Marshwood High School is Off to the Highlands in BRIGADOON

The arts bring the opportunity to explore a new culture, a new time period, and a new place. The cast of Marshwood High School's production of Brigadoon has been doing just that as they explore Scotland in 1746.

Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas, New Yorkers on a Scottish hunting trip, get lost in the woods and come upon the magical village of Brigadoon. Rising out of the Scottish mist only once every 100 years, and only for one day, Brigadoon is an enchanted place where life is simpler and easier, untouched by the worries of the modern world. When Tommy falls for beautiful villager Fiona MacLaren, he must decide whether to stay or to return to his life.

Two summers ago, director Tanya West had the amazing opportunity to study Celtic music and dance at the University of Limerick in Ireland. It was a summer intensive program where she found herself completely immersed in a new culture and an art form full of tradition. Celtic music and dance has a rich foundation in story-telling and folklore, family and tradition. She discovered that the performing arts has a strong place and important role in Celtic life.

In her travels through the countries where Celtic culture is most alive - Ireland, Scotland and Wales - West was struck by the sense of community the arts creates as a living, breathing tradition. "It's impossible for your imagination not to run wild when listening to music in an Irish pub, exploring castle ruins in Ireland, wandering village streets in Wales, dancing at a Scottish ceilidh, or riding in a horse-drawn wagon through a forest which our driver assured us was enchanted with fairies," she said. She saw that the locals are utterly in love with their culture and adore sharing it. "It has been such a pleasure revisiting that magic through Brigadoon. It has been wonderful to bring the Celtic influence and Scottish traditions to my students through this theatrical experience," she added.

In the craziness of the everyday, modern world, don't miss your chance to escape into this enchanting fairy tale set in a magical place. As one character says, "There must be an awful lot of folk searching for a Brigadoon" -- even if it only lasts for a couple of hours.

Performances for Brigadoon will be Friday March 30, Saturday March 31st, Friday April 6 and Saturday April 7 at 7pm, at the Wesley E. Kennedy Performing Arts Center at Marshwood High School. Tickets are available for $10 in advance and $12 at the door and reservations can be made by calling Marshwood High School at 207-384- 4500 or online at marshwoodmusic.org by clicking on "Spring Musical".

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