Portland Ovations

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Portland Ovations is a nonprofit cultural organization based in Southern Maine dedicated to gathering communities to share in the power of live performance.

10/15/2026

🎉 Ready, Set, BID! The POP Auction Is Now Open!

Support Ovation’s mission while treating yourself to the best of what Portland has to offer. Get ready to bid and win, this year’s POP auction featuresing indulgent experiences from Bei Capell, Lucinda’s Day Spa, Ovations performance merch and signed posters, and a goodie basket from Uncommon Paws. Visit your local favorites like Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Portland Yoga Project, and Finish Strong Physical Therapy. Dream up your next adventure like a summer stay in Bar Harbor, or a relaxing trip to a château in Quebec. Start your holiday shopping now and let us arrange the details! Every contribution directly supports our Ovations School-Time Performance program.

Click here to head over to the auction site, bidding closes November 19.
https://givebutter.com/c/portland-ovations-annual-fundraiser-auction-2026/auction

10/15/2026

We look forward to seeing everyone tonight for Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band!

Ticket holders receive email communication with full event details prior to the event.

10/14/2026

🌈 ✨ Drag Storytime returns to Coffee By Design on Saturday, October 24 at 10 AM! Glamorous storytellers read books that foster learning and play, encouraging children and their caregivers to celebrate all kinds of difference in a creative and joyful space. Check out some of the book titles featured at this storytelling event.

📕 "Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima
📗 "Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn" by Kenard Pak
📘 "Leroy Has Something To Say" by Emily Rosenthal, illustrations by Thai My Phuong

OurShelves Diverse Kids Books will be on site, selling a selection of their expert-curated books and subscriptions at this Drag Storytime event.

All events are free and open to the public.

More dates are coming soon!

10/14/2026

Firefly The Hybrid Sings for the People Live at Merrill Auditorium

10/14/2026

🎶This Juneteenth: Tune in all day to hear selections by Black composers and Black artists, including by a few who are coming to Maine soon!🎶

During The Midday Mix on Friday, hear from cellist Seth Parker Woods, who will be performing at Hannaford Hall with Portland Ovations in February, pianist Michelle Cann, who will be soloing with the The Portland Symphony Orchestra in their upcoming season, and saxophonist Steven Banks, who will be a part of the Portland Chamber Music Festival later this summer.

10/13/2026

📣 New performances added!

Ovations is thrilled to be partnering with Live at Madrid's for a thrilling music series coming this spring. Stay tuned, artists drop on Friday🎵

10/12/2026

Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Portland Ovations extends our deepest respect to Wabanaki people—the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot and Abenaki Nations—who have stewarded this land for countless generations.

Through programming, Indigenous voices are centered and shared to the greater community sharing resiliance, creativity, and connection. We are grateful for our partnership with Akomawt Educational Initiative and the vision and wisdom they share.

You can learn more and take action in support of Maine’s Indigenous communities through these organizations:

🌿 Abbe Museum — Maine’s premiere museum dedicated to Indigenous history and culture. Their mission is to inspire new learning about the Wabanaki Nations with every visit.

🔆 Wabanaki REACH — Supporting the self-determination of Wabanaki people through education, truth-telling, restorative justice, and community engagement across Maine.

10/10/2026

🎷This Sunday and Monday at noon on State of the Art: 🎷
Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band

This big band is the first of its kind — its personnel includes indigenous musicians from right across the country, the music they perform reflects indigenous jazz artists, composers and arrangers from the 1930s to today, from tribes of the Southwest up to the Wabanaki in our region, and their leader is this week’s guest, Julia Keefe.

They'll be coming to the State Theater on October 15, presented by Portland Ovations

Keefe is a jazz vocalist, educator, activist, composer and bandleader who spent some of her childhood on a reservation in the Nez Perce tribal community in Idaho, and is now based in New York City. Julia has been touring with this big band for the past several years and, in March, their debut album was released, titled Incarnadine.

Keefe joins us to talk about how this big band got started, what music we’ll hear at the Portland concert later this month, and being mentored by Esperanza Spalding. She also talks about her lifelong affection for Mildred Bailey, the 20th century jazz singer whose biopic is now in development thanks to Keefe’s vision.

For more about Julie Keefe Indigenous Big Band and the October 15 concert at the State Theater, go to portlandovations.org.

Tune in on Maine Public Classical, Sunday and Monday at noon to hear the interview, or head to mainepublic.org to hear the full interview starting Monday afternoon.

10/10/2026

Register to vote! Election day is Tuesday, November 3 and your voice matters. Follow this great guide from the League of Women Voters to learn how to register in your town.

https://www.lwvme.org/VoteInMaine

10/05/2026

It’s showtime! Coming this February to Portland, the Beetlejuice The Musical “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety).

Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. Under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!

"Beetlejuice" Broadway National Tour
🗓️ February 23 - 25
📍 Merrill Auditorium
🎟 FOR TICKETS & MEMBERSHIP - PortTIX Box Office - The trusted box office for purchasing Portland Ovations tickets.

This performance is made possible thanks to support from Kennebec Savings Bank, L.L.Bean, and Machias Savings Bank.

Address

120 Exchange Street
Portland, ME
04101

Telephone

+12078420800

Website

https://portlandovations.org/

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