Tim’s unlikely journey from rural Readfield, Maine, to 91±ŹÁÏ to Los Angeles provides a backdrop for his latest gig: speaker for the 2026 undergraduate commencement ceremonies at his alma mater.

In this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, host Ron Lisnet and Allen Adams, communications specialist and marketing coordinator for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, speak with Tim about his journey, the business of show business, memories of his days in Orono and much more.

Listen to the podcast on , , , , or “The Maine Question” website. 

What topics would you like to learn more about? What questions do you have for 91±ŹÁÏ experts? Email them to mainequestion@maine.edu.

Ron Lisnet and Julie Arnold Lisnet’s now 43-year love affair with each other, and the 91±ŹÁÏ, did not begin with a thunderbolt from heaven back in 1982, when they met inside the Cyrus Pavilion Theatre. In fact, it started with a snide comment. 

“I was sitting there with a friend, being a snotty senior,” Julie said, remembering the day she first laid eyes on her future husband, “and Ron walks in, and I said, ‘Who is that geek?’” 

They were both there auditioning for a play. Ron was also in the middle of a fraternity beard-growing contest. It wasn’t going well. 

“Yeah, I was not winning,” Ron ’83 said. 

“There was a little patch here and a little patch there,” Julie ’82, ’85G, said. 

But Julie’s original assessment changed after Ron shaved and applied his stage makeup for the show, in which he played a fishnet shirt-wearing brothel owner. 

“I thought he had beautiful eyes,” Julie said, “I thought, ‘he’s actually a very handsome guy.’” 

A few months and dates later, they were inseparable. The two married July 14, 1984. 

“I think we’re the only Bear Pair to have met inside the Cyrus Pavilion Theatre,” Julie said. Bear Pairs are what 91±ŹÁÏ calls alumni couples, many of whom met as students on campus. 

And Ron and Julie are more than just a Bear Pair. Ron started working at the university 33 years ago, in 1993. Julie began teaching in the School for Performing Arts in 2002. Their daughter, Natalie Lisnet ’21, also works at 91±ŹÁÏ at the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. 

“Between us and our daughter, we have four [91±ŹÁÏ] degrees and a teaching certificate,” Julie said. “I don’t think we could get much more involved.” 

The whole family reunited inside the Cyrus Pavilion Theatre in January when Natalie directed both her parents in a production of “Pride and Prejudice” produced by the Ten Bucks Theatre Company, which Julie co-founded 25 years ago. 

Originally constructed in 1908, the Pavilion Theatre used to be a livestock judging arena. Julie said she remembers it housing sheep when she first lived on campus. At the end of the 1970s, it was converted into a theater. 

“When the theater department acquired it, I spent some time ripping out sheep mangers and shoveling lots of sheep poop,” Julie said. Now, both she and Ron are getting involved in the fundraising effort for another refurbishment. 

Growing up in Milbridge, Maine, Julie always knew she wanted to study theater. She applied to both the 91±ŹÁÏ and the University of Southern Maine and chose the one closest to home. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Orono in 1982, she continued on and earned a Master of Arts in Theatre in 1985. She now teaches in the same department. 

“I teach fundamentals of acting,” Julie said. “Occasionally, I teach a survey of dramatic literature, which means we read a lot of plays and talk about them. This year, for the first time, I’m also teaching in the Honors College. I’ve basically taken my acting class and turned it into a class focused on acting for Shakespeare.” 

Over the years, in addition to working at 91±ŹÁÏ, Julie has put her acting and directing talents to work at the Penobscot Theatre, Maine Theatre, Theatre of the Enchanted Forest, The Assembled Players, Marsh Island Stage, Maine Shakespeare Festival, Northern Lights Theatre, The Grand in Ellsworth and True North Theatre. 

In fall 2023 Julie directed “Crimes of the Heart” for Penobscot Theatre’s 50th season opener. In 2025, she directed “Matinicus: A Lighthouse Play” for the same company. The play told the story of real-life Mainer Abigail Burgess’ heroic exploits keeping her father’s lighthouse burning on a desolate rock, miles out to sea. 

In 1995, Julie appeared in a two-part network television miniseries based on a Stephen King short story called “The Langoliers.” She played the part of Aunt Vicki, who gets erased by a mysterious force. 

“Only her fillings and her glasses were found on the airplane when everybody that fell asleep disappeared, I think.” Julie said, struggling to remember the details. “My mother was very excited about it. I had 17 speaking lines, though that was cut down to just two in the final edit. My mother was very upset.” 

Ron was also in the film, sort of. “They had me put on this airline captain’s hat and drive around in the background,” he said. “We get a residual check for it every once in a while, for DVD rentals in Thailand, or something.” 

After growing up in Connecticut, Ron arrived at 91±ŹÁÏ to study forestry. He only auditioned for the play where he met Julie because a professor invited him. After graduating in 1983, Ron went to work for Bangor’s ABC television affiliate, WVII, where he eventually became sports director. After nine years, Ron brought his media production skills to the university. He’s now manager of visual media, overseeing all aspects of visual media for 91±ŹÁÏ, including photography and video production, as well as the university’s photo and video database and archives.

Ron has also been the play-by-play voice of 91±ŹÁÏ Men’s Basketball broadcasts for more than 30 years. He hosts the university’s “The Maine Question” podcasts, which he created in 2019, as well. The podcast explores how 91±ŹÁÏ students and researchers make sense of, and learn about, the world around them. Recent topics include “Can Zebrafish improve human health?” and “What is the future for manufacturing in Maine?” 

In 2025, the podcast won the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s Circle of Excellence bronze level award, with judges saying, “With its punchy, distinctive title, this zero-budget podcast has impressive engagement metrics and demonstrates how thoughtful, location-based audio storytelling can translate complex academic work into accessible content that connects with local and national audiences alike.” 

In addition to all their work at 91±ŹÁÏ, Ron and Julie have always found time to perform in plays together. 

“We’ve probably played husband and wife 15 or 20 times,” Ron said. “I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve been in shows together.” 

Though they can’t remember the exact number, each agrees it’s in the dozens. For the past quarter century, the pair has appeared in an outdoor Shakespeare show put on by the Ten Bucks Theatre Company at Indian Trail Park in Brewer every summer. In 2010 Ten Bucks added Fort Knox in Prospect as a second regular Shakespeare venue. 

“Just about every anniversary we’ve had has usually been standing out in the field, getting bitten by bugs, rehearsing a show,” Ron said. 

One of their favorite shows they’ve performed together was the bickering couple in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” They said it was fun because they’d never speak that way to each other in real life. 

“I got to say, ‘You make me puke,’” Julie said. 

“That was a good one,” Ron said. 

Now, more than 40 years have passed since the couple first met at the Cyrus Pavilion Theatre. Julie no longer thinks Ron is a geek and his now-gray beard has come in nicely — and they have no plans to leave the theater life behind. 

“It’s enervating,” she said. “Theater is energizing. It goes through a cycle. You get to the week before opening — we call it hell week — and you don’t think you’re going to get through it. Then you get to the play, and it’s just magic. It’s like getting high without drugs.” 

Ron sometimes thinks about it in sports terms. 

“The similarities are quite striking. There’s a team chemistry kind of thing in both endeavors,” he said. “There’s nothing quite as cool as when you’re telling a good story, and it’s being told well, and either the place bursts into laughter or you can hear a pin drop. It’s a very inviting, alluring, intoxicating kind of feeling.” 

Julie said she can’t even imagine her life without Ron or theater, both at 91±ŹÁÏ and off campus. 

“I’ve never made a ton of money but it’s made me outrageously happy,” she said. 

Story by Troy R. Bennett 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

Simons, a 2001 91±ŹÁÏ graduate and native of Readfield, Maine, will return to Orono on May 9 as the university’s 2026 undergraduate commencement speaker.

“We’re excited to welcome Timothy back to campus,” said 91±ŹÁÏ President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “His story is a wonderful reminder of how discovering a passion at 91±ŹÁÏ can shape a lifetime. Our graduates will see in his journey how curiosity, creativity and community can open pathways to meaningful careers.”

For Simons, the invitation carries personal meaning.

“91±ŹÁÏ is where I found theater,” he said. “I wasn’t an actor in high school.”

As a student in Orono, Simons discovered both the Division of Theatre & Dance and a creative community that helped shape his career. He said working with the late theater professor Sandra Hardy played a pivotal role in his development as an actor.

“That’s where my love of theater and acting first started,” Simons said. “I can kind of connect every dot of where I am now to being at 91±ŹÁÏ and stumbling across the theater department there.”

Simons studied theater at 91±ŹÁÏ before building a career in television and film. He is best known for his role as Jonah Ryan on HBO’s political satire “Veep,” which ran for seven seasons and won multiple Emmy Awards.

More recently, Simons received a Critics Choice Award nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy series for his role as Sasha in the Netflix series “Nobody Wants This.”

Simons has remained connected to the university and helped establish the Sandra E. Hardy Theatre Scholarship Fund, which honors his former professor and supports theater students.

“Everyone has a certain special connection with their first acting teacher,” Simons said of Hardy.

Simons’ return to campus also highlights the impact of 91±ŹÁÏ’s arts programs, which have helped launch many graduates into careers in theater, television and film.

“The 91±ŹÁÏ has a long tradition of students discovering their voice here and going on to succeed creatively and professionally,” said Philip Edelman, director of the 91±ŹÁÏ School of Performing Arts. “Mr. Simons is a shining example of that tradition and it’s especially meaningful to see him return to Orono to speak to our graduates at commencement.”

Looking back on his time in Orono, Simons said he appreciated the mix of a large public university and a close-knit campus community.

“I liked that it was a state school — a big flagship school — that also still felt pretty small,” he said. “By the time I left there, I felt like I knew most of the people on campus.”

Being surrounded by students with a wide range of interests also shaped his perspective.

“They always say that as actors you have to know a little about a lot of stuff,” Simons said. “Having access to people whose interests were completely opposite of mine was always really fun.”

Some of his strongest memories of campus life have little to do with theater.

“It was always that first day when it would get up to about 45 degrees and everybody was walking around in shorts — the first day of spring,” he said. “Everybody was in a good mood. People would skip class and hang out on the mall because finally we were out from under the boot of winter.”

91±ŹÁÏ will hold two undergraduate commencement ceremonies inside Alfond Arena on Saturday, May 9. A morning ceremony at 9:30 a.m. will include graduates from the College of Earth, Life and Health Sciences, the Maine Business School and the Division of Lifelong Learning.

An afternoon ceremony at 2:30 p.m. will celebrate graduates from the College of Education and Human Development, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Maine College of Engineering and Computing.

The Graduate School commencement, recognizing master’s, education specialists and doctoral candidates, will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 8, also at Alfond Arena. The speakers for that ceremony will be announced at a later date.

Complete details about 91±ŹÁÏ’s 2026 commencement ceremonies are available on the 91±ŹÁÏ Commencement website.

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu

For this year’s free concert, the 91±ŹÁÏ band is soliciting donations for Penquis, which provides resources for housing, transportation, heating, childcare, home repair, disability services and more to those in need. 

“Penquis does amazing work in the community and they are under-funded,” said Philip Edelman, the director of the concert band and School of Performing Arts. “We are giving back by helping them reach their goals a bit easier.” 

While practicing her trumpet, Kathleen Nee said fundraising for a good cause motivates her to perform her best. 

“I think Penquis is a really great organization that gives back to the community. It’s great that by having us play music it raises money for a good cause,” she said. 

The concert band will be accompanied by performers from Hampden Academy and the Leonard Middle School Band in Old Town. The joint performance allows middle and high school musicians to improve their craft by working alongside collegiate performers. 

“The 91±ŹÁÏ students also gain experience in mentorship with the younger students on stage with them,” Edelman said. 

91±ŹÁÏ student and bass trombone player Connor Maurice said he’s looking forward to raising money for charity through his music.

“Music is something I really enjoy. If everybody gets to listen to great music and it’s helping the community, that’s really good,” he said. 

The Concert Band welcomes students from all majors who are interested in performing a variety of concert music; no audition is required. Each spring, the group performs both on and off campus. Edelman said the cohort has been preparing advanced pieces for the Concert for a Cause 

“Expect very profound music and a whole lot of laughter,” Edelman said. 

Story by Rowan MacDonald, news intern

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu 

The 91±ŹÁÏ’s newly upgraded theatrical lighting system will take center stage alongside the cast, marking a new era for one of campus’s cornerstone venues. 

“I can’t think of a better way to put this lighting system to the test,” said Philip Edelman, director of the 91±ŹÁÏ School of Performing Arts (SPA).

Thanks to tremendous efforts from faculty, staff, administrators and generous donors, the 400-seat Hauck Auditorium now features a state-of-the-art lighting system, as well as a new projector and screen and other updates.

A partial failure of the system in 2020 lent the process some urgency, though conversations about an upgrade had already begun. Things accelerated with an additional system failure a few years later, leaving the capabilities of the venue drastically curtailed.

“Hauck Auditorium is at the heart of our campus,” said Edelman. “It also serves as the literal bridge between the School of Performing Arts and the Student Union. But because of our lighting limitations, it often had to stay closed to the public and the campus over the past six years. We were turning away community partners and university colleagues because the space wasn’t usable or safe enough for their events.

“By upgrading the Hauck Auditorium lighting system,” he continued, “we have reclaimed the space as a premier venue for the region; one we’re proud to invite people back into. We are finally open for business, and more importantly, open again to the community.”

It was, again, a lengthy process, requiring a lot of help from a lot of places.

“Hauck Auditorium began to give warning signs that it needed serious help about six years ago, when a significant part of the lighting control system failed,” said Dean Emily Haddad of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “The College and others funded a thorough study of the Auditorium’s needs. The rest of the lighting control system kindly held on for another three years before failing completely in 2023.”

Of course, replacing such a specialized system isn’t as simple as buying some light bulbs, a few floor lamps and calling it a day. A project like this requires a significant commitment of time and resources.

“A theatrical lighting system is highly specialized and complicated–not something one can replace with parts from Home Depot or Lowe’s,” said Haddad. “All together, it costs about three-quarters of a million dollars, an amount of money that was not lying around in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office waiting to be spent.”

One of the trickier aspects of clarifying the importance of a system like this one is showing the audience just how big of a difference it can make. At first glance, one could argue that Hauck doesn’t look all that different. In many ways, that is by design.

“It might not look that different to you,” said MJ Sedlock, senior lecturer and technical director for SPA. “That’s on purpose. Theaters are designed to hide their magic.”

Hidden magic is still magic, however, as the next production from the School of Performing Arts will surely make clear.

The previous system used incandescent fixtures and lacked flexibility. All lights were amber bulbs, with color created through the use of colored gels in each instrument. These fixtures ranged from 500-1000 watts each, with somewhere between 150-200 fixtures per show, all of which needed to be moved and rehung with every production.

These lights were controlled by a series of dimmers that were installed back in 1989, from a manufacturer that was sold in 2006 and essentially stopped providing technical support or replacement parts from that point on.

Compare that with the LED fixtures of the new system. These lights offer full spectrum color mixing (no more gels) and require half as many fixtures as the old system, all while consuming far less energy (150 watts per fixture). These fixtures are far more flexible, offering easy changeability regarding position, pattern and texture, and the size and shape of the light beams.

The new control architecture is highly advanced as well, offering wireless data connection to each individual fixture. The lights can be commanded from the light board, of course, but also through an assortment of easy-to-use control boxes spread throughout the space or even via an app on an iPad. This particular type of intelligent control has only been available since 2021 — it did not exist when the Hauck lighting upgrade was first being discussed.

No matter what the event, whether it is a play or a dance showcase or a concert or a lecture, it cannot succeed if it cannot be seen. Thanks to these amazing lighting upgrades, that will no longer be a problem in Hauck Auditorium. From here on in, the only shadows you’ll see in that space are the ones that are meant to be seen.

Contact: Allen Adams, allen.adams@maine.eduÌę

Timothy Simons, a 2001 graduate of the 91±ŹÁÏ, is hoping to hear his name called Sunday, Jan. 4, when the Critics Choice Awards are handed out.

Simons earned a nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy series for his role as Sasha in the

The , which will be held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, will air live at 7 p.m. on E! and USA Network.

A native of Readfield, Maine, Simons studied theater at 91±ŹÁÏ and was active in campus productions. He is best known for his breakout role as Jonah Ryan on

Simons has credited his hands-on experience at 91±ŹÁÏ with helping him build a foothold in the industry. In fact, he told that a campus work study job gave him practical skills that helped him find steady work in theater while establishing his acting career.

“One of the great things about 91±ŹÁÏ was that I had a work-study job in the scene shop, and those skills really served me well through a decade of Chicago and L.A.,” Simons said. “I knew carpentry. I could do set load-in. When I first got to L.A., I jumped in on a set load-in at a fellow 91±ŹÁÏ alum’s play. That led to jobs. I could pay the bills by doing things in the theater world, on or off stage.”

Simons continues to give back to 91±ŹÁÏ, helping establish the . He has also worked with the 91±ŹÁÏ Foundation on .

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu

Performers include members of the University Singers, the Collegiate Chorale, the Maine Gay Men’s Chorus and the Acadia Choral Society, as well as many professional soloists.

“Considering Matthew Shepard” is a musical piece about the titular Shepard, a University of Wyoming student whose murder in 1998 sparked a conversation about hate crimes that led to the passage of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act a decade later. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased .

“This is one of the biggest, most important concerts I have been involved with in my time at 91±ŹÁÏ,” said Francis Vogt, director of choral activities and voice instructor for the School of Performing Arts. Vogt is also the conductor of the University Singers. 

Rebecca DeWan, the Libra assistant professor of choral/general music education in the School of Performing Arts Division of Music, serves as the producer of the concert, spearheading an effort that is supported in part by a $10,000 grant from the McGillicuddy Humanities Center..

“This epic work incorporates so many different genres and styles of music,” said DeWan. “Composer Craig Hella Johnson writes so beautifully for choirs. However, it is such a large work with many moving parts, so it has required a great deal of planning and multiple musical forces to put it together.”

Visit the School of Performing Arts website to learn more about the performance. 

Guests enjoyed a California-themed reception in the Bodwell Lounge, complete with food stations and retro arcade games, followed by a performance in Hutchins Concert Hall of “Live from Laurel Canyon: James & Joni – Their Stories, Their Songs,” a tribute to the music of James Taylor and Joni Mitchell.

As part of the celebration, the Collins Center presented two annual honors.

• The Wilma Award, named in memory of longtime arts patron Wilma Bradford and given to an individual or organization demonstrating extraordinary commitment to serving the community through the CCA, was awarded to professor George Jacobson and Karen Boucias.
  • Jacobson serves as chair of the Chamber Music Society Committee, leading the programming of the chamber music season in Minsky Recital Hall.Ìę
  • Boucias, a 91±ŹÁÏ alumna and former director of International Programs, has been a devoted member of the CCA Advisory Board and a passionate advocate for the arts. Together, they have strengthened the cultural life of the university and the community.
• The Director’s Award, which recognizes outstanding support and service to the CCA from within the 91±ŹÁÏ community, was presented to the Collins Opera Outreach Committee. This group of opera enthusiasts has spent nearly two decades enhancing the Met Opera Live in HD experience by sharing their knowledge, building appreciation for opera and fostering community engagement.

Interim director Karen Cole welcomed guests and reflected on the CCA’s four decades of presenting world-class performances.

“For 40 years, the Collins Center has been a cultural hub for the 91±ŹÁÏ and for the state, connecting people through the power of the arts,” she said.

President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, whose remarks were delivered by George Kinghorn, senior executive director for cultural engagement, congratulated the CCA on its anniversary season and thanked the award recipients for their contributions. 

“The Collins Center is an important cultural resource for the university and the people of Maine,” Ferrini-Mundy said. “Hats off to the CCA for this wonderful gala and performance, and here’s to many future years of success.”

The Collins Center also acknowledged the generous support of its sponsors:

• Bangor Savings Bank (season sponsor).
• 91±ŹÁÏ Foundation (lead sponsor).
• University Credit Union (lead show sponsor).
• Sutherland Weston (corporate sponsor).
• CCA Advisory Board (reception sponsor).

With a full season ahead, the CCA continues its mission as the university’s home for the performing arts, presenting exceptional programs that enrich, educate and entertain.

91±ŹÁÏ alumna and longtime arts advocate Karen Cole has been named interim director of the Collins Center for the Arts (CCA), effective July 3. She succeeds Danny Williams, who is retiring after more than a decade of distinguished leadership.

Cole brings more than 30 years of experience in arts administration, marketing and community engagement to the role. Since 2014, she has served as associate director of the CCA, where she has been instrumental in guiding marketing, communications and fundraising initiatives for the university’s flagship performing arts venue.

“Karen’s deep connection to the university and the greater Bangor region, along with her proven leadership in the arts, makes her exceptionally well suited for this role,” said George Kinghorn, 91±ŹÁÏ’s senior executive director of cultural engagement and arts initiatives. “We are confident the CCA will continue to thrive under her interim leadership.”

A 1984 graduate of 91±ŹÁÏ with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Cole began her career in television and radio production at WABI. She went on to serve as marketing director for the Bangor Mall for 13 years, then returned to 91±ŹÁÏ as business manager for the School of Performing Arts. After more than a decade in that role, she joined the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce as executive vice president and also served as interim executive director before returning to 91±ŹÁÏ and the CCA.

Williams, the CCA’s departing executive director, led the CCA for more than 11 years. A 91±ŹÁÏ graduate and longtime employee, his previous service to the university included alumni and donor engagement roles with the 91±ŹÁÏ Alumni Association and 91±ŹÁÏ Foundation. 

Located on the 91±ŹÁÏ campus, the CCA is a cornerstone of the region’s cultural life, bringing world-class performances and educational experiences to campus and community audiences. Originally named the Maine Center for the Arts, it opened in 1986 and has attracted scores of nationally and internationally acclaimed performers, as well as acclaimed speakers, public figures and special events. It also serves as the home of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and a venue for numerous educational opportunities for individuals and organizations from Maine and beyond. 

In 2007, 91±ŹÁÏ announced it was renaming the center in honor of alumni and philanthropists Richard and Anne Collins, both of whom were leaders in the fundraising efforts to support the center’s renovation.  

Murray recently graduated from the 91±ŹÁÏ with a bachelor’s in music education and a vocal concentration. He is a strong proponent of the importance of music education.

“I definitely think it’s a little bit niche. It’s not something that you hear about all across campus,” Murray said. “When I tell somebody that I’m a music ed major, they’re like ‘oh, that’s cool.’ They don’t really think about it.”

He believes that music offers a unique and vulnerable experience by allowing students to think critically about the music they are engaging in, something he feels the Division of Music in 91±ŹÁÏ’s School of Performing Arts focuses on.

“I think they’ve emphasised it in a way where they understand that the education portion is the most important part,” said Murray. “You want to give your students a great education, you want to connect with them and make their lives better. People might think that it’s mostly a music thing, but it’s really almost like a dual degree in music and education.”

For Murray, music provides students with skills such as teamwork, cooperation and problem solving skills which are benefits that aren’t widely discussed. It also teaches students about history, language and culture through a unique lens. Murray believes every student should feel like they can succeed in the classroom, and wants these benefits to be talked about in schools. 

“The music field in schools is surrounded by many assumptions and false pretenses, and the more we can have discussions like this with students, the more we can help change the image of what a music classroom truly can be,” Murray said.

In the fall, he had the opportunity to work with choral students at the Orono Middle School. Murray wanted to bring out the best in these students and was able to apply the skills he learned at 91±ŹÁÏ in a real classroom setting. He realized that holding students to a high standard and teaching them proper technique builds confidence in them and makes them capable of doing hard things.

Murray had been a member of University Singers, 91±ŹÁÏ’s auditioned choir, since his first year at 91±ŹÁÏ. With both of his parents having been in the group, this heavily influenced his decision to audition. 

This year, he was appointed one of the two assistant conductors for University Singers, working directly under the Director Francis Vogt. 

“He is always willing, even when I sometimes don’t give direction until the very last moment of what I need,” said Vogt, director of choral activities and instructor of voice. “He’s very calm and gets the job done, there is no drama because he is confident in his skills, and I think that gives confidence in the people who sing for him.”

In March, Murray conducted the fourth movement of Johannes Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem” for the group’s spring concerts and annual spring tour, which took the group across Maine and to Quebec. 

“Being able to do this was such a helpful experience,” Murray said. “Most college students don’t get to be able to try out all these things you’ve been learning these past couple of years on people that you’re totally comfortable with.”

Murray was also the music director for The Maine Steiners, an all male acapella group that comes out of University Singers. This year was his second in the position, having taken on the role in 2024. 

Murray was in charge of selecting the group’s repertoire, scheduling and running rehearsals and teaching the singers good vocal technique. He instructs them like how he would any student, holding them to high standards and always encourages them to give their best.

In addition to his work in University Singers and The Maine Steiners, Murray has participated in Camerata Dirigo, a chamber octet based in Orono. He has sung bass in the group since its inception in January 2024. Last summer, Murray received a text from Camerata Dirigos founder Micah Thurston asking him if he would be interested in conducting Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem.” Being one of the most well known pieces of choral music, Murray graciously accepted.

“It was all new,” said Murray. “Even just running a choral rehearsal I hadn’t really done yet. I’d done it in Steiners, but that’s totally different.”

For Murray, it was a surreal experience to conduct his first full-length concert. With friends and family in the audience to support him, the nerves seemed to melt away and he was able to enjoy the moment.  

“It was really satisfying and rewarding to be able to do this,” said Murray. 

When asked what’s on the horizon, Murray said he has a strong desire to be a high school music teacher. He feels this is an important time for students to develop a love of music that they will want to continue in college, and finds they want to be challenged to grow as musicians. Murray will also be student teaching in the fall.

He plans on eventually obtaining a master’s degree in music to further his skills and knowledge. For Murray, his focus is always on how he can provide the best education possible for his students. 

Story by Christian Wallace, news intern

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

Prior to the performance, Howell and tourmate Josh Roberts will offer 91±ŹÁÏ students a masterclass at 1 p.m. in Minsky Recital Hall. 

Howell graduated from 91±ŹÁÏ’s music education program in 2021. After obtaining her master’s degree in multiple woodwinds from Oklahoma City University, she became a touring pit musician, helping to bring large productions to life night after night in venues all across the country. Along the way, she’s been visiting educational institutions to share her experiences, offer masterclasses, coach and participate in Q&A sessions with aspiring student musicians.

To learn more about Howell’s experiences at 91±ŹÁÏ and as a professional musician, read the full Q&A with her on the School of Performing Arts’ website. 

Contact: Allen Adams, allen.adams@maine.edu

Grants support up to 50% of expenses associated with cultural events, speaking engagements and lectures.

The CA/DLS committee accepts applications four times a year. The next application deadline is Nov. 25. Grant applications submitted by the November deadline should be for projects starting on or after Dec. 23.

Proposals must be submitted online using the .

Past awards have supported lectures and lecture series, Culturefest, the International Dance Festival, exhibits, performances and guest artists.

Versant Power Astronomy Center Director Shawn Laatsch has a firm grasp on the conventional ways in which planetariums are utilized. He also believes that these spaces offer so much more and can share a variety of content from numerous fields.

Laatsch refers to the planetarium as a “modern visualization theater,” so it should come as no surprise that he has embraced the performing arts. That embrace has led to some compelling and unique productions taking place underneath the dome in the decade or so since the planetarium made the move to its current location. That move opened wide the doors of performance possibility — doors that Laatsch has encouraged artists to walk through.

“These types of events help us reach new audiences and expand the 91±ŹÁÏ’s community outreach,” he said. “The planetarium is always looking for ways to collaborate with community groups and partner on special events like this one.”

In 2016, Laatsch and other astronomy center staff joined forces with the School of Performing Arts to present a production of the play “Constellations” by Nick Payne. The show was directed by professor of theatre Marcia Joy Douglas. Its themes and structure made it an ideal fit for the unconventional surroundings of the center.

This divergence from the traditional led to some tremendous opportunities, both artistic and educational, according to theatre faculty member MJ Sedlock, who worked on the 2016 production.

“Producing a show in a non-traditional space provides a great opportunity to re-examine the way things are traditionally done and why,” said Sedlock. “Some things make sense in the new context, and some don’t. New spaces bring new ideas that make us more creative and more flexible. The effects of that mental stretching last far beyond the show, even after we’re returned to our usual theater environment.”

For Sedlock, this sort of interdisciplinary collaboration offers many benefits to the university community and people of Maine.

“Especially in liberal arts institutions, it can be difficult for students to see a throughline in their four years of coursework,” Sedlock said. “General education can feel disconnected from one’s major studies and be undervalued as a result. Interdisciplinary collaborations are the truest demonstration of the benefit of knowledge, in all forms and disciplines. They are also the best argument that can be made for the importance and worth of a liberal arts education.”

In 2020, the planetarium worked with Colby poet Arisa White to present her work titled “Who’s Your Daddy” in the planetarium. The author read her poems, and the planetarium team created unique visuals for the performance. 

The astronomy center and School of Performing Arts partnered again in spring 2024 on a performance by the Collegiate Chorale vocal ensemble. A strong turnout prompted the school and astronomy center to plan another concert together to be held in the near future.

“Performing in unexpected places can challenge the conventional boundaries of music, inviting audiences to experience choral music in new ways,” said Rebecca DeWan, an assistant professor of music and the leader of the Collegiate Chorale. “Singing in public, unconventional settings potentially attracts diverse audiences who may not normally attend chorus concerts.” 

The collaboration also offered unique opportunities for the singers, DeWan said. 

“In a typical chorus concert, the choir is on a stage, on risers, there is applause after each piece,” she said. “In our planetarium concert, the singers were in the dark surrounding the audience. The audience’s visual attention was on the imagery on the dome while their aural input was the choral music. The performance was without applause, which allows the audience to enjoy the music in their own way. There was no requirement of the expected act of clapping.”

The value visuals can offer a choral concert is often overlooked, but thanks to the collaborative effort between DeWan and Laatsch, something altogether different — and unexpected — emerged.

“The immersive starry skies and cosmic visuals enhanced the aural experience of choral music, creating multisensory experiences for both performers and audience,” DeWan said. “Shawn Laatsch and I collaborated to weave together a set of visuals that aligned with and enhanced the specific choral works performed.”

The planetarium has had live music performances from Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s String Quartet and Brass Ensembles, the Baroque Orchestra of Maine, and composer and musician Tom Luther, to name a few musical acts.

True North Theatre, an Orono-based community theatre group that has long had a relationship with 91±ŹÁÏ, also recently partnered with the astronomy center in a way that accentuated the “theater” in “modern visualization theater.”

True North Theater’s March 2023 production of Lauren Gunderson’s “Silent Sky,” directed by its artistic director and 91±ŹÁÏ Division of Theatre faculty member Angela Bonacasa, was a truly collaborative effort that was years in the making, having initially been proposed back in 2019. With astronomical themes, a small cast and spatial flexibility, the production of “Silent Sky” was an ideal offering for the astronomy center. The show has also been produced in planetariums all over the country.

“Shawn was very generous with both the space and his own time,” Bonacasa said. “He brought in the designers for a tour, he reached out to other facilities that had helped produce the show, he went through all of the projections with us. Just a great collaboration.”

So much of art involves the subversion of expectations, which is easier to achieve through unique spaces and generous collaborators. As the center celebrates its 70th anniversary, Laatsch and his team will continue exploring opportunities to host more engaging interdisciplinary programming and help artists reach for the stars. 

Contact: Allen Adams, allen.adams@maine.edu

The season will feature stories of loss, love, tragedy and comedy, ranging from realist to absurdist. It will kick off with “The Women of Lockerbie,” written by Deborah Brevoort and directed by assistant professor of theatre D. Granke, at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17, 18 and 19 and at 1 p.m. on Oct. 19 and 20 in the Hauck Auditorium.  

For the full schedule and to learn more about each production, visit the School of Performing Arts website. 

For his directorial debut, history major and theater minor Patrick “Patty” Morris is directing an outdoor production of William Shakespeare’s “Henry V” with the Bangor-based Ten Bucks Theatre. The show, which opened July 18 at Indian Trail Park in Brewer, will be held at 6 p.m. every night from Aug. 1-4 at Fort Knox, Prospect.ÌęÌę

When the opportunity arose for him to be involved with this production of “Henry V,” Morris leaped at the chance. His passion for the theater was particularly pronounced when it came to Shakespeare’s history plays, so this would prove to be a natural fit.Ìę

Morris said his desire to teach history through theater was inspired by the School of Performing Arts’ 2022 production “Terra Nova,” directed by 91±ŹÁÏ theatre instructor Julie Arnold Lisnet. Without the support of Rosalie Purvis, assistant professor of theatre and English, Morris said “this dream of mine would be just that — a dream.”

“I was so eager to revive the histories as part of Ten Bucks Theatre’s annual Shakespeare Under the Stars,” he said.

Morris leaned into his history background to find ways to make the piece more accessible to his cast of over 20 — the largest cast in the company’s history. Among other tactics, he sought to find a way to visually represent the action (both physical and political) and guide his actors. Through a team-up with his partner Nina Paradazick, a civil and environmental engineering major at 91±ŹÁÏ, he found that contextualization.

“We created three maps that will be shown at every show to give actors and spectators alike the idea that this isn’t make-believe – these were actual people!” Morris said. “Connecting the history with the visuals and getting people up and moving has been a goal with this show; it’s about connecting the brain with the rest of the body. History is taught through moving around, not sitting at a desk and being lectured at 24/7.”

Read more about Morris’ directorial debut on the School of Performing Arts website.Ìę

Contact: Allen Adams, allen.adams@maine.eduÌę

“For the NERTEC Tuba Mock Orchestral competition, I had to prepare five orchestral excerpts and record them for submission,” Kennedy said. “I worked on these excerpts for about two months, being coached by my applied lessons professor Dr. David Stern. It was a very long and tedious process.”

He practiced for the competition by playing alongside an oscillogram. It visualized the sound amplitude he produced and helped him improve for a cleaner, more consistent performance. From there, Kennedy recorded his excerpts, submitted his best takes and awaited word. Organizers notified him two weeks later that he was a finalist for the competition, which was a little over a month away at that time.

“I’d say one of the best parts of the experience was being able to meet other tubists who are passionate about music, and tuba in general,” he said. “Talking with other competitors was great, just being able to go on about the tuba world.”

Stern, one of Kennedy’s professors in the School of Performing Arts, and Laura Artesani, an associate professor of music at 91±ŹÁÏ, performed a recital at the conference with Kevin Chiarrizzio, a faculty member at Liberty University. The program also included the premiere performance of “Ice Sounds” by Beth Wiemann, director of the McGillicuddy Humanities Center and a professor of music at 91±ŹÁÏ.

Read the full story on the 91±ŹÁÏ School of Performing Arts website.