GARDINER – Johnson Hall’s seventh annual Teen-Elementary School Shows program is seeking teens interested in theater and art for creative, paid positions.Teens will help write, direct and produce plays in Monmouth, Litchfield and another school west of Gardiner, with elementary students as actors.Needed are six theater directors and three art directors who are enthusiastic, committed […]

Movies:Actor: Russell Crowe, “Cinderella Man”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Capote”; Heath Ledger, “Brokeback Mountain”; Joaquin Phoenix, “Walk the Line”; David Strathairn, “Good Night, and Good Luck.”Actress: Judi Dench, “Mrs. Henderson Presents”; Felicity Huffman, “Transamerica”; Charlize Theron, “North Country”; Reese Witherspoon, “Walk the Line”; Ziyi Zhang, “Memoirs of a Geisha.”Supporting actor: Don Cheadle, “Crash”; George Clooney, “Syriana”; […]

NEW YORK (AP) – Google Inc. will let consumers buy video over the Internet from CBS, the NBA and other providers, becoming the latest company to explore the new method of distributing TV content, according to a report Thursday.The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, said Google plans to make the […]

NEW YORK (AP) – Some “New Year’s Writing Resolutions” from J.K. Rowling:1. “Muck out my study.”“Frankly, I shudder to think what I will find when I finally reach the bottom of all these teetering piles of garbage,” the “Harry Potter” author wrote in her online diary Thursday. “However, as I currently have to negotiate an […]

NORWAY – The Hillsmen Chorus, which performs barbershop music throughout the area, will offer free lessons for four weeks beginning Monday, Jan. 16, at its meeting place, St. Catherine’s Catholic Church.The approximately 20 chorus members, mostly in their sixties and seventies, live in Norway, South Paris, Lock Mills, Bridgton, Stow and Mechanic Falls. Co-directors Pat […]

BRIDGTON – David Lee and Lakes Environmental Association are teaming up to bring some fun to Bridgton this winter with The Deep Freeze, an acoustic and bluegrass music festival. Featured will be four live bands: the Loose Cannons, North Star, Spring Creek and Rollins/Tyoe and Hobson, with M.C. Bubba Johnson directing the show.The event will […]

GORHAM – He has played with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Zappa, B.B. King, Hank Crawford, Archie Shepp, Buddy Rich, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon and John Lennon.And Friday, Jan. 27, jazz tubist Howard Johnson will play as part of the University of Southern Maine’s Faculty Concert Series. Johnson has […]

LEWISTON – The Public Theatre has received a $5,000 grant from The Maine Theater Fund of the Maine Community Foundation for its $2.4 million renovation. The theater has already reconfigured its lobby box office and concession area, with new restrooms. The next phase includes extensive work to the building exterior, stage and backstage areas.

By Emily Tuttle,Special to Encore WHO: Le Vent du NordWHAT: concert, QuebecoisWHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19WHERE: Franco-American Heritage Center, Cedar Street, Lewistontickets: $20; $17 for students and seniors; call L/A Arts at 1-800-639-2919 or 782-7228 or go online to www.laarts.org Rooted in traditionLe Vent du Nord musicians share stories of French familiesThe Quebecois band […]

Jan. 6: BELFAST, “Genghis Blues,” will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Belfast Free Library. Free 469-6600Jan. 6: LEWISTON, line dancing will be held Fridays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Central Hall, Lisbon Street. 783-6667Jan. 6: LEWISTON, the Kenny Garrett Quartet will perform at 8 p.m. at Bates College Olin Arts Center Concert […]