THEATER

“Oliver! The Musical” will be performed by Our Theatre Company at Nasson Little Theatre from April 25 through May 10. The shows will be on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children 12 and under. For more information, call the box office at 294-2995 or go to http://www.myotc.org. The Nasson Little Theatre is located at 457 Main St. in Springvale.

“Pippin,” a Tony Award-winning musical, will be performed by the TA Players and the Thornton Academy Arts Department Thursday, April 10 through Sunday, April 13 at Garland Auditorium. “Pippin” is the story of a young prince searching for fulfillment, and the performance features circus acrobatics. Shows run Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Advance tickets are available at the school or via Arts Marketing Associate/Box Office Manager Doug Stebbins at 282-3361, ext. 4222 or [email protected].

“Marvins’ Room,” a dramatic play about family, will be presented by The Originals at Saco River Theatre, 29 Salmon Falls Road, Buxton, April 25 and 26 and May 1, 2, 3 at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee on April 27 at 2:30 p.m. For ticket information and reservations, call 929-5412.

“The Importance of Being Earnest” will be performed by Sanford High School players, featuring performances by the SHS jazz band and dance club, at 6:30 p.m. on April 11 and 12 in the high school auditorium. Suggested donation is $5 for adults; $3 for students; $10 for families.

“Around the World with Flat Stanley ”“ The Case of the Red Shoes” will be presented by the Portland School of Ballet at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center at Westbrook Middle School, 471 Stroudwater St., Westbrook, on Saturday, April 19 at 11 a.m. The show features audience interaction to solve a mystery. Annie Moore of Alfred will perform in a lead role as Little Ballerina. For more information, contact Portland Ballet at 772-9671 or visit www.portlandballet.org.

“The Ugly Duckling Princess” will be performed by School Around Us theater program students at The Brick Store Museum Program Center on Dane Street in Kennebunk on April 18 at 7 p.m. and April 19 at 2 p.m. All proceeds go directly to support the school’s curriculum. Call 967-3143 or visit www.schoolaroundus.org for more information.

“Little Shop of Horrors” will be performed by the UNE Players at City Theater in Biddeford on April 11, 12 and 13. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets for this show are $10 or free with a UNE ID. Tickets will be available at the door.

“Cinderella: The World’s Favorite Fairy Tale” will be performed at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, 142 Free St., Portland, April 11-27 with various showtimes at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and during April vacation week on Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24, at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is a special re-telling with the well-known Cinderella introducing the audience to characters with similar stories from other cultures. The play will be performed by actors age 8-16 and runs approximately one hour without an intermission. Call 828-1234, ext. 231 or visit www.kitetails.org for more information. Tickets are $8 members, $9 visitors.

ART

A hands-on demonstration of trace monotype and discussion with members of Peregrine Press will be hosted by arts nonprofit Engine on Saturday, April 12 from 4:30-6 p.m. The exhibition New Ink: Recent Works by Peregrine Press is on view until Saturday, April 19, and includes more than 100 prints. For more information, call Edwige Charlot at 370-9130. Engine is located on Main Street in Biddeford.

A mini maker demonstration will be offered at Maine FabLab at Engine on April 12 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Main Street location of the Engine arts nonprofit.The event will showcase the newest technology in 3D scanning, 3D modeling, and a motion sensor, the Leap Motion. Participants can try out the technology for free, with 3D printing available at a nominal cost available for pickup within a week. All ages welcome. No admission. Visit www.feedtheengine.org or www.mainefablab.org for more information.

“Mansion as Muse: Contemporary Art at Victoria Mansion” will open April 3 at Victoria Mansion in Portland. The mansion is a historic house museum and National Historic Landmark built from 1858-60. The exhibition will remain on view through May 21 with the participating artists being Mark Dion, Dana Sherwood, Andrew Mowbray, Justin Richel and Amy Yoes. Admission is free for Victoria Mansion members. For more information, visit www.victoriamansion.org.

Scratchboard artist Bob Goudreau’s works will be on display for the month of April at Just Us Chickens Gallery. Just Us Chickens is located at 16A Shapleigh Road in Kittery. For more information, go to www.justuschickens.net or call 439-4209.

“My Maine: The Painting of Michael J. McDonald” will be on display at The Old White Church gallery, with an opening reception set for 5-9 p.m. on Friday, April 11 at the gallery, 15 Salmon Falls Road in Buxton. This is the premiere showing of McDonald’s vibrant acrylic landscapes. The exhibition continues April 12, noon to 6 p.m. and April 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment through May 25. For more information, call 929-6472 or 831-3176.

The photographic exhibit of Michael Vittorioso, a juried fine arts photographer, will show at Goodall Library in Sanford through the end of June. For more information, call the library at 324-4714.

MUSIC

Anastasia Antonacos of Saco will perform at the United Baptist Church in Saco on Sunday, April 13 at 3 p.m. Antonacos will perform works by Schubert, Liszt, Janacek, Rautavaara and McDowall on the Haley Memorial piano. The United Baptist Church is located at 318 Main St. in Saco.

Country singer Frankie Ballard will perform at The Asylum in Portland on April 26, in promotion of his new album, Sunshine & Whiskey, which recently earned him his first #1 hit with “Helluva Life.” For more information, visit www.frankieballard.com.

Guitar duo Chris Eldridge, of The Punch Brothers, and Julian Lage will perform on Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. at The Saco River Theatre, 29 Salmon Falls Road, Buxton. The two perform acoustic guitar music in the roots of bluegrass and modern jazz. Tickets are $25. Call 929-6472 for reservations or order online at www.sacorivertheatre.org.

Several live musical performances will be offered at Elements: Books Coffee Beer, 265 Main St., Biddeford, in April: The Affordable Poolboys – Jim O’Neil and Dana Pearson, will perform light classic rock originals and covers on Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m.; Brian Callaghan will perform solo classical guitar, jazz and pop music on Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m.; October Road, an accoustic Americana folk-rock duo, will perform Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m.; Doug Kolmar, a singer-songwriter performing folk, pop, jazz and Americana, will perform on Sunday, April 27 at 1 p.m. Call 710-2011 or visit www.elementsbookscoffeebeer.com for more information.

DANCE

“Cinderella” will be presented by the Maine State Ballet through April 13. In this production, 50 dancers will recreate the classic fairytale. The shows run on Friday evenings at 6 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. All shows will take place at the Maine State Ballet Theater, located at 348 U.S. Route 1 in Falmouth. Tickets are on sale online at www.mainestateballet.org or by calling the theater at 781-3587. Discounts are available for seniors and children. For more information, go to www.mainestateballet.org.

SPECIAL INTEREST

The 12th annual Maine Deaf Film Festival will take place Wednesday, April 23 through Saturday, April 26 at various sites: “The House Across the Street” will show at the Nickelodeon Theatre in Portland on Wednesday. Arthur Luhn, director/writer, will be present. On Thursday evening, “A Life Without Words” will show at the Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney, University of Southern Maine Portland Campus. Skyping in will be director Adam Isenberg. Also at Talbot Auditorium, on Friday evening, “Silent Music” will show and on Saturday, Louis Neethling, director of “Tree Fairy” and producer of”Who Cares?” will present. Visit www.mainedeaffilmfest.com for more information.

The Maine Crime Wave conference will take place on Saturday, April 19 at the Glickman Library at USM in Portland. The Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance will be holding the day-long event which will include a keynote address from best-selling author Tess Gerritsen, panel discussions, workshops, book-signings and more. The Maine Crime Wave will also feature authors such as Gerry Boyle, Paul Doiron, Kathy Emerson, Kate Flora, Chris Holm and Julia Spencer-Fleming. For more information, go to http://mainewriters.org/2014-maine-crime-wave, email [email protected] or call 228-8264.

Local Maine author Helen Peppe will be signing copies of her new memoir “Pigs Can’t Swim” at Nonesuch Books on Saturday, April 19. The book signing will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nonesuch Books is located in the Millcreek Shopping Plaza in South Portland.

Comedian Rich Vos will perform live at Smitty’s Cinema on Friday, April 18, with local comedian Rob Steen opening. Showtime is 9 p.m. For tickets, visit www.smittyscinema.com.

Sandra Bernhard will perform at Jonathan’s on Saturday, April 26 at 7 p.m. Her show, “Sandyland,” blends theater, rock and roll, and stand-up comedy with burlesque and cabaret. For more information, call 646-4777.

Author Gene Poore announces the publication of his collection of writings, “Bus Ride Reading: Humor, Sad Truths & Religion through Essays, Short Stories & Poetry,” published by Friesen Press. Poore is a native of Portland, an evangelical Christian and a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. “Bus Ride Reading” is available for order through all major online book retailers.

Registration has begun for the 2014 Children’s Drama Camp at The Hackmatack Playhouse, Route 9 in Berwick. Camp is limited to 30 children, ages 7-13. Call Hackmatack Playhouse at 698-1807 or visit www.hackmatack.org for more information.

AUDITIONS

Maine Games National Anthem auditions will be held on Saturday, April 19 at the Kora Shrine Temple in Lewiston at 3 p.m. Complete details for this year’s National Anthem audition can be found through the Maine Games website, or at www.planetreg.com/2014anthemaudition.