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Review: SWEET GOATS & BLUBERRY SEÑORITAS: Poetic Sensibility & Lingering Sweetness
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Feb 2, 2023

The premiere of Richard Blanco and Vanessa Garcia’s SWEET GOATS and BLUBERRY SEÑORITAS at Portland Stage heralds the magical debut of a haunting new dramatic voice.  Poet Blanco and his collaborator Garcia have created a delicate, sad-sweet memory play, inhabited by six memorable and widely disparate characters, whose shards of reminiscence come together in the cold winter landscape of a small Maine town.

15th Annual Maine Playwrights Festival to Kick Off 4/30
by Tyler Peterson - Apr 15, 2016

Acorn Productions, a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing and developing Southern Maine's community of performing artists, announces the final performance schedule for this year's Maine Playwrights Festival. The MPF opens with an evening of dramatic readings on Saturday, April 30, in the Ballroom at Mechanics Hall, and continues with a weekend of performances at the St. Lawrence Arts Center from May 4 to 7. The event wraps up with the 24-Hour Portland Theater Project on Sunday, May 8th, a popular presentation of 6 new plays that all share the same line of dialogue, prop, and setting, all of which have been written, rehearsed and presented within a single day. Tickets for the MPF are available on Acorn's website at www.acorn-productions.org and cost $16 for the general public and $14 for students and seniors.

Maine Playwrights Festival Announces 2016 Lineup
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 10, 2016

Acorn Productions, a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing and developing the Southern Maine community of performing artists, has finalized plans for this year's annual Maine Playwrights Festival (MPF). This year's MPF is co-directed by MPF Founder Michael Levine and Daniel Burson, former Education and Literary Director at Portland Stage Company, joined by Playwright-in-Residence William Donnelly. This year, six scripts by Delvyn Case, Carolyn Gage, Jennifer Jensen, Richard Sewell, David Susman, and Bess Welden will be brought to life at the St. Lawrence Arts Center from May 4 to 7, 2016, with the latest installment of the 24-Hour Portland Theaer Project on Sunday, May 8th. Additionally, Burson and Donnelly will be offering a 3-hour Master Playwrighting Workshop on March 19 from 1 to 4pm at the Maine College of Art. More information about this year's MPF, including a sign-up form for the Master Playwrighting Class, is available on Acorn's website at www.acorn-productions.org.

THE MAINE DISH Runs This Weekend at Portland Ballet Studio Theater
by BWW News Desk - Mar 5, 2015

Seventeen actors, 12 playwrights, 4 directors, 1 delicious theme - FOOD! THE MAINE DISH: A Feast of Plays about Food will have its world premiere at the Portland Ballet Studio Theater running this weekend, March 5 through 8 during MAINE RESTAURANT WEEK.

THE MAINE DISH to Run 3/5-8 at Portland Ballet Studio Theater
by Tyler Peterson - Jan 14, 2015

Seventeen actors, 12 playwrights, 4 directors, 1 delicious theme - FOOD! THE MAINE DISH: A Feast of Plays about Food will have its world premiere at the Portland Ballet Studio Theater running March 5 through 8 during MAINE RESTAURANT WEEK.

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of Acorn Productions' HAMLET, Beg. Tonight
by BWW News Desk - May 30, 2014

Members of Naked Shakespeare join student actors from Acorn's eight-month long training program in their final production of the season, directed by Michael Howard, co-founder of the Naked Shakespeare series and a veteran actor and director in the Greater Portland area. Shakespeare's classic play comes to live in an innovative staging that provides a unique perspective on the Dane's dilemma. The production is co-sponsored by the USM Department of English, and performs from today, May 30 to June 8 at the Wishcamper Center at USM. Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

Emerge Film Festival Comes to Life with Announcement of Final Film Schedule, Award Nominations and Sneak Peek Event
by Robert Diamond - May 24, 2014

Things are heating up for the inaugural Emerge Film Festival, opening on June 13! The Festival board of directors has released the final film schedule, including more than 40 short, documentary and feature films from Maine, the U.S. and the world. Details for the two-day Lewiston/Auburn, Maine event are outlined on the newly developed website: emergefilmfestival.org.

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of Acorn Productions' HAMLET
by BWW News Desk - May 19, 2014

Members of Naked Shakespeare join student actors from Acorn's eight-month long training program in their final production of the season, directed by Michael Howard, co-founder of the Naked Shakespeare series and a veteran actor and director in the Greater Portland area. Shakespeare's classic play comes to live in an innovative staging that provides a unique perspective on the Dane's dilemma. The production is co-sponsored by the USM Department of English, and performs from May 30 to June 8 at the Wishcamper Center at USM. Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

Naked Shakespeare Launches New Series of Monthly Wine Bar Shows, 4/14 & 5/12
by Courtnie Mele - Mar 23, 2014

Naked Shakespeare, Acorn Productions' acting company dedicated to presenting the works of the Bard in non-traditional venues without sets, lights, and costumes, resumes its monthly series of free performances of scenes and soliloquies in April. The company has not had a venue for these popular monthly collections of pieces from the Bard's canon since the old Wine Bar on Wharf Street closed about a year ago. These shows also feature the return of Artistic Director Michael Levine from a brief sabbatical as he directs and peforms in the April show. The May performance consists of an abridgement of the Acorn Shakespeare Conservatory's production of Hamletdirected by Michael Howard and featuring Karen Ball in the title role. In the company's tradition, both shows present the text in an accessible manner that enourages the audience to place the characters in a modern context in order to better understand the universal themes at work in the language. Performances take place on April 14 and May 12 at 7:30pm, and are offered free of charge with an $8 suggested donation. Please visit Naked Shakepeare's website for more information: www.nakedshakespeare.org or call the Acorn office at 854-0065. A complete calendar listing appears below.

Acorn Productions to Present THE THREE PIGGS, 11/9-24
by Tyler Peterson - Oct 30, 2013

Acorn Productions, a non-profit theater company based in the Dana Warp Mill in downtown Westbrook, presents a new work by the company's Fairy Tale Players, a group of experienced students from the company's Acorn Acting Academy.

WALK AMONG THE SHADOWS, HANSEL AND GRETEL & More Set for Acorn Production's 2013-14 Season
by Tyler Peterson - Sep 12, 2013

Acorn Productions is pleased to announce that they have hired two new staff members for the coming season, and expanded the job descriptions of two current staff members as part of a staff reorganization that better allows the company to operate its educational programs and production season. The new staff structure will better provide the support necessary to produce Acorn's season, comprised of three children's theater presentations by the Fairy Tale Players, the company's annual Jewish-themed holiday show, the 13th edition of the Maine Playwrights Festival, and more ongoing free performances by Naked Shakespeare. Additionally, the Acorn Acting Academy will offer four semesters of classes and summer camps as well as the second year of our Acorn Shakespeare Conservatory. Acorn has also just begun a new partnership with the Westbrook Community Center that involves afterschool educational theatre classes and performances through the 21st Century Grant program. For more information, contact Acorn Productions at 854-0065 or visit www.acorn-productions.org.

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of Riverbank Shakespeare Festival's THE WAR OF THE ROSES
by BWW News Desk - May 30, 2013

After a one-year absence, Acorn Productions once again offers area residents a chance to see live Shakespeare in downtown Westbrook's pastoral Riverbank Pank, located along the Presumpscot River on Main Street. This year's Riverbank Shakespeare Festival features two productions: The War of the Roses, directed by Michael Levine, and The Tempest, directed by Karen Ball and featuring the teen actors in Acorn's Young Actors Shakespeare Conservatory. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Naked Shakespeare Continues Monthly Wine Bar Series with THE APPRENTICE SHOWCASE Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Mar 4, 2013

Naked Shakespeare, Acorn Productions' acting company dedicated to presenting the works of the Bard in non-traditional venues without sets, lights, and costumes, has decided to offer another edition of its monthly shows at the Wine Bar on Wharf Street in March. 'The Apprentice Showcase' features short selections of text performed by first-year students in the new Acorn Shakespeare Conservatory, which began training work last fall.

Naked Shakespeare Continues Monthly Wine Bar Series with THE APPRENTICE SHOWCASE, 3/4
by BWW News Desk - Feb 18, 2013

Naked Shakespeare, Acorn Productions' acting company dedicated to presenting the works of the Bard in non-traditional venues without sets, lights, and costumes, has decided to offer another edition of its monthly shows at the Wine Bar on Wharf Street in March. 'The Apprentice Showcase' features short selections of text performed by first-year students in the new Acorn Shakespeare Conservatory, which began training work last fall.

Acorn Productions’ Shakespeare Ensemble Continues Naked Shakespeare With WILL YOU BE MINE?
by Kelsey Denette - Jan 23, 2012

Acorn Productions' Shakespeare Ensemble, a group dedicated to encouraging audiences to re-experience Shakespeare's language and imagery, continues its Naked Shakespeare performances with "Will You Be Mine?" part of the monthly 'Sonnet and Soliloquies' series. These performances will feature eight to ten company members performing short selections from Shakespeare's text at the Wine Bar at 38 Wharf St. in Portland's Old Port. Each selection is presented by the actors in a contemporary scenario that highlights the universal nature of Shakespeare's language. Actors will be mingled in and around the audience, delivering sonnets and soliloquies conversationally to one another and the audience in unexpected ways that will allow listeners to find new meaning in the text. The performance of "Will You Be Mine?" takes place on Monday, February 6th at 8 p.m. The show is free with an $8 suggested donation.

Photo Flash: Children's Theater at Acorn Presents Puss 'n Boots
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 12, 2012

This winter, Acorn Productions' "Fairy Tale Players," an ensemble of children, teens and adults who have studied at the Acorn Acting Academy, continues its third season of productions with Producing Director Michael Levine's adaptation of Puss 'n Boots.

Acorn Productions Announces 14th Season
by Kelsey Denette - Sep 7, 2011

Acorn Productions, a non-profit company based in the Dana Warp Mill in downtown Westbrook, will continue its work nurturing and developing the performing arts in Greater Portland with its 14th season of productions.

Acorn Announces Short Plays For 10th Annual MPF 4/14-29
by BWW News Desk - Apr 14, 2011

Acorn Productions, a non-profit art presented located in the Dana Warp Mill, announces script selections for the short play portion of the tenth annual Maine Playwrights Festival, to be held at the St. Lawrence Arts Center on Munjoy Hill in Portland from April 14 to 29, 2011.

Mad Horse Theatre Presents Maine Premiere of The Late Henry Moss, Closes 3/27
by BWW News Desk - Mar 27, 2011

Mad Horse Theatre Company is proud to present the Maine Premier of Sam Shepard's THE LATE HENRY MOSS. The play closes March 27. Performances will be at Lucid Stage in Portland

Acorn Productions Announces Complete Lineup For MPF
by Gabrielle Sierra - Mar 21, 2011

Acorn Productions, a non-profit art presented located in the Dana Warp Mill, announces the complete line-up for the tenth annual Maine Playwrights Festival (MPF), the company's annual celebration of the work of local theater artists.

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