Portland Ovations welcomes people of all abilities to our performances and programs, both digital and in person. Ovations presents in multiple platforms and in multiple venues in the Greater Portland area, and it is a priority for us that all our events be ADA-compliant. We all deserve access, and all have different access needs.
If you have a need that will help you to better access our programs that is not currently being addressed, please contact Ovations’ Accessibility Coordinator, Katelyn Manfre, at kmanfre@portlandovations.org.
Accessibility at Merrill Auditorium
Parking and Transit
The Crewe Center for the Arts is accessible to Portland’s 2 and 4 bus lines. Click here to plan your trip through Greater Portland Metro. Additionally, USM’s dedicated Husky Line bus service provides free transportation between the Gorham and Portland campuses, as well as public bus service through Gorham, Westbrook, and Portland. Click here to view the schedule and learn more about the service.
All parking at the University of Southern Maine campus is paid. Patrons must purchase a parking permit or paid parking session to park on campus. We recommend reserving your parking in advance at https://events.parkengage.com/usm. More information about parking will also be provided when purchasing your tickets for a performance.
Click here for full parking details and to view a campus map. For easy access to the Crewe Center for the Arts, choose either Parking Garage 1 (attached to the Abromson Community Education Center), Lot P1 (off of Bedford St. by Luther Bonney) or Lot P6 (51 Exeter St.).
For ADA/Handicapped Parking: Please see campus map for the closest parking locations to the venue. The solid blue bars represent handicapped parking spaces. If you can not manage stairs, Lots P1 and P6 are better options than Parking Garage 1.
Building Entry
The building is located adjacent to Bedford Park. There are two main entrances on either end of the Great Hall Gallery. All entrance paths are flat and paved. Doors are equipped with automatic opening sensors for touchless entry.
The lobby, restrooms, and performance space are all located on the ground floor of the building.
Ticketing & Box Office
PortTIX mobile box office can be accessed in the Great Hall Gallery, which serves as a lobby space for the Performance Hall. The box office offers ticket sales and will-call pickup one hour prior to the start of the performance. Regular PortTIX hours are Monday through Friday from 11AM – 3PM located at 400 Congress Street in Portland.
Mobile tickets are also issued and can be accessed through your email. The QR code typically cannot be printed, so you MUST bring a mobile phone to the event on which to display the email with the Mobile Tickets for entry. Mobile tickets are sent to your email the day of purchase. To locate them in your inbox search ‘Your Mobile Tickets’, it will come from boxoffice@porttix.com.
Restrooms
There are two gendered restrooms with stalls available for patron use in the Great Hall Gallery. Each is equipped with an Accessible stall.
Please speak to a member of the house staff to be directed to the single-occupancy, gender-neutral restrooms.
Seating Details
This performance is general admission and will have multiple seating options, including traditional fixed theater seating, wheelchair spaces, free-standing chairs with arm rests, and lift-arm seats.
Patrons should contact the PortTIX box office in advance of the performance to ensure any needs are met. This can be done by calling 207.842.0800 or emailing boxoffice@porttix.com.
Assisted Listening & Ear Protection
Assistive Listening Devices are available at this venue, and can be requested from the house staff. Ear plugs are available from members of our usher team.
Sign Language Interpretation
ASL interpretation for the performance of Twin Keys: A Love Story is available upon request. Please contact Portland Ovations’ Accessibility Coordinator, Katelyn Manfre at kmanfre@portlandovations.org or 207.773.3150, ext. 7 for more information, or fill out our Access Request Form to request these services.
Sensory Friendly Spaces
Should patrons wish to leave the Hall during the performance, the Great Hall Gallery is equipped with both video and audio feed of the performance.
Service Animals
Service animals are always welcome, and this venue offers easy access to the outdoors. We ask that animals be kept on a leash or harness at all times.
Concessions
Concessions will not be served at this performance, and no food or drink is allowed inside the Performance Hall.
There are water fountains and water refill stations available in the Great Hall Gallery.