THEATER

The theatrical comedy “Love Song” will be performed at the Saco River Theater, 29 Salmon Falls Road in Buxton on April 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. The production is about a socially awkward and lonely exile named Beane who falls in love with a hotheaded burglar named Molly. Admission is $25 for adults, $22 for students and seniors. For reservations, call 929-5412.

Patrick Dorow Productions presents “Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr” 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. The show features a cast of actors under 18 years old. The musical follows Tom, a young school teacher, who is nervous about his first day of teaching. He tries to relax by watching TV when various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music. Memorable songs include “Just A Bill,” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly,” and “Conjunction Junction.” All tickets are $15. For more information, go to www.patrickdorowproductions.com.

“The Beverly Hillbillies” take the stage at The Schoolhouse Arts Center every Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m and Sundays at 2 p.m. until April 26. The comedic performance is based on the television series. Jed and his family are almost starving in an ancient log cabin when Jed accidentally strikes oil. Overnight, he becomes a millionaire and moves his family to Beverly Hills. Tickets for the show are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. The center is located at 16 Richville Road (Route 114) in Standish. For more information visit www.SchoolhouseArts.org. Reservations can be made on the website or by calling 642-3743.

Mad Horse Theatre Company closes its 29th season with Pulitzer Prize finalist “Other Desert Cities” by John Robin Baitz. The show will run April 30 through May 17 at the Mad Horse Theater, 24 Mosher St. in South Portland. Performance times are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. There will be an opening night reception immediately following the Friday, May 1 performance. “Other Desert Cities” stars Mad Horse Company members Brent Askari, Janice Gardner, and Christopher Horton, along with guest artists Grace Bauer and Maureen Butler. The play is directed by company member Nick Schroeder. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. Reservations are strongly recommended. Purchase tickets online at www.madhorse.com or call 747-4148 for more information.

Portland Stage presents the annual “Little Festival of the Unexpected” from May 6-9. This is a week-long event dedicated to public readings of new American plays. Three playwrights are in residence at Portland Stage throughout the week developing their scripts with input from actors, directors and audience members. In addition, three short scripts written by area high school students will be performed as well as a poetry performance done in partnership with the Telling Room. All readings are open to the public at a $10 suggested donation. All festival events from May 6-9 will be held in the Studio Theater at 25A Forest Ave. For reservations, call the Portland Stage Box Office at 774-0465.

ART

Engine has announced an upcoming schedule of classes. “Digital Sketching & Coloring with Comic Artist Ben Bishop” will be held on Tuesday, April 28 and May 5 from 4-6 p.m. This class costs $50 for non-members and $40 for members. Students will learn the basics of digital sketching and coloring using Photoshop and Illustrator with comic creator Ben Bishop. “Working from the Human Form” will take place every Tuesday, starting on May 26, from 6-8 p.m. The class will also take place on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. This is a weekly group working from an unclothed model with no instruction and is a BYOB event open to all levels. The fee for this class is $10. “Painting Group” will take place on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a weekly group instructed by Amanda Hawkins where attendees will work from a still life or their own photography. The fee for this class is $10. “TinkerCAD 3D Design Class (K-12)” will take place weekly on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 p.m and is also instructed by Amanda Hawkins. Participants will create their own 3D object using a simple shape-based program and then 3D print their object. The fee for this class is $10 and includes a small 3D print. Engine is located at 265 Main St. in Biddeford. For more information, go to www.feedtheengine.org.

The University of New England’s Portland Art Gallery will present an exhibition of the paintings and other art work of John Calvin Stevens through July 19. This exhibition is the first comprehensive retrospective of John Calvin Stevens’ artistic career since his death in 1940 and represents the full range of his art work, including oil paintings, water colors, architectural renderings, and pen and ink sketches, along with photographs of the artist at work and such personal memorabilia as his paint box. For more information, go to www.une.edu/artgallery.

The first Biddeford+Saco art walk of 2015 is April 24 from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Biddeford and Saco. For a complete listing of venues, visit www.biddefordsacoartwalk.com.

“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. For more information, call 283-3861 or go to www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.

“Intricate Worlds” will be on exhibit at Engine, 265 Main St. in Biddeford, and will feature recent works by 12 emerging and established artists who work in a very detailed manner. The exhibit will run May 1-23 with an opening reception on Saturday, May 2 from 5-7 p.m. Artists include Stephen Burt, Kimberly Convery, Fritz Drury, Rachael Eastman, Yizhak Elyashiv, Lauren Fensterstock, Sarah Gorham, Alison Hildreth, Ellie Hollinshead, Jon Langford, Mike Libby, Carrie Scanga, and Wendy Seller.

The oil paintings of retired engineer Donald LaRochelle will be on display at the Wells Public Library during the month of May. The exhibition features paintings of Maine and New Hampshire’s covered bridges and foot bridges. The artist will host a discussion on the bridges on Saturday, May 2 at 11 a.m. The library is located at 1434 Post Road in Wells.

“Industry and Virtue Joined: Schoolgirl Needlework of Northern New England” is on display at the Saco Museum May 9 through Oct. 4. The exhibition will include more than 130 important northern New England samplers as well as related works from female academies and a wide collection of more modest samplers. The exhibition will also be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue. There will be a free opening reception at the Saco Museum on Friday, May 8, from 6-8 p.m. The Dyer Library/Saco Museum is located at 371 Main St. (Route 1) in downtown Saco. For more information, go to www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.

MUSIC

“Shape Note Singing” will take place on Sunday, May 3 from 2-5 p.m. at The New Church, 302 Stevens Ave. in Portland. This four-part singing tradition, also known as Sacred Harp, originated in 18th century New England. Enjoy the exciting harmonies and spirited singing. This is not a performance, everyone is encouraged to participate. This event is free. For more information, go to www.maineshapenotesinging.org.

The African Children’s Choir will perform on Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at the North Deering Alliance Church, 1301 Washington Ave. in Portland. The choir will perform lively songs and dances and the program will feature children’s songs as well as traditional spiritual and gospel favorites. The concert is free and open to everyone. A free-will offering is taken at the performance to support African Children’s Choir programs, such as education, care and relief and development programs. For more information, go to www.africanchildrenschoir.com.

Women in Harmony Presents “The Strength of Women” in concert May 15 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and May 16 from 4-6 p.m. at St. Luke’s Cathedral Church, 143 State St. in Portland. Tickets are available at the door, online at www.wihmaine.org or at Nonesuch or Longfellow Books and Starbird Music. Tickets cost $10-$15 and are free for children under age 12.

SPECIAL INTEREST

Ogunquit Performing Arts presents “In Harm’s Way,” the 1965 epic WW II film, on Sunday May 10 at 2 p.m. at the Dunaway Center, 23 School St. in Ogunquit. Admission and popcorn are free. This will be the final film in the classic film series and stars John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Tom Tryon, Paula Prentiss, Stanley Holloway, Burgess Meredith, Brandon deWilde, Jill Haworth, Dana Andrews, and Henry Fonda. The film is also known for being the last black and white World War II epic and the last black and white John Wayne film.

AUDITIONS

Maine State Music Theatre will hold open call audutions for “Footlight Follies” on Saturday, May 2 at 11 a.m. at the Maine State Music Theatre Administrative Offices & Studio at 22 Elm St. in Brunswick. “Footlight Follies” is a fundraising evening combining the talents of the local community, MSMT’s acting company and Board of Trustees as well as past MSMT veterans. The end result is seven outdoor stages brimming with talent and two full acts on the main stage at the Pickard Theatre. For more information, visit the website at www.msmt.org.