December 25, 2024
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BCT eager for curtain to rise on ‘South Pacific’

Anyone who loves Broadway musicals knows Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.”

Bangor Community Theatre president Missy Babineau of Brewer is proud to announce that BCT will offer three performances of “South Pacific” this month. We hope each show will play to a full house.

“South Pacific” can be seen at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, at the Maine Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono.

This is the second major musical in two years presented by BCT, in cooperation with MCA, at Hutchins Concert Hall. Many of the stars of last year’s production will also appear in “South Pacific.”

Babineau said BCT is honored to have Kevin Bate of Bangor, who directed “Oklahoma!” return to direct “South Pacific.”

John Haskell of Hampden is the show’s musical director; Kelly Holyoke of Dedham is the choreographer; and Art Bousquet of Bangor is the set designer.

Steve Gormley of Ellsworth, who starred as Curly in BCT’s “Oklahoma!” last year, returns to the lead in “South Pacific,” playing Emile DeBeque.

Heather Astbury of Blue Hill stars as Nellie Forbush.

“It’s a wonderful show, and we have a number of families in it, with a number of children” appearing in the production, Babineau said.

The love story is set on an island in the South Pacific during World War II.

With the corporate sponsorship of KeyBank, the show “is being dedicated to the people who have been involved with BCT through the years,” Babineau said.

“We’re also looking to the future of BCT by involving children, and hoping to keep musical community theater alive in our area.”

Babineau added that while last year’s production of “Oklahoma!” was “artistically a wonderful show,” it needed more community support.

“That’s one reason to get the word out early enough, so people can make their plans to come,” Babineau said. “We want people to buy tickets early and, so far, sales are going well, especially for Sunday’s performance.”

Babineau added that everyone involved in the production “is really excited” about the performances for a number of reasons.

First is the “wonderful artistic team” that is in charge, she said.

Next is “the support we are receiving from the people at the Maine Center, and the community sponsorship we have obtained.”

The third reason is, simply, “the fact that it’s just a great show and a good time of the year to bring people out, after the holidays, and enjoy some island fun,” said Babineau.

Tickets for “South Pacific” can be purchased in advance at the MCA box office or by calling the MCA at 581-1755.

Tickets may also be purchased online at www.mainecenterforthearts.org.

And, if you are interested in learning more about what Bangor Community Theatre has to offer, Babineau welcomes your call at 989-6675.

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If you are wondering how you might be able to make a difference in someone’s life in the new year, Spruce Run has a suggestion.

Spruce Run Association, the domestic violence project serving Penobscot County and located in Bangor, urges you to “come work for peace at home” by becoming a Spruce Run volunteer.

Spruce Run needs volunteers for its hot line, and will provide you a 43-hour training course, which prepares you to support people affected by domestic violence.

Spruce Run needs children’s workers volunteers, who will receive 24 hours of training to prepare to work with children either individually or in groups.

And Spruce Run needs receptionists on weekdays to answer telephones and doors, and perform other office tasks.

Best of all, no prior experience is necessary. You will be trained to use your skills as a listener to help others.

You may volunteer from your own home nights and weekends, or at the Spruce Run Resource Center during the day.

Hot line training begins in the middle of January, and children’s worker training begins in mid-February.

You can also obtain work-study and continuing education units for training you take.

If you are interested, you are urged to call 945-5102 for more information or to obtain a volunteer application.

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The latest word we have from Sharon O’Connell of Guilford is that the rescheduled organ concert “is a go” for 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at the Guilford United Methodist Church.

Originally scheduled for mid-December, the concert had to be postponed due to a variety of circumstances, O’Connell reported at the time.

Church organist Juanita Hibbard will appear in concert Sunday, playing the newly restored Hook and Hasting pipe organ that is more than 100 years old.

Church members raised $30,000 to restore the organ, which has provided music for Guilford-area church members for more than a century.

O’Connell said refreshments would be served after the concert.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.


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