on trombone, and Les Harris Jr. on percussion. Guest groups for this celebration concert include the Atlantica Saxophone Quartet and the Maine Super Sax Project. Tickets are $15 for the general public, $10 for seniors, and $5 for students. This event is sponsored by Key Bank.

At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November 22, the USM Jazz Ensemble, directed by Chris Oberholtzer, and the USM Lab Jazz Ensemble, directed by Doug Owens, will perform a night of big band jazz featuring the music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Mintzer and many others. Tickets are $6 for the general public, and $3 for seniors and students. NOTE: The date of this concert was listed incorrectly as November 29. On Monday, December 6, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Chris Humphrey, features student jazz vocalists. Their concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this event are $6 for the general public, and $3 for seniors and students.

The weekend of December 11 & 12 is the USM/Fleet Youth Ensembles Jazz Improvisation Weekend, an annual event open to selected high school instrumentalists with an interest in jazz improvisation. Two events will be open to the general public on Sunday, December 12. A master class will be given by world renowned jazz trombonist, Wycliffe Gordon at 2 p.m. Then at 7 p.m. a finale concert will begin with Student Combos, followed at 8:15 p.m. by the USM Faculty featuring Gordon. Tickets are $6 for the general public, and $3 for students and seniors.

Sax man Bill Street celebrates 25 years at USM
Bill Street -- he's an inventive composer, a cool instructor, and a wicked good saxophone player (!) at the University of Southern Maine School of Music. He also is a specialist in designing mouthpieces and repairing saxophones and clarinets.

Bill Street will celebrate his 25 years of making and teaching music at USM in the next Faculty Concert scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, November 19, 2004. His program, "The Bill Street Songbook" will highlight new and old compositions, all by Street. The songbook is, what he calls, "an impression of my life experiences."

He will be joined by other members of the USM jazz faculty -- Ryan Parker, piano; Les Harris Jr., percussion, and Chris Oberholtzer, trombone. Guests include string bassist, Chris Van Voorst Van Beest, and two groups of young players which he directs-- the Atlantica Saxophone Quartet and the Maine Super Sax Project.

The first half of the concert will be mostly improvisational with a lot of interplay between musicians. The tunes range from impressionistic ballads and high energy Latin, to some laid back, almost dirty, blues. The second half of the evening will feature ensembles in a tribute to Charlie Parker.
Tickets are $15 for the general public, $10 for seniors, and $5 for students. Call the Music Box Office at 780-5555 for tickets. The concert is sponsored by Key Bank, a major supporter of jazz.

A reception will follow the Nov. 19 concert at which fans and students will have a chance to say hello to one of the most laid back guys in jazz.
The St. Lawrence Arts & Community Center operates the 110-seat multi-functional Parish Hall Theater in half of the rehabilitated historic St. Lawrence Church in Portland, and is currently rehabilitating the 500-seat Sanctuary half of the building for use by the Greater Portland community. FMI, www.stlawrencearts.org. Schedule:

Barrymore Thursday-Sunday November 4-November 28 produced by Good Theater $10-$18 www.goodtheater.com. A recent Broadway hit, Barrymore won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for its original star Christopher Plummer. Good Theater co-founder Stephen Underwood takes on the role of legendary actor John Barrymore. This irreverent and funny play takes places as John Barrymore is rehearsing for a come back to the stage. Maine premiere. Thursdays 7:30 Friday/Saturdays 8 pm Sundays 2 pm. No Show Thanksgiving.

Jodee James-Wednesday November 10 7:30 pm. $12 Jodee James-America's Welsh Singer Singing in Welsh and English, both in traditional song and original song stories, Jodee captivates her audience, describing the poetic history of the region with an emphasis on Celtic "ways" as they have been over the ages, and the lore of Celtic heroes such as …..King Arthur, Merlin, Rhiannon and others of the Welsh Mabinogion. www.jodeejames.home.att.net

Carol Noonan Sunday November 14 8pm $15 with guitar gods Kevin Barry and Duke Levine www.carolnoonanmusic.com Carol, Kevin and Duke celebrate the release of "Somebody's Darlin;", Carol Noonan's latest endeavor about songs, of War, Loss and Remembrance.

Dakota Dave Hull Wednesday November 17 7:30p $12 www.dakotadavehull.com Hailed by everyone from Dave Van Ronk to Doc Watson, from the Washington Post to downbeat, Dakota Dave Hull's guitar style spans a wide musical geography to create an infectious, uniquely personal blend of jazz, ragtime, folk, blues, Western swing, and vintage pop.

Don Campbell Band Wednesday November 10 7:30p $12 www.doncampbellmusic.com Don travels across the country - and especially between his homes in Portland, Maine and Nashville, Tennessee performing with his full band. The Don Campbell Band has been blessed with extremely talented musicians, including current members Andy Happel, Jackson Gay, Sumner McKane, and Todd Richard.

Above, The Don Campbell band performed live at Russ Jeffords's Party on Rt. 202 in Windham, Friday the 8th of October to celebrate the purchase of a new home and Russ's 50th birthday. It was a gala event with a host of local line and partner country dancers. Russ's renovated barn provided a very fitting backdrop for this occasion with home cooked food and a bonfire to mark these milestones.
The Monument: Mark Miller photo