Portland Ovations is touring the original, remarkable and important performance “Wabanaki Stories” to Husson’s Gracie Theatre on May 16-17. Premiering in 2023 At Merrill Auditorium in Portland, “Wabanaki Stories” was co-commissioned by Portland Ovations and Akomawt Educational Initiative in 2020 with the intent of creating perennial programming that focuses on the Wabanaki Nations and responds to Maine curriculum requirements. Since its creation, “Wabanaki Stories” has performed six times for over 8,000 students, teachers and community members.
In this performance six Wabanaki artists from several different nations perform together on stage. Musician Tania Morey (Tobique) sings of the Wolastoq; Jennifer Pictou (Mi’kmaq) regales with spirit stories told in the company of a large puppet;
Dwayne Tomah (Passamaquoddy) shares stories that showcase his native language, Passamaquoddy;
Ashton Altvater aka Undeniable the Native (Passamaquoddy) delights with original rap and hip hop; and
Jason Brown aka Firefly (Penobscot) electrifies with cutting-edge technology blended with ancient frequencies. Director, artist and author Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy) intersperses each with music and narration.
“Wabanaki storytellers bring their legacies and stories out of close intimate settings of homes and classrooms and onto the stage,” says Chris Newell. “You will hear stories of all kinds from each storyteller. They might talk of the past, or something that happened yesterday. They may tell their stories in English or in their own language. Yet each brings with them the legacy of ancestral knowledge passed down since time immemorial connected by the stories they tell.”
All performances of Wabanaki Stories are free to attend. The performance for school field trips is Friday, May 16 at 11 a.m. with a public performance offered Saturday, May 17 at 2 p.m. Schools interested in registering and attending may contact Liz Schildkret at [email protected]. Public performance registration is available through portlandovations.org
These performances of Wabanaki Stories are sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank with additional support from Machias Savings Bank, Fisher Charitable Foundation, the Maine Expansion Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, the Moser Family Foundation and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
Portland Ovations is a nonprofit cultural organization based in Southern Maine dedicated to gathering communities to share in the power of live performance. Ovations connects artists and audiences both onstage and off — making the arts an integral part of community life. Learn more at portlandovations.org.
