Live Performances

Special Events

POP

Annual Fundraiser


March 21, 2024 • 7:00 PM

O’Maine Studios


Our Portland Ovations community certainly knows how to make an event unforgettable, and it’s all thanks to our amazing supporters! Thanks to their generosity, we just hosted our most successful fundraiser in 93 years. The night was filled with incredible performances, delicious food, and fantastic hosts, all made possible by their support. Thank you to all who joined us!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
6:00 – 7:00 PM (5:45 PM Arrival)
  • VIP reception for Hosts and Sponsors
7:00 – 9:00 PM (7 PM Arrival)
  • Welcome with Aimée M. Petrin and emcees Blake & Kelly from Coast 93.1
  • Dance with Veeva Banga
  • Fund the mission auction
  • Performance with Cherry Lemonade & Gigi Gabor
  • Performance with Firefly the Hybrid

Your contribution to Portland Ovations creates opportunity for rich and diverse programing, including Ovations’ School-Time Performances, which serve over 10,000 students annually, igniting imagination and cultural awareness through exceptional arts experiences. By supporting Portland Ovations, you play a vital role in nurturing a love for the arts among young learners, promoting creative thinking, and providing access to diverse performances. Your gift contributes to a vibrant and inclusive arts community, fostering lifelong connections to the transformative power of the performing arts.

Unable to join for POP? Consider a donation of support. Thank you!

What's on the menu?

Black Betty’s Bistro serving love, laughter, nourishment and soul

Empanada Club experience Latin America in your hands

Niyat Catering traditional Ethiopian food and flavors

Eighty 8 Donuts fresh, gourmet bite-sized donuts

Little Pig delightful and approachable Thai-fusion bursting with flavor

Luke’s Lobster traceable, sustainable seafood

Coffee By Design roasted locally since 1994

Orange Bike Brewing Portland’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery

Special thanks to chef Stephanie Brown and the staff at North43 Bistro

Luke’s Lobster

Who's Performing?

Veeva Banga is a South Sudanese dancer. Since the age of twelve
dancing hip hop every Friday, she has honed a passion for sharing
her cultural dance with people locally. She is a talented dancer that has an opportunity to play with a mix of styles in Afro Beat that can offer a different approach to dance in Maine. Veeva has taught at local studios like Hustle and Flow Studio, Bright Star World Dance Studio, Living Room Dance Collective, Portland Youth Dance, Mayo Street Arts and many more.

Firefly the Hybrid (Penobscot) seeks to illuminate the beauty and healing power of indigenous culture through music, visuals and creativity. As a member of the Penobscot Nation he grew up in his people’s ancient village at Indian island, Maine. With live performance Firefly is helping to place Indigenous people in a modern context. He believes that through creative frequencies, we can begin to heal humanity and evolve to new levels of love, compassion and wellness.As a traditional music keeper of the Wabanaki, Firefly has performed for many years throughout Maine. In 2020, Firefly took his creative performances to another level through cutting edge technology such as projection mapping and videography. This new evolution in his performances culminated in a national virtual performance with the Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America series and the release of his first album, “Sacred Fire.”In February, 2023 Firefly debuted his futuristic combination of traditional vocals and electronic music to 6000 attendees at the historic Merril Auditorium in Portland Maine. In April, 2023 Firefly had the honor of being this first Wabanaki to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. That same month Firefly’s World Premiere of “Militakwat” was performed at the University of Maine. A collaboration with the 127 year old Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Firefly created a 3 part movement rooted in Wabanaki songs. He is the first Wabanaki to collaborate with this orchestra in it’s 127 year history.

Cherry Lemonade is a founding member of Curbside Queens and all-around performance powerhouse, Cherry Lemonade (She/her) holds down the role of Creative Director as well as being a featured performer. Her tenacity has earned her high accolades throughout her 12-year career, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Crowned Miss Blackstones in 2019 and Mx Quarantine 2020, as well as half a dozen Phoenix and Old Port Best Of Awards for Best Drag Personality, Cherry’s can-do attitude has brought her all over the country and back, seeing her billed in New Orleans, an Upper West Side residency in NYC, and the legendary Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles. When not in drag, Cherry’s boy counterpart loves dominating at trivia night, an ice-cold coconut La Croix, and his trusty XBOX for some Mortal Kombat.

Gigi Gabor (she/they) is a petrol-fueled force to be reckoned with.  An unapologetic go-getter, she mixes grit and grace seamlessly into one powerful package. GiGi cut her teeth on the streets of New York City in both the technical and performance aspects of stage life before bringing her know-how back home to southern Maine. In her 12 years of performing, GiGi has graced stages all over New England, including [insert dive bar here] and [insert dumpster location here]. A proud title winner,  she wears her Miss Blackstones (’20-’21-’21) crown proudly and rules with love for her community. GiGi is celebrating nearly 3 years of sobriety, and in her off time can usually be found sipping mocktails on a Portland patio with her partner and their two dogs, Her Royal Highness Miss Memphis-Marie and Gus-Gus Gabor. 

Thank you to our Hosts

Justin and Rachael Alfond
Genius Black
Michael Boyson and Nancy Grant
Jim Brady and Katja Pianka
Maile Buker
John and Linda Coleman
Daniel N. Crewe
Marlene Dye – Atlantic Business Services
Peter and Lauren Genova
Peggy Greenhut Golden
Ken Grady
Cyrus Hagge
Karen Harris and Rob Gips
Nate Henry
Corey Hinton
Jamie Isaacson and Kristen Lape
Felicia Knight and Towle Tompkins
Annie Leahy and Mike Carey
Mary Allen Lindemann and James Hoban
Jack Lufkin
Nyamuon Nguany Machar

Peter Milliken and Linzee Weld
Roger and Margot Milliken
Robert Monks and Barbara Porta
James T. Morgan
Susan Morris
Sayad and Rebecca Moudachirou
Mary Noyes
Dan Nuzzi
Aimée M. Petrin
Matt and Darcy Poor
Tania and Joseph Powers
Jean M. Principe
James and Lynn Shaffer
Erica Schair-Cardona and Ivan Cardona
Connor Smart
Yemaya and Lucas St. Clair
Michael and Dawn Stillings
Ayres and Catherine Stockly
April and Jon Tardiff
Matthew Thornton

Thank you to our sponsors

Marquee Sponsor

Producing Sponsor

Contributing Sponsor