Maine's Performing Arts
From thrilling dance to boisterous music festivals, Maine’s vibrant performing arts community entertains visitors year-round. With internationally acclaimed festivals, like the Bates Dance Festival in Lewiston, the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick and Rockland’s North Atlantic Blues Festival, and world-class theater companies such as the Ogunquit Playhouse and Maine State Music Theatre — from dance, to theater, to music — Maine serves up incredible performances. Discover new talent in intimate venues or rock out at the waterfront — here you will find your community for the performing arts.
At the historic Quisisana Resort on Kezar Lake you can enjoy theater with your stay, or the whole family can enjoy music camp together at the Maine Fiddle Camp.
Maine has a long history of musical appreciation and as being a place of inspiration for musicians. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra is one of the country's oldest continuously operating orchestras and the state is home to many beloved musicians. Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill is one of many world-class chamber music festivals in Maine. Maine has a collection of magnificent historic performing arts venues such as Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center, Maine’s oldest operating open house, the Stonington Opera House and the Theatre at Monmouth.
Unique music venues like Stone Mountain Arts Center and Snow Pond Center for the Arts, Waterfront Concerts at the Maine Savings Amphitheater and Thompson's Point offer up both new and well-known artists. Maine has dozens of music festivals for fans of pop, rock and traditional as well as classical and orchestral music.
Theater lovers find exceptional acting talent from home and away at innovative Shakespeare festivals, top picks from new playwrights, and productions of Broadway’s finest big name shows at theaters throughout the state. The diversity of performing arts mediums is impressive as well; Portland is home to Puppets in Portland, PiP, an international puppetry arts festival each September and the Celebration Barn is Maine’s center for physical theater.
Maine’s stage’s are filled with inspiration across all disciplines, including the Portland Ballet to the Portland Symphony Orchestra and year-round presenters; Portland Ovations, Merrill Auditorium and the Collins Center for the Arts.