True North Theatre has been fortunate to perform in some wonderful spaces, each with its own unique qualities. Please consider supporting these great venues!
Cyrus Pavilion Theatre, University of Maine
6 Sebego Road, Orono ME
For additional information about the theatre, click HERE.
The Stock Judging Pavilion, now called the Cyrus Pavilion Theatre, was constructed in 1908 to provide a space for viewing and selecting cattle and other farm animals for breeding. It also was likely used as a classroom for teaching livestock management. Stock judging pavilions were a common feature on land grant college campuses. William Hart Taylor of Boston designed the building. Taylor also designed Winslow Hall, just west of the pavilion, which housed offices and classrooms for the School of Agriculture. The octagonal shape of the building was suitable for viewing livestock from every angle and was relatively simple to construct.
In 1979–80, university officials converted the pavilion to a theater. William E. Nemmers of Belfast was the architect for the remodeling. Replacing the original wooden double entrance door with a pair of metal entrance doors was the lone major change to the exterior. The interior has been significantly changed with wood infill construction, creation of a stage, seating risers, backstage spaces and technical support components. The theatre was named the Cyrus Pavilion Theatre in the early 1990s after Edgar Allan Cyrus, a theatre professor. The octagonal shape is equally appropriate for a small, intimate theatre-in-the-round as it was for livestock evaluation. (Photo and text from University of Maine website)
Old St. Mary’s Reception Halls
89 Main Street, Orono ME
For more information about the space, click HERE.
Built in 1905, this Gothic revival building was Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church for much of its life. Due to a variety of factors, including declining attendance and expensive needed repairs, it was decided to close the church and put it up for sale. Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church had its final service on January 1, 2009, and in 2010 was purchased by Fariba Dayhim and Shahram Pourmomtaz, who have spent the past eight years (and counting!) renovating the building and its surrounding properties. A labor of love and a gift to the community, the newly named Old St. Mary’s Reception Halls is a true community space, available for weddings, receptions, concerts, and performances of all kinds. True North Theatre’s production of The Lion in Winter was the first performance after the public reopening of the venue.