‘The Laugh Track’

Through May 31. Portland Stage, 25 Forest Ave., $35-$75. portlandstage.org.

“The Laugh Track,” written by Wendy MacLeod, is in the midst of its world premiere run at Portland Stage. The show is based on life of “I Love Lucy” head writer Madelyn Pugh. The curtain will be pulled back on the show and how Pugh paved the way for women in the sacred writers room. Pugh’s relationship with writing partner Bob Carroll Jr. is on display during a play packed with fast-paced wit that will leave you laughing at every turn.

The Fogcutters

7:30 p.m. Friday. Johnson Hall Opera House, 280 Water St., Gardiner, $25. johnsonhall.org.

The forecast for Friday is fabulously foggy in Gardiner. Portland-based 19-piece big band The Fogcutters will be taking the stage for a night of standards and original songs. Megan Jo Wilson and Chas Lester are on vocals, backed by a massive horn and rhythm section. The band has been knocking the socks off of audiences since 2009.

King Friday’s Dungeon Puppet Slam

7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland, $20 in advance, $25 at the door, pay-what-you-can available. mayostreetarts.org.

King Friday’s Dungeon Puppet Slam features eight to 10 puppet skits that will turn your notions about puppetry inside out. The emcee is burlesque performer Reverend Legs Malone and live music will be from The Ideal Maine Social Aid and Sanctuary Band, a Portland-based community activist band in the New Orleans street band tradition. Maine-based puppeteers are Imaginary Islands, Aubrey Calaway, Julio Robles, Zach Rohman, Tough Luck Puppets and David Worobec. You’ll also see visiting visual artists Madison Cripps, Lil Mending Hands and Puppet Motion. After the Friday performance, audience members and artists are invited to head to Hi Fidelity Brewing at 200 Anderson St.

Boston Dance Theater: ‘The Carol Kaye Project‘

7:30 p.m. Saturday. Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., Rockland, $30 in advance, $35 day of show, $15 students. rocklandstrand.com.

Boston Dance Theater brings their enthralling “The Carol Kaye Project” to Rockland. The show is a collection of fun, short dance works that celebrate bass guitarist Carol Kaye. Kaye played on an estimated 10,000 recording sessions with huge acts, including The Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye and The Righteous Brothers. You can also hear her bass on TV theme songs including “The Brady Bunch,” “Mission Impossible” and “M*A*S*H.” 

The performance at the Strand Theatre will feature four pieces, all centered on Kaye’s vast contribution to several decades of music. Kaye, 91, is retired from music and is living in the Los Angeles area.

​

Sandy River Music Festival

Saturday and Sunday. Narrow Gauge Amphitheater, 123 Narrow Gauge Square, Farmington, $40 per day, $70 weekend pass. whistlestopconcertseries.com.

The annual Sandy River Music Festival features two days of performances, with a total of 11 acts. The lineup includes Jon Nolan, Rigometrics, Griffin William Sherry, Gina and the Red Eye Flight Crew and The Last Revel, among other acts. There will be plenty of food and drinks available for purchase, and if you’d like to camp, options include tent rentals, bring your own tent or bring your own camper.

American history speaker series

4 p.m. Wednesday, May 27. Louis T. Graves Memorial Library, 18 Maine St., Kennebunkport, free. graveslibrary.org.

Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library launches its speaker series celebrating American’s upcoming 250th anniversary with an appearance by Kennebunkport Historical Society historian Sharon Cummins. Cummins will share stories about Arundel residents during the American Revolutionary War. Her talk will cover historical moments, including receiving word of the first shots fired at Lexington and Concord and the naval battle at Cape Porpoise Harbor.