The Rockport Opera House is please to welcome Max to our stage for his CD release party tour on June 21!

Max Wareham is a banjo player, songwriter, and author from Boston, MA. He is a member of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and was featured on the Grammy-nominated album “Calling You From My Mountain.” After two years of touring nationally with Peter, Max recorded his own album, Dagommit!, he brings his band The National Bluegrass Team with him to celebrate the forthcoming release of that album.

In addition to his work as a banjo player, he has studied jazz guitar performance at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, written songs for and co-produced the album “Cousin Moon,” played bass with psych-pop outfit Sun Parade, and produced and recorded songs under the alias “Sir Orfeo.”

Renowned Maine musical guests Elsie Gawler and Ethan Tischler ( Elsie and Ethan of Springtide Trio) will open the evening sharing their blend of rich acoustic folk music, expressive songwriting, and delicious harmonies.
Doors open at 7:30pm, Cash Bar.

General Admission - $22

On Friday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m., The Rockport Library Foundation will host “An Evening with Former Chief of Disguise at the CIA and Bestselling Author Jonna Mendez” at the Rockport Opera House. 

Mendez, the coauthor of The Moscow Rules and Argo, tells her riveting and courageous story of being a female spy at the height of the Cold War in her new book In True Face: A Woman’s Life at the CIA, Unmasked. Mendez’s presentation will recount not only the drama of her high-stakes work—how her savvy operating parlayed her “everywoman” appeal into incredible subterfuge—but she’ll also discuss the grit and good fortune it took for her to navigate a misogynistic world. The audience will learn the story of an incredible spy career and what it took to achieve it.

Jonna Hiestand Mendez began her CIA career as a “contract wife” performing secretarial duties for the CIA as a convenience to her husband, a young officer stationed in Europe. Yet Mendez had a talent for espionage, too, and she soon took on bigger and more significant roles at the Agency. She lived under cover and served tours of duty all over the globe, rising first to become an international spy and ultimately to Chief of Disguise at CIA’s Office of Technical Service. She retired from the Agency in 1993 and has continued her career as a photographer, a consultant/lecturer, and an author.

The event is free, but seating is limited. Tickets must be reserved ahead of time - link below

Barnswallow will be providing copies of Mendez’s books for purchase at the conclusion of the presentation.

“Sugar in the Pan” Maine Tour

Vermont Folklife’s “Sugar in the Pan” Trad Band is coming to Maine!  After learning traditional Québecois repertoire from Pascal Gemme (of Genticorum) and Véronique Plasse (of Bon Débarras) with the Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group, these superstar teenage musicians will bring an exciting and diverse program of music to Maine.  Their concert features traditional call and response singing, energetic reels that will have folks dancing in their seats, and evocative arrangements full of lovely harmonies.  While in Maine, Sugar in the Pan will be performing at Callahan Hall in Lewiston on May 23rd at 6:30pm, at Rockport Opera House on May 24th at 7pm, and will be the band for the Kennebec Contra Dance in Hallowell at 7pm, with additional concerts at schools and retirement communities.

A program of Vermont Folklife, the Touring Group and the Trad Band nurture youth involvement in traditional music and dance, providing opportunities to learn from tradition bearers, to build connections with artists and communities from Vermont and beyond, and to perform traditional repertoire.  Band members include fiddlers Fiona Stowell, Emma Taylor McCallum, and Lux Tierney; Emmett Stowell on banjo, guitar & keyboard; and harpist Eleanor Freebern and cellist Fenton Cooper-Roberts.  Sugar in the Pan is especially excited to share their Québecois program with Maine communities, many of which have deep Franco-American roots.  

Multi-instrumentalist and Bates College student Grace Martin and fiddler Owen Kennedy, two Touring Group alumni, are joining the Sugar in the Pan for their Maine Tour.  Winthrop-native Owen Kennedy has performed extensively in Maine, from the Maine Celtic Celebration and the Maine Highland Games, to Oasis of Music concerts in Lewiston and events in Searsport, Winthrop, Farmington, Bangor and beyond, sometimes with the Pineland Fiddlers or the Maine Folque Co-op, as well as with Ben Foss, Ethan Tischler, and Seán Heely.  Owen was the 2021 Young Stars of Maine Prizewinner inaugural winner of the "Glenn Jenks Future in Music Prize" from Bay Chamber Music School and is excited to be back at the Rockport Opera House with Sugar in the Pan! 

Stopping in Maine in-between multiple Vermont performances and a June tour in Québec, Sugar in the Pan band members have also performed at the New World Festival and the Young Tradition Festival in Vermont and toured Cape Breton in 2023 and have entertained at various retirement communities and schools in Vermont.  To learn more about this group please visit: www.vtfolklife.org/touring-group.

DIVE IN! An Undersea Adventure is an immersive, interactive theatrical experience designed for children ages 3-10 and their families. Upon arriving at the show, participants will learn about marine life, research, and conservation through a series of interactive activity stations. Then they will embark on an imaginative submarine journey to encounter a new species – all taking place inside a 25-foot inflatable dome with 360-degree projections!

Brought to you by the creators of last season’s popular Blast Off! program, Dive In! is an experience that aims to increase the visibility of women in marine science, while also emphasizing the importance of marine conservation and issues relevant to the local community.
Runtime: 60 minutes

About the Artists:

DIVE IN! An Undersea Adventure is the creative endeavor of theatre-makers and best friends Mélissa Smith and Brittany Parker.

Mélissa Smith (she/her) is a New York based performer, theater maker, teaching artist and author. Creator and performer of Blast Off: (to space) The Show, The Magician’s Assistant, member of the band Bee Parks and the Hornets, author of ‘Insects & Me A-Z’. Mélissa is dedicated to making engaging and impactful work for young people, across many mediums, that inspires creativity, curiosity and a great sense of play! Awards include winner of Best Family Friendly Show at Frigid Fest 2017 and a NYC Women’s Fund Grantee 2022. Photo by Bethany Michaela

Brittany Parker (she/her) is a Maine-based theatre and music maker who creates, produces, and performs interactive theatrical experiences for family audiences. She is the creator and lead singer of Bee Parks and the Hornets, an indie pop-rock band for families, and serves as the Education Manager for the Strand Theatre. Since moving to Maine in 2013, she has co-created several original productions for intergenerational audiences, many of which include music, puppetry, and audience interaction. She won the Maine Artist Fellowship for Performing Arts from the Maine Arts Commission in 2023. Photo by Marti Stone

This show is made possible thanks to our supporting sponsor, the Rockland Harbor Hotel, and grant funds from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation and Children’s Theatre Foundation of America.

Sweet Tree Arts Continues their tradition of bringing the richness of storytelling to the community with renowned tellers Willy and Dovie, Local Tellers and a THEME of “TOGETHER”. This annual Fundraiser for Sweet Tree will be a feast of stories for all ages.

Meet Wlly: Willy Claflin, is a ” one-man storytelling festival.” Winner of multiple awards, he has told tales in 42 states, and as far away as Indonesia. His work spans historical sagas, ballads, intergalactic yarns and moose-adventures in the Maine backwoods.Abducted by aliens but now safely returned to earth,

Meet Dovie: Dovie Thomason imagines herself as a river, fed by many streams: Lakota, Apache, and Scot Traveller ancestry, urban Chicago, rural Texas and international travels, the Internet and Indigenous elders, family teachings, kitchen table wisdom, and university classrooms — and draws on those contrasts and cultures. in her work.

Tickets are $20 General Admission.

Belfast Flying Shoes, the Rockport Opera House, and the Town of Rockport present a special Community Dance & Contra Dance featuring the extraordinary music of Eloise & Co. and calling by renowned dance leader, Lisa Greenleaf.

The event includes simple and accessible community dances for all ages, and contras with gender-neutral role terms plus a few couple dances like the waltz, polka, and schottische. The intergenerational and chem-free program welcomes new dancers and experienced folks alike.

The fun begins at 6:30 pm, with an easy-to-learn community dance. Lively music is provided by the All Comers Band, open to all ages, instruments and skill levels. (All Comers musicians warm up at 6:00 pm, tunes posted at belfastflyingshoes.org.)

At 8:00 pm, Lisa Greenleaf calls a contra dance with music by Eloise & Co. (Becky Tracy, Rachel Bell, and Bethany Waickman). Highly regarded throughout the US and internationally, Lisa Greenleaf draws on her wit and vast repertoire to help dancers connect in positive ways. Trad musicians whose repertoire includes French, Quebecois, Celtic and classic New England styles, Eloise & Co. dig into powerhouse reels with electrifying grit and unapologetic drive, while savoring the spacious beauty of jigs and waltzes.

The Rockport Opera House is at 6 Central Street in downtown Rockport. Admission is $15-25 sliding scale (or $1 kids $2 adults for folks only participating in the Community Dance.)

Returning to Maine, where he was born and raised, and for one night only, Kent Axell, a master magician and psychological illusionist is traveling from Las Vegas to his home state to perform on Friday, January 5 in Rockport. Kent will be putting on an unforgettable show full of magic, mentalism, and plenty of audience participation.

"Delightfully mysterious" - Kathi Wall: Director, The Colonial Theater

"A Master magician and psychological illusionist... ...an unforgettable show!" - Arts Society and Me

Kent has been involved with and directed some of the highest rated close-up magic shows in the industry, he has consulted for television, movies, and stage productions, including the Emmy nominated National Geographic show “Brain Games”, and narrated the “Maximum Entertainment” audio book through Vanishing Inc.

This event will be family-friendly and perfect for families, students, and young people.

Doors at 6:30. Show Starts at 7. Cash Bar.

A MUSICAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

 SONGS OF SOLOMON GOSPEL CHOIR WITH BISHOP CHANTEL WRIGHT

A joyful holiday celebration for the whole family. Harlem-based Songs of Solomon celebrates inspirational music in an environment supportive of young people from diverse backgrounds. Founded in 2001 by veteran conductor Bishop Chantel Wright, this acclaimed choir performs varied repertoire including gospel, spirituals, anthems, and classical choral music. The ensemble has performed with notable artists including Ashford and Simpson, Elton John, and American Idol winners Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino and Ruben Studdard.

This year, we invite you to raise your voices in a sing along Hallelujah Chorus by Handel! Parts will be available here on our website from November. The concert will also include a set of sing-along carols, in addition to the moving and spirited Gospel favorites for which this astounding choir is known, all presented with Bishop Wright’s signature loving charisma and warmth.

Songs of Solomon’s unforgettable previous Bay Chamber performances have consistently sold out, so get your tickets early for this healing and joyful musical experience.

Down East Singers and Halcyon String Quartet with accordionist Delmar Dustin Small present multi-media performances of Marianna Filippi's To Maine, With Love, Small's Wreathe the Holly, Twine the Bay, and Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria 

Admission $25. Students 18 and younger admitted free, but must have a ticket.

Ring in the holiday season with a magical evening at the Rockport Opera House, presented by the Rockport Public Library. The family-friendly event will kick off at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 6, with a concert of holiday handbell music performed by an ensemble from the Penobscot Bay Ringers.

The ringing will be followed by a screening of the classic holiday film, The Polar Express (2004, 1hr 40m). The movie is an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. It tells the story of a young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole—where he stumbles into a journey of self-discovery, bravery, and friendship.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in cozy pajamas. Baked goods, yummy beverages, and holiday cheer will be provided. Doors open at 4:45 p.m. FREE and open to everyone.

The Rockport Library would like to extend a special thanks to the Penobscot Bay Ringers, a community handbell organization based in Camden, Maine. The group is dedicated to promoting excellence in handbell artistry through performance, education, and community engagement. Penobscot Bay Ringers is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2023. For more information, visit penobscotbayringers.me

Join us as we celebrate Christmas By The Sea for a family festive screening of the popular 2003 Christmas comedy, ELF starring Will Ferrell as a human raised by Santa’s elves. rated PG; 1 hour 37 minutes

3:30: Elf yourself ornament activity

4:00pm: movie starts

This event is FREE and open to everyone.

Sponsored by the Town of Rockport and the Rockport Opera House

We are kindly asking for people to register ahead of time and bring a small picture of your child if they wish to create an ornament. Thank you!

A one-woman show with dancer Korinn Mowrey. A performance about the art of manifestation through the power of intention. Korinn Mowrey has created a new work about the art of manifestation, her journey overcoming addiction, and the power of intention. Through dance, story, and humor, Korinn lifts up the audience, and teaches us the power to prevail.

Founder of Makin’ Waves in Health and Fitness, Korinn specializes in coaching clients on whole-food nutrition, personal training, and shifting personal narratives of struggle into intentional living with meaning and gratitude. Korinn’s work centers on empowerment as she delivers a unique dance performance, guiding the audience on an interactive journey. Join us for this open-hearted, important event!

Show will be 90 minutes followed by a Q and A

Join us for a talk and visual presentation with Kirsten Neuschäfer. Kirsten won the 2022 Golden Globe Race this June, besting 15 competitors, 12 of whom could not finish this grueling 30,000-mile contest, which allows no offboard assistance and only traditional navigation methods.  

In addition to being a world-class sailor and navigator, Neuschäfer has an extensive resume as an adventure traveler spanning the globe from the Arctic to the Antarctic, Europe and Africa. At age 22, she rode her bicycle alone from Portugal to her home in South Africa.

This event will be Neuschäfer's first and only US appearance since her record-setting Golden Globe victory. 

Proceeds will benefit the Camden Area Youth Seamanship Program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides sailing and seamanship instruction to kids in the Camden community, with scholarship support to those who demonstrate a need.

Tickets are $20 for Adults and $10 for those under 18.

The public is invited to enjoy “An Evening With the Puzzle Master: Will Shortz” at the Rockport Opera House on Friday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. The Rockport Library Foundation is hosting this fun and fascinating event with the world’s only academically accredited puzzle master. 

Shortz is well-known as the crossword editor for The New York Times; for creating the puzzles on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday”; and as the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. His presentation will include a discussion about how crosswords are created, their curious history, and his lifelong passion for puzzles. He will also answer questions about puzzles and conduct audience participation word games.

This entertaining and brain-stimulating event is appropriate for all ages. Admission is free, but seating is limited. An RSVP is required, and parties may request up to four seats only. More information on the Rockport Public Library’s homepage. 

A fun evening of creative musical expression highlighting incredible local and abroad talent, with a mix of genres including, Choral, Folk, Jazz, World, Indie, and Reggae, with master musical puppeteer MC extraordinaire, Tree Sampson. This event kicks off the Toboggan weekend festivities. A portion of the concert proceeds will be donated to the Knox County Gleaners.

Entertainment Lineup:

5pm: Mill Street Singers

6pm: Bay Chamber Jazz Ensemble

7pm: Andre Lascoutx

8pm: Bone Broth

9pm: Louisa Stancioff

10pm: Jon LaDeau & Railheart

This concert is sponsored & co-produced by John Orlando (J.D.Orlando Construction Corp) & Noah Plotkin (Life Rhythms Inc) with support by Bay Chamber Concerts & The Rockport Opera House. 

Tickets: $20 in advance or $25 at the door

Our LOVE LOCAL. LIVE! Series kicks off with the Sweet Chariot Music Festival Sampler. Join us for a winter concert that brings the week-long summer festival to the Rockport Opera House stage for one night. Brimming with musical talent from across the shores of New England and beyond, get ready for an evening of sea faring shanties and a musical variety show format that provides a constantly changing presentation of a group of very good friends.

Musical guests include:  Daisy Nell & Capt. Stan Collision; Bennett Konesni; Dillon Bustin; John & Rachel Nicholas; David Dodson; Annegret Baier; Doug Day; Eric Kilburn; Lisa Redfern; Ritt Henn & Beth Falcone; Will Brown; and special guests.