Community Celebrates Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening
Under skies as sunny as the mood, a red ribbon was finally cut on Thursday, June 24th, marking the official opening of the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine at the new location on Thompson’s Point. With over a hundred in attendance, the community came together to celebrate the opening and delight in all the hard work and valued contributions that made the new building possible. The crowd of community partners, donors, government officials, construction partners and members of the media, was welcomed by President of the Board Kristin Valdmanis, Campaign Chair Barbee Gilman, Governor Janet T. Mills, and Executive Director Julie Butcher Pezzino.
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Maddy's Theatre premieres Balloonacy, first show of Inaugural Summer Season
Balloonacy, kicking off the Inaugural Summer Season of Maddy’s Theatre, features Paris trained mime and beautifully introduces children to theatre. Perfect for audiences of all ages, the one man show will kick off our Summer Season of shows celebrating courage: the courage to play, the courage to reach for the stars, and the courage to answer the call to save the world.
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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM & THEATRE OF MAINE SURPASSES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GOAL AND ANNOUNCES OPENING DATE
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine announced that it has raised over $15 million dollars from over 500 donors, surpassing its initial $14 million goal. A significant wave of support came at the end of the campaign, allowing the organization to add back aspects of the project that had previously been moved to a second phase. The fundraising total includes a $500,000 grant designated to its endowment from the Lunder Foundation, bolstering the Museum & Theatre’s ongoing initiatives to ensure that all children, regardless of background, have access to the organization’s educational programs and exhibits. The conclusion of the campaign comes as the Museum & Theatre prepares to open their new 30,000 square foot facility at Thompson’s Point, where they plan to welcome visitors beginning Thursday, June 24, 2021. More than 500 philanthropic individuals, families, corporations, and foundations contributed to the campaign which will allow the organization to expand its reach to over 200,000 visitors per year.
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Alumni Spotlight: Bianca Donegan
Bianca Donegan was involved with Children's Theater of Maine, onstage and off, from 2006 to 2011, and worked as a youth staff member at the Museum from 2011-2012. Since her time at CTM, Bianca has enjoyed participating in local community theater and is signed with Dirigo Talent Agency, having appeared in several local commercials and films. In this interview, this Children’s Theatre of Maine alumna describes how her time on and off stage at CTM helped shape the person she is today.
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Alumni Spotlight: Hannah Daly
Hannah Daly is a Portland-based actress and educator. She graduated with a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University, and is a proud graduate of the university program at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, England and the Tepper Semester in NYC. Now as a teaching artist and an adult actor who often works with child actors, she remembers how much it meant to be treated as an equal by role models. In the interview, this Children’s Theatre of Maine alumna describes how children’s theatre influences her career to this day.
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Alumni Spotlight: An "Outside the Box" Interview with Zac Young
Born in Portland in 1982 and currently living in midtown, Manhattan, Zac Young is recognized as one of America's top pastry chefs for his playful, over the top desserts featured in restaurants nationwide, and his direct to consumer line of PieCaken holiday cakes. In 2010 he broke onto the food television scene with his final four finish on Bravo's Top Chef: Just Desserts. His signature wit and pastry wisdom have made him a fixture on Food Network shows such as "Halloween Baking Championship," "Chopped," and "Beat Bobby Flay" as well as Netflix's "Nailed It" and 7 seasons on The Cooking Channel's "Unique Sweets".
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As Campaign Hits $13.8 Million Mark, Nationally Known Pastry Chef from Maine Credits Children’s Theatre for Success
Crediting the influence of The Children’s Theatre of Maine on their son, Zac, Jon and Susan Young of Falmouth have joined more than 400 donors in naming theatre seats, pavers or exhibit components in honor of a loved one to support the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine’s Imagine Capital Campaign. Based in midtown Manhattan, the 38 year-old Zac Young is now known as one of America’s top pastry chefs. Maine families, like the Youngs, are stepping forward to honor or memorialize loved ones and generously support the campaign to complete the new 30,000 square foot facility at Thompson’s Point. The campaign to fund design and construction of the new facility has raised $13.8M of the $14M goal. With the help of the community, the Museum & Theatre plans to finish the campaign before spring.
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As Campaign Hits $13.75 Million Mark, Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine Installs Maine Watershed Aquarium Tanks
A series of watershed aquarium tanks has been raised by crane to the third floor science center as the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine transitions from construction of its new 30,000 square foot facility to installation of exhibits. When the new facility opens in spring 2021, it will collectively contain a 100-seat state-of-the-art theatre, a 10,000 sq. ft science center, an entire floor devoted to arts, culture, and community, and over a 1/2 acre of outdoor play area.
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Crane Company Makes Christmas Eve Delivery of Camera Obscura to Roof of Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
The one-of-a-kind periscopic camera obscura owned by the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine was carefully raised by the Cote Crane Company onto the roof of its 30,000 square foot facility at Thompson’s Point today. This marks the beginning of the installation of hands-on, family-centered exhibits at the Museum & Theatre which are scheduled to open in Spring 2021. When complete, the new facility will contain a 100-seat state-of-the-art theatre, a 10,000 sq ft science center, an entire floor devoted to arts, culture, and community, and over a 1/2 acre of outdoor play area.
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