Vinegar Hill Music Theater to Open in June

Vinegar Hill Music Theater, southern Maine's newest live arts entertainment venue, will kick off its very first season on June 24 with a gala event benefitting Music on Main, a non-profit community organization dedicated to bringing the Portland Symphony Orchestra to the Kennebunks each summer.

"We're thrilled to be collaborating with Vinegar Hill on this event," said Lori Parkinson of Music On Main. "Our organizations share the same goals: a dedication to the arts and a desire to bring entertainment to the community, so when the opportunity came up to partner with Vinegar Hill to help raise money to bring the Portland Symphony Orchestra back to the Kennebunks this summer, we jumped at the chance!"

George Dvorsky, creative director of Vinegar Hill Music Theater, added: "Hosting the Music on Main fundraiser seemed like the perfect way to kick off our first season and introduce our venue to the area."

Ticket prices for the gala event are $100 and include an evening of live music, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and dancing. Wade Zahares will be on hand, the artist who created this year's original poster artwork promoting Music on Main, along with limited edition copies for sale. All ticket sales will be donated to Music on Main, in hopes of raising the funds needed to bring the PSO back to the Kennebunks for what will hopefully be an annual tradition.

Vinegar Hill Music Theater is the former beloved Arundel Barn Playhouse, which completed its final season last year, and was sold to new owners Tim Harrington and Deb Lennon in December 2015. After spending the past several months completing a host of renovations and additions including new balcony seating boxes, a full service bar and upgraded acoustics and sound systems, the new Vinegar Hill Music Theater will bring entertainers to the Kennebunks throughout the summer and into the fall.

Tickets for both the inaugural benefit gala and the entire season of programming will go on sale on Wednesday, April 29 and can be purchased at www.vinegarhillmusic.com.

Highlights from the upcoming season include Paula Cole, Juice Newton Trio, comedienne Caroline Rhea, Linda Eder, Livingston Taylor and authors John Meacham and Christopher Buckley to name a few.

"We're really excited to be able to bring a variety of musicians, authors and entertainers to the Kennebunks, and in such a unique and intimate setting," said Dvorsky. "We want Vinegar Hill to be a place for the community to gather, socialize, enjoy the gardens and watch some great performances."

The barn and it's adjoining farm was originally known as The Smith Sisters' Farm, built in the late 1800's, and the property is still referred to by that name by many locals. The new name, Vinegar Hill, refers to traditional lore about the part of Arundel in which the farm and barn are located - the place name is derived from the Gaelic for "hill of the wood with the berries."

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