Trailer park musical
BANGOR, Maine — Penobscot Theatre, Bangor’s professional theater company, will complete its main-stage season with the Maine premiere of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” through June 19 at Bangor Opera House.
The production for mature audiences is overseen by Producing Artistic Director Scott RC Levy, who soon will become producing artistic director for the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.
Directed and choreographed by interim Producing Artistic Director Nathan Halvorson, the musical fable features a Greek chorus of trailer park divas played by Brianne Beck, Heather Libby and Christie Robinson.
Armadillo Acres is Florida’s exclusive mobile home community. Crystal Mosser, as a stripper on the run from her disruptive ex-boyfriend, played by Dominick Varney, comes between agoraphobic housewife AJ Mooney and her tollbooth-working husband, Kendall Lloyd.
Filled with Southern rock and R&B songs, “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” sparkles with music and lyrics by David Nehls, from the book by Betsy Kelso. The trailer park comes to life with scenic and costume design by Lex Liang, lighting design by Jonathan Spencer, and prop design and stage management by Meredith Perry. Music is by musical director-pianist Colin Graebert assisted by Caleb Sweet, Brad O’Brien and Tom Libby.
“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” has production sponsorship by House Revivers, Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications, Bangor Daily News, the Charles Inn, the Maine Edge, WLBZ Channel 2 and the radio stations of Blueberry Broadcasting.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. June 2, 8-9 and 16; 8 p.m. June 3, 10-11, 17-18; 3 p.m. June 5, 12 and 19; and 5 p.m. June 4. Tickets are $20-35 at the theater or through 942-3333 or http://www.penobscottheatre.org.
Bangor Band concerts
BANGOR, Maine — Because of the planned demolition of Bangor Auditorium and construction of the new auditorium, the bandstand will be removed on or about July 8. The Bangor Band concerts scheduled for July 4-5 will be the final two concerts at the bandstand location in Paul Bunyan Park. Then the band will move around the city to play. The website at http://www.bangorband.org will be updated as necessary.
• June 14, 7 p.m. concert, Bangor Public Library.
• June 21, 7 p.m. concert, Bandstand, Paul Bunyan Park.
• June 28, 7 p.m. concert, Fairmount Park.
• July 4, 7 p.m. concert, Bandstand, Paul Bunyan Park.
• July 5, 7 p.m. concert, Bandstand, Paul Bunyan Park.
• July 11, 7 p.m. rehearsal, Parks and Rec building, 657 Main St.
• July 12, 7 p.m. concert, Waterfront.
• July 19, 7 p.m. concert, Waterfront.
• July 26, 6:45 p.m. concert, Chapin Park.
• Aug. 2, 7 p.m. concert, Cascade Park.
• Aug. 9, 7 p.m. final concert, Waterfront.
West Market Festival
BANGOR, Maine — BangPop! has announced the lineup for the fourth West Market Festival, noon-8 p.m. Saturday, June 4, downtown. The event showcases Maine talent and brings a full day of local music, art and fashion to West Market Square. The outdoor, all-ages celebration is free.
This year’s lineup is headlined by Headliners Space versus Speed of Portland. Also performing will be Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, The Mallett Brothers Band, Skyler, When Particles Collide, from Bangor; and Mudseason, from Bangor.
The festival will continue to feature local fashion, this year with staged photo shoots, enabling networking opportunities for local models and photographers while providing a spectacle for the public. The outdoor market also will return, offering Maine-made crafts and more. Details are available at www.westmarketfestival.com.
Gracie Theatre
BANGOR, Maine — Jeri Misler has been hired as managing director of the Gracie Theatre effective June 1. Misler comes to Husson University with a robust background in theater and communications. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting and experience from house management to directing and producing. She is an adjunct faculty member in the School of Science and Humanities.
Misler is co-president for Winterport Open Stage, a teaching faculty member at Penobscot Theatre Dramatic Academy and has been seen onstage in several Penobscot Theatre productions.
Misler said, “I hope to develop a mission statement and goals for the Gracie that speak to the needs of the students and the Greater community. This will serve as the guide for establishing a vibrant arts program in the future which includes lectures, poetry, dance, theater, fine arts and more.”
Misler takes the reins from founding Managing Director Julie Green, who oversaw the theater in tandem with her duties as director of public affairs.
Alumni Evensong
Former choristers from St. John’s Episcopal Church are invited to sing at the Alumni Evensong at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5, at the church. Music is available, and organizers hope for a good turnout of past choristers this year, the one-year anniversary of Fred Jones’ death.
Those who can’t sing that Sunday are welcome to come to the service, or to send a note about what they are doing and what choir meant to them. Financial contributions are welcome at Evensong, with funds to benefit the Fred Jones Choir Scholarship account.
Rehearsal is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2. Warm-up for Evensong is 2:45 p.m. June 5. Awards will be given at the reception afterward. Evensong will directed by the new organist-choirmaster, Douglas Beck. For more information, call 947-0156.
Improv comedy
BREWER, Maine — Improv comedy returns to the Next Generation Theatre at 39 Center St. with The Focus Group’s “Graduation Party” at 8 p.m. Friday, June 3. Admission is $5, and shows are intended for mature audiences. Call 988-7100 for information.
‘Writers Forum’ on WERU
ORLAND, Maine — Local writers, poet Bob Brooks of Stockton Springs and fiction writer Jim Nichols of Warren will read from their work and discuss writing on “Writers Forum,” 10-11 a.m. Thursday, June 9, on community radio station WERU or streaming live at weru.org. The host is Joan Clemons of Belfast.
Brooks’ work has been in the Beloit Poetry Journal, the Cafe Review, Poetry, Poetry Northwest, Prairie Schooner and the Puckerbrush Review. His first full-length collection, “Unguarded Crossing,” was published by Antrim House Books.
Jim Nichols works on the planes that fly people, mail and freight to islands such as Vinalhaven, Islesboro and Matinicus. He is a past winner of the Willamette Fiction Prize. His short-story collection, “Slow Monkeys and Other Stories,” was published by Carnegie Mellon Press, and his novel “Hull Creek” is just out from Down East Books.
Bus trip to musical
BANGOR, Maine — Nancy Ziegenbein is organizing a coach trip to see the musical “Annie” on Sunday, July 10, at Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick. All are invited, including school-age children and grandchildren, to join the coach day trip for a matinee performance.
A Sunday brunch at the Sea Dog restaurant in Topsham overlooking the Androscoggin River is included in the $139 price per person, plus center orchestra seats in an air-conditioned theater and a box supper at Panera Bread in Augusta. Proceeds benefit St. Joseph Hospital. To reserve seats, call Nancy Ziegenbein at 947-7965 by June 27.
‘Maine at Gettysburg’
BANGOR, Maine — Civil War historian Brian Swartz will present a slide show, “Maine at Gettysburg,” at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at Sunbury Village, 922 Ohio St.
The public is invited to attend the program illustrating the many Maine monuments at Gettysburg. Swartz also will speak about other topics related to the Civil War. For information, call 262-9600.
KahBang lineup
BANGOR, Maine — KahBang has announced the addition of Chicago rap artist Lupe Fiasco, a Grammy winner, to the lineup of the third annual KahBang Music Festival, to be held Aug. 12-13 on the waterfront. Lupe will join My Morning Jacket, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Chromeo, Atmosphere and others to round out the festival weekend. Individual day passes and two-day passes are on sale at http://www.kahbang.com.
For more information, contact Chris Michaud at 461-4435 or at chris@kahbang.com.