Alyson Stone, Executive Director of Empower Lewiston, gives Andrew Harris, Executive Director of L/A Arts, their $5,000 community grant award in the new DownStage performance and workshop space located at 221 Lisbon Street, Lewiston. Although still a work in progress, the new DownStage space is ready for its first production, Medea by Out of the Box Theatre, opening Friday evening, August 28th at 7:30 pm. Renovations include theatre quality lighting and sound, new seating, and soundproofing for improved acoustics. DownStage will provide a venue for downtown residents, particularly youth and young adults, to participate in the creative and performing arts. DownStage will be utilized for L/A Arts’ Arts-in–Education programming, workshops and small community performances as well as four advanced enrichment or Master Classes be offered through the recent 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant. Plans for DownStage include week long intensive theater workshops, music appreciation and music therapy course offerings, open-mic events, family dance workshops, painting courses and more. With the new studio space, L/A Arts will be able to expand offerings to evenings and weekends and throughout the summer, making it more accessible to for wider community participation and audiences. Additionally, the space will enable them to generate revenues supporting the studio’s sustainability and its community arts mission and purpose. For more information on the DownStage at L/A Arts space and upcoming offerings, please call L/A Arts at 782-7228. Performances at the new space can be accessed in the rear of 21 Lisbon Street on Canal Street Alley and ample parking will be available at the Centre Ville Garage and the Camden National car park (after hours).
