THEATER

“Mary Poppins” will be performed by The TA Players and the Thornton Academy Arts Department from April 9-12 at the Garland Auditorium in Saco. Showtimes are Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m. There will be two shows on Saturday April 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The final performance will be on Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for all shows and all ages. Tickets may be purchased online at https://squareup.com/market/thornton-academy-box-office or by calling Box Office Manager Doug Stebbins at 602-4471. For more information, go to www.thorntonacademy.org/arts.

“Happy Days Are Here Again” will be on stage at Good Theater, 76 Congress St. in Portland from April 8-26. Performances of the show will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. for $20; Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. for $25, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. for $28. The show is created and directed by Brian P. Allen, Good Theater’s artistic director. It stars Lesley McKinnell a veteran of the national tour of Wicked where she played the leading role of Glinda. Victoria Stubbs is the musical director and pianist for the show. For tickets and more information, call the Good Theater box office at 885-5883 or go to www.goodtheater.com.

“Dirty Deeds at The Depot or Professor Mack’s Magic Elixir of Life” will be presented by the UNE Players at City Theater in Biddeford on Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door. General admission is $10 or free with a UNE student ID. For more information, call 602-2891.

Good Theater presents “Underwaterguy 2.0” on Saturday, April 11 at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 12 at 5 p.m., Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m., Sunday, April 19 at 5 p.m., Monday, April 20 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. All tickets are $20. The show will be at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St. in Portland. For more information, call 885-5883 or go to www.goodtheater.com.

School Around Us presents “Rumpelstiltskin, Private Eye,” which will be performed at The Brick Store Museum Program Center on Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m., Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 18 at 2 p.m. This production is a film-noir fairytale spoof in which “Fairytale Land” has been hit by a crime wave. Tickets are available for purchase at The Brick Store Museum Program Center on Dane Street in Kennebunk. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, go to www.schoolaroundus.org or call 967-3143.

“Fame ”“ The Musical” will be running from Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 26 at the STAR Theatre, 120 Rogers Road in Kittery. Set during the last years of New York City’s celebrated High School for the Performing Arts, “Fame ”“ The Musical” is the story of a diverse group of students who commit to four years of grueling artistic and academic work. Tickets for the show are available at The Kittery Community Center, 120 Rogers Road in Kittery or call the box office at 439-3800. Performance dates and times are as follows: Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 18 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 19 at 5 p.m.; Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 25 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 at 5 p.m. General admission for the show is $25 and $20 for students and seniors.

The theatrical comedy “Love Song” will be performed at the Saco River Theater, 29 Salmon Falls Road in Buxton on April 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday April 19 at 2:30 p.m. The production is about a socially awkward and lonley exile named Beane who falls in love with a hotheaded burglar named Molly. The play stars C. James Roberts, Jennifer Porter, Rob Cameron, Elisabeth Hardcastle and Josh Brassard and is directed by Dana Packard. Admission is $25 for adults, $22 for students and seniors. For the Sunday, April 19 matinee the cost of tickets is $20 and for the Thursday, April 23 show, attendees are asked to pay what they can. For reservations, call 929-5412.

The Shakespearean comedy “As You Like It” will be performed by USM Theatre. Performance times are: Friday, April 17, Saturday, April 18, Thursday, April 23, Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m and Sunday, April 19, Wednesday, April 22 and Sunday, April 26 at 5 p.m. The show will be performed on the Main Stage of Russell Hall on the USM Gorham campus, 37 College Ave. in Gorham. Tickets cost $15 for the general public; $11 for seniors, USM employees and alumni and $8 for students. For more information, call 780-5151 or go to http://usm.maine.edu/theatre.

“Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr.” will be on stage on Saturday, April 25 at 11 a.m. and Sunday, April 26 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The STAR Theatre, 120 Rogers Road in Kittery. This is a youth MainStage production featuring “theatre by youth for youth” with a cast of performers all under the age of 18. Tickets are available at The Kittery Community Center. General admission is $15. For more information, go to www.patrickdorowproductions.com.

ART

“Master Series: Portrait Drawing in Pencil & Charcoal with Olena Babak” will be held on Saturday, April 18; Sunday, April 19; Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Study the classical approach of drawing with accomplished artist and instructor Olena Babak. The series will take place at Engine, 265 Main St. in Biddeford. There is a fee of $350 for non-members and $320 for members. For more information, email [email protected] or call 370-9130.

“The Language of Art: Student Art Show” will be on exhibit through April 25 at the Dyer Library, 371 Main St. in Saco. This is a biennial student art show, with this years theme being “The Language of Art.” The show focuses on the main principles of art. “Industry and Virtue Joined : Schoolgirl Needlework of Northern New England” will be on display May 9 through October 4. The exhibit is on schoolgirl needlework, with extensively researched and documented samplers and silk embroideries from Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, call 283-3861 or go to www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.

MUSIC

Dixie Grass and Zink & Company will perform a spring concert on Saturday, April 4 at 7 p.m. The show will feature acoustic country and bluegrass music to benefit The Wells Activity Center, 113 Sanford Road in Wells. Dixie Grass plays a catalog of over 40 years of traditional country music. Zink & Company is firmly rooted in traditional bluegrass and country music, featuring vocals, guitar, mandolin and banjo. Tickets are $18 at the door and can be purchased at Gamesters Pawn, 170 Elm St. in Biddeford. For more information, call 776-4188.

The Allman Neville Pitchell Band will perform at Jonathan’s Ogunquit on Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. The band will perform blues, southern rock and New Orleans influenced music. For more information, go to www.jonathansogunquit.com.

Portland Chamber Music Festival Presents “Hear on Earth” on Thursday, April 9 at 8 p.m. at SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St. in Portland. The performance will be preceded by a social mixer at 7 p.m. This will be an evening of contemporary classical chamber music for string quartet. The show will feature Portland Symphony violist Russell Wilson, who wil be joined by Jennifer Elowitch, Gabriela Diaz on violin and cellist Jennifer Lucht. Tickets are are $15 and $13 for SPACE members and students. For more information, visit www.space538.org.

“Rhythm Future Quartet” featuring Jason Anick and Olli Soikkeli will perform gypsy jazz on Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. at Atlantic Hall in Cape Porpoise. Tickets are $30 for preferred seating and $20 for general admission. For reservations, call 967-8784 or email [email protected]. For more information, go to www.rhythmfuturequartet.com.

“Big Easy Roots & Gospel Fest” presented by ProjectMusicWorks will be held on Sunday, April 19. The festival will be a celebration of New Orleans roots, blues and gospel music. A reception with free hors d’oeuvre and a cash bar will begin at 3 p.m., followed by a concert at 4 p.m., featuring The Soggy Po’ Boys, The RMS Five, and the Rock My Soul Choir and Band. A silent auction and 50/50 raffle will run throughout the afternoon and merchandise from all three groups will be available for sale. Advance discount tickets for the event are $25 per person, $20 each for a table of ten, and $30 for VIP seating and reservations. Children 12 and under are admitted free. All tickets at the door on the day of the event will be $30. Buying tickets in advance is strongly recommended. Tickets may be purchased online at www.projectmusicworks.org or by calling 450-8016.

SPECIAL INTEREST

“Fun Longfellow!” will be presented by Portland Comedy Co-op on Monday, April 6 at 8 p.m. at 181 State St. in Portland. Host Aharon Willows will be joined by comedians Will Green, Cindi Brown, Pat Bolduc, Aimee Poulin, and Lucas O’Neil.The closing comedian for the night will be Bryce Hanson. This event is for all ages, though 18 and up is recommended. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show will start promptly at 9 p.m. Admission is $5 and tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.onelongfellowsquare.com.

“Cleophas and His Own ”“ 10th Anniversary Film Screening” will be held on Thursday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Community Little Theatre, 30 Academy St. in Auburn. The screening is $10 at the door. The film, by filmmaker Michael Maglaras, is about the American Modernist master and Lewiston native, Marsden Hartley. Acknowledged as one of the most important American painters of the first half of the 20th century, Marsden Hartley died in Ellsworth in September 1943. In 2008, his painting “Lighthouse” sold for $6.3 million and is the most expensive piece of American Modernist artwork ever sold at auction.

AUDITIONS

City Theater of Biddeford will hold auditions on April 13 and 14 at 6 p.m. for Jonathan Larson’s musical “RENT.” The production will be casting 5 men, 3 women and an ensemble. The play is under the direction of Linda Sturdivant, with musical direction by Kevin Smith and choreography by Mariel Roy. This an open audition. Come prepared to sing something in the style of a rock musical. An accompanist will be provided. Bring sheet music and dress comfortably for a dance audition. For more information, go to www.citytheater.org.