THEATER

“Bare Bard: Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare will be performed from May 19-31 at 6 p.m. at various parks around the city of Portland. All of these perfomances are “pay-what-you-can.” The performance schedule is as follows: May 19-21 at Congress Square Park at 6 p.m., May 22 at One Longfellow Square at 6 p.m., May 23-34 at Portland Stage Studio Theater at 6 p.m., May 27 at Monument Square at 6 p.m, May 28 at City Hall at 6 p.m. and May 31 at Congress Square Park at 6 p.m.

The Ogunquit Playhouse kicks off its 83rd season with the Broadway musical comedy “Sister Act,” on stage May 20 to June 20. The musical is based on the hit Whoopi Goldberg film about a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in a convent. The playhouse welcomes Broadway’s Rashidra Scott in the role of Deloris Van Cartier. She performed as Deloris in the original Broadway production as well as the National Tours of Sister Act. For more information about this show, along with the rest of the productions this season, go to www.ogunquitplayhouse.com or call the box office at 646-5511.

The spring murder mystery performance of “Not My Cup Of Tea” by Albert Groff will take place May 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Nasson Little Theatre, 457 Main St. in Springvale. Tickets for this event are $15 per person or $40 for a family of 4 and is reservation only. For reservations, call 324-8227 or email [email protected]. This is a family event with an ice cream social.

“The Full Monty” will be on stage at Maine State Music Theatre from June 3-20. The theater will hold “A Peek Behind The Curtain: The Full Monty” at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick on June 10 at 12 p.m. This discussion is free and panel participants will include actors, administrative staff, technical staff and members of the creative team. Audience participants will have an opportunity to learn about each member of the panel and ask questions about their involvement in the production. Audience members are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch for the event. Maine State Music Theatre is located at Pickard Theatre on the Bowdoin College Campus in Brunswick. Ticket prices for the show range from $43 to $70 and are available through the box office at 725-8769 or online at www.msmt.org.

“Into The Woods Junior,” will be performed June 5-14 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 14, at 2 p.m. at Nasson Little Theatre, 457 Main St. in Springvale. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.myotc.org.

ART

Thornton Academy Arts Department is presenting their annual art exhibit through May 22. There will be an opening reception on May 14 form 4-6 p.m. This year’s theme is “Creations from Imaginations.” Works of art from all mediums and all classes will be represented, including photography, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and painting. The exhibit will be followed by the senior and AP art exhibit May 26 through June 6. This year will also have art activities for children ages 6-12 during the opening. Both exhibits are free of charge.

“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 through May 23. 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.

“Industry and Virtue Joined: Schoolgirl Needlework of Northern New England” is on display at the Saco Museum 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

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.

DaPonte String Quartet’s upcoming concert series entitled “Short and Sweet” will feature the music of seven composers from May 16 through June 5. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m., May 16 in Portland at the Public Library, 5 Monument Square; and June 5 at the Wells-Ogunquit Meetinghouse, 938 Post Rd., Wells. Matinees are at 3 p.m. on May 17 in Thomaston at St. John’s Church, 200 Main St.; and May 24 in Topsham at the Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church, 84 Main St. Tickets are $20 and are available at www.DaPonte.org, Maine Coast Books in Damariscotta, Longfellow Books in Portland and Gulf of Maine Books in Brunswick. For more information, call 529-4555.

Ogunquit Performing Arts will present jazz pianist Matt DeChamplain on May 16 at 8 p.m. at the Dunaway Center located in Ogunquit. For more information, go to www.ogunquitperformingarts.org.

The Sanford-Springvale Historical Society will hold a free program with “Ramblin’ Richard” Kruppa, on Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. Kruppa will perform wartime songs and share their fascinating history. The museum is located at 505 Maine St. in Springvale. This event is free and open to the public.

SPECIAL INTEREST

The Brick Store Museum invites the community to take part in its “Night at Our Museum” event on Saturday, May 16 from 5-8 p.m. Like in the popular movie series, the museum will “come alive” in various ways throughout the evening. The event will take place throughout the museum’s campus so that visitors can see more of the museum than they have ever seen before. Tickets for the event are $20 per person, $40 per family and members receive $5 off any ticket. Registration is required for this event. Reserve your tickets online at brickstoremuseum.org, by calling 985-4802 or in person at 117 Main St. in Kennebunk.

Brian Daniels, avid outdoorsman, newspaper columnist, novelist, musician, and songwriter, will entertain with stories from his book, “Thoughts of an Average Joe” at the Goodall Library on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. Daniels writes a column by the same name, which is featured in newspapers throughout northern New England. For more information, call 324-4714 or email at [email protected].

AUDITIONS

Open youth auditions for the summer season at Arundel Barn Playhouse will be held on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 from 1-3 p.m. at 53 Old Post Road in Arundel. Roles available are Flounder and Ensemble in “The Little Mermaid” and Pugsley in “The Addams Family.” Children must be third-grade age or older and under 5 feet tall. Young auditioners should be prepared to sing any favorite song and to read from a script provided. Parents who accompany young actors may sit in the rear of the theatre during auditions. For more information, go to www.arundelbarnplayhouse.com.