Great Adventures > Are coming to the Maine Center for the Arts

Jazz, ballet, acrobatics, drama, drumming and opera are among the events scheduled for the 1990-91 season at the Maine Center for the Arts. With the theme of “Great Adventures,” the diverse lineup is the most varied selection of performers to appear at the arts center since its opening five years ago.

“It’s the responsibility of the university to be multicultural,” said Joel Katz, MCA executive director and coordinator for the events. When designing the season, Katz said he tried to include acts that were very well known but had never been to Maine (such as Glen Campbell), acts that challenged the artistic and emotional sensibilities of local audiences (such as the South African musical “Sarafina!”), and acts that had been suggested on audience comment cards (such as jazz trumpet player Wynton Marsalis).

Although the quality of acts is diversified, fewer have been booked than in previous years. For instance, last year MCA booked 56 acts. This year, there are only 24.

According to Katz, there has been a tremendous escalation in the cost of artists, and concert halls throughout the state have been struggling to keep up with costs.

Katz said that although most artists were increasing their fees, at least one, Wynton Marsalis, actually lowered his considerably. When Marsalis was first enjoying fame a few years ago, he also was charging more and requiring concert halls to provide him with a stretch limousine, a two-bedroom suite and elaborate technical requirements. This year, his fee includes the evening concert plus a master class that he will teach during the day at the University of Maine.

Last year, 58,500 people attended MCA performances, and ticket sales totalled $700,000. For most shows, the center either broke even or lost money.

During the summer schedule, however, 95 percent of the seats were filled for shows such as Ray Charles, Jay Leno and Joan Baez.

Katz is hopeful that by scheduling fewer events during the regular season, he will have many weekday and several weekend slots open to accommodate other popular acts such as country music singers or comedians who don’t generally book as far in advance as other performers.