LEWISTON – L/A Arts will open its 37th performance season with its DownStage Festival of theater, music and inspirational readings Wednesday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Sept. 26.

The event, which complements the spirit of the October Dempsey Challenge (benefiting the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer, Hope and Healing), features three performances of an adaptation of Luigi Pirandello’s “The Man with the Flower in His Mouth.” The play is about a life impacted by cancer.

There will also be a concert by mezzo-soprano Amanda Keil and lutenist Scott Lemire of the Boston-based Musica Nuova; and “A Romp through Poetry & Prose to Lift the Spirit,” a night of light readings by members of the Portland Stage Affiliate Artists.

While serious and emotional, “The Man with a Flower in His Mouth” is also hopeful. Set loosely in 1950s Europe, the story is told as a duologue between two characters, The Man, played by Randall Tuttle, and The Commuter, played by Duane Glover. Deanna Kilbreth has a significant, nonspeaking role as The Man’s Wife; she also oversees costumes and props.

The single act is bookended with compositions performed by classical guitarist Ken Labrecque. The play, running about one hour with no intermission, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 22 and 24, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 26.

“I first saw Pirandello’s play performed 30 years ago and it had an enormous impact on me,” said L/A Arts Executive Director Andrew Harris, who adapted and directs the play.

“Since then, I have directed it several times and felt that ‘The Man with the Flower in His Mouth’ fits perfectly with our main goal of the festival to support the spirit of The Dempsey Challenge.”

The Musica Nuova concert will feature classical music from the late Renaissance to the early Baroque period. The program includes Spanish songs for the vihuela, German lute songs, playful English tunes, French melodies and moving melodies that uplift the soul. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23.

On Saturday, Sept. 25, Harris, Mark Honan, Daniel Noel and Maureen Butler, all of Portland Stage Affiliate Artists, will present “A Romp through Poetry & Prose to Lift the Spirit.” Joining them for the 7:30 performance will be guest performer Elisabeth Hardcastle. Together, they will present poetry and prose from such authors as Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear and Roald Dahl.

Tickets for each event are $10 if purchased in advance, $12 at the door. Call 782-7228 or go online to www.laarts.org. Parking is free in the Camden National Bank parking lot.

The DownStage, a renovated, intimate performance space, is at 5 Canal Street Alley, just off the first block of Pine Street, in the downtown. The venue is home to Out of the Box Theater Company and has hosted a number of concerts, art workshops and family events. “As its maximum capacity is 50 seats, during any give performance, audience members and performers form a connection,” said Harris.