Ovations Offstage archived events
These past events are presented here, most recent events first, for historical interest.
Archived Events
Post-performance Q & A with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Details to be announced
Presented to accompany Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Pre-curtain Lecture: Commissioning from the Best, Preserving Cultural Tradition
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 6-7 pm
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Dance scholar Eugenia O’Brien of the Portland Ballet Company discusses the evening’s program featuring an National Endowment for the Arts/American Masterpiece Dance work by Twyla Tharp, “Sue’s Leg.” Precedes the 7:30 pm performance by Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.
Ovations Offstage pre-curtain lectures
are funded in part by the Maine Humanities Council
Masterclass with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 3-4:30 pm
THIS MASTERCLASS IS NOW FULL
Portland Ballet Company
517 Forest Avenue Portland
Presented to accompany Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
$25 per person
Explore Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and its signature contemporary ballet style and technique with a rigorous class extending the skills of intermediate or advanced dancers with Jean-Philippe Malaty.
Jean-Philippe Malaty, Executive Director, has been instrumental in building Aspen Santa Fe Ballet from the ground up. He was born in the Basque region of France, and recently became a United States citizen. After receiving his degree in dance, he accepted scholarships to train at Europe’s prestigious Mudra (Maurice Béjart’s school in Brussels), and John Cranko’s ballet school in Stuttgart. At the invitation of David Howard, Jean-Philippe traveled to America to study at the David Howard Dance Center in New York City. He then performed soloist roles as guest artist with various companies throughout the U.S., including Joffrey II, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Ballet Hispanico of New York, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He is in great demand as a guest teacher and has taught at schools and universities throughout the country. Jean-Philippe is dedicated to asserting the prominence of the arts in the West, spearheading initiatives to bring dance into the community, and fostering programs that introduce children to the arts. He continues to provide invaluable creative assistance in all facets of the company’s operations. Jean-Philippe is equally proud to have forged a company based on an American ideal of energy, invention, popularity, eclecticism, and precision in what’s been called the “all star, no star” system.
“Dance is a celebration of the human spirit, and not a celebration of steps. Here at Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, we foster the spirit and the love of dance.” – Jean-Philippe Malaty
Click here to download a registration form.
Post-performance Q & A with Philip Hamilton's Voices
Friday, April 16, 2010
Details to be announced
Presented to accompany Philip Hamilton’s “Voices”
Community Workshop with Philip Hamilton’s Voices: Vocal Improvisation
April 15 or 16, 2010 Dates, times, and location to be determined
Presented to accompany Philip Hamilton’s “Voices”
Geared toward choral groups, participants explore vocal and breathing exercises, creative sound methods, vocal improvisation or beat-boxing, and group composition with Philip Hamilton and Kenny “The Human Orchestra” Muhammad.
In-school Workshop with the Voices Artists
Dates and times to be determined
Workshop Fee: $350 (Based on hour-long presentation for one class of 25 students.)
Presented to accompany Philip Hamilton’s “Voices”
Philip Hamilton and hip-hop artist Kenny Muhammad engage students with the beauty and power of the human voice through exercises that empower participants with their own uniquely personal form of cultural expression. The artists of Voices work directly with students and educators who attend the school-time performance. Only two workshops are available.
Pre-Performance Lecture: The Three Brahms Violin Sonatas, Then and Now
Thursday, April 8, 2010 6-7 pm
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany Stefan Jackiw violin
Stefan Jackiw is only 24 but he is already a major rising star in the classical music world, following in the footsteps of his inspiration and fellow Harvard University graduate, Yo-Yo Ma. Music lover and Portland Ovations Board Member David Nicklas explores the three Brahms Sonatas that Stefan Jackiw will perform in the evening's recital. He will also present some brief biographical information about the artist.
Precedes the 7:30 pm performance by Stefan Jackiw.
School-Time Performance: Philip Hamilton’s Voices
Friday, April 16, 2010 10:30 am
Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, Maine
All Tickets $ 7 Grades 6-12
Presented to accompany Philip Hamilton’s “Voices”
Inspired by the great beauty and power of vocal music from all over the world, innovative composer and musician Philip Hamilton brings students the Voices project, a dynamic, pan-global concert of a cappella music. Known for his work with jazz and world music artists such as Pat Metheny and Gilberto Gil as well as collaborations with Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Rennie Harris Puremovement and Ronald K. Brown, Hamilton and his “vocal tribe” draw on vocal stylings and influences from around the globe to celebrate the transcendent power of the human voice. Hamilton’s “vocal tribe” draws on song stylings, rhythms, and influences from many cultures to celebrate the transcendent power of the human voice.
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Pre-curtain Lecture: Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess
Friday, April 2, 2010 6:30-7:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess
Explore the life of George Gershwin, one of America’s foremost composers who bridged tragic opera themes with contemporary issues of African-American life, causing Porgy & Bess to be scrutinized relentlessly for its controversial content. Lecture by Ellen Chickering from USM's School of Music.
Precedes the 8pm performance of Porgy & Bess.
In-School Workshop:
Make a Little More Noise Goes Green!
Winter 2010
Workshop Fee: $350 (Based on hour-long presentation for one class of 25 students.)
Presented to accompany ScrapArtsMusic
This variation on the popular Make a Little More Noise! series places special emphasis on creative recycling and instrument making. Students bring objects from home or make use of items provided by Eco Maine as raw materials for instruments and creating musical soundscapes.
Download the "Make a Little More Noise Goes Green!" Guide
Pre-curtain Lecture: The Evolution of Bluegrass – The Instruments, The Sounds, The Music
Friday, March 26, 2010 6:30-7:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile
Musicians/instructors from 317 Main Street Community Music Center located in Yarmouth will lead a lively discussion and musical demonstration about American acoustic music – its roots and how it has evolved from the early work of Bill Monroe to today’s emerging innovators such as Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers. Precedes the 8 pm performance by the Punch Brothers.
In-school Workshop with From the Top Musicians
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Time to be determined
$350 (Based on hour-long presentation for one class of 25 students.)
Presented to accompany “From the Top”
Young musicians form Maine-featured on the public radio broadcast of From the Top at Merrill Auditorium, taped on March 24- share their love of their instruments and music with your classroom.
Attention Young Musicians: How to Apply and Audition for From the Top
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Time to be determined
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
$20 application fee. See below.
Presented to accompany “From the Top”
From the Top – National Public Radio’s showcase for young musicians, hosted by acclaimed concert pianist Christopher O’Riley – will come to Portland Ovations for a live recording of the hit program on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in Merrill Auditorium. Portland Ovations is teaming with the producers of From the Top to identify talented young people from throughout Maine who are interested in applying to be showcased on the live taping, which will also feature renowned flutist Sir James Galway. The following FAQs explain how talented young musicians in Maine and beyond can apply and audition to perform at the live taping.
Who is eligible for From the Top?
Classical musicians ages 8 to 18 who have not yet graduated from high school. Young performers can audition as soloists or small ensembles or as composers who have a piece they wish to have performed. From the Top also considers applications from large ensembles. While the show focuses mostly on the classical repertoire, from time to time other genres will be featured, especially if there is a connection with the heritage of the region in which the show is being taped. For example, in Maine, a young fiddler or flutist in the French Canadian or Cape Breton Celtic traditions might also be considered.
Are there any scholarship opportunities connected with From the Top?
Yes. Each year, From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation award approximately twenty $10,000 scholarships to pre-college classical musicians who appear on the show. Students must demonstrate high levels of artistic achievement as well as financial need to be eligible for the award. Interested applicants apply for the scholarship in tandem with their application to appear on the radio program. More information about the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award can be found on the From the Top web site at www.fromthetop.org.
What is the timeline for casting Portland Ovations’ presentation of From the Top?
From the Top needs applicants to submit audition forms and recordings at least three to four months prior to the taping date. This means all application materials should be received by From the Top no later than December 18, 2009 and preferably sooner.
How do musicians apply for consideration?
Musicians can submit an application and recording by mail. The application can be downloaded at www.fromthetop.org. There is a $20 application fee which can be paid online or by check. The fee is waived for students with financial need who are also applying for From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award scholarship.
Where should applications be submitted?
Applications should be mailed to From the Top, 295 Huntington Avenue, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02115.
Will there be an opportunity for free studio recording sessions for musicians interested in recording audition CDs for From the Top?
Yes. Portland Ovations is collaborating with the Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) and the New England School of Communications to host free recording sessions in Bangor on Saturday, November 21 from 12 noon until 4pm in Gracie Theatre at Husson College. A piano will be available at the Gracie Theatre sessions for musicians whose auditions require it. A limited number of time slots remain available for these Bangor recording sessions. To schedule a session on November 21, contact Suzanne Nance at MPBN at 207.941.1010 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
The From the Top recording sessions scheduled for Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) in Portland on Thursday, December 3 from 3 to 7 pm are fully booked. No recording time slots remain at PATHS. Young musicians who have been closed out of this recording opportunity are encouraged to contact MPBN to learn if any recording slots remain for the Bangor sessions on November 21.
Post-performance Q & A with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Details to be announced
Presented to accompany Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Pre-curtain Lecture: Masters of African-American Dance
Saturday, March 20, 2010 6:30-7:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Debbie Blunden-Diggs, artistic director of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC), gives an overview of the evening’s program and the company’s commitment to honoring the spirit and history of African-American dance. DCDC is recognized for possessing the world’s largest repertoire of works by African-American choreographers. Precedes the 8 pm performance by DCDC.
Masterclass with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Saturday, March 20, 2010 10:45 am-12:15 pm
Casco Bay Movers Studio, Portland
$25 per person
Presented to accompany Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
High school- and college-age intermediate and advanced dancers explore the Horton Technique as a basis for contemporary dance, led by members of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
Professional Development Dance Workshop for Educators
with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Friday, March 19, 2010 4-6:30pm
Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS)
$30 per person
Presented to accompany Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Explore using movement in your classroom to engage and deepen students’ learning. You don’t have to be a dancer! Join a member of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company for a 1-1/2-hour workshop to learn methods for integrating dance and creative movement into classroom curricula and presenting dance in a classroom setting. One of the goals of the workshop is to improve student achievement by assisting teachers to be able to incorporate fine arts experiences in lesson plans. $30 per person. Limited Enrollment. Contact hours are available. To register, call or email Barri Lynn Moreau, Portland Ovations Director of Education and Outreach 207-773-3150 x3 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Post-performance Q & A with St. Lawrence String Quartet
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Details to be announced
Presented to accompany St. Lawrence String Quartet
Pre-curtain Lecture: Inspiration and Innovation in John Adams’s New Work
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 6-7 pm
Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, Maine
FREE
Presented to accompany St. Lawrence String Quartet
Dr. Elliott Schwartz, composer and retired Bowdoin music professor, discusses the new work commissioned by the St. Lawrence String Quartet from one of our country’s most prolific and controversial composers, John Adams, a New England native. Breaking down preconceptions about what classical music is and can be, Adams’s style attracts classical and new music lovers alike. Precedes the 7:30 pm performance by the St. Lawrence String Quartet.
Masterclass with St. Lawrence String Quartet
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 4 pm
Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, Maine
Presented to accompany St. Lawrence String Quartet
The St. Lawrence String Quartet leads a masterclass or coaching activity with young Maine musicians recommended by our music education partners. Open to the public for observation.
Pre-curtain Lecture: From Novel to Play to Opera
Friday, March 12, 2010 6:30-7:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Giacamo Puccini’s La Bohème
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall Portland Conservatory of Music Executive Director Dr. Deirdre McClure, an opera conductor, provides insight into how La Bohème went from page to stage to one of the most beloved and frequently staged operas of all. Dr. McClure also shares her opera conducting secrets during an interactive session. Precedes the 8 pm performance of La Bohème.
Ed Asner as FDR: Maine and FDR’s Campobello
Friday, March 5, 2010 6:30-7:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Ed Asner as FDR
Join Skip Cole, Superintendent of Campobello International Park, and former parks superintendent of FDR’s home in Hyde Park, New York to discuss the longtime political relationship between the United States and Canada and their co-ownership and administration of Campobello, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s beloved getaway in New Brunswick, now an international park. Broadening the view, our speakers Donald Soctomah, Passamaquoddy historian and author, and Jean Flahive will offer some additional cultural and historical perspectives on Campobello Island, Maine’s nearby neighbor to the north. Soctomah and Flahive have recently co-authored Remember Me: Tomah Joseph's Gift to Franklin Roosevelt.
Precedes the 8 pm performance by Ed Asner as FDR.
Post-performance Q & A with Brooklyn Rider
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Details to be announced
Presented to accompany Brooklyn Rider
Pre-curtain Lecture: Improvisation, Inspiration, and Influences from Around the World
Saturday, February 27, 2010 6:30-7:30pm
Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, Maine
FREE
Presented to accompany Brooklyn Rider
String quartet Brooklyn Rider is known for its creative programming and exciting collaborations with Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project and internationally acclaimed contemporary composers such as Zhou Long and Osvaldo Golijov. Dr. Dan Sonenberg speaks with Brooklyn Rider musician and composer Colin Jacobsen about his cultural and musical influences. Precedes the 8 pm performance by Brooklyn Rider.
The Evening Lecture Series: A Portland Ovations & Maine Historical Society Collaboration
A New Deal for Art: Public Murals in Depression-Era Maine and America
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 7-8:30pm
Maine Historical Society
Lecture Hall, 489 Congress Street, Portland
FREE
Presented to accompany Ed Asner as FDR
Join Donna Cassidy, USM professor of American & New England Studies and Art History, for a discussion of the range of visual art programs tied to the New Deal through a digital slide show. As the 1930s economic stimulus package, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal (1934-1941) provided employment for visual artists through diverse programs from the Index of American Design to the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (FAP/WPA). This lecture will give an overview of these programs with particular attention to the Treasury Section of Fine Arts which awarded commissions for over 1000 murals across the United States, including a dozen in Maine. These public murals not only put artists to work but helped communities and the nation define themselves at an unstable economic and historical moment.
Cassidy’s articles on early twentieth-century American art and culture have appeared in Smithsonian Studies in American Art, American Art Journal, Winterthur Portfolio, and numerous anthologies and exhibition catalogues. She is the author of Painting the Musical City: Jazz and Cultural Identity in American Art, 1910-1940 (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997) and Marsden Hartley: Race, Region, and Nation (University Press of New England, 2005). A scholar of New England art, she served as editor for the art section of the Encyclopedia of New England (Yale University Press, 2005). She was awarded the USM Trustee Professorship for 2005-2006 for a new research project on transnationalism and American modernist art. As part of this project, she is working on a book and exhibition entitled Beyond the Northern Border: U.S. Artists in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, 1880-1940.
Contact PortTix at 207-842-0800 for tickets to Portland Ovations’ presentation of Ed Asner as FDR, Friday, March 5, 2010 in Merrill Auditorium.
Pre-performance lectures are funded in part by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council.
Pre-curtain Lecture: Maine’s Ties to Cape Verde
Saturday, February 20, 2010 6:30-7:30 pm
Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, Maine
FREE
Presented to accompany Maria de Barros
Cape Verdeans have been in Maine for generations. Join George Hillman, one of the contributors to Maine’s Visible Black History with family history back four generations from Cape Verde, to learn more about this interesting country and its cultural influences. Precedes the 8 pm Maria de Barros performance.
A Musical Happening at Hannaford
Friday, February 26 6-6:45pm
Hannaford Supermarket
295 Forest Avenue, Portland
FREE
Presented to accompany Brooklyn Rider
Sample some eclectic music of Brooklyn Rider at the Hannaford Supermarket in Portland. Meet the quartet in the deli/bakery area of the store. Check out their CDs. Maybe get an autograph before you attend the concert on Saturday night at USM Hannaford Hall
CANCELLED Pre-curtain Talk: 100 Years of Broadway
Saturday, February 13, 2010 6:30-7:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway
This event has been cancelled.
School-Time Performance: ScrapArtsMusic
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 10:30 am
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
All Tickets $7
Presented to accompany ScrapArtsMusic
Vancouver’s ScrapArtsMusic is an unparalleled sonic and visual experience, rooted in street performance, jazz, and world music traditions, using one-of-a kind instruments handcrafted from industrial scrap. Fueled by the same genius that produced the likes of Blue Man Group and Stomp, ScrapArtsMusic delivers a highly physical, power-packed percussion performance with great theatrical flair. This performance features original music, an introduction to “scrap” instruments, insight into Scrap Arts’s music and choreography, audience interaction, and a question-and-answer period.
Download the ScrapArtsMusic Study Guide.
On-stage Workshop:
Found Sound Workshop with ScrapArtsMusic
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Time to be determined
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
Workshop Fee: $350 (Based on hour-long presentation for one class of 25 students.)
Presented to accompany ScrapArtsMusic
Explore the creative process using recycled objects, led by ScrapArtsMusic artistic director, composer and instrument maker Gregory Kozak. This is a professional development workshop for teachers or hands-on tour of ScrapArtsMusic’s innovative instruments for one classroom of students. The origins and inspirations for ScrapArtsMusic’s instruments and music are discussed, plus participants are able to create their own “found sounds”. Workshop takes place on Merrill stage immediately following the School-Time Performance. (Student workshop suggested for grades 4 and higher.)
Pre-curtain Lecture: Greening the Arts
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 5:30-6:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany ScrapArtsMusic
A lively panel discussion with ScrapArtsMusic, EcoMaine, and Reverb to promote awareness of “greening” any organization. These professionals work to find solutions to sustain the environment; join in the discussion. Precedes ScrapArtsMusic 7 pm performance.
Pre-curtain Lecture: Singing Songs of Soweto
Thursday, February 4, 2010 5:30-6:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Soweto Gospel Choir
Learn more about pre- and post-apartheid South Africa and how political change has influenced the Soweto Gospel Choir and its mission, from Portland resident Tim Honey, visitor to and volunteer in South Africa since the 1960s.
Precedes the Soweto Gospel Choir 7 pm performance.
Finding Your Voice
A discussion with renowned composer/vocalist/musician Philip Hamilton and beat-box artist/musician Kenny (“The Human Orchestra”) Muhammad.
Tuesday, February 2 7-8:30 pm
The Telling Room, Commercial Street, Portland
FREE
Presented to accompany Philip Hamilton’s “Voices”
How do you find your voice, in music, in writing, or in life? And how can your voice transform the words you put down on a page? Discuss these and other questions related to writing and music with two innovative artists who love to communicate through voice. Learn more about their creative process and the musical and literary influences, cultures, and life experiences that continue to inspire them.
This free workshop is open to students in 6th-12th grade. To reserve your spot visit www.tellingroom.org or call (207) 774-6064 with questions. This workshop is limited to 20 students.
"Voices" is often compared to productions like Stomp, Bring in da Noise, and Def Poetry Jam, and it celebrates the versatility and diversity of a common human instrument, the Voice. Hamilton's music has been hailed as "powerful" and "explosive" by the New York Times, and renowned beat-box artist Kenny "The Human Orchestra" Muhammad is a veteran of performances with the New York Symphony Orchestra, Public Enemy, Vernon Reid, and more.
Co-Sponsored by The Telling Room and Portland Ovations
In-Store Appearance at Bull Moose Music
Thursday, February 4 12:15 pm
Bull Moose Music
151 Middle Street, Portland, ME.
FREE
Presented to accompany Soweto Gospel Choir
Connect with members of the Grammy® Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir at an in-store appearance at Bull Moose Music on Thursday, February 4 at 12:15 pm. Spend your lunch break with live music and DVD/CD signing!
The in-store appearance is a collaboration between Portland Ovations and 
Portland Ovations and the Portland Public Library present
Brown Bag Lecture Series
New Mainers: Portraits of Our Immigrant Neighbors
Wednesday, December 16 12:00-1:00pm
Community Television Network, 516 Congress St., Portland
FREE
Presented to accompany Soweto Gospel Choir
Photographs by Jan Pieter van Voorst van Beest, Text by Pat Nyhan, Foreword by Reza Jalali
Who are these new Mainers, and why have they come here? They are from war-torn countries such as Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Cambodia; from poor Latin American nations; and from economically vibrant places like Hong Kong, India, and Europe—in other words, from across the global spectrum. They came to Maine for a job or to reunite with their family or because they fell in love or to attend college here or to flee persecution in their homelands. Please join Reza Jalali, who teaches at the University of Southern Maine and manages the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, and others as they discuss New Mainers: Portraits of Our Immigrant Neighbors. During the renovation of the Main Library, please join us for this program at Community Television Network, 516 Congress Street (just a few blocks from the Library).
Free and open to the public
Feel free to bring your lunch. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Made possible with the generous support of the Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust.
Books on sale courtesy of Longfellow Books.
Brown Bag Lecture coffee sponsor: Coffee by Design.
POSTPONED: The Brown Bag Lecture series of book discussions with Reza Jalili and contributors to New Mainers: Portraits of Our Immigrant Neighbors, a collaboration between the Portland Public Library and Portland Ovations, meeting on Tuesday, January 5, 12, and 19th from 10:30-noon.
To sign up for the discussion series or for more information about the upcoming re-scheduled discussion times, contact Sandy at the PPL 207-871-1700 x758. http://www.portlandlibrary.com/programs/brownbag.htm
Ovations Offstage lectures are funded in part by funding from the Maine Humanities Council.
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In-school Workshop: Make a Little More Noise!
Fall 2009
Workshop Fee: $350 (Based on hour-long presentation for one class of 25 students.)
Presented to accompany Yamato Drummers of Japan
The highly successful Make a Little More Noise workshop series returns with pre- or post-performance, hands-on classroom workshops that explore the potential of the human body and “found” objects as percussion instruments. Mime, musician, composer, theater artist, and educator Jerry Sanders leads the workshops.
Pre-curtain Lecture: From Pianoforte to Forte Piano
Sunday, November 22, 2009 1:30-2:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany Peter Serkin piano
Join composer Dr. Elliott Schwartz as he discusses the afternoon’s repertoire of pianist Peter Serkin, one of America’s finest pianists, known for his command of four centuries of classical music and his passionate advocacy for contemporary composers. Precedes Peter Serkin’s 3 pm recital.
Pre-curtain Lecture: The Guthries and the American Folk Revival
Friday, November 20, 2009 6:30-7:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Arlo Guthrie & Family
Tom Ayres, an expert on American folk music and culture, reflects on the impact of and renewed interest in American folk music forms over the past 50 years. Precedes the performance by Arlo Guthrie & Family at 8pm.
In-school Workshop: The Wonder of Taiko Drumming
Fall 2009
Workshop Fee: $350
Presented to accompany Yamato Drummers of Japan
Join a taiko drummer and teacher who will give students and teachers a hands-on experience with taiko drums and the history of this colorful ever-changing art form. Liz Berg will share her journey with taiko drums starting in California in 2001, when she began studying with Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, at the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. Currently living in Portland, she teaches taiko classses at the Taiko Maine Dojo, as well as at Colby and Bates College
Pre-curtain Lecture: Maine and Taiko Drumming
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 5:30-6:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Yamato Drummers of Japan
Gain insights into the Japanese history and folklore surrounding taiko drums from a student of this ancient but evolving form of percussion. From the making of taiko drums to drumming groups, this form has many adherents in Maine and around the United States. Join a taiko drummer for an informative lecture on the beginnings of taiko drumming and teaching this form to students.
School-Time Performance by Yamato Drummers of Japan
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:30 am
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
All Tickets $7
Presented to accompany Yamato Drummers of Japan
Performing on a mind-altering array of traditional percussion instruments large and small, including massive, barrel-like odaiko drums six feet in diameter, the men and women of Yamato present a heart-pounding spectacle of athleticism, grace, precision and exhilarating musical expertise. Founded in 1993 in Nara, considered the birthplace of Japanese culture, the master drummers of Yamato bring the ancient art of taiko drumming resoundingly to young audiences worldwide.
Pre-curtain Lecture with Cirque Mechanics: Music, Mime and Mechanics
Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:30-6:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory
Fritz Grobe – Maine native, former director of Celebration Theater, and Cirque Mechanics alumnus – dazzles us with an insider’s view of the process of bringing a cirque nouveau performance from concept to life. Precedes the performance by Cirque Mechanics at 7 pm.
In-school Workshop with Cirque Mechanics
October 29 or 30, 2009
$350 (Based on hour-long presentation for one class of 25 students.)
Presented to accompany Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory
Teams of students, working with Cirque Mechanics artists, use the tools of physics, history, and art to recreate scenes from everyday life at school. Students will be guided in scriptwriting, choosing music, and performing. (Suggested for grades 6-12)
Community Workshop & Masterclass with Cirque Mechanics
Thursday, October 29, 2009 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Merriconeag Waldorf School, Community Hall, 75 Desert Road, Freeport
Limited enrollment
Presented to accompany Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory
Advanced and pre-professional theater and circus artists increase their skill and technique with the circus arts, learning from and inspired by the cirque nouveau artists of Cirque Mechanics.
For more information and to register, contact Trace Salter at 207.319.7734 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Pre-Performance Discussion: Music, Message, and Community
Friday, October 16, 2009 6:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Joshua Bell, violin
Maine composer Dr. Elliott Schwartz speaks about the music to be performed by Joshua Bell, who will take the Merrill stage for a 7:30 pm performance.
Post-performance Q & A with Pilobolus
Friday, October 9, 2009
Details to be announced
Presented to accompany Pilobolus
Pre-curtain Lecture: Adaptable, Energetic, and Fast
Friday, October 9, 2009 6:30-7:30 pm
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Pilobolus
Dance educator and choreographer Nancy Salmon looks at the creative process of Pilobolus, the unique dance company begun back in the 1970s at Dartmouth College. Pilobolus thrills audiences with ingenious choreography, daring physicality, and raw athleticism, all spiced with a hefty dose of humor. Precedes the Pilobolus performance at 8 pm.
Workshop with Pilobolus:
Fostering Creativity through Movement
Friday, October 9, 2009 11:30 am -1 pm
Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS)
$25 per person
Presented to accompany Pilobolus
Participants discover how anyone can create dance – and how anyone who has something to say can do so through movement. This class can be structured for experienced dancers or gymnasts.
A Pianist from Liverpool
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany Paul Lewis, piano
Following Africa’s Circle of Music
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Toumani Diabaté and the Symmetric Orchestra
Supported by Center for Cultural Exchange, National Endowment for the Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Humanities Council.
Toumani Diabaté: Meet-the-Artist
Bull Moose, Portland
FREE
Presented to accompany Toumani Diabaté and the Symmetric Orchestra

Contemporary Ballet and Partnering Master Class
Portland Ballet Company
517 Forest Avenue Portland
$25 registration fee
Presented to accompany Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal
Click here to download registration form
Africa: A Continent of Diversity through Arts and Artifacts
6-6:45pm Museum Tour
Museum of African Culture,
13 Brown Street, Portland
7-8:30pm Lecture-Discussion
Maine Historical Society,
489 Congress Street, Portland
FREE
Presented to accompany Toumani Diabaté and the Symmetric Orchestra
Romanticism and Folk Music
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany I Musici de Montréal
Ensemble Coaching Clinic with I Musici de Montréal
$600 fee for hosting organization
Presented to accompany I Musici de Montréal
The Mad Scientists from Mad Science® of Maine and New Hampshire
South Portland Auditorium Lobby
FREE
Presented to accompany Beakman Live!
The Maine Connection
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal
A Traverser La Frontière Lecture
Gaelic in Nova Scotia: Hidden Treasures
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Natalie MacMaster
PCA Offstage activities are made possible with support from the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Humanities Council
Yo-Yo Ma and the Music of the World
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Cello Masterclass with Yo-Yo Ma
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO OBSERVE/AUDIT
$10 per person, payable by cash or check at the door
Presented to accompany Yo-Yo Ma, cello
The Tale of Sweeney Todd, Stephen Sondheim, and the American Songbook
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Sweeney Todd
“What Music Might Mean” Goes the Distance
Available statewide
Presented to accompany Daniel Bernard Roumain
Daniel Bernard Roumain: A Civil Rights Reader
Friday, February 6, 2009 10:30 am
Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, Maine
All tickets $7
Open to grades 6–12: call 207.773.3150 for details
Presented to accompany Daniel Bernard Roumain
VERY LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE, ACT NOW FOR TICKETS!
Click here to download registration form
Click here to download the flyer for our School Time Performances
Students celebrate Black History Month with this engaging concert that honors two of America’s great civil rights leaders: US Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and author Dr. Maya Angelou. Known collectively as A Civil Rights Reader, Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR)’s original compositions are the foundation for a spellbinding performance by this twenty-first century musical pioneer that includes the actual voices of these American giants in excerpts from their famous speeches and poems. Performing will be DBR along with his quartet, the SQ Unit on the violin, viola, and cello. Dedicated to creating socially and politi- cally conscious music DBR blends funk, hip-hop, and classical music to create a personal sonic vision that critics have described as “revolutionary.” Rich with cultural references, his works range from classical scores and energetic chamber works to rock songs and electronica. Connects to Maine Learning Results in Music a–e; Language Arts a2, d, e, and f; Social Studies Eras in US History; Cross-Content Connections in English Language Arts with Social Studies, Career/Education Development, and VPA. A study guide and interactive resources will be available on our website and at iTunes University K-12, coming soon to Maine.
Click here to download study guide
Reminders—WE ARE EXPECTING A FULL HOUSE! 1. Plan to arrive early—ESPECIALLY if you are arriving with a large group. PCA staff will greet large groups with buses and check in your group.
2. There are no tickets to this performance. Schools/groups will be seated by ushers. Seating assignments have been arranged by PCA staff based on your reservation sheet numbers and accessibility needs. Contact person for home school groups and individuals can check in at the table in the lobby and then will be escorted to their seats.
3. Review with your group the location of exits, the exit procedures, audience expectations, and bathroom locations.
4. Inform PCA Great Performances if anyone in your group needs special accessibility seating accommodations or hearing devices before your group arrives at Hannaford Hall. (Call Director of Education Barri Lynn Moreau immediately if you have changes 207-773-3150 x227)
5. Seat your group first before bringing students to restrooms. All students must be accompanied by a teacher or chaperone.
6. There is no intermission in this performance. LATE SEATING may or may not be allowed at the discretion of DBR.
7. At the end of the performance, PLEASE ask students and teachers to remain in their seats until your school is dismissed from a representative on stage. In most cases, your group will be dismissed according to the order of busses parked on Belmont Street.
BUS TRANSPORTATION & PARKING FOR LARGE GROUPS You can drop off large groups on Bedford Street in front of Abromson Center and then park busses across from Hannaford Supermarket in the Back Cove Parking lot. Individual cars can be parked in the parking garage next to the center.
Please note in the event of school cancellations due to inclement weather.
If the PCA event is presented as scheduled, we are contractually obligated to pay the performers. PCA PERFORMANCES ARE NOT CANCELLED UNLESS THE CITY OF PORTLAND CALLS AN EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN. QUESTIONS? Call PCA for updates or consult our website. 207-773-3150 http://www.pcagreatperformances.org
Etiquette for live performances · Arrive at the venue well in advance of the scheduled curtain time to avoid disturbing the performers or other patrons – and to avoid missing a moment.
· Keep food or drink out of the auditorium.
· Be as quiet as possible during the performance so that you and your fellow audience members can hear everything that goes on.
· Show your enthusiasm with applause at the end of a performance or, if the artists ask, with active participation.
· Try to stay in your seat for the entire performance unless there is an emergency.
· Turn off mobile phones or pagers before the performance begins.
· Backpacks or other large bags are not allowed inside most venues
· Please consider carefully whether a performance will be appropriate for infants or young children.
PCA's School-time Performances are made possible in part with support from Bank of America, the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, Fisher Charitable Foundation, and the Hudson Foundation.

24 Bits Composing Workshop
$350 fee for hosting organization
Presented to accompany Daniel Bernard Roumain
Pre-Performance Discussion:
Music, Message, and Community
Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland, Maine
FREE
Presented to accompany Daniel Bernard Roumain
Diavolo
Friday, January 23, 2009 10:30 am
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
All tickets $7
Open to grades 2–8: call 207.773.3150 for details
Presented to accompany Diavolo
VERY LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE, ACT NOW FOR TICKETS!
Click here to download registration form
Click here to download the flyer for our School Time Performances
Led by choreographer Jacques Heim of Cirque de Soleil, Diavolo redefines dance through dynamic movement, creative expression, the inventive use of sets and props, and innovative musical selections. Beyond its spectacular movement, Diavolo uses the kinesthetic power of dance to explore the sciences of the body and physics along with principles of trust, teamwork, and individual expression. Connects to Maine Learning Results in Dance; Science (The Physical Setting – Force and Motion d4) Pre-K–2, 3–5, 9–diploma; and Cross-Content Connections in Health and Physical Education with Math, Science, and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). A study guide and interactive resources will be available on our website and at iTunes University K-12, coming soon to Maine.
Click here to download study guide
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PATRONS OF THE DIAVOLO SCHOOL-TIME PERFORMANCE
Directions to Merrill Auditorium
Reminders—WE ARE EXPECTING A FULL HOUSE!
1. Plan to arrive early—by 9:30 am ESPECIALLY if you are arriving with a large group; SHOW STARTS AT 10:30am and will end at 11:30am.
2. There are no tickets to this performance. Schools and groups will be seated by ushers. Seating assignments have been arranged by Portland Facilities Division staff. Contact person for home school groups and individuals can check in at the table in the lobby and then will be escorted to their seats.
3. Review with your group the location of exits, the exit procedures, audience expectations, and bathroom locations.
4. Inform PCA Great Performances if anyone in your group needs special accessibility seating accommodations or hearing devices before your group arrives at Merrill. (Call Director of Education Barri Lynn Moreau immediately if you have changes 207-773-3150 x227)
5. Seat your group first before bringing students to restrooms. All students must be accompanied by a teacher or chaperone.
6. There is no intermission in this performance. LATE SEATING may or may not be allowed at the discretion of Diavolo dance company.
BUS TRANSPORTATION & PARKING FOR LARGE GROUPS
Myrtle Street will be closed to general traffic. If you are traveling by bus, please make sure you and your students stay on the bus until a Portland facilities representative boards your bus to give your contact person the seating assignment and your entrance/exit location. At the end of the performance, PLEASE ask students and staff to remain in their seats until your school is dismissed from a representative on stage. In most cases, your group will be exiting through the doorway you entered and will be dismissed according to the order of buses parked on Myrtle Street.
Professional Development for Classroom Teachers
(SOLD OUT!)
Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS)
Presented to accompany Diavolo
Call PCA at 207-773-3150 x 227 to add your name to the waiting list for this workshop. The workshop fee is $35 per person.
Classroom Movement Workshop with Diavolo
$350 fee for hosting organization
Presented to accompany Diavolo
Acrobatics and Conditioning
Portland Ballet Company
517 Forest Avenue Portland
$25 registration fee
Presented to accompany Diavolo
Click here to download registration form
Singing Songs of Hope and Survival
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Sweet Honey in the Rock
A War-Torn Love Story
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany Aida
Meet-the-Artists Open Rehearsal and Q-&-A
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
FREE
Presented to accompany Sweet Honey in the Rock
PCA Offstage Community Outreach
Community Outreach
Introduction
“Art increases the sense of our common humanity.”
Michael Chabon, American author
Live art is a vital expression of the human experience and condition. Ovations Offstage believe that the understanding, appreciation and relevancy of the performing arts are enhanced through humanities-based lectures, meet-the-artist opportunities, and artistic residencies coupled with interactive or web-based resources linked to our community’s needs. Community outreach places artists and their art forms in historical, literary, cultural, aesthetic and social contexts. Through diverse activities, events, and suggested resources, it is our hope that audiences of all ages and backgrounds will invite the arts and humanities into their lives, share their experiences with others, and make them a vehicle for life-long learning and exploration of the different cultural views of the arts.
“I am sure that only art will bring together all the peoples of the world.”
Ousmane Dia artist and sculptor from Senegal
The 2009-10 season offers two broad-based themes to connect performances:
Traverser la Frontière
Traverser la Frontière focuses on our shared arts and cultural heritage with Canada. It looks at the different art forms that flourish in Canada and resonate with Mainers through their own cultural heritages. Ovations Offstage presents family series theater with Stellaluna from Toronto and the puppet theater of Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny from Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia; Ed Asner as “FDR”, based on Sunrise at Campobello; the St. Lawrence String Quartet, originally from Banff; cirque nouveau from Montréal’s Cirque Mechanics; and Toronto’s Scrap Arts Music.
PCA is grateful to the government of Canada for providing funding support for the Traverser la Frontière series.
Maine and Its Ties to Africa
Maine and Its Ties to Africa explores cultural influences brought to our state from a continent filled with diversity. The series explores how artists view their relationship with their African-American heritage or the rich cultural influences from the African diaspora. Ovations Offstage presents the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company; the joyous, powerful sounds of Soweto Gospel Choir; Cape Verdean songstress Maria de Barros; Philip Hamilton’s compelling “Voices”; and the powerful opera Porgy & Bess.
Ovations Offstage is grateful to the following for their funding support for the Maine and Its Ties to Africa community outreach activities: the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England Foundation for the Arts’ “Expeditions” program, and the Travelers Foundation, the charitable arm of Travelers.
A Frenchman in England
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany Cédric Tiberghien, piano
Piano Masterclass with Cédric Tiberghien
at USM School of Music,Gorham, Corthell Hall
Presented to accompany Cédric Tiberghien, piano
Maine’s Visible Black History: A Book Discussion Series
Portland Public Library
free
***NOTE: Student tickets for Maine and Its Ties to Africa performances are available to all book discussion participants.
The Book Maine’s Visible Black History by H.H. Price and Gerald E. Talbot, editors ISBN 0-88448-275-8, Tilbury House, Publishers, 1-800-582-1899, http://www.tilburyhouse.com
About Dr. Gerald Talbot
Dr. Gerald Talbot, a long-time Portland resident, archivist, and civil rights leader, was the first African-American elected to the Maine legislature and the major donor of the African-American Collection of Maine at the University of Southern Maine.
Early History of Blacks in Maine November 18, 2008 10:30 am–noon
This discussion covers the first chronicles of African-Americans in Maine. There are rich deposits of black history throughout Maine, starting with the Cape Verde fishermen who chased cod along our shores before colonization. Blacks accompanied the European explorers and settlers, some were settlers themselves; and many came enslaved. The African migration to Maine begins – and it continues today. The chapters “Early History” and “Families and Communities” are covered.
Contributions to Economy and Culture in Maine December 2, 2008 10:30 am–noon
Black Mainers made significant contributions to the economy and fabric of their communities in order to make a future for their children and grandchildren. They were business owners, employees, volunteers, church and community leaders. As the state grew and its industries prospered, these citizens became educators, ministers, inventors, and artists. The chapters “Living and Working” and “Arts and Sciences” are covered.
Social Change December 16 10:30 am–noon
From the Underground Railroad to the “March for Jobs and Freedom,” Black Mainers have championed the cause of freedom and celebrated the diversity of their roots. Maine is home to families who have roots in the state many generations deep. How is Maine adapting to the increasing numbers of new immigrants from Africa? The chapters “Social Change” and “Black Mainers & Beyond” are covered.
*** Student tickets to
Philadanco, Thursday, November 13, 2008 $10
“Filled with sleek, propulsive movement and emotional undercurrent.” – New York Times
Sweet Honey in the Rock, Sunday, January 18, 2009 $ 20
“Soulful, spirited, sumptuous, and stirring.” – Washington Post
Daniel Bernard Roumain, Friday, February 6, 2009 $10
“An evening of chamber music with the accessible feel of a rock concert.” – Albany Times Union
Toumani Diabaté, Friday, May 1, 2009 $15
“A modern virtuoso rethinking an age-old instrument.” – New York Times
Contact PortTix (207-842-0800) to take advantage of this special offer. Student tickets are limited and offered on an as-available basis.
For more information about Maine and Its Ties to Africa and other PCA Offstage programs, please visit http://pcagreatperformances.org/pca_offstage/
For more information about the artists PCA is bringing to Portland this season, please visit PCA’s website at http://www.pcagreatperformances.org
Thanks to Our Supporters PCA is grateful to the following for their funding support for the book discussion series and other Maine and its Ties to Africa public activities:
The Center for Cultural Exchange Foundation
Davis Family Foundation
Maine Arts Commission
Maine Community Foundation
Maine Humanities Council
National Endowment for the Arts
New England Foundation for the Arts’ “Expeditions” and “Meet the Composer” programs
The African-American Dance Experience
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany Philadanco
Dance Teacher Workshop with Philadanco
Portland Ballet Company 517 Forest Avenue, Portland
Portland Ballet Company
517 Forest Avenue Portland
$25 registration fee
Presented to accompany Philadanco
Horton and Dunham Techniques
Third Floor Dance Studio
Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS)
$25 registration fee
Presented to accompany Philadanco
Philadanco trains its dancers in ballet, jazz, African, and tap using the Horton and Dunham techniques. Join a Philadanco company member for this investigation into the Horton Technique – which emphasizes a whole body approach including flexibility, strength, and coordination to allow freedom of expression – and the Dunham Technique, which merges polyrhythmic dance styles in continual motion. Open to intermediate dancers.
Fairy-Tale Opera
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Presented to accompany The Magic Flute
Brahms, Bartók, Strauss, and a Stradivarius
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Presented to accompany James Ehnes, violin
Borromeo String Quartet Performs in Orono
The Annual String Festival of the Maine American String Teachers Association
Windham High School Auditorium
State Capital Day with the Borromeo and Elliott Schwartz
Augusta, Maine
First Lady Karen Baldacci will then host the quartet, composer, and invited guests for an afternoon tea at the Blaine House.
Behind a World Premiere
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
Coaching Clinic for High School Orchestras
Lincoln Middle School, Portland
FREE and open to the public
Using Software to Compose
Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS)
In-School Events with the Borromeo String Quartet
By invitation to the students and teachers only
Open Rehearsal with the Borromeo String Quartet
Portland Conservatory of Music
At the Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland
FREE and open to the public
Great Women in Political History
Merrill Auditorium State of Maine Room
FREE
Statewide Residency with the Borromeo String Quartet
Click here for a full list of residency events
Elliott Schwartz, Composing Coach
Portland Conservatory of Music
Open to Portland Conservatory of Music students and faculty only
The Composer’s World: Puzzles, Menus, Maps, and Memory
Portland Conservatory of Music
At the Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland
FREE and open to the public
Building a Character: workshop with the Acting Company
Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS)
Sold out · $350 for a class of 25 or fewer
High school and college drama students
From Page to Stage
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE
Borromeo String Quartet Coaches Area Strings Students
Thornton Academy, Saco – open to the students only
Fishing for Meaning in Melville and Welles
Here Be the Whale: Leviathans, Whalemen and Our Seafaring Story
Portland Harbor Museum
FREE for Portland Harbor Museum members $5 for non-members
Modern Dance for Non-Dancers
Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall
FREE



