PORTLAND – Carolyn Brett, 53, of Portland, died at her home on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Carol, born on March 3, 1955, in Boston, Mass., was the daughter of George and Virginia (Harvey) Brett. She attended public schools in Newton, Mass., graduated in 1973 from the Walnut Hill School in Natick, Mass., and graduated with honors in 1977 from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., earning a degree in history.

After college, Carol worked at the New York State Legislature in Albany, N.Y., where she applied her considerable research skills and developed some of the conscientious business and management talents that would be present with her throughout her adult life.

After the legislature, Carol moved to her family’s summer home on Keoka Lake in Waterford, Maine, the site of many important friendships and family ties. Once there, Carol honed her organizational aptitude by managing the 302 Traveler, a tourist publication. These diligently developed business talents eventually led to an early collaboration with theatrical icon Tony Montenaro and his Celebration Barn, the world renowned mime theater in South Paris, Maine. Through this complementary association, Carol took a step into the world of theatrical management that would eventually evolve into what would become the career passion of her adult life. In this early manifestation of her vocation in the arts, Carol helped to manage and develop Tony Montenaro’s Theater of Fantasy in Portland as well as one of Tony’s companies, The Celebration Ensemble. This collaboration allowed for the evolution of Carol’s vision and energy for artistic development and management that eventually led to her ownership of the Celebration Barn.

In 1988, Carol became the executive director of the Celebration Barn where she not only continued Montenaro’s legacy, but also built upon it. She expanded the programming to include a diverse international faculty in a wide variety of disciplines. She was a tireless advocate for and dedicated herself and her resources to the Barn’s unique, personal style of theater and through this encouraged new generations of performing artists.

Carol loved to laugh and was well-known for her uninhibited, infectious belly laugh. She loved to entertain, loved to read, loved her friends and family and further demonstrated her deep capacity to nurture in her devotion to her beloved kitties and cherished niece.

Carol is survived by her father and stepmother, George and Deborah Brett of Cape Elizabeth; and by her sister, Nancy Brett, and niece, McKinley Virginia Page, both of Waterford.

She was predeceased by her mother, Virginia Harvey Brett; and brother, George Robert Brett.


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