Annual Report - Portland Ovations

food pantries are well stocked — it’s about changing the systems so that foodinsecurity is no longer possible. It is an understatement to say that this issueis daunting, but it is one that can only be solved by a community comingtogether. By doing so, the council members contributed to a menu that wasavailable at each performance of Who’s Hungry, listing means and actionspeople could take right away to help fight food insecurity in Maine.Who’s Hungry is a clear example of how the performing arts can inspire,connect and entertain audiences while communicating and raising awareness ofa difficult issue facing so many.It is our hope that by presenting Who’s Hungry here in Maine that our audiencesgained a new perspective regarding food insecurity and whom it affects. That itis not about “the other” — that faceless person on the street. It’s about all of us,and in many cases it affects people closer to us than we might even realize.Video Conference with corporate sponsor and Advisory Council member Pierce AtwoodNovember 16:Fred Garbo’s Inflatable Theater Co.OFFSTAGE:Family WorkshopNovember 21:An Evening withDavid Sedariswww.portlandovations.org6

OVATIONS OFFSTAGEPRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURES*David Finckel, Wu Han and Philip Setzer“The Piano Trio: An Orchestra in a Box”Rob LehmannJulie Fowlis: Music of the Scottish Isles“Scottish Country Dance”Paul SarvisPaul Taylor Dance Company“Shapes and Stories: Paul Taylor’sDiverse Choreography”Todd CoulterUkulele Orchestra of Great Britain“Building and Playing Ukuleles: A History”Joel EckhausKayhan Kalhor“Unveiling Contemporary Persian Arts”Reza JalaliRichard Stoltzman with David Deveauand Sarah Shafer“Schubert on His Lonely Rock: DerFruhling Will Komen”African Children’s ChoirIn-School WorkshopsPilobolusDance MasterclassSouth Portland Middle SchoolCasco Bay Movers Dance Studio, Portland“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”In-School ResidencyCOMMUNITY EVENTSRiverton Elementary School, Portland“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”Professional DevelopmentTeacher WorkshopRiverton Elementary, PortlandFred Garbo’s Inflatable Theater Co.Inflatable Theater Family WorkshopPortland Public Library, Children’s RoomCirque Alfonse: “TIMBER!”Film SeriesMaine Historical SocietySCHOOL-TIME PERFORMANCES“Potted Potter — The UnauthorizedHarry Experience — A Parody by Danand Jeff”October 3, 2013Merrill Auditorium, Portland“The Giver” by Lois LowryNovember 5, 2013Hannaford Hall, USM PortlandBlack ViolinBill MatthewsJanuary 24, 2014Hannaford Hall, USM PortlandCirque Alfonse: “TIMBER!”“Circus: The Quebec/Maine Connection”“The Intergalactic Nemesis”African Children’s choirCommunity SupperWilliston-Immanuel Church, PortlandSo PercussionArt Exhibit: Bryan GrafICA @ MECA, PortlandICA @ MECA“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”Family WorkshopPortland Public Library, Children’s RoomPeter NielsenFebruary 27, 2014Merrill Auditorium, Portland“Who’s Hungry”Advance Visit with Dan FrootCompagnie Käfig“Portland Hip-Hop Here & Now”African Children’s Choir“Who’s Hungry”Film SeriesDJ Boondocks, Mike Rich, Tim Cloriusand Andrew CoffinHandel and Haydn Society“Mendelssohn’s Library”Mary K. HunterBobby McFerrin: “Spirit You All”“Holy Songs in a Strange Land”Judith S. Casselberry“The Summer King”“Baseball as Opera”James ParakilasSCHOOL WORKSHOPS“Potted Potter”In-School WorkshopRiverton Elementary, PortlandBlack ViolinIn-School WorkshopRiverton Elementary, Portland“The Intergalactic Nemesis”In-School ResidencyRiverton Elementary, PortlandMarch 3, 2014Merrill Auditorium, Portland“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”April 4, 2014Merrill Auditorium, Portland“Nearly Lear”April 15, 2014Hannaford Hall, USM PortlandWORKSHOPS & MASTERCLASSESPaul Taylor Dance CompanyModern Dance MasterclassSchool WorkshopSo PercussionPanel DiscussionSPACE Gallery, Portland“The Summer King”Arts HappeningSPACE Gallery, PortlandMEET-THE-ARTIST/Q&AsDavid Finckel, Wu Han and Philip Setzer“The Giver” by Lois LowryPaul Taylor Dance CompanyMasterclassKayhan KalhorPortland BalletCirque Alfonse: “TIMBER!”Compagnie KäfigHip Hop Masterclass“Who’s Hungry”PilobolusPortland Arts and Technology High SchoolSo PercussionPercussion Masterclass* All Pre-Performance Lectures occured atthe coinciding performance venue.USM School of Music, GorhamDePue Brothers BandGuest Clinicians at Maine Acoustic FestivalNorth Yarmouth AcademySchool-Time PerformanceNOVEMBER, CONT.November 22:Joan Rivers (1933–2014)72013–14 Annual Report

“THE GIVER”Lois Lowry’s young adult novel The Giver has soldover 10 million copies and won the Newbery Medal in1994, awarded to the author of “the most distinguishedcontribution to American literature for children.” Ovationsfirst presented American Place Theater’s stage versionof The Giver to sold-out crowds during our 2012-13School-Time Performance Series. This powerful one-actorproduction received such high acclaim from teachersand students that we brought it back for an encorepresentation during our 2013-14 season. Again, theperformances sold out.Meanwhile, internationally renowned children’s author LoisLowry became our neighbor. She returned to Maine andtook up residence in Falmouth. To celebrate Ms. Lowry’sLois Lowry signs books for Maine Students at OceanView, a long-time corporate sponsorarrival and the American Place Theater production, wecollaborated with OceanView, a long-time corporate sponsor of Portland Ovations, to host a reception. The receptioncelebrated her work as well as the writing of young Maine students. Lincoln Middle School and Kennebunk students sharedtheir writing — ranging from personal memoirs to science fiction to an essay on The Giver — with Ms. Lowry and about 40others, including Ovations Members; OceanView residents and staff; teachers and the American Place Theater performerand arts educator. Ms. Lowry in return shared stories about her recent trip to South Africa, visiting the set of The Givermovie production and answered questions about her books and the film. She personally signed copies of The Giver foreach awestruck young writer.The next day, Ms. Lowry and several OceanView residents attended The Giver at Hannaford Hall. At the end of theperformance, we were pleased to introduce her to the already enthusiastic and applauding crowd, which erupted whenthey saw Ms. Lowry stand. This was one of those special moments that defines what Portland Ovations does everyseason — connecting, inspiring and entertaining our community, from its children to its adults.“In a word, meeting Lois Lowry was amazing. Lois’s quartet of Giver books are outstanding and seemto answer all of my wacky ‘What if?’ questions. These books mean the world to me and Lois Lowry hascaptivated me and shown me beautiful things. I don’t think I could ever fully express what The Giver quartetmeant but the least I can say is: they mean the world to me.”— Elona Bodwell, 12 (seventh grade), who shared her writing at OceanViewNovember 23:Master of Persian Music:Kayhan KalhorOFFSTAGE:Pre-Performance LectureMeet-the-ArtistDECEMBERDecember 7:Richard Stoltzman withDavid Deveau and Sarah vations.org8

DEPUE BROTHERS BANDThough Southern Maine audiences may have been unfamiliarwith the DePue Brothers Band when they first rolled into town,by the end of their residency with Ovations all who encounteredthe group were alternately charmed by their gracious andengaging nature and astounded by their musicianship.Their time with us began with an intimate house party forOvations Members, Board and Advisory Council members,during which the personable sextet regaled attendees withstories from the road and gave them a preview of what was instore for the public performance. The next day, they went outto Yarmouth to be guest clinicians in the Second Annual MaineAcoustic Festival. Glowing reports came in through the dayfrom the festival: these were skilled and generous educators.With their coaching, the students of the Maine Acoustic Festivalput on a concert that was even stronger than last year’s highlysuccessful inaugural event. When the DePue Brothers Bandtook the stage in their own concert, Hannaford Hall came alivewith music that spanned from classical to bluegrass, to jazz toAmericana, to progressive rock to the beloved Linus and Lucytheme from Peanuts.It was clear the capacity audience ranging from fellowmusicians to the untrained ear were completely captivated. Wewere thrilled to welcome the DePue Brothers Band into ourfamily and introduce them to our passionate community.“Kudos to Portland Ovations for finding the DePue Brothers. Having spent the better part of 2 days with them,I do not think that we could have found a better group of musicians/educators/people to work with the youngmusicians participating in the second annual Maine Acoustic Festival. Through their incredible musicianship andtheir genuine interest in the form and function of the Festival, they inspired, encouraged, befriended, and offerededucational insights that were directly reflected in the final Maine Acoustic Festival showcase concert. The MaineAcoustic Festival feels so fortunate to have found such a wonderful collaboration partner in Portland Ovations.”— John Williams, 317 MainJANUARYJanuary 24:January 29:Black ViolinSchool-Time PerformanceCirque Alfonse: “Timber!”OFFSTAGE:OFFSTAGE:In-School WorkshopPre-Performance LectureFilm SeriesPost-PerformanceMeet-the-Artist92013–14 Annual Report

COMMUNITY PARTNERS317 Main Community Music CenterPortland Arts and Technology High SchoolBates CollegePortland Education FoundationBates Dance FestivalPortland Mentoring AllianceBowdoin CollegePortland Museum of ArtCasco Bay High SchoolPortland Music FoundationCasco Bay Movers Dance StudioPortland Public LibraryCity of PortlandPortland Public SchoolsCouncil on International Educational Exchange Portland School of BalletCulture Club-PortlandPortland Stage CompanyCultivating CommunityPortland Symphony OrchestraGood Shepherd Food BankPreble Street Resource CenterHope HouseRiverton Elementary School and Community CenterHopeGateWaySPACE GalleryICA at MECAThe Telling RoomILAPUniversity of Southern Maine School of MusicMaine Acoustic FestivalUniversity of Southern Maine Office of Multicultural AffairsMaine College of ArtWayside Food ProgramsMaine Historical SocietyWescustago Youth ChoraleOak Street StudiosWestbrook Performing Arts CenterOceanView at FalmouthWilliston-Immanuel United Church of Portland, Maine“The “Who’s Hungry”opportunity really fitright in with some ofour priorities and toaddress some of theimportant but toughmessages throughan arts audiencewas different for usbut it proved reallyeffective. We hada great experienceworking withPortland Ovations.”— Mark R. Swann, MSPAExecutive Director,Preble StreetPortland Arts and Cultural AllianceKäfig MasterclassWescustago Youth ChoraleFEBRUARYFebruary 1:Sing-a-Long-a “Grease”www.portlandovations.org10

World Premiere“THE SUMMER KING”As a cultural organization, we love seeing audiencesconnect with the performing arts whether it is througha pre-performance lecture with a local teachingartist, a masterclass by one of our visiting artists,at a spontaneous arts happening or during a liveperformance at one of the many venues we inhabit.What we didn’t know until this season was how muchthe love for what we do could grow when helping anartist achieve a dream.Through working with Maine-based composer DanSonenberg to produce the world premiere of his operaThe Summer King our passion for the performingarts took on new heights. When first speaking withSonenberg about his opera and its tragic hero, NegroLeague ball player Josh Gibson, we knew giving The Summer King its world premiere was something we should do andwanted to do. The question loomed: was this something we could do?Commissioning and premiering a contemporary opera is risky business. Though we have financially supported artists throughcommissioning, this was our first foray into the world of producing and it raised even more questions. Did we have thecapacity to give this piece the premiere it deserved? Would there be an audience for it? Would we be able to wrangle all ofthe parts and attract professional instrumentalists, singers and artistic personnel to join us in this leap of faith? Would Danfinish the score in time? Could we even consider the possibility of inspiring a future national production?With all of these questions we knew The Summer Kingwould take everything we had as an organization. Itwould also take everything our community had to give,from financial support to a willingness to collaborate,to an immense passion for the performing arts and itsimportance in telling stories. It would take a Board ofDirectors whose commitment to the arts is boundless.But at the heart of it all, it took an artist. Thank you,Dan, for your dream, your passion, your immenseartistry, indelible spirit, trust and friendship throughoutthis incredible journey. You hit it out of the park.

“The entire staff of Portland Ovations has been deeply involved withevery stage of bringing this opera to life over the last year; I have enjoyedhaving them as collaborators.” — Dan Sonenberg, Composer, The Summer King“As a presenting organization we feel it is really important to not just bea part of bringing things to the stage but actually making them happenfrom the get go. Working with an artist to realize his dream is pretty muchas thrilling as it gets as a presenter.”— Aimée M. Petrin, Executive Director, Portland OvationsJosh Gibson: Tragic HeroJosh Gibson is one of those historicfigures that epitomizes greatnessbut tragically never reaches theirfull potential. A victim of baseball’s“Gentlemen’s Agreement,” whichall but officially barred blackplayers from big league baseball,Gibson was one of the best hittersin the game, was known as the“black Babe Ruth” (or alternatelyBabe Ruth was known as “thewhite Josh Gibson”) and was onlythe second Negro League baseballplayer inducted into the BaseballHall of Fame. He was torturedby internal demons, which werespurred on by external demonsof prejudice and segregation.In no ball player is the agony ofsegregation more poignantlydistilled than in Gibson, who livedjust long enough to understand hisown obsolescence, to see JackieRobinson get the call to the bigleagues and break the color barrier,when he knew his own abilities andvery life were waning.Last but not least, it takes audiences, audiences who want to witness historic artisticmoments, audiences who want to escape their everyday lives with just one nightat the theater, audiences willing to take a chance on something new and support acommunity member in realizing his dream. We had no reason to doubt the response.Once again the community stepped right up to the plate.We are proud to share that national opera producers were in attendance at thepremiere and were enthusiastic about what they saw and heard. Christopher Hahn,the General Director of Pittsburgh Opera is in discussion with Dan Sonenberg aboutproducing a fully staged version of The Summer King to hit their stage during anupcoming season and tour to several other opera houses.Working on The Summer King over the course of the last two years re-kindled a sense ofpride within the entire Ovations staff, making us feel incredibly fortunate to live in sucha creative community and to work for an organization that makes such a work of artpossible. But, most importantly, it takes a creative and vibrant community of people whocare deeply and give generously. The Summer King is Portland’s opera.

POP! AUCTION BENEFITPOP! is an exciting evening thattransforms a waterfront warehouseinto a street festival with pop-upperformances from local artists,delicious food from some of Maine’sfinest dining establishments andextraordinary silent auction items fromlocal retailers, restaurants and artists.Thanks to our local partners, POP!2013 raised approximately 40,000to benefit Ovations Offstage; withouttheir participation and support thisevening and the work we continue to dothroughout our great community wouldnot be possible.“ few events cancapture the essenceof Portland more thanPortland Ovations’annual POP! Fundraiser.”— Portland Press HeraldUNDERWRITERSPARTICIPATING RESTAURANTSAcadia InsuranceBaker Newman NoyesCross InsuranceDawson Smith Purvis & Bassett, PADown East Enterprise, Inc.Flyte New Media, Inc.Hanover Insurance GroupHeadlight Audio VisualH.M. PaysonKemper Insurance GroupKnight Vision InternationalLegacy Properties Sotheby’sInternational RealtyMEMICMerrill LynchMiddleOakMoonlighting Production ServicesMorgan StanleyPeerless Insurance CompanyPeople’s United BankPine State Trading CompanyPretiFlahertyShipyard Brewing CompanyTenney Powers Evans Financial Group/UBS Financial ServicesTransformitVermont Mutual Insurance CompanyWoodard & Curran, Inc.Azure CaféBiBo’s Madd Apple CaféCoffee By DesignDavid’s RestaurantDean’sSweetsFlatbread CompanyK. Horton Specialty FoodsLittle BigsLocal Sprouts CaféPersonal Touch CateringThe Good TableThe Royal Oak RoomThe Tavern at Brunswick StationPERFORMERS317 Main Community Music Center StudentsMerriconeag Waldorf Circus ArtistsPeaks Island Ukulele EnsemblePortland School of BalletFEBRUARY, CONT.February 7:Benjamin GrosvenorFebruary 11:Compagnie KäfigOFFSTAGE:Pre-Performance LectureHip Hop MasterclassFebruary 6:Green Day’s “American Idiot”132013–14 Annual Report

MEMBERSHIPEach season we offer a wealth of school and community-based arts programs that accompany our performances and engagepeople of all ages and backgrounds in the thrill of the performing arts. Ticket revenue does not pay for these programs; instead,we rely on support from Portland Ovations Members and other donors who believe the performing arts contribute not only to thequality of life in Maine today, but also to the development of the generations who comprise the Maine of tomorrow.Members receive the best seats at the best prices while supporting the vital work of Portland Ovations in its activities offstage, inclassrooms and gathering places across Maine. In exchange for a tax deductible contribution, Members enjoy a range of benefitsbut most importantly, Members get the satisfaction of knowing they help make the arts accessible to a wider audience.ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS AND BENEFITSFriend 40– 99Advocate 100– 499Partner 500– 999Standing O Circle 1,000– 4,999Innovator 5,000 Advanced ticketing opportunities for all performancesDiscount on full-price ticketsInclusion in the Members-only emailsAcknowledgment in Portland Presents, the season’s performance programInvitation to season preview partyTicket exchange privilegesMemberCard, a 2-for-1 dining benefit at local restaurantsInvitations to receptions, meet-the-artist opportunities and other Members-onlyperformances and Ovations Offstage-related special eventsA pair of free tickets to a performance from a selection of presentationsA pair of free tickets to the POP! Auction BenefitPersonalized concierge ticket services to guarantee priority ticketing and seatingComplimentary beverage for (2) at all Merrill Auditorium performancesAn additional four free tickets (for a total of 6) to one of a selection o

Merrill Auditorium, Portland Julie Fowlis: Music of the Scottish Isles November 2, 2013 8 pm Hannaford Hall, USM Portland Paul Taylor Dance Company Merrill Auditorium, Portland November 6, 2013 7:30 pm Merrill Auditorium, Portland Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain November 8, 2013 8 pm Merrill Auditorium, Portland