Maine Inside Out Blog
Powerful Performances and Upcoming Events
MIO is performing “Broken Clock” three more times this month. On June 11 and June 13, the creative ensemble performs inside Maine Correctional Center and Maine State Prison for audiences of incarcerated men. Then on Tuesday June 17, we are hosting a public performance for Juneteenth in Lewiston where we hope everyone will join us for an evening of community, performance, and dialogue.
Mission, Vision, and 2024 Annual Report
The Maine Inside Out board, staff, and Lewiston leadership group are working on MIO’s next strategic phase and we are thrilled to share our mission statement and vision with you.
Juneteenth Performance of “Broken Clock” in Lewiston on June 17
This year, MIO’s Creative Ensemble has been touring the original play, Broken Clock, and we will hold a special Juneteenth performance in Lewiston on June 17th at The Public Theatre.
Fragile Hope
“Intense. Heart filling. Sad. Emotional. Loss. Isolation. Humanity. Generational trauma. Lost potential. Left behind. Trying and trying again.”
When asked to share what resonated with them in “Broken Clock,” these were words spoken by audience members following a performance last Thursday at Colby Arts in Waterville. Some audience members shared particular moments in the play that moved them….
Inside Vision + Broken Clock on May 1 at ColbyArts
Updates about MIO’s April community lunch, welcoming home Abdi, upcoming community open mic night and upcoming tour dates for Broken Clock!
Community & Connection
We kicked off our first events of the year with “Time Served,” a community Open Mic at Recovery Connections of Maine (RCOM) and a performance of “Broken Clock” at University of Maine Farmington.
Announcing the Broken Clock tour!
In 2025, the Maine Inside Out Creative Ensemble will be touring “Broken Clock” throughout the State of Maine. “Broken Clock” is an original play created by the Maine Inside Out Creative Ensemble about incarceration, gun violence, grief, family, trust, and time. MIO’s Creative Ensemble is a group of staff facilitators and Lewiston Community Artists using theater to explore themes connected to our identities, life experiences, and the world in which we exist.
Open Mic Recap and Gratitude
This past week, MIO’s Lewiston community group hosted our final event of 2024 “Everything Must Change” Open Mic at L/A Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. It was a beautiful celebration. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a night of original poetry, comedy, music, and community.
Youth Performance Recap + Open Mic!
The fall sessions of Maine Inside Out’s youth theater projects in Lewiston and Portland completed this past week with four original performances followed by community dialogues between the performers and the audiences!
Join us for the last MIO event of 2024!
Portland Youth Performance and Lewiston Open Mic
Join us for our final events of 2024!
Portland Youth Performances at King Middle School & a Community Open Mic in Lewiston
What do you dream for?
Last week MIO kicked off our Broken Clock Tour with events in Lewiston and Portland. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the film premiere, performance, and community dialogue.
"Broken Clock" Performance and Film Premiere Next Week!
MIO’s Creative Ensemble is preparing for two November performances of the original play “Broken Clock” in Lewiston and Portland. The Creative Ensemble is a group of staff and Lewiston community artists using theater to explore themes connected to our identities, life experiences, and the world in which we exist together. Check out the official webpage for the Broken Clock Tour for more information about the ensemble and the performance.
Open Mic & Introducing New Board Members!
Learn more about our October Open Mic Night, our community landing pad project, and meet our new board members!
Fall Projects
We are kicking off our Fall season of play creation, performances, community events, and open mics. We know that difficult experiences and questions will emerge and we are excited to use art and theater to be in deeper dialogue and relationship in the midst of challenge and crisis. Check out what we are up to!
Join us on September 6 for a performance at Celebration Barn!
Maine Inside Out is kicking off our Fall season with a free performance at Celebration Barn in South Paris, Maine on Friday, September 6 at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm).
Gratitude, Reflection & Rest
July is a month for gratitude, reflection, and rest at Maine Inside Out. We are celebrating the incredible people who make this work possible: the MIO team, our partners, our supporters, and our entire community - you! What an incredible first 6 months of the year. Thank you for being a part of MIO’s vision to build connection and leadership across boundaries, identities, and generations.
Juneteenth Festival Recap
MIO’s Juneteenth Festival “The City That Carries Us: Pain, Streets and Heartbeats” was a beautiful celebration of community, love, and joy.
Juneteenth Festival - “The City That Carries Us: Pain, Streets, and Heartbeats”
Join us on June 19 for “The City That Carries Us: Pain, Streets, and Heartbeats” a Juneteenth festival in Lewiston featuring public art, community parade, performances, and a block party. Maine Inside Out is honored to host this free event in partnership with the City of Lewiston with incredible community partners and local artists.