The Osher School of Music and the USM Theatre Department will be presenting quite an extensive array of performances this fall, including some familiar events, as well as many unique musical and theatrical offerings.
This year’s fall Corthell Hall concert series begins on Friday, Sept. 27 ,at 7:30 p.m., with a concert by the Osher Faculty Jazz Ensemble, entitled “Stuff We Dig” featuring Amanda Roswick, vocalist; Jim Clark, trumpet; Aaron Henry, saxophones; Chris Oberholtzer, trombone; Gary Wittner, guitar; Chris Humphrey, piano; Bronek Suchanek, bass and drummer, Les Harris Jr. They will perform a collection of some of their favorite original compositions and arrangements that have been influenced by jazz luminaries such as Clifford Brown, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Antonio Carlos Jobim as well as more contemporary artists..
For the first time, the school of music will present a “Jazz and Voice Outdoor Benefit Concert” on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 5 p.m. This special concert will benefit the Maine Society for the Protection of Animals. It will take place at the Society’s facility on River Road near Mallison Street in Windham.
On Saturday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m., the Osher Concert Band will present a free “Old Fashioned Outdoor Band Concert,” on the lawn in front of Corthell Hall. Bring your own folding chairs. Hamburgers, hotdogs, and other picnic items will be available for purchase.
On Sunday Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. at Corthell Hall, faculty member Laura Kargul performs piano selections, accompanied by the Portland String Quartet.
In Oct., the theater department presents “The Wizard of Oz, A Radio Drama,” with a script adapted by Linus Speary. Directed by Josh Hsu, it will be presented in a listening party format. This is a radio adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” and is based on Baum’s original book rather than on the script of the famous 1939 movie.
The fall musical is “Songs for a New World,” and will be performed on Friday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, Nov. 3 ,at 2 p.m. at Corthell Hall.
On Monday Nov. 4, beginning at 7 p.m., the Osher Youth Ensembles will present their fall performances at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, along with the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra.
For its featured fall play, the USM Theatre Department will present “John Proctor is the Villain,” from Nov. 6 – 10. The play is written by Kimberly Belflower and will be directed by Sara Valentine. While frequently referring to Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” and to the historic Salem Witch Trials, this comic play was described by one reviewer as “alternately touching and bitingly funny, this new comedy captures a generation in mid-transformation, running on pop music, optimism, and fury, writing their own coming of age story.”
The Osher Wind Ensemble will perform a concert at McCormack Performing Arts Center, conducted by William Kinne on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m.
For its fall opera, the school of music presents “Gianni Schicchi” by Giacomo Puccini, in collaboration with the USM Theatre Department, from Nov. 21 – 24. The oper is directed by Malinda Haslett, with music conducted by Robert Lehmann, and performed by members of the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Southern Maine Symphony Orchesta.
Written during the latter part of Puccini’s career, this comic one-act opera, based on Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” boasts one of the most beloved arias of all time, “O mio babbino caro.” The opera tells the frantic story of a large family whose members become obsessed about changing the will of their late, beloved relative, Buoso Donati. Sung in Italian, with English supertitles.
For more detailed information about any of these events, readers can refer to the websites of the two departments:
https://university-of-southern-maine-school-of-music.ticketleap.com
https://usm.maine.edu/calendar-of-events/location/corthell-hall/
https://usm.maine.edu/department-theatre/box-office-tickets/
Visitors to the USM Gorham campus are reminded that parking on campus is now allowed on a pre-paid basis only, with minimum $55 fines for violations. This policy affects those visiting for performing arts events, athletic events, art gallery visits, craft fairs, etc. The USM Parking website contains detailed information on the options for pre-paid parking.