Central Maine has plenty of offerings coming up to keep one busy and entertained.
See a play at the Skowhegan Opera House
SKOWHEGAN — “The Spitfire Grill — A Musical,” will be staged at 7:30 p.m. May 9 and 10 and at 5:30 p.m. May 11 at the Skowhegan Opera House, 225 Water St.
Tickets cost $10-$15; lightsupskowhegan.org.
The Lights Up Productions event is the first community theater musical production of the year. The seven-person musical is about starting new and building fresh.
About the play: Percy Talbot has just been released from a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter. She is trying to find a place for a fresh start. Based on a page from an old travel book, she travels to the small town of Gilead, Wisconsin. The local sheriff, Joe Sutter, who is also Percy’s parole officer, finds her a job at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill – the only eatery in this struggling town. The Spitfire Grill is for sale but has no interested buyers; therefore, Hannah decides to raffle it off. Entry fees are $100 and the best essay on why you want the grill wins. Soon, mail arrives by the wheelbarrow full, and things are definitely getting hot at the Spitfire Grill. This musical triumph is an inspiring celebration of fresh starts and the power of what one person can do. There is some mature content.
MCPKids! set to present ‘Fairy Tale Courtroom’
MONMOUTH — MCPKids! presents Dana Proulx’s “Fairy Tale Courtroom,” May 9-11 at historic Cumston Hall, 796 Main St. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for students; monmouthcommunityplayers.org, or call 207-370-9566.
This adaptable comedy shows the other side of several familiar fairy tales, when two of their biggest villains, the Big Bad Wolf and the Wicked Witch, are brought to trial. Both the Wolf and the Witch have been frolicking from fairy tale to fairy tale, wreaking havoc as they try to prevent the general public from living happily ever after.
Hear the personal accounts of what happened, told in testimonies and flashback sequences, from characters such as Snow White, Dorothy, Sleeping Beauty, the Three Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and many others, including the Witch and the Wolf themselves, as each trial unfolds. The audience is the jury, so each trial has two endings, depending on the verdict.
The cast consists of 34 students across central Maine: Emily Hamlin, Oliver Hamlin, Allie Mercik, Josie Sylvester-Howard and Avery Hamlin of Wales; Luke Gaspary, Kai Helczyk-Postole, Iana Helczyk-Postole, Ender Gaspary, Dorothy Gaspary, Lucy MacLeod, Joshua Citrano and Makenzie Allen of Auburn; Arya Iannotti and Drea Libby of Leeds; Elena Michaud and Alicia Michaud of Topsham; Sophia Pinard, Brenda Butler, Marley Card and Ashlynn Goyette of Monmouth; Breanna Bramlett, Lorelei Lowell, and Madison Sullivan of Sabattus; Noah Bushway and Elizabella Poussard of Lewiston; Iris Rutherford of Jay; Chris Condon and Connor Coan of Gardiner; Henry Rousculp, Beckett Carlson and Silas Carlson of Readfield; Harrison Ellis of Augusta; and Lydia Griswold of Winthrop.
An additionally interpreted American Sign Language performance will be offered at the Saturday performance.
Make your way to the Waterville Wonderfest
WATERVILLE — The first Waterville Wonderfest, planned by the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Castonguay Square, Main Street.
This free, family event will include a bounce house, a variety of children’s activities, Tickles the Clown, the magician Conjuring Carol, raffle prizes, popcorn and more.
Event partners include the Family Violence Project, the Children’s Discovery Museum, GEAR Parent Network, and other local providers.
For more information, call 207-859-1580 or email [email protected]g.
Union Coffeehouse plans to host The Racket Factory
BELGRADE LAKES — The Racket Factory is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Union Church of Belgrade Lakes, 67 Main St.
A $10 donation is requested; [email protected] or 207-495-3599.
Five musicians blend their instruments and their voices to create a fun evening of folk songs, country tunes, and rollicking instrumentals. Their repertoire includes traditional New England fiddle tunes as well as Celtic, French Canadian and Old Timey music and songs.
Concert in Madison will feature Matt and the Barnburners
MADISON — A Matt and the Barnburners concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at Somerset Abbey, 98 Main St.
Tickets cost $20; somersetabbey.com.
Check out a Chocolate Church art show
BATH — Celebrate Creativity at CCAC – Member Art Reception is planned for 3-5 p.m. Saturday on the main stage at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St.
The event is free; chocolatechurcharts.org.
Those who attend can wander through a vibrant gallery of paintings, photography, sculpture and mixed media — all crafted by the individuals who help make the arts community thrive. Mingle with the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and take in the creativity that flows through every corner of our space. The show runs through June 28.
Take a drive to Waldoboro for a concert
WALDOBORO — A GoldenOak concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, at Waldo Theatre, 916 Main St.
Tickets cost $20-$35; thewaldotheatre.org.
Fronted by siblings Zak and Lena Kendall, GoldenOak’s music calmly excites its listeners while nestled in rich folk-influenced sibling harmony. The Maine-based band has built a steady and growing fan base with this kind of energetic intimacy. This is perfectly represented in the group’s latest album “Room to Grow” — a 10-song reflection of the emotional and physical impacts of the climate crisis. The band is rounded out by up-right bassist Mike Knowles and drummer Jackson Cromwell.
Check out a poetry reading
WINTHROP — The Bookey Readings are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Bailey Public Library, 39 Bowdoin St.
The open mic poetry event is free; baileylibrary.org.
The Bookey Readings poetry series originated at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell more than 25 years ago. The event features local and renowned poets and musicians every second Saturday of the month in a warm and welcoming reading room. On some months, the event also includes an open mic portion.
A Johnny Campbell concert is planned
FARMINGTON — Old South Church plans to welcome northern Manchester, England’s folk singer and activist Johnny Campbell at 7 p.m. Sunday at the 235 Main St. venue.
Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for students 12 and older; armingtonucc.org or 207-491-5919.
Campbell emerged onto the UK folk scene writing self-penned material and delving deep into Northern English folk song and story. Since March 2020, Campbell has released three singles, “Hard Times of Old England.” “Winter Hill Trespass” and “A Right to Roam,” the former receiving play on Ian Lynch’s (Lankum) Fire Draw Near podcast. Winter Hill Trespass (2021) gained national press in Country Walking Magazine & The Guardian.
Slate’s Restaurant offers music on Monday
HALLOWELL — Lynn Deeves and Robby Coffin will perform from 6-8 p.m. Monday at Slate’s Restaurant, 163 Water St.
There is no entry fee; 207-622-9575 or facebook.com.
Deeves, a Maine singer-songwriter, teams up with guitarist Robby Coffin for an evening of easy-listening favorites.
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