Sat, 02/29/2020 - 12:30pm

The Waldo

The original musical poster. Courtesy of Kate Fletcher

In partnership with Medomak Valley High School (MVHS) and the Maine Film Center, The Waldo presents a free screening of the musical “Carousel” Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m. at MVHS (320 Manktown Road) as part of "Maine in the "Movies," an official Bicentennial Event.

Based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical, this film follows the romance of Billy Bigelow (Gordon MacRae), a charming carousel barker, and Julie Jordan (Shirley Jones), a young worker from a nearby mill. Filmed primarily in Boothbay Harbor, "Carousel" is one of a series of films set or made in Maine screening throughout the State in March to mark the Bicentennial. The Waldo Theatre building is currently undergoing renovations and is not available to host this event on site.

“We’re so grateful to Medomak Valley High School and the MV Players for hosting this special screening of a classic made-in-Maine musical movie,” says Waldo Executive Director, Kate Fletcher. “This partnership with their theatre program allows The Waldo, which originally opened as a movie house in 1936 - and will bring back film screenings this fall - to participate in Maine’s bicentennial celebration.”

In classic movie-house style, the evening will start at 7 p.m. with a short film: the first movie known to have been made in Maine, "Jean the Match-Maker." Made in 1910, this silent film stars the first certifiable animal movie star, “Jean,” the Vitagraph Dog.The feature "Carousel," one of 35 films in the 17-town festival, will be introduced by State Senator Dana Dow who remembers watching movies at The Waldo when he was growing up.

Admission is free and open to the public. This event is sponsored by Cornerstone Financial Services. For information about “Maine in the Movies” visit mainemovies200.com.

To learn more about renovation efforts at The Waldo, to become involved, or to make an online tax-deductible donation visit www.waldotheatre.org. Donations by check may be made payable and sent to: Waldo Theatre, Inc. P.O. Box 587 Waldoboro, Maine 04572