Area Arts

Diversity this season for CLT

Janet Gibson will once again serve as Season Ticket Chairperson for Lewiston-Auburn's Community Little Theatre's 65th. Season. Rachel Morin Photo

Lewiston-Auburn's Community Little Theatre is announcing the plays for the 65th Season, 2004-2005. This season will see a third weekend of performances on Friday and Saturday with the exception of the final play of the season.


"Man of La Mancha" the Tony award winning musical by Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion, based on the classic Spanish novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, will open the season Oct. 15-30.

"Inherit the Wind" by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee will be directed by Vince Knue and opens in the New Year, Jan. 14-29. Based on the 1925 Scopes 'monkey' trial concerning the teaching of evolution in Dayton, TN, the play has become a classic.

"Meshuggah-Nuns," a take-off on "Nunsense" by playwright Dan Goggin, will find the Little Sisters of Mt. St. Helen in Hoboken once again in the theatrical spotlight, this time aboard a cruise. The show opens on Mar. 11 and runs through Mar. 26.

"I Hate Hamlet" a warmly written comedy on performing Shakespeare, by Paul Rudnick, runs June 2-18 and will be directed by Linda Britt. Closing the season will be the ever popular "Fiddler on the Roof" running Aug.19-28 and directed by Richard Martin. This will be the third time around at CLT for this perennial favorite. This play will only run for two weekends.

Season tickets may be reserved by calling the box office at 783-0958 or accessing the theatre's website at www.laclt.com. Current season ticket holders have until August 1 to renew their subscriptions. New subscriptions will be taken from August 2 through September 15, after which time, tickets will be open to the public. Season tickets are a good value and offer patrons first choice of seating arrangements, a mailing of CLT's newsletter, Backstage Whispers, advance notice of auditions and plays coming up and other pertinent information relating to theater activities.

Denton Ridge's Shaker Series to be exhibited at the BackStage Gallery
New Gloucester Shaker Village featured

Over one hundred years after the Shakers' popularity had reached its peak, the excellence and simplicity of their work still speaks to us in our present day world.

The Shaker houses, shops, and farm buildings that stand as soundly today as they did more than a century and a half ago hold a spiritual quality about them.

The many objects they made truly reflect the beauty they saw in nature. In July, The BackStage Gallery at Harrison's Deertrees Theatre will be showing a series of paintings by Denton Ridge reflecting the architecture and objects of two Shaker communities, Sabbath Day Lake, Maine and Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. Mr. Ridge's watercolors are his response to the grace and symmetry of the Shaker buildings and the surrounding landscapes.

Denton Ridge is a Tennessee native and resides in Chattanooga, nationally known as the city of the arts. He is a member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society and a member of the Association for Visual Artists of Chattanooga. Working experimentally with water media for about twenty years, he uses a combination of drybrush and wet brush technique. Drybrush, with little or no water, allows for tighter control and is used for detailed work. Using more water in the brush he creates a more fluid and free image. This technique of using watercolor transparency and a palate of earth tone colors reflect his love of traditional and natural subjects.

Drawn by the works of Winslow Homer and other Maine artists, Mr. Ridge first visited the state in the early 1990's. The beauty of Maine and the southern coastal life became a source of inspiration and his paintings reflect the simplicity of the sea and shore and the peace and serenity that surrounds it. With the Shaker Series his goal is for individuals to reflect on the quietness and sense of presence that still lives on in the Shaker buildings.

The Shaker Series will be on exhibit at the BackStage Gallery from July 1st until July 20th. Also included in the show will be sculptures by the Washington D.C. print and broadcasting journalist, Karen Feld, and paintings by the award-wining artist, Tim Gaydos.

Gallery hours are from 11a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, one hour before performances and during intermission. The BackStage Gallery is located at Deertrees Theatre, Deertrees Road, Harrison, Maine. For further information please call the theatre's Box Office at 207-583-6747.

Photo courtesy of Gold Leaf Designs & Gallery of Chattanooga Tennessee.

Deertrees Theatre & Cultural Center

Deertrees Theatre & Cultural Center
Deertrees Road, Harrison, Maine
Phone: 207-583-6747
E-mail: deertrees@usa.net
Web Site: www.deertreestheatre.org

The Box Office is open from 10 AM until 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday and one hour before performances. Reservations are highly recommended for groups of more than tin. The theatre grounds are available for picnicking and activities before and after the performance. Deertrees is handicap accessible. Free parking on the grounds

Wednesday, July 7 at 10 AM & 1 PM
$5 (adults) $4 (children)
RICK CHARETTE - Children's Wednesday: Vacationing chickens, traveling toads, an alligator in an elevator and sneakers that run by themselves. Is it any wonder that Rick is a Deertrees favorite year after year? Blending contemporary pop music with original lyrics, America's most delightful and inspiring children's musician captures the hearts and spirits of young and old alike with his songs and imaginative fun filled audience activities. An enthralling performance for children from K to 5

Wednesday, July 14 at 10 AM & 1 PM
$5 (adults) $4 (children)
Children's Wednesday - TANZSPIEL: A one-woman tour de force celebrating the expressive potential of the human body. Karen Montanaro blends the arts of mime and dance to create theater with rare physical and emotional power. Co--written and directed by famed mime and teacher, Tony Montanaro.

Wednesday, July 21 at 10 AM & 1 PM
$5 (adults) $4 (children)
Children's Wednesday - THE ODD COMPANY: A stunning display of technical talent, pizzazz, cool sophistication, and gentle humor. From performing across Europe, to winning the International Jugglers Championships, to owning and operating a theater right here in Maine, the Odd Company demonstrates what you can accomplish when you follow your dreams. Mike Miclon from the comedy-juggling group Fusion, Amanda Huotari from the Boston-based improv troupe Juice, and Fritz Grobe from the renowned juggling and dance ensemble Blink.

Monday, July 26 through Friday, July 30
$100
The 5th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival Student Actors Workshop: For further information please contact the Deertrees Box Office at 207-583-6747.

Wednesday, July 28 at 10 AM & 1 PM
$5 (adult) $4 (children)
Children's Wednesday - The Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival Annual Music for Kids Concert: Ferdinand the Bull and Other Fantastic Fiddle Tales - Munro Leaf's classic tale of the friendly toro who preferred smelling flowers is brought to life with Alan Ridout's marvelous composition and the acclaimed musicians of the SLLMF.

Monday, August 9 through Friday, August 13
$100
The 5th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival Student Actors Workshop: For further information please contact the Deertrees Box Office at 207-583-6747.

Wednesday, August 4 at 10 AM & 1 PM
$5 (adults) $4 (children)
MICHAEL LANE TRAUTMAN - Children's Wednesday: A mime that talks, a clown that's funny, a juggler that doesn't throw things, a magician that fools himself. Michael's originality as a performer and rapport with audiences young and old has brought him a reputation as a performer who is both hilariously funny and profoundly moving. "The most entertaining time you and your children will ever spend with a single entertainer."

Monday, August 2 through Friday, August 6
$100
The 5th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival Student Actors Workshop: For further information please contact the Deertrees Box Office at 207-583-6747.

2004 Deertrees Schedule: COMEDY

DEERTREES THEATRE & CULTURAL CENTER
DEERTREES ROAD, HARRISON, MAINE
TELEPHONE: 207 583 6747
E-mail: deertrees@usa.net
Web Site: www.deertreestheatre.org

The Box Office is open from 10 AM until 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday and one hour before performances
Tickets are also available until 24 hours before the performance at:
Books & Things, Bethel
Fare Share, Norway
The Cool Moose, Bridgton

Deertrees Theatre is handicap accessible
Free parking on the grounds

Thursday, July 15 at 8 PM
$16
TIM SAMPLE: The laureate of that gentle, folksy style of story telling known as "Maine humor." A regular contributor to CBS's "Sunday Morning" and co-host of the popular MPBS show "What's for Suppah," Tim is a natural-born raconteur, fascinated by people and everything they do. Despite the tidal wave of electronic "stories" crashing over us via TV, radio, and the like, he continue to tell his own stories in his own way and those stories, tell a great deal about us. A Harrison Old Homes Days Celebration

Friday, July 16 at 8 PM
$16 (adult) $8 (children)
FRED GARBO: Transcending barriers of age and language, The Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater is a theatrical world like no other. It's a theatrical world where performances begin when a ten-foot cylinder slithers onto the stage and implodes. Within moments the entire audience is playing catch with inflatable props! "It's visual, it's sensual, it's full of life, it's pure fun and always shakes you with laughter." A Harrison Old Homes Days Celebration

Thursday, July 22 at 7 PM & 9:30 PM
$18
BOB MARLEY: Maine's King of Contemporary Comedy. A KeyBank presentation. Long before Variety Weekly named him one of the "Ten Comics to Watch," long before he signed to do a show with ABC Television, long before he became a regular on Leno and Letterman, long before he headlined such venues as Caesar's Palace and The Trump Palace, Bob Marley played his home state AND he still does. Unique insights into the underlying comedy of everyday life.

Friday, July 30 at 8 PM
$14 (adults) $7 (children)
NEW WAVE VAUDEVILLE: Vaudeville's dead? Nobody told these guys. They are a brand new wave of vaudevillians who are talented, hip, funny, amazing and totally cool. Featuring Michael Menes, Alan Tacheny as Charlie Who, and Bruce McKenzie Johnson as Vladimir Kotkin, this is a family-friendly performance that will dazzle young and old with incredible juggling, amazing illusions, hilarious comedy and adventurous audience participation!

2004 SCHEDULE: THEATRE

The Box Office is open from 10 AM until 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday and one hour before performances. Tickets are also available until 24 hours before the performance at:Books & Things, Bethel, Fare Share, Norway, The Cool Moose, Bridgton

Deertrees Theatre is handicap accessible
Free parking on the grounds

THE DEERTREES THEATRE FESTIVAL

Thursday & Friday, August 12 & 13 at 8 PM
$18
The 5th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival: "The Gin Game" - D.L.Coburn's Pulitzer Prize winning play gathered four Tony nominations on Broadway and was filmed for a PBS production with Dick Van Dyke and Mary Taylor Moore. Over a never-ending gin game, two abandoned oldsters in a seedy old-age home reach out and then face off in a flurry of pent-up rage and subtle needling. "A pas de deux worthy of ballet." Produced by New York City's GreenLight TheatreWorks.

Thursday & Friday, August 19 & 20 at 8 PM
$18
. The 5th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival: "The Journey of the Carcass" - A premiere performance of Dan O'Brien's newest play. The 20th century ship "Carcass" is on a voyage of exploration to the North Pole but its destiny is determined by three very 21st century writers/actors in an air-conditioned theatre. "Full of movement, clowning, physicality and miming." Produced by GreenLight TheatreWorks

Thursday, Friday & Saturday, August 26, 27 & 28 at 8 PM
$18
The 5th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival: "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)" From the creators of "The Compleat Works of Willm Shkspr (abridged)" comes an irreverent romp from fig leaves to Final Judgment that tackles the great theological questions such as; Does God have a sense of humor? Did Moses really look like Charlton Heston? How good a carpenter was Jesus? An affectionate zip through the good book that takes less than two hours including an intermission. Produced by GreenLight TheatreWorks

Thursday & Friday, and Saturday, September 2, 3, & 4 at 8 PM
$18
The 5th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival: "Talley's Folly" - Pulitzer Prize winning play by Lanford Wilson. Two unlikely lovers take the first awkward steps on a journey from isolation to togetherness, their banter, laughter and rant leading to the tenderness at the center of the play. "One of the funniest and most tender love stories written for the stage." Produced by New York City's GreenLight TheatreWorks

SUMMER 2004 Deertrees Musical Programs

DEERTREES THEATRE & CULTURAL CENTER
DEERTREES ROAD, HARRISON, MAINE

Telephone: 207 583 6747
E-mail: deertrees@usa.net
Web Site: www.deertreestheatre.org

The Box Office is open from 10 AM until 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday and one hour before performances. Tickets are also available at: Books & Things, Bethel, Maine, The Cool Moose, Bridgton, Maine, and The Fare Share, Norway, Maine. The theatre grounds are available for picnicking before the performance. Deertrees is handicap accessible. Free parking on the grounds

JULY

Thursday, July 1
$10
UNKNOWN LEGENDS: A contagiously classic rock band that can cover everything from Eric Clapton to Bare Naked Ladies and then venture off on their own with a smattering of piano and horn based jazz. Solid sounds, great fun!

Friday, July 2 at 8 PM
$14
CASCO BAY TUMMLERS: Klezmer music; more than a Yiddish tradition. The world-renowned Casco Bay Tummlers celebrates an evening of Klezmer Music with a performance as lively and soulful as its Yiddish roots.. The term "Klezmer" originally came from two Hebrew words referring to musical instruments but over time it came to signify the musicians themselves and in current usage it refers to the musical genre - secular Jewish music, from original music to traditional dances and Yiddish theater and ghetto songs. A "Tummler" is an entertainer, a rabble-rouser, and a creator of joyful chaos

Saturday, July 3 at 8 PM
$12
ERNIE HAWKINS: One of the most accomplished and impressive acoustic guitarists of our time, Hawkins melds blues, gospel and ragtime into distinctive arrangements that sound new but pay tribute to those who've gone before him. Schooled by the legendary Rev. Gary Davis in his signature style of Piedmont blues, Hawkins combines the rare traits of being a superb musician and a great communicator, honest to his roots and passionate to the spirit of the blues.

Tuesday, July 6 at 8 PM
$16
THE SHAW BROTHERS: Still "teaching the world to sing," Rick and Ron are celebrating forty-five years of presenting their unique blend of traditional and contemporary music interspersed with humor, poems and stories. Exuding delightful wit and easy charm, "New Hampshire's Musical Ambassadors to the World" establish a quick rapport with audiences of all ages.

Thursday, July 8 at 8 PM
$14
THE TERRY WHITE BIG BAND: Four saxophones, 2 trombones, 3 trumpets and a 3-man rhythm section; Maine's favorite big band brings back all those wonderful standards of that not-to-be-forgotten age, played as they were meant to be played. Deertrees Theatre is filled with the echoes of the past. The presence of the great theatrical stars that have appeared there during the past 75 years are felt during every production. The Terry White Big Band fills the theatre with the echoes of another era, the swinging era of Glen Miller's "In the Mood," Benny Goodman's "Lets Dance," and Duke Ellington's "Satin Doll."

Friday, July 9 at 8 PM
$14
CAROL NOONAN & KATE SCHROCK: One guitar, one piano and two of today's finest female vocalists appearing together for a concert that you won't forget. Carol, deep, dark, and soulful, has a ravishing alto voice that takes you back to a young Joan Baez. Kate, haunting and inspiring, has a dreamy ether of a voice that seems to dance above her own rolling piano. Each has a distinctive style, both express amazing talent.

Saturday, July 10 at 8 PM
$16
DAVID MALLETT: As one of the most consistent, evocative songwriters of the last three decades, folk poet David Mallett continues to write thoughtful, potent songs about changing America. His songs have been covered by hundreds of artists, ranging from Emmylou Harris to Pete Seeger, but somehow his music is the most powerful when he simply picks up his guitar and sings his songs himself. "A voice that is both wonderfully rich and weatherworn, a guitar technique all the more impressive for its understatement and one heart-stoppingly great song after another."

Sunday, July 11 at 7 PM
$12
JEREMY KITTEL: Quite possibly America's top young fiddler. Whether he's playing the Irish and Scottish tunes - many of his own composition - that make up the core of his repertory, or improvising on jazz violin, or thinking out a mind-bending fusion of "Sing Sing Sing" with the bluegrass tune called "Blackberry Blossom," or even performing a fiddle-rooted classical composition he is simply an awesome performer!

Saturday, July 17 at 4 PM & 8 PM
$12 (adult) $5 (children)
THE ITALIAN HERITAGE BAND: Two old-fashioned band concerts with big band sounds, jazz standards, pop and show tunes, marches and patriotic favorites. Sponsored by the Italian Heritage Center of Portland since 1988, the band has over 45 members, and divides their concert performances between the Italian Heritage Center and the community at large. Crowd pleasing performances by one of Maine's top bands. A Harrison Old Homes Days Celebration

Monday, July 19 at 8 PM
$12
ENCORE/CODA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: A Community Concert by the faculty and outstanding musicians from one of the nation's most prestigious summer music camps. A rare opportunity to hear a full orchestra in the acoustically perfect setting of Deertrees. This is a Benefit Performance.

Friday, July 23 at 8 PM
$14
THE DON CAMPBELL BAND: A wonderful mix of sizzlin' guitar and fiddle licks, heartfelt ballads, fun hooks, toe-tappin' rhythms and outstanding harmonies! Any Don Campbell concert is a roller-coaster ride of foot stompin' roadhouse country fun but at Deertrees - one of Don's favorite venues - the ride is extra special. When he turns off all the amplifiers and moves the band center stage to play acoustically everybody becomes a Campbell fan.

Saturday, July 24 at 8 PM
$20
JONATHAN EDWARDS: A legendary singer-songwriter who straddles folk, bluegrass and country. Since his 1971 hit "Sunshine," Edwards has gained a reputation as the "musician's musician," recording 13 solo albums, collaborating with artists like Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Buffet, and Cheryl Wheeler and joining Don, McLean, Tom Rush, and Al Stewart in their "Back to the Future" tour. A versatile acoustic guitarist with a distinctive tenor voice that is guaranteed to stir the heart.

Thursday, July 29 at 8 PM
$14
MAD AGNES: Mad Agnes isn't really mad at all. They know exactly what they're doing: crafting clever and beautiful songs and singing them flawlessly. Rich, heart-rending three part harmonies, synergistic musicianship and clever songwriting that is at once familiar and completely unique. From simple a cappella to breathtaking instrumentation, Mad Agnes delights, incites, and heals. A link back to that addictive sound of progressive/alternative folk groups like Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention and Renaissance

Saturday, July 31 at 8 PM
$18
THE NEW BLACK EAGLES JAZZ BAND: New Orleans-inspired Dixieland jazz interpreted with fresh insights and imbued with individual music personalities. Picture a packed New Orleans dance hall with the band playing feverishly into the night, building joyful chorus after chorus until it seems the musicians will positively explode from sheer exuberance. Widely acclaimed as the world's best traditional jazz band, the New Black Eagles has been a Deertrees summer tradition since 1992.

August

Sunday, August 1 at 7 PM
$12
ANNI CLARK: Poetic lyricism and warm soprano vocals, folk and jazz-tinged melodies - Anni writes great songs about this thing called life and sings with a quiet grace and simple inner beauty. "Female Artist of the Year" plus "Folk Artist of the Year" in Jam Music Magazine's 2003 Readers' Pix Awards. This concert will be recorded live as her next CD.

Thursday & Friday, August 5 & 6 at 8 PM
$18
WILL HOLT: "A Little Out of the Light - A Musical Memoir." New Songs! New Stories! From his early days as a folksinger at the Village Vanguard to international acclaim as a TONY nominee and OBIE winner, a highly- personalized Broadway Musical Revue by the composer of Lemon Tree. An intimate performance by a sophisticated and accomplished musician

Saturday, August 7 at 8 PM
$16
KRUGER BROTHERS WITH BAREBONES & WILDFLOWERS: Exciting, calming, entertaining and spontaneous all in one.. Although each of these musicians has earned high credit for his skills individually, it is the interaction of the three together which makes their music so uniquely special. Taking traditional American Folk and Bluegrass music and adding Classical European musical influences produces acoustic string music with a rich new flavor.

Saturday, August 14 at 8 PM
$18
BANJO DAN & THE MID-NITE PLOWBOYS: A banjo, a mandolin, a fiddle, a guitar and a big acoustic bass - the authentic sound essential to true mountain music. Bluegrass at its very best; a rush of music, the soulful harmonies and instrumental dazzle underscored by the driving rhythmic core. The visual whirl of on-stage energy as the players dart and dive toward the single microphone. Plus a relaxed, wry commentary that draws audience and players together for an evening of easy musical intimacy.

Tuesday August 17 at 8 PM
$14
ISLA: While the Celtic tradition lies at the heart of Isla, the diverse musical influences of the band's four members expand the idiom's boundaries. The players share an eclectic appreciation for the primal vitality found in the music of other folk traditions. One may listen closely to hear melodic nuances from Eastern Europe, French Canada, Medieval England, and the American Appalachian mountains. The resulting effect is a clear expression of the human experience that transcends borders and needs no translations..

Saturday, August 21 at 8 PM
$16
THE STATE STREET JAZZ BAND: Returning to Deertrees by popular demand. State Street brings to musical life that glorious era when jazz was being created. Authentic New Orleans Jazz, Big Easy parade tunes, hymns and spirituals. All the traditions of jazz played in the traditional style.

Tuesday, August 24 at 8 PM
$14
INNOVATA BRASS: Sharing their music, the history behind it and the group's personal experiences, the Boston based Innovata sets a new standard in brass ensemble performance and has emerged as one of the nation's most outstanding brass groups. From Handel to Bach, they give the classical repertoire a new life in a brass incarnation. Sousa and Joplin are played as they've never been played before, even "Louie-Louie" is given its due.

Sunday, August 29 at 7 PM
$16
GORDON BOK: Singer/Seafarer, songwriter extraordinaire, marvelous instrumentalist and painter of moods. "The poet laureate of those who go down to the sea in ships." An unmistakable style that has carried him through decades of being one of our most cherished folk artists.

The BackStage Gallery
July 1 through July 20 (Opening reception on Friday, July 2 at 6 PM)
Karen Feld:"Literally/Figuratively" (sculptures)

A Washington D.C. journalist who specializes in capturing the personalities behind the news.

Tim Gaydos: "Recent Works" (watercolors & pastels)
Recipient the American Watercolor Society Silver Medal of Honor in 2002, and top awards at the Pastel Society of America. The raw realism of Tim's paintings evokes emotion through color and composition.

Denton Ridge: "The Shaker Series" (watercolors).
The "Shaker Series" is Denton Ridge's individual response to the architecture and objects in the Shaker communities of Sabbath Day Lake, Maine and Pleasant Hill, Kentucky.

July 22 through August 14 (Opening reception on Friday, July 23 at 6 PM)
"On Their Own" Carman Martin, curator

Andersen Stoneware: (Ceramics)
Widely renowned for the elegantly simple pottery and line of animal and bird sculptures, this is the first exhibit of the Studio's one-of-a-kind decorative works.

Gina Bilander: (Photographs)
One sees the same spirituality and homage to nature that van Gogh embraced; the same essence of light and shadow of Rembrandt.

Brian Block: (Images)
The mark of the hand has not lost its relevance in painting, but rather increased in relevance, as it, along with the human voice, remains a defining expression of the human.

William Irvine: (Oil on Canvas & paper)
The heir to a century of modernist painters who have celebrated the land and the sea.

Sharon McCartney: (Mixed Media Collages, Acrylic on Canvas)
The works in this series are about collecting and a life long passion for objects found in the natural world.