Finding Culture in Downeast Maine

Visitors to the Acadia area usually expect to enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors. But our part of the world has a little secret. Those early East Coast “rusticators”, the ones who practically invented the concept of a vacation, brought with them the cultural traditions of New York, Boston and Philadelphia.  I think you would be hard pressed to find so many theater groups, jazz combos, choral groups or brass ensembles per capita anywhere else.  We have in Ellsworth the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine, in Somesville the Acadia Reperatory Theater.  Bar Harbor has Acadia Community Theater (ACT) and  Improv Acadia at 15 Cottage St.  Right here in Lamoine we have the Lamoine Community Arts. Watch for their plays at the Grange in Lamoine; many of them are original works penned by our resident playwright, Carol Korty.  The Schoodic area has Schoodic Arts for All, which sponsors performances of all kinds as well as classes.  And then there’s Blue Hill’s New Surry Theater.

Three special theaters come to mind. The Grand in Ellsworth hosts the Gilbert and Sullivan performances as well as musical and comedy acts and movies. The Criterion in Bar Harbor has a similar role and is the home venue for ACT. Bar Harbor’s Reel Pizza is a combination movie house and pizza restaurant and features “quality Hollywood, art, independent, and foreign language films”.

Musically, the offerings are plentiful. Bar Harbor Brass Week gathers talented college and high school for an intensive week of practice at College of the Atlantic with several performances at the end, on the last weekend of June. The Bar Harbor Music Festival keeps a lively pace of mostly classical performances throughout the month of July. There’s the Bar Harbor Town Band performing at the Village Green on summer evenings and The Bar Harbor Jazz Festival which runs during the final week of August. Local night spots feature live music as well. Check out the schedules of Carmen Varandah’s, the Lompoc Cafe and Rupununi’s.

Music, art and theater starts young for kids on Mount Desert Island. All elementary, middle and high schools offer excellent instruction and importantly, community support and interest to go with it. We enjoy great plays at the Mount Desert Island High School during winter months even after our daughter has graduated. There is also a strong jazz band tradition in Maine and the high schools throughout the state have a competition once a year in late February. Our high school or nearby George Stevens Academy frequently brings home the gold.  Look at this youtube clip of our band performing Harlem Nocturne in 2008.  Younger kids get a summer boost in art and music at Summer Festival of Arts held at the high school.

So if the rain spoils your planned outdoor activity when you visit Acadia, check the local newspaper or activity guide for music, theater or art exhibits. It’s only a little off Broadway!

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