THEATER

Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick presents “West Side Story,” one of the most popular and beloved Broadway musicals of all time. The ballads, dances and rumbles of West Side Story will run for three weeks. Performance times are: July 9-12, 15-19 and 22-26 at 8 p.m. with matinees on Thursdays July 9, 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for Wednesday and Thursday performances and $30 for weekend shows, with discounts for seniors and $10 tickets for students. For more information, go to hackmatack.org or call 698-1807.

Ogunquit Playhouse Children’s Theatre presents “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” The show is filled with magic, mayhem and a flying carpet and features the Academy Award-winning score with songs including “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me.” Performance times are Saturday, July 11 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Sunday, July 12 at 10 a.m. All tickets are $13. For more information, call the box office at 646-5511 or go to www.ogunquitplayhouse.org.

The Originals present the New England premiere of “Ten Times Two: The Eternal Courtship” on July 17, 18, 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. and July 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Saco River Theatre. The production is a romantic comedy in which Ephraim, an evil-doer cursed with immortality, makes a bet in the year 1399 with the host that he can win the love of a barmaid, Constance. The July 19 performance will include a post-show conversation with actors and the director following the show. The Saco River Theatre is located at 29 Salmon Falls Road. in Buxton.

“RENT” will be on stage at City Theater in Biddeford from July 17 to Aug. 2. This revolutionary rock opera by Jonathan Larson is the imaginative retelling of the classic Puccini opera, “La Boheme.” This is a story of a “community of starving artists celebrating life in the face of death and Aids at the turn of the century.” The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There is no performance on Sunday, July 19. Tickets are $20 and are available at www.citytheater.org or by calling 282-0849.

“Victor/Victoria” will be on stage at The Ogunquit Playhouse through July 18. This is a glamorous production of the musical comedy, complete with the original and touring sets designed by Robin Wagner. For more information, go to www.ogunquitplayhouse.org.

“Shakespeare’s Stories: A main stage production for kids, by kids” will be presented by The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, 142 Free St. in Portland. Main Stage performance times are: Wednesday, July 22 at 6 p.m.; Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 24 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Wednesday, July 29, Thursday, July 30 and Friday July 31 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Saturday, July 25 and Aug. 1 at 11 a.m.; and Sunday, July 26 and Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, go to www.kitetails.org.

The Saco River Theatre is launching a new series of summer theater camps for area middle and high school students. The Saco River Theatre Summer theater-making intensives will be creative, week-long day camps led by professional instructors and open to area students ages 13 to 18. Camps in filmmaking take place from July 27-31. Playwriting camps will be held Aug. 3-7. The intensives will be held at Saco River Theatre at 29 Salmon Falls Road in Bar Mills. The camp fees are $150 per participant for the full-week camp. For more information, visit www.sacorivertheatre.org.

“Acting with the Felt Sense,” a workshop for adult actors, will be held on Monday, July 27 from 7-9:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 29 from 7-9:30 p.m. Participants must come prepared with a one-minute memorized monologue. All levels are welcome to participate in the introductory workshop on Monday, July 27. The Wednesday, July 29 session will be focused toward mature, professionally trained actors and participation is only by permission of the instructor. The workshop is held at the New Hampshire Theatre Project, 959 Islington St. in Portsmouth. Admission is $50 for one workshop and $75 for both. For more information, contact Artistic Director Genevieve Aichele at 603-431-6644 ext. 2, or email [email protected].

Maine State Ballet presents the ballet “Coppélia” that will run Aug. 6-15 at its theater at 348 U.S. Route 1 in Falmouth. “Coppélia” is about an inventor, Dr. Coppelius, who has made a life-size dancing doll. It is so lifelike that Franz, a village youth, becomes infatuated with it and sets aside his true heart’s desire, Swanhilda. Performance dates for this show are Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 15 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $17-23 with $2 discounts for children and seniors. Reserve seats online at www.mainestateballet.org or call the theater at 781-3587.

ART

A collection of artistic works by the “Open Studio” art group will be on display at the University of New England’s Biddeford Campus Center through August 3. Members of the “Open Studio” art group meet weekly to paint and draw under the guidance of local artist Russel Whitten. For more information about participating in the “Open Studio” art group, contact Whitten at [email protected]. The exhibit at UNE is free and open to the public. The University’s Campus Center is located at 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford

“Art Movements!” will take place every Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. Hosted by Jim Fitzgerald and recorded live, the events at local restaurants will be the stage for artists to get together and show off their talents and sense of humor while the audience cheers them on to see which team or individual can win assigned challenges. The event is free and open to the public, and all artists are invited to participate. For more information, visit www.gokennebunks.com.

Watercolor classes with Judith Kinsman will take place on July 15, 22 and 23 and Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dyer Library in Saco. Beginner or advanced artists are welcomed. Attendees are asked to bring their paints to the Deering Room on Wednesday mornings to learn new techniques or practice old ones with famed Saco watercolorist Judith Kinsman. Ongoing monthly sessions run July through November and January through May. Registration is requiredfor these classes. For more information, email [email protected] or call 283-3861, ext. 115.

The Kefauver Studio and Gallery is hosting a three day plein-air workshop given by renowned oil painter William P. Duffy on July 10, 11 and 12. Plein-air sites will be selected from the Pemaquid Lighthouse Park, the Rachel Carson Preserve, New Harbor, and other sites on the Pemaquid peninsula. The cost is $300, and class size is limited to eight students to ensure ample personal attention. For complete workshop information, including a materials list, go to www.kefauverstudio.com. To reserve a place in the class or to ask questions, contact Will Kefauver at [email protected] or 226-0974.

The River Tree Arts gallery has a number of exhibits this summer. They include: “Creative Couplings” through July 11, “Summer Artists: Fresh Air” through Sept. 26, “100 x 100 2015” from July 17-25, “Protecting our Oceans: The Gulf of Maine Project” from July 31 to Aug. 22 and “Contemporary Encaustic” by New England Wax from Aug. 28 to Sept. 26. For more information, call 967-9120 or visit the website rivertreearts.org. River Tree Arts is located at 35 Western Ave., Kennebunk.

New shows take center stage as the Barn Gallery hosts this year’s open juried regional show, a selection of photographs curated by Bruce Brown. Two highly regarded artists will be giving a talk about their work on Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. Go to www.barngallery.org for further information. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information about exhibits, workshops and special events, pick up a brochure at the gallery, call 646-8400 or go to www.barngallery.org.

MUSIC

“Music in the Park,” Heart of Biddeford’s Wednesday night concert series, will bring eight weeks of free music to Shevenell Park on Main Street in Biddeford. Music in the Park will run each Wednesday from 5:30-7 p.m. through Aug. 12. All shows will be held at Shevenell Park at 147 Main St. The series will include a diverse range of music types over the eight weeks, including: Micromasse on July 15, Skyler on July 22, Sean Mencher & His Rhythm Kings on July 29, Sarah Blacker on Aug. 5 and Sylvain’s Acadian Aces on Aug. 12.

“A Café Serenade” by VentiCordi Chamber Music will take place July 9, 7:30 p.m. The concert will take place at South Congregational Church, 2 North St., Kennebunkport. Cost is $20 for general admission, seniors are $15 and 18 and younger are $5. Accepting all major credit cards, check or cash for ticket purchase. For more information, visit www.VentiCordi.com, write to [email protected] or call 286-6688.

“Peace Will Come,” the U.S. tour of Ukuleles for Peace, will include one performance at the Kittery Dance Hall on July 10 at 7:30 p.m. Brought together by musician Paul Moore, Ukuleles for Peace is a group of young Arabs and Jews ages 7-19 who create music together while learning about their different cultures. Shows often end with a Q and A session with the audience, which strengthens the understanding of the group’s efforts to promote co-existence and peace. Tickets are on sale at ukulelesforpeace.bpt.me.

“The Bel Airs” will perform an outdoor concert on July 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Wells Harbor Park on Landing Road in Wells as part of the Summer Concert Series. The band is a a vocal quintet that presents a nostalgic, musical trip through doo wop and rock ‘n roll oldies of the 50s and 60s. For more information, visit www.thebelairsonline.com.

“The Soulmate Band” will perform on July 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Wells Harbor Park as part of the Summer Concert Series. The band is comprised of six energetic musicians playing classic Motown, soul, funk and disco music. This event is free. Audience members are invited to bring a blanket, chair and picnic. For more inforamation, go to www.thesoulmateband.com.

Victorian Tea will perform on Sunday, July 19 from 1-4 p.m. at Parsonsfield Seminary, Route 160 in North Parsonsfield. The presentation will be done by reenactor Gwendolyn Quezaire Presutti, with music by harpist Judy Saiki of Boston Philhormonic Orchestra. Victorian victuals will be served. Tickets are $15 pre-paid and $20 at the door.

“Rhythm Future Quartet” will perform at the Saco River Theatre, 29 Salmon Falls in Bar Mills, on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The Boston quartet performs dynamic arrangements of gypsy jazz standards and original compositions. Tickets are $23 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. For more information, go to www.sacorivertheatre.org or call 929-6472.

Summer concerts will take place at Ogunquit Baptist Church, 157 Shore Road in Ogunquit. Gail Archer, international organ virtuoso, will perform on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. Ken Medema, pianist and vocalist, will perform Sunday, Aug. 30 at 9:30 a.m. during worship. There will be a Labor Day concert that will include various artists on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Free offerings will be collected at all performances.

SPECIAL INTEREST

“American Samplers : Little Masterpieces 1620-1840” will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dyer Library/Saco Museum, 371 Main St. in Saco. Henry Callan will present a slideshow on early American Samplers. This program is a part of a sampler series presented in conjunction with the Saco Museum’s second sampler exhibition, “Industry and Virtue Joined: Schoolgirl Needlework of Northern New England.” Callan is an antique dealer and appraiser specializing in Chinese export porcelain and early American samplers. His colorful slides will show changes in style over the years and he will give tips on collecting and preservation. For more information, go to www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.

The York Elks at 1704 Rte. 1 in York, will be holding a flea market every Saturday and Sunday from now until Oct. 4. The Elks are looking for arts, crafts and collectible vendors. Vendors are allowed to set up for free during the month of July. For more information and an application, contact [email protected].