Editor’s Note: This event has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
"I'm paying it forward to help my theatrical roots," Michael Tobin, longtime Seacoast actor and director and now the Executive Artistic Director of The Footlights Theatre in Falmouth, Maine, says.
"We're bringing our touring show, 'Cupid's Arrow,' to the Garrison Players on March 27 and 28 (for three shows) to help them with their recent financial challenges."
Tobin performed and directed with the theater in the 1980s when he was starting to perform right after high school.
"I have such great memories and lifelong friendships from those early days," Tobin says. "I know how hard it is financially to do what they have done all these many years."
Tobin asked his touring company if they'd be willing to donate a few performances after hearing of Garrison Players’ ongoing financial struggles. They agreed with no hesitation, he says.
"Our performing 'Cupid's Arrow' has huge financial potential for the Players, so I hope everyone supports them and makes it a sellout weekend," Tobin said, "And I can guarantee a really fun and funny show." Tickets are available by going to garrisonplayers.org
Down Maine, at his Footlights Theatre, Tobin is gearing up for the premier of his "folk musical," "Surrender Dorothy," on April 2.
"It's 1969 and Dorothy Gale, now age 42, wants to go back to Oz because life has not turned out as sepia 1939 had promised," Tobin said, "Her three friends are back but, like her, there's been many changes on the yellow brick road of life and the witch, Hagatha (the fifth witch ...), is determined to make them pay for what they did to her sister."
Tobin wrote the play’s book, and Carole Wise composed the score. (For more information, visit thefootlightstheatre.com.)
"I always wondered what happened to Dorothy and her three friends," Tobin said, "Now you'll find out."
Finally, Tobin made the trek down to pitch at the recent Producers Meeting for a slot in the Players’ Ring's 2020-21 season. He may be returning to his old stomping grounds soon.
The Art Center in Dover's first resident artist Sarah Cassani, of Eliot, Maine, is at the midpoint of her term "and she's been a blessing," Art Center founder and owner Rebecca Proctor says.
"Sarah is in the house. ... She's been fantastic. She's talented and has the attitude to learn," Proctor says. "We have so much to offer with the mentorship program and the workshops we have now. The program is really developing."
Cassani has been in the studio nearly every day since the residency began on Feb. 1, and taken every available workshop.
"Sarah wants be a part of what we're doing and soaks it all up. She just fits in with the group. ... She's really been growing," Proctor adds. "This program opens a lot of opportunity. ... And this year we're really focusing on education."
The center is currently accepting applications for its second residency, which runs June 1 through Sept. 30. The position includes all classes and workshops, including the recently launched, weekly life drawing classes.
It will soon include printmaking classes and workshops as well.
"I've been wanting printmaking here for at least a year and a half, since shortly after I opened," Proctor says. "We just finally secured a printmaking press and I have a resident printmaker Sally Dion. We'll be rolling out next month."
The center plans to offer workshops by a number of printmakers, and will rent the press studio out by the day. "We're still working on all the info and opportunities."
The residency (sponsored by the center and Peter Henry of Market Square Jewelry) is valued at $2,500, and offers all Art Center workshops and classes, and mentorship with the Art Center's studio artists. For more information and requirements, visit theartcenterdover.com/residency.
With just two and a half years under its belt, the center has attracted a broad range of members, Proctor says. "We have very young artists and artists in their mid- to late-eighties," she says. "That's just absolutely thrilling. They come in to see the programs and say I want to be a part of that. I love it."
The Berwick Art Association has been revived, thanks to one of its earlier members, artist Beth Wittenberg.
The BAA was co-founded by Erin (Duquette) Thomas and Rick Burns in 2012. Thomas envisioned an organization that established the artists' presence in the community, Wittenberg says. In its earlier years, members created a mural on the Prime Tanning building, and collaborated on a gallery in North Berwick, Maine.
The BAA disbanded in 2016, and stayed dormant until Wittenberg spearheaded the rebirth. The new BAA's inaugural meeting was in January 2020.
"A lot of people have asked me about the BAA. What is it? What do you do? What is it all about?" Wittenberg says. "The BAA is a revived group of artists punctuated by an interest from new members. .... There is no pressure to participate. There isn't even pressure to be active working artists. Some non-artists have joined to try and begin to think creatively."
Meetings are about sharing art, relevant articles, books, ideas and "snacks," she says.
"What makes this group different than other groups on the Seacoast is that the members steer the ship. My basic idea is to get artists to talk about being artists. I want to give people a community in which they can share ideas, learn something new, and participate up to their level of comfort."
The group welcomes all genres - visual artists, writers, musicians, and performance artists "and in all honesty anyone who has the desire to be creative is welcome to attend our meeting and be one of us."
The new group launched with a "show and tell." Its second meeting members voted to find exhibition opportunities. Wittenberg was able to arrange the revitalized BAA exhibit first at The Franklin Gallery at RiverStones Custom Framing in Rochester in June. Find info at https://ift.tt/3a3YMwD.
Fusion Belly Dancer Gina DellaPasqua stopped offering drop-in dance classes four years ago. When DellaPasqua discontinued drop-ins, she was teaching seven classes weekly, and had been teaching the art form for 15 years. She slowly let go of all but one private Improvisational Team Synch class. ("It's a belly dance - heavy flamenco, hula and hip hop influence ... still running"), and continued to perform.
Recently a dance studio planning to locate in Kittery, Maine asked if she'd be interested in resurrecting the drop-in class. DellaPasqua posted a note on social media that she was considering doing so to gauge interest. The note received about 80 responses.
"One of the main reasons I stopped was I was starting to lose my passion because I was doing it too much," DellaPasqua says. "And because dance is so important to me, I didn't want to be showing up and teaching it without the passion." She was also dealing with difficult family health issues.
The dance studio never got off the ground. But Great Bay Academy of Dance offered space, and DellaPasqua accepted. Classes start March 30, every other Monday, 6 to 7 p.m., and "well see how it goes" she says. All levels, ages, body types and limitations welcome. There is a fee.
If interested in more information, request to join the "Fusion Belly Dance Drills/Drop-in Classes" Facebook page, which already has 70 members, or write ginabelladella@yahoo.com.
"So, no pre-registration needed, just drop in when you wish," she says. "No punch cards or anything to start, just keeping it simple.“
Jeann McCartin keeps her eyes and ears open for gossip at maskmakernh@gmail.com.
Sarah Cassani of Eliot, Maine paints in her studio at The Art Center in Dover as the center’s first artist-in-residence. [Courtesy photo]
Fusion Belly Dancer Gina DellaPasqua will begin teaching drop-in dance classes at Great Bay Academy of Dance. [Courtesy photo]
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