Upcoming Community Theater Production . . .

The Spitfire Grill is a 7-person musical about starting new and building fresh. Not only for the individuals of the small town of Gilead, Wisconsin, but also about what it means for a small town to come together to revitalize it— sounds familiar, right?! The Spitfire Grill’s stories of empowerment, its depiction of small-town Maine, and its powerful messages of redemption will make for a fantastic end to spring 2025.

Percy Talbot has just been released from a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter. She is trying to find a place for a fresh start; and based on a page from an old travel book, travels to the small town of Gilead, Wisconsin. The local sheriff, Joe Sutter, who is also Percy’s parole officer, finds her a job at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill – the only eatery in this struggling town. The Spitfire Grill is for sale but has no interested buyers; therefore, Hannah decides to raffle it off. Entry fees are one hundred dollars and the best essay on why you want the grill wins. Soon, mail arrives by the wheelbarrow full, and things are definitely getting hot at the Spitfire Grill. This musical triumph is an inspiring celebration of fresh starts and the power of what one person can do.
(Some Mature Content)

GET TICKETS HERE!

Online Ticket Sales Close @ Noon on Show Day.

Tickets Available at the Door an hour ahead of Showtime. Cash & Card Accepted.

Upcoming Events

20240620 Heidi Spadter And Kevin Farrell With Scott Perry Photo

Historical Tour [FREE]

April 16 |6 to 7 pm

Please join Melvin Burnham of the Skowhegan History House Museum and Research Center and Lyn Govoni, President of Lights Up Productions, as they look back at the plays performed during the month of April from 1911 to 1923. As you walk through the lobby, seating area, backstage areas, and main stage, learn about the history of this handsome structure and Lights Up Productions’ plans for its revitalization as “a place to watch” community theatre and other performance events! Tour begins promptly at 6 pm. For more information, contact Lyn at 207-399-3181.

Lights Up Productions is working to set the stage for an incredible 2026 season, and we want YOU to be part of the magic! Join us for our very first Community Theater Summit: Strengthening Our Stage:

Saturday, May 17

6 PM

Skowhegan Opera House

This is your chance to step into the world of theater and the arts—whether onstage, backstage, or front of house! LUP has big plans for 2026, and we need passionate creatives to help bring them to life.

We’re looking for:

Actors

Musicians

Dancers

Crafters & Painters

Stage Managers

Lighting Designers

Scenic Designers

Ushers

No matter your interest, skill, or experience level, there’s a place for you at LUP. Come learn more, connect with fellow theater lovers, and tell us what excites you most about revitalizing arts & entertainment in our community!

Auditions | Skowhegan Opera House

May 18th @ 2 – 5 PM

May 21th @ 6 – 8 PM

Historical Tour

July (TBA)

Please take our survey to let us know about you and what you would like to see happen and grace the stage at Skowhegan Opera House! Use our QR code below or this link:

Take The Survey

Donate Today!

History of the Skowhegan Opera House

Bordering the mighty Kennebec River, the Skowhegan Opera House is an 840-seat hidden gem on the second floor of Skowhegan’s Municipal Building. Built in 1907, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a rich history of an abundance of uses. In recent years, it has been underutilized and has become a space very much in need of stage equipment updates and renovations. Although funds have been raised by the town and by Friends of Skowhegan Opera House, the amount is minimal in comparison to what the updates and renovations will cost. That is where Lights Up Productions comes in!

We have been hard at work since becoming a Maine Nonprofit Organization on November 14, 2023. Since some interpret the meaning of the name Skowhegan to be “place to watch” on the banks of the Kennebec River, it became our mission to be accessible to all in our community and bring engaging arts and entertainment experiences to the historic Skowhegan Opera House. This “place to watch” will become a destination that residents are proud of and visitors will fall in love with.

Lights Up Productions has honored the use of our stage by scheduling much-cherished bi-annual dance recitals by our community dance schools. We have booked Maine comedian, Bob Marley. We have held community outreach events and have attended several Selectmen’s meetings to increase public awareness of our vision for the future and to gather input from a variety of people.

Future Plans

We will offer free quarterly Historical Tours, a full season of events in 2025, and sponsorship opportunities to support our updates and renovations. In addition to this, Lights Up Productions will begin to implement the construction of new public bathrooms on the lobby level, a new glass-enclosed stairway/fire escape overlooking the River Park, new backstage dressing rooms and bathrooms, and two new elevators – one for our patrons and one for backstage access.

Our big wish for 2025 is to have enough funding to hire an Executive Director who will help us develop our Master Plan.

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Our Community Theater Group is a talented group of individuals who are busy bringing the community productions such as The Compleat Works of William Shakespear, The SpitFire Grill – A Musical, and a holiday production (TBA). In addition, a 2nd installment of Skowhegan Ghost Tours will be coming this October, starting and ending at the Skowhegan Municipal Building, for around and about the Flat Iron District designed to be historical tour that will tell stories related to Skowhegan’s past with a spooky twist.

Since our start on November 14, 2023, Lights Up Productions has been dedicated to holding community outreach events with our friends and affiliates, which will continue moving forward.

During the annual SKOW-Whoville event, we will be on a float in the ever-growing Holiday Stroll Parade held the 1st Friday of December!

Sketch of Future Renovations in blue

Future Klieg Lights to signal Upcoming Events

About Lights Up Productions

Lights Up Productions is a domestic nonprofit corporation in the state of Maine with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Your gift to LUP in any dollar amount may be deducted on your tax return!

Through fundraising and producing full opera house seasons of concerts, children and student events, and live theater, we will bring engaging arts and entertainment experiences to the historic Skowhegan Opera House. This “place to watch” will become a destination that residents are proud of and visitors will fall in love with. While building our seasons and our relationship with the community, as their loyal tenant, we will raise funds for the Skowhegan Opera House in collaboration with the Town of Skowhegan.