Great Falls Forum – From Experiment to Shining Star: the Story of the Public Theatre
The 2026-2027 season of the Great Falls Forum kicks off Thursday, September 17th, featuring Janet Mitchko and Adam Blais with a discussion entitled “From Experiment to Shining Star: the Story of The Public Theatre.” This free, public program will take place from 12 noon to 1 PM in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.
Janet is the Artistic Director of The Public Theatre and has spent the past 33 years wearing more multi-hyphenate hats than she can count at the helm of The Public Theatre building a professional theatre into the cultural fabric of Lewiston/Auburn with her recently retired partner Christopher Schario. Since 1993, she has considered The Public Theatre her primary artistic home and has directed over 75 productions as well as appeared onstage in numerous roles. Other professional directing credits include Florida Studio Theatre, Theatre at Monmouth and various Off-Broadway companies fostering new play development. Prior to life in Maine, Janet lived in NYC earning her living as a professional actress in New York and regional theatres, was a national voice-over artist, as well as a director and acting teacher at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She proudly holds a degree in Acting from Carnegie-Mellon University.
Adam P. Blais is a theatre Director, Chorographer, Stage Manager and Educator. Born, raised and educated in Lewiston, Maine, Adam grew up participating in local educational and community theatres. He later earned a BA in Theatre from The University of Maine before beginning an internship at The Public Theatre. Years later he now holds an MA in Leadership Studies from The University of Southern Maine and is honored to serve as The Public Theatre’s current Executive Director.
Admission is free to all Forum events. Click here to watch the event via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87574333128 . This program is a bring-your-own, brown-bag lunch event. Coffee and bottled water will be available on site at the library.
The Great Falls Forum speaker series is co-sponsored by Bates College, Lewiston Public Library, and the Sun Journal. The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street. More information on Thursday’s lecture is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or LPLReference@lewistonmaine.gov.
