Acorn Productions and MCMA Present Annual Winter Fundraiser

Productions, theater-in-residence at Mechanics Hall, and the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association (MCMA), the non-profit organization that owns the historic downtown building, hold their third annual winter fundraiser on Saturday, April 1st. "The Fool's Ball" features the Phyzgig Variety Show with special guest Avner the Eccentric, as well as swing dance lessons with the Portland Swing Project and live music by Hadacol Bouncers. All proceeds raised at the event benefit Acorn's residency at Mechanics Hall, including the company's free First Friday Naked Shakespeare performances, play readings, and acting classes, as well as ongoing work to restore the ballroom to its original size by removing a partition wall currently in place. The evening begins at 6pm with a short presentation by Herb Adams on the history of Mechanics Hall and the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, and continues with a full evening of entertainment lasting into the night. Tickets to the event are $25 for individuals and $40 for couples, and are available at Acorn's website www.acorn-productions.org.

Acorn Productions first produced Phyzgig in 1998 and ran the vaudeville-style series for 15 years between Christmas and New Year's. Avner the Eccentric, the internationally-renowned physical comedy master, served as Artistic Director of the festival and is overjoyed to be performing in his hometown once again. The Phyzgig Variety Show begins at 7pm and offers an hour of non-stop entertainment with performances by poet Martin Steingesser, magician Norman Ng, juggler Janoah Bailin, dancer Sharoan Cohen, and comedic monologues and scenes from Naked Shakespeare. Shortly after the conclusion of the variety show, the evening continues with a half-hour swing dance lesson by Gillian Davis from the Portland Swing Project. Audience members will have the chance to put their new moves into action when Hadacol Bouncers, a New Orleans-style jazz band, takes the stage at 9pm.

Avner the Eccentric is an internationally touring performer who makes his year-round home on Peaks Island. His performances have delighted audiences throughout Europe, Asia, South America as well as becoming a hit of the 1984-1985 Off-Broadway season. He is perhaps best known as the lovable holy man, the "Jewel" in The Jewel of the Nile, co-starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. Before becoming a world-class performer, Avner trained for two years in Paris under master-teacher Jacques LeCoq. In addition to his performances, Avner currently teaches clowning workshops all over the world, including an annual two-week event at the Celebration Barn in South Paris, Maine.

The Hadacol Bouncers play the music of Fats Waller, James P. Johnson, Louis Armstrong and more. The music is a fun hybrid of New Orleans Jazz, Chicago Style Jazz, novelty songs and other classics from the great American songbook. Hadacol has a traditional line up of banjo/tenor guitar, piano, tuba, drums, trombone, soprano sax/clarinet and trumpet/cornet. The music is fresh and bright and great for dancing!