The Second Annual Beautiful Blackbird Children's Book Festival
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is proud to partner with the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival again this year! The Festival launches August 2nd, with a new website, new books, and new activities. Like last year, most of the Festival will be virtual, enabling folks from all over the world to take part and celebrate the voices, artistry, and impact of children’s literature created by and featuring Black people. The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine will host three writing workshops with The Telling Room as part of the Festival.
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Staff Spotlight: Cinderella Adel Elbatatoni and A Message From Far Away Event
What do you say to a 9 year old refugee walking unaccompanied from Turkey to UK?
Our very own Play Assistant, Cinderella Adel Elbatatoni will be answering this question at A Message From Away. This event is split into three parts happening August 4th and 5th. A Message From Away is a virtual interaction with the art and culture festival, The Walk. The Walk is happening over four months, following the journey of Little Amal, a 12 foot puppet walking from Turkey to the UK in support of refugees and asylum seekers everywhere.
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Here Come the King and Queen! Korean Language School Exhibit Celebration
On Monday, we held a small celebration for the Korean Language School in honor of the “Meet Our Neighbors: The Korean Language School” exhibit! We were incredibly honored to have the Honorable Ki-Jun You, of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Boston and Portland Representative Tae Chong attend the celebration. Families of the Korean Language School community were also in attendance, including Yeongrae An, Young-ok Shin, Ip Boon Park, and Hyeri Yoon, who helped to design the exhibit.
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Meet Balloonacy Director, Dana Legawiec!
Dana is over the moon at the chance to dream, float, play and create with her favorite friends in the beautiful, shiny new home of the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine. Welcome back! Dana is a theatre maker, actor, director, movement director, teaching artist, arts educator, and creative facilitator. In this interview, learn more about Dana’s experience directing the first show in Maddy’s Theatre and how the realm of physical theatre is closely connected with childhood.
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From Paris to Portland: A Clowning Story
Erica Murphy stars in the inaugural production in Maddy’s Theatre: Balloonacy! Erica is a certified Feldenkrais practitioner, and a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University and the Jacques Lecoq International School of Theater in Paris. In this interview, learn more about how Erica’s theatrical background prepared her for the unique demands of this play, what it’s like to perform with balloons, and how this play helps all of us rediscover joy.
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Maddy's Theatre Naming Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting
Maddy Corson joined the board of the Children’s Theatre of Maine in the '90's and stayed with the organization through the merger with the Children’s Museum in 2008, and is the honorary chair to the capital campaign that brought this new building to life. During an evening filled with family, friends, and Children’s Theatre alumni, Maddy’s Theatre doors officially opened for the first time to honor the legacy of Maddy Corson and her mother, and welcome in the new future of Children’s Theatre in Portland.
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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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