Åarhus Gallery is proud to present as if stories, a live-performance series of readings by Maine actors of short stories by Maine writers.  The inaugural performance will take place Saturday evening, March 20^th, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, and will feature two stories about love and personal firsts: “The Blender” by Martha Fenton, read by Beverly Mann, and “Ernie’s Ark” by Monica Wood, read by Larason Guthrie.

 Martha Fenton is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in a variety of publications and has been anthologized in the Himalayan Institute's Spirit On The Move and Triple Tree Publishing's MOTA series.  She lives in Portland, and is a contributor to the e-zine, ducts.org.  Beverly Mann is an independent artist who tours with several theatre companies, including Faustwork Mask Theatre, based in Toronto, and Figures of Speech Theatre, based in Freeport, ME.  She teaches workshops in mask-making & mask theatre techniques, both locally and away. Beverly was last seen as Alice B. Toklas in, “Gertrude Stein and a Companion” at The Playhouse Theatre in Belfast.

Monica Wood is the author of the novels Secret Language, My Only Story, and Any Bitter Thing, as well as a collection of related short stories set in the fictional mill town of Abbott Falls, Maine, from which “Ernie’s Ark” is excerpted.  Larason Guthrie is a long time actor and director in Maine, and one of the founders of the Belfast Maskers Community Theater. Larason is pleased to step out of theatrical retirement to read Monica Wood’s story.

The mission of as if stories is to showcase the work of Maine fiction writers – the known, the lesser known, and the great unknown – by presenting their stories as if they were true, with live readings by Maine actors in front of adult audiences.  If you’ve never been read to before, here’s an opportunity for a personal first of your own.  We’re sure you’ll love it.  Suggested donation $7, includes refreshments...as if  that’s not a good deal!           

            For more information go to aarhusgallery.com; for submission guidelines, click on Submissions.  Aarhus Gallery is located at 50 Main Street, Belfast.  Winter hours are 12:00 to 6:00 pm Thursday through Sunday, or by appointment, call 338-0001 or visit www.aarhusgallery.com.