PORTLAND

‘Mary’s Wedding’ opens Portland Stage’s full season

With the opening of “Mary’s Wedding” this week, Portland Stage Company announced the lineup for its 2010-11 performance season.

The season opens Sept. 28 with a production of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps,” adapted by Patrick Barlow. On Nov. 2, the theater will stage “Last Gas,” a new play by Maine playwright John Cariani, author of “Almost, Maine.” The Portland Stage production will be the premiere of the play about a gas station attendant working near the border of Maine and Canada.

For its holiday offerings, the theater will present “The Santaland Diaries,” opening Nov. 26, and “A Christmas Carol,” opening Dec. 3.

Other titles include “2 Pianos 4 Hands” by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt, opening Jan. 25; “The Center of Gravity” by Gregory Hischak, opening March 1; “Halpern & Johnson” by Lionel Goldstein, opening March 29; and “The Syringa Tree” by Pamela Gien, opening May 3. 

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Conservatory unveils gift in Trudi Karger’s honor

The Portland Conservatory of Music has announced a $300,000 gift as a scholarship endowment, given by the estate of Trudi Karger. With the gift, the Conservatory will expand its aid program of need-based and merit scholarships. Carol Elowe, president of the conservatory’s board, said in a statement, “The Conservatory is most grateful for this gift from a lady who taught piano, loved music, and wanted to share this love with many others.” 

Maine African Film Festival offers five days of film, art

The second Maine African Film Festival offers five days of film, art, music and dialogue. The event begins Tuesday and runs through Saturday, and features 15 films. Tuesday’s opening at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., includes an exhibition featuring the work of Nigerian artist Lemi Ghariokwu.

An artist and designer, Ghariokwu is best known for his original cover images for the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. He has designed more than 2,000 album covers, including covers for Bob Marley, E.T. Mensah, Osita Osadebe, Gilles Peterson and Antibalas.

Throughout the week, Ghariokwu will conduct art workshops for children living in Kennedy Park and surrounding communities, as well as for students at Maine College of Art and the University of Southern Maine.

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The festival’s films and events promote the arts, culture and music of Africa and offer opportunities to increase cross-cultural literacy. For a list of films, events, panels, and other information, visit tmaff.org. 

Young actors group to offer abridged ‘Romeo and Juliet’

The first session of the Westbrook-based Acorn Production’s new Young Actors Shakespeare Conservatory will present an abridged performance of “Romeo and Juliet” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Space Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland. Seven teenagers will star in the production, which will be directed by Naked Shakespeare’s Karen Ball. Admission is a $5 suggested donation.

CAPE ELIZABETH

Artists invited to submit for Wet Paint Auction

The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust is accepting artist submissions for Paint for Preservation 2010, the organization’s third annual juried Wet Paint Auction to be held July 18.

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On the day of the event, juried artists will paint on site at designated public and private locations chosen to highlight Cape Elizabeth’s natural beauty. That evening, the newly painted artwork will be auctioned at a cocktail reception at Breakwater Farm in Cape Elizabeth. Proceeds from the event benefit the trust’s Saving Cape’s Great Places initiative.

Artists are invited to submit two samples of original paintings in any medium for juried consideration to participate in Paint for Preservation 2010. For more details and online submissions, visit www.capelandtrust.org/wetpaint. Slides or CDs should be sent to “CELT Paint for Preservation 2010” at Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, P.O. Box 265 ccb, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107. The deadline for submission is Friday.

Founded in 1985, the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust has permanently protected more than 570 acres. For more information, visit www.capelandtrust.org or call 767-6054.

FREEPORT

Thos. Moser presents dinner with five artists, designers

Thos. Moser presents a dinner with five Maine artists and designers at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Harraseeket Inn on Route 1, Freeport. Alex Carleton, clothing designer; Tracy Davis, interior designer; Eric Hopkins, artist; Jill Hoy, artist; and David Moser, furniture designer; will discuss their current projects and future plans at a five-course dinner. The dinner costs $100 per person, and seating is limited to 40 guests. Reservations are available by calling (800) 708-9041.

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BRUNSWICK

Music Festival alumna wins international competition

Bowdoin International Music Festival alumna and 2009 guest artist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt took first prize in the 10th Lionel Tertis International Viola Festival and Competition in the United Kingdom on March 27. As first-prize winner, Pajaro-van de Stadt has been offered engagements with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London and the London Schubert Players in London, Paris and Bucharest.

The Tertis competition, for violists younger than age 30, is held every third year on the Isle of Man. In 2010, an international jury chose three finalists from 153 applicants.

Pajaro-van de Stadt was a student of the Bowdoin Festival from 2004 to 2008, and was invited to perform during the 2009 season as a guest. Past American winners in the Tertis competition include former Bowdoin Festival student Paul Neubauer and faculty member Kim Kashkashian.

 

 


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