I had the opportunity to attend the opening gala Sept. 16 at the Maine Center for the Arts, “An Evening with Liza Minnelli.” My review of the show is quite simply this: Wow!

The evening was sheer magic. She may be 60 but Minnelli has never been better. The sheer power of her voice is evidence from her full recovery from encephalitis which nearly ended her career – and life – in 2000.

Her repartee with the audience was evident the moment she stepped onto the stage and we left feeling as though we had made a new friend. Her band was wonderful and we were treated to a jazz solo by pianist Billy Stritch, a well-known entertainer in his own right, who also sang a duet with Minnelli. The evening left me with memories for a lifetime.

My hat goes off to the Maine Center for the Arts, the sponsors of this show and all those who work so diligently behind the scenes. I am thrilled by the announced plan for the complete renovation of the Center.

Minnelli offered Maine a glimpse of the caliber of acts we will attract to the larger facility. I intended to become a part of the fund-raising effort by becoming a “friend” to the Maine Center for the Arts. I urge other patrons of the center to do so as well.

Who knows? Maybe Minnelli will come back as the opening act following completion of the renovations.

L. Jayne Potts

Argyle Township