I saw Anastasia: The Musical when it was on Broadway, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I went…read moreto see the MSMT production. I was blown away by the theater, the production value, and the quality of the performers. Any of those actors could have stood on the Broadway stage and fit right in. The building, Pickard Theater, is beautiful and looks like an old church. The ushers were friendly and helpful. We were sitting midway back in the balcony and had a perfect view of the stage. I doubt there's a bad seat in the house. The tickets were more expensive than we expected but it was absolutely worth it!

I saw West Side Story yesterday. Just WOW! I've been going to performances at this venue for many…read moreyears and they are always great, but this totally took the cake. Interesting, complicated set design, great casting, great performances by the principals. But the best part was the production numbers. Amazing dancing. Also, this year there is a shuttle so that parking is less of a hassle. This is the last play of the season and there is still time to see it. Highly recommend. Wish there was a way to give 10 stars!

My friend and I went to see "Dance Nation" last Friday night. It was my first time seeing a show at…read moreMad Horse. I wasn't sure what to expect. First, it is in a residential neighborhood about 5 minutes away from the Mill Creek area. There is a parking lot and if it fills up, there is plenty of parking on the street. All tickets are "pay-what-you-decide", which means you reserve your tix online and pay after the show, whatever you decide to pay, either cash, card or Venmo. There is a "check in" desk to claim your reserved tix, and a small lobby where bottled/canned water, soft drinks, beer and wine are sold. The theater itself is very small...only 50 seats, 3-sided around the stage. Because of its very small size, masks are required in the theater, but not in the lobby. Dance Nation was a powerful show about girls becoming teenagers and the struggles of wanting to stay a kid and wanting to grow up and not wanting to grow up and not wanting to stay a kid, all at once. The casting, the acting, the staging, the writing was excellent. There was no set, limited props, and neither took anything away from the quality of the show. I teared up, laughed out and gasped out loud, and raised my eyebrows a lot throughout the show. It was refreshingly honest. A well done show.

Watched 'The last days of Judas Iscariot' here. Lovely quiet location, awesome play, awesome…read moreactors, awesome setup. The only thing I would take away from the place is that it is rather small and therefore gets REALLY hot. BUT, I'm not theater goer until only recently so perhaps it's the way of the rodeo. Cant wait to go back!

On Sunday 02/15/2026, I went with a friend to see William Shakespeare's MacBeth at The Portland…read morePlayers' theater in South Portland. I thought the production was perfect: a very minimal stage set which allowed the actors and William Shakespeare's words to shine. The actors were AMAZING. Kudos to all involved. The ticket cost $20 which was more than reasonable so I added some cash to one of the donation boxes in the lobby.

This is always wonderful time spent with friends and family! Portland players always does a…read morefantastic job! Beauty and the beast did not disappoint!

I love Avant. I started their Zumba classes years ago and go nowhere else. They have great fun and…read moreenthusiastic instructors. They also do fundraising Zumba nights and theme nights where people are encouraged to dress up. (Love those-rep to protect now) Avant and their dance groups love to help out nonprofits and be at events of all sorts. They love to give back. I was a part of the Dance Mile this year that they played a big roll in through Portland! Can't say enough. They do Salsa, Ballroom, Hip Hop, Burlesque etc. so much. Try it ;) you'll love it!

Avant Dance and Event Center is a large, well-equipped event venue. The space is beautiful. Not…read moreonly is it a dance studio, but it has a glamorous ballroom, two sprung plenty of comfortable seating, room to mingle, a café for snacking. There is always plenty of parking, and wifi available. They offer a full spectrum of dance, from beginner to advanced, social to competitive ballroom dancing and zumba. Along with all the studio classes, they host dance parties with live music, guest DJ's and theme parties to make your dance life fun and free. Contact Avant Dance and Event Center. 865 Spring Street, Westbrook, Maine. (207)899-4211 or email: kristin@avantmaine.com

The Laugh Track is a fun, fast and fabulous 90 minute play about Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll…read morejr...the writers of the I Love Lucy Show. Taken from Ms Pugh's autobiography, but with some poetic license by the wonderful Playwright, Wendy MacLeod, it recounts scenarios from Madelyn Pugh's perspective both in and out of the writer's office. Her role back then was NOT always as an equal, though she was equally as funny a writer as her male counterpart. It also hits on the dynamic between all the people involved in making that show a groundbreaking hit as well as the ultimate end of the show in 1957.

Quaint little venue to catch a good show. Stopped in to experience Bound and was pleasantly…read moresurprised with this venue! Small amount of street parking available or parking garage just down the street. Small lobby area which is where the box office is located as well. Once in you can take an elevator or the stairs to the second floor for concessions and theater access. One can enter the theater from the second floor or venture up another flight of stairs for entry towards the top of the seating area as well. Volunteer staff was great today, very friendly and helpful. Can't speak of concession as they were not open for this event. Bathrooms available in the second floor as well. Not sure how I have missed this venue with all the time spent in Portland, but don't take as long as I have see what's upcoming and experience a great time at the theater!

Maine Repertory Theater is really the comedy gem of Southern Maine. It's located behind an…read moreunassuming door in the Pepperell Mill in Biddeford, down the hall from Portland Pie. It's easy to find once you go into the mill building. Just follow the signs. When you hit the door surrounded by posters and photos you're there. The theater is beautiful. Walking in will take your breath away. It is both open and airy while still being intimate. Maine Rep, as the performers lovingly refer to it, is home to the Chamber of Comedy, the premier comedy improv troupe in New England, as well as original comedy productions year-round. The Chamber of Comedy shows run most Saturdays and are absolutely hilarious. The production quality is top-notch, complete with professional programs, a full stage, and lighting designed especially for comedy improv. The rotating ensemble is comprised of the top improvisers from many other improv troupes in and around New England. They are made up of some of the funniest people in the region with backgrounds in stand up comedy, Second City alumni, sketch writers, award-winning comedy playwrights, and actors. Watching them come up with hilarious scenes on the spot, all while dressed to the nines really sets them apart in the improv comedy scene. They are both deeply funny and professional. The combination of the high-class dress juxtaposed with the side-splitting comedy really makes you feel like you're seeing something off-Broadway in Manhattan rather than in Southern Maine. Though they are well known for the Chamber of Comedy, they also feature multiple comedy events such as their Smarty Pants Trivia nights, Script Teased sketch comedy show, Maine's Next Comic, and Maine Rep Mysteries produced by Sleuths Mystery Entertainment. They also host outside comedy troupes such as the all-women You Should Smile More and the award-winning Yes & Co. The theater features concessions, mostly snacks and popcorn, sodas, wine, and craft beer, all reasonably priced. The shows are usually priced at $20 or less with the exception being their fully catered Maine Rep Mysteries. The theater's entryway/"lobby" area is a special treat. The walls are covered with quotes that really express the mission of the theater. As one quote says, "love always wins, laughter a close second." Beneath the quotes are black and white photos of the cast doing what they love on stage. You can tell that, to them, it is more than a theater. It's a home for the performers. Of special note is Maine Repertory Theater's Legacy Project. They encourage their patrons to bring a donation of non-perishable food items. At the end of each month, they divide and deliver the donations to the Biddeford Food Pantry and The Saco Food Pantry. They also donate 2% of every ticket sold to Habitat for Humanity - York County, and another 2% to Volunteers of America - Northern New England, and their ongoing work with Cabin in the Woods. They do this as a means to give back to their community. I wish other businesses would do the same. I cannot recommend Maine Repertory Theater enough. The quality of the location, cast, show, production, concessions, everything really shows the dedication to create something special. The pricing shows that they are going out of their way to make comedy affordable. It really is the Broadway of comedy in the region. You owe it to yourself to check it out.

This is a welcome entertainment venue in downtown Biddeford. Great use of the mill space - the…read moretheater is new with plenty of space, high ceilings and good views of the stage from every seat. Seats about 65 peope. Improv shows are well done and extremely funny with a good cast of comedians. Definitely worth checking out on a weekend.

Bright Star World Dance is a dance studio in downtown Portland, just off of Monument Square. I've…read moretaken classes there and used it for rehearsal/performance space and I think that it is a gem. Yes, it is small and, no, it isn't wheelchair accessible, but it is a perfect location and size for intimate performances and smaller class sizes. The space is bright and sunny, has air conditioning for the one month out of the year that we need it, has ample mirrors, and Rosa is extremely flexible and fair. if you are looking for belly dance classes or a space to rehearse for your dance group, Bright Star World Dance is an excellent venue.

I was in Portland with 15 girls this weekend on a bachelorette party. Early in the week (so totally…read morelast minute) my sister and I decided to try and book a private Zumba class for our not-so-coordinated, but dance-loving bride-to-be. Communication was quick, courteous, and thorough, pricing was unbelievably fair, and the class was SO MUCH FUN. The space was also really nice, with exposed beams, etc. Andrea -- our teacher -- had a great sense of humor, was well-prepared, and the hour flew by. She made some great recommendations for where to grab a cocktail before and after, too -- we were in town to celebrate, after all! I highly recommend booking a private class with Andrea. She's LOVELY. It was such a fun change of pace in terms of the usual bachelorette party agenda, and we'll have some new moves to bust out at the wedding in a couple of weeks!

The Northstar Cafe has a relaxed, local, organic, and musical atmosphere. You can find delicious…read moreorganic sandwiches there, bowls of health, and all the coffee and tea you could ever want. Sometimes I feel a bit intimidated by the extreme social awareness of the place, but I still love it. They have a great concert series too, if you enjoy accoustic sets, folk music, and female singer-songwriters. I recommend it.