BUCKSPORT’S BROWN HALL CONTINUES ITS MISSION AS COMMUNITY SPACE

The Elm Street Congregational Church, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Stephen York, began offering its Community Space, Brown Hall, to the area with the Know Your Neighbor program in 2022. KYN brought a variety of events to the Brown Hall stage, including evenings with Town Officials and Community Members, Improv Theatre, Scottish Dance, Candidates Night for public office seekers, Forums on Matters of import to Bucksport residents and more, all in the spirit of author Wendell Berry’s theory of Community:

“A proper community, we should remember also, is a commonwealth: a place, a resource, an economy. It answers the needs, practical as well as social and spiritual, of its members - among them the need to need one another.”

To continue the work of Rev. Dr. York, who passed away late summer of 2023, The Brown Hall Cultural Arts Committee has been created, with a mission of programming events and occasions at Brown Hall for the community’s enjoyment, education, information and more. To that end, The Committee is delighted to announce the first such event at Brown Hall:

On Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 1:00 pm, Brown Hall Cultural Arts Committee is pleased to present the murder mystery “Dinner At Eight, Dead By Nine”, performed by members of the Bangor Community Theatre with support from the Bucksport Area Cultural Arts Society. A Spaghetti Luncheon will be served at 1:00 pm, and the play, set during a spaghetti dinner, will begin at 1:30 pm. This deliciously clever comedy mystery is the perfect choice for a winter afternoon. The action takes place around the head table of a banquet room where guests — and audience members -- will enjoy their meal.

But when the guest of honor, Eleanor Van Heusen, falls face first into her plate of spaghetti, the guests are suddenly witnesses to a murder! Luckily, Inspector Bungles is there to help solve this whodunit. To say the least, Eleanor wasn’t loved by all. In fact, all her family members and even the chef have reasons to kill her. Hilarity ensues as they each reveal their own murder plans, yet all claim innocence. With plenty of room for audience interaction, Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine is a delight.

Including dinner and the play, the Suggested Donation at the door is $15. No reservations. Brown Hall is located at The Elm Street Congregational Church, at the corner of Elm & Franklin Streets, in Bucksport, Maine. Abundant free parking, handicapped accessible.

FMI call Catherine Ring at 207-951-6402.

Brown Hall Cultural Arts Committee is under the non-profit umbrella of Lighthouse Arts & Education, a 501(C)(3) not for profit organization, which also includes the G.R.A.C.E. Arts Program. Donations are gratefully accepted and can be mailed to Brown Hall Cultural Arts Committee, c/o Elm Street Congregational Church, P. O. Box 878, Bucksport, Maine 04416. Please make checks out to Lighthouse Arts & Education, LLC