The park will debut a new state-of-the art mountain lion exhibit, funded by the Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park and the park. The new exhibit encompasses 3,500 square feet. It features boulders, caves and large trees to simulate cougar’s natural habitat, as well as large glass viewing panels the length of the exhibit to allow for wonderful viewing and photography opportunities.
With the relocation of the mountain lions, the park’s four bobcats have moved into the former cougar exhibit, giving them more room to roam both horizontally and vertically.
More than 20 weekend events have been scheduled throughout the summer and into the fall, starting with a kickoff and grand opening of the Maine’s Big Cats exhibit on May 5.
The park will be open from 9: 30 a. m. to 4: 30 p. m. daily through Nov. 11. Admission to the park is free for ages 3 and younger; $5 for ages 5-12; $7 for adults; and $5 for seniors. Groups of 15 or more are $3.50 per person.
The Maine Wildlife Park is owned and operated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The park exists to promote an understanding and awareness of the wildlife, conservation and habitat protection programs and projects of MDIFW.
For information, call 657- 4977 or visit www.mainewildlifepark.com.
Exhibit showcases works by autistic kids
PORTLAND — The Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine’s Show and Tell Gallery opens today with a special party for artists and their families.
The exhibit, which features paintings, drawings and sculpture created by 27 local children and teens with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD) in honor of Autism Awareness Month, will remain on display through August.
“The show was developed to highlight the talent and capabilities of these children and teens while educating the public about the prevalence of autism, especially in Maine,” a release from the museum states.
“ Conversations about autism often focus on what these children can’t do,” Louisa Donelson, a museum educator and the show’s curator, said in a release. “ The Show and Tell Gallery sheds light on all the things they can do — and do well.”
For more information, email Donelson at louisa@kitetails.org.
Bay Chamber Concerts stages Orff cantata
ROCKPORT — Bay Chamber Concerts will present the epic masterpiece “Carmina Burana” at the Strom Auditorium on Saturday.
The Down East Singers vocal ensemble joins forces with vocal soloists, two pianos and percussion to perform Carl Orff ’s cantata.
“Carmina Burana,” introduced in 1937, “ became famous overnight for its melding of Greek tragedy, Italian musical theater and infectious rhythms to produce a stage spectacle of spring merry-making,” a Bay Chamber Concerts release states.
Joining the Down East Singers will be vocal soloists Suzanne Nance, Daniel C. Stein and Andrew Garland, and pianists Sean Fleming and Jennifer McIvor.
Tickets cost $30 for adults or $8 for age 18 and younger. Prime seating costs $40.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Bay Chamber Concerts at 236- 2823, toll free at (888) 707-2770 or online at www.baychamberconcerts.org.
PSO features ‘B’ composers
PORTLAND — The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will present a concert titled “Bruckner, Beethoven and More” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Merrill Auditorium on Myrtle Street.
Music Director Robert Moody will conduct the afternoon program, which includes pieces by composers Anton Bruckner, Osvaldo Golijov, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Ludwig Van Beethoven.
A Concert Conversation with Moody will precede the concert at 1: 15 p. m., and a PostConcert Q& A with the artists follows at the end on the stage. For program notes and an interview with Robert Moody about this concert, visit portlandsymphony.org.
Ticket prices range from $ 20 to $ 58 and can be purchased through PortTIX at porttix.com, by phone at 842- 0800, or in person at the Merrill Auditorium box office, 20 Myrtle St. Tickets purchased by phone or online are subject to a per-ticket handling fee.
‘Photo Detective’ to lead workshop
AUGUSTA — Photo historian Maureen A. Taylor, known as “The Photo Detective” will lead a Maine Genealogical Society workshop April 21 at the Augusta Civic Center.
Taylor is the author of four books and a popular speaker at genealogy conferences. As a photo curator, genealogist, writer and photo identification and preservation expert, she focuses on family photography, history and genealogy.
Her website is www.maureentaylor.com.
Admission costs $ 40 for Maine Genealogical Society members and $ 50 for nonmembers. Both fees include a luncheon buffet.
For more information and a registration brochure, visit www.maineroots.org.
Questions can be directed by email to mainegenealogical@yahoo.com or by phone to Dale Mower at 942-9375.
Alliance books ‘Get published’ workshop
PORTLAND — The Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance will sponsor a seminar for authors hoping to get their works published from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 21 at the Glickman Family Library at the University of Southern Maine.
The Book Proposal Boot Camp “focuses on strategies to help writers develop effective nonfiction book proposals,” a release from the alliance states. “Instructor Mark Chimsky is a distinguished editor with ( more than) 25 years experience in corporate and independent publishing.”
More information on registration for the workshop is available at www.mainewriters.org or by calling 228-8263.
City Theater slates auditions for ‘Chess’
BIDDEFORD — Auditions at City Theater’s production of “Chess the musical/The London Version” will begin at 6:30 p.m. April 22 and 26.
Those who try out in the open audition should be prepared to sing something in the style of a modern rock musical.
Prospective cast members should bring their own sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. A dance audition also will be on tap.
The play calls for six male roles, two women and a large ensemble.
For more information, call 642-7840 or visit www.citytheater.org.
Puppet performers retell myths
PORTLAND — Figure of Speech Theatre will stage shows tonight, Saturday and Sunday at Lucid Stage in Portland’s Back Cove.
“Cupid & Psyche,” a romantic, humorous retelling of the classic Greek myth of love and trust, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday.
A performance of “Jester Kings of Java,” a comical tale of King Rama’s quest to win his true love’s hand in marriage, will start at 1 p.m. Sunday.
All performances will be at Lucid Stage, 29 Baxter Blvd. Tickets cost $10 apiece or $24 for three. Children younger than 13 years old will be admitted to “Jester Kings of Java” for $5.
For more information about the shows, visit www.figures.org or call Figures of Speech Theatre at 865- 6355. To purchase tickets, visit www.lucidstage.com or call 899-3993.
Grownup rockers, learn the ropes
PORTLAND — The Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM) will host an adult rock camp from today through Sunday at the Breakwater School, 856 Brighton Ave.
The camp “ packs everything an aspiring rock star needs to know to get rockin’ in one weekend, including studio tours, master classes, live performances, song writing workshops, meet and greets with local professionals, instrument clinics and jam sessions,” a MAMM release states.
The camp is open to participants age 18 and older. The fee is $200 per person. To register, call 899- 3433 or visit www.maineacademyofmodernmusic.org/camps.
Kargul, PSQ team for Sunday concert
PORTLAND — The Portland String Quartet and pianist Laura Kargul will present a concert of works for strings and piano at 2 p.m. Sunday at Williston-Immanuel Church, 156 High St.
A pre-concert talk begins at 1 p.m.
Opening the program will be Mozart’s Piano Quartet in E- flat Major, followed by Jacques de la Presle’s Sonata for Violin and Piano and Johannes Brahms’ Piano Quartet in A Major.
The LARK Society for Chamber Music sponsors the concert. Tickets cost $22 for general admission or $20 for seniors. Students get in free.
For more information, call 761-1522, email lark@larksociety.org or visit www.larksociety.org.
Tuchinsky discusses Civil War origins
YARMOUTH — As part of the Yarmouth Historical Society’s monthly lecture series, Adam Tuchinsky will give a talk titled “Slavery and the Problem of Civil War Causation” at 7 p.m. Monday at the Log Cabin, 196 Main St.
Tuchinsky is the author of “Horace Greeley’s New-York Tribune: Civil War Era Socialism and the Crisis of Free Labor.” His talk will address slavery and the Civil War with an emphasis on the political, economic and intellectual climate of the era.
Tuchinsky currently serves as the associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Southern Maine.
The suggested donation is $ 3 for members and $ 5 for non- members. For more information, call 846-6259 or email info@yarmouthmehistory.org.
Choral Art Society slates voice tryouts
PORTLAND — The Choral Art Society will hold auditions for membership on three Mondays in May.
Advance registration is required. Interested singers can fill out an audition information card through choralart.org and contact Choral Arts Society manager Michael Bachem at manager@choralart.org.
Auditions will run from 5 p. m. to 9 p. m. at the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, 524 Allen Ave.
Sopranos will audition on May 7. Altos and tenors audition May 14. Bass tryouts will be May 21.
Auditions are required for current as well as potential new members of the Choral Art Society, which has more than 150 members who perform in three distinct ensembles: the symphonic Masterworks Chorus, the mid-sized Choral Art Singers, and the a cappella Camerata. All singers are skilled amateurs, selected by audition.
Theater of Spirit stages auditions
NEWCASTLE — Theater of Spirit will hold auditions for its production of “The Days Are As Grass,” a new work by playwright Carol Hall, from 2 p. m. to 4 p. m. Sunday and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Second Congregational Church in Newcastle.
Hall wrote “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” She also wrote “To Whom It May Concern” and contributed to “Sesame Street.”
Performances are scheduled for the first two weekends of June. For more information, call 350-0354.
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