Talk will focus on 2,500 years of drama – why and how it lives on.

BETHEL – Theater buffs are invited to attend a program by an expert in the field, Mel Howards, Ph.D., of Portland, titled “All the World’s a Stage and I’m the Director.”

The program will take place at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 25, at Gould Academy’s Trustees Auditorium in the Science Building, Church Street.

Held in conjunction with the new Maine Performing Arts Festival to be held in Bethel Aug. 9 through 13 (see story on page 6), the theater program will serve as a prelude to the festival’s activities.

Howards will present a lively, informative and somewhat provocative look at the history of theater starting with its beginnings in Greece.

He will point out how people engage in theatrical activity every day.

He will pose the questions: Why do we need theater? What makes theater? How is it, that it remains one of the very few institutions to have been active for more than 2,500 years around the world?

Howards makes the claim that there must be something universal about theater. He says it must, and does, serve the same psychological function now as it has throughout the years.

He also will discuss the role of theater in education, politics, religion and sports, among other aspects of life. At the end of his talk, he will have an open discussion with the audience.

Howards is professor emeritus from Northeastern University and has lived in Maine since 1990.

Since then, he has been involved in various theatrical activities and teaching at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Southern Maine, Portland. He is founder and artistic director of the Senior Players group, now in its seventh year. He also has directed several plays in the Portland area. Howards was instrumental in helping establish the Western Mountains Senior College Senior Players.

Admission for this program is free to the public. For more information, contact Jackie Cressy at 824-0508.