Opera in the Pines presents A Masked Ball, an immersive reimagining of Giuseppe Verdi’s thrilling masterpiece Un Ballo in Maschera, set within the storied walls of Maine’s historic State Building in South Poland. Reframed in 1895—the year the building was dedicated in its new Maine home—this production transforms the landmark into the lavish residence of the Governor of Boston, where guests gather for an opulent masquerade steeped in intrigue, romance, and fate.
As audience members arrive as invited guests to the ball, the drama is already unfolding around them. Characters mingle through the rooms, secrets simmer beneath elegant disguises, and Verdi’s soaring music animates the building’s architecture, history, and natural acoustics. Rooted in real historical events and filtered through a distinctly Maine lens, A Masked Ball distills Verdi’s epic into a gripping, intimate experience that places the audience at the heart of the story.
This production reflects Opera in the Pines’ commitment to blending opera with place, history, and community—activating meaningful spaces and honoring the legacies they hold. By pairing one of Verdi’s most powerful operas with one of Maine’s most treasured landmarks, A Masked Ball invites audiences to step inside history, don a metaphorical mask, and witness a timeless story of love, loyalty, and betrayal unfold all around them.
Opera in the Pines presents A Masked Ball, an immersive reimagining of Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, staged within the historic Maine State Building in South Poland. Reframed in 1895—the year the building was reconstructed in Maine—this production transforms one of the state’s most treasured landmarks into the lavish residence of the Governor of Boston, where guests gather for a grand masquerade filled with elegance, secrecy, and political intrigue.
As audience members arrive as invited guests to the ball, the performance is already in motion. Characters circulate through the building’s rooms, whispered confidences pass beneath ornate disguises, and Verdi’s powerful score fills the space, resonating through the State Building’s historic architecture and natural acoustics. The audience is not seated at a distance, but woven into the world of the opera—experiencing the drama up close as it unfolds around them.
Historically inspired by real events, A Masked Ball explores timeless themes of love, loyalty, ambition, and betrayal. Opera in the Pines’ adaptation filters this sweeping tragedy through a distinctly Maine lens, distilling Verdi’s grand opera into an intimate, 90-minute experience designed to be accessible and emotionally immediate. Sung in English with supertitles, the production removes common barriers to opera while preserving the music’s dramatic power and beauty.
This production also serves as a tribute to the late Ellen Chickering, a beloved Maine soprano and educator whose influence shaped generations of Maine-based singers. Featuring a cast and creative team drawn from her former students and collaborators, A Masked Ball becomes both a work of art and a communal act of remembrance—celebrating mentorship, legacy, and the enduring impact of Maine artists on the national opera landscape.
Created in partnership with the Poland Spring Preservation Society, the production activates the Maine State Building as a living cultural space, honoring its history as a gathering place for art, community, and reflection. By pairing one of Verdi’s most powerful operas with this nationally significant landmark, Opera in the Pines continues its mission to blend opera with place, history, and community—inviting audiences to step inside history, don a metaphorical mask, and experience a timeless story of love and consequence unfolding all around them.
We highly encourage early ticket reservations. This venue has an extremely limited seating capacity.
Performance: The performance will be 90 minutes, performed without intermission, and sung in English with English supertitles.
This production is supported in part by grants from the Onion Foundation, the Davis Family Foundation, and the Gwendolen Elwell Flanagan Foundation.
General Notes:
Doors open at 6:30 PM.
Please be advised that the Maine State Building is a unique, non-traditional performance venue which may include restricted sightlines, ambient noises, and alternative seating.
The Maine State Building is ADA accessible.
All sales are final. No refunds.
No late seating.
Announcing Market Price Tickets: At just $15 for the show only, these extremely limited seats are first come, first served and perfect for anyone not planning to drop anchor for lunch or dinner, but still eager to catch the performance. Please arrive at 6:45 PM for the show at 7:00 PM.
The Pre-Show will take place from 5:30 - 6:15. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
All seating is general admission and first come, first serve.
Please be advised that this is a non-traditional performance venue. You may experience restricted sightlines, alternative seating options, and walking over uneven ground. Portable restrooms will be accessible on site a short distance from the meetinghouse.
The Old Red Church, formerly First Parish Meetinghouse, is equipped with traditional box pews.
The Old Red Church is a registered landmark and historic meetinghouse, and as was the way of colonial New England, early meetinghouses were not heated or insulated. Traditionally, families would sit together in a box pew. The walls were thought to minimize drafts, keeping the occupants relatively warmer in the winter, and it was common for families to bring foot warmers, stools, and blankets to meeting. It’s May in Maine and anything is possible, so we encourage you to bring an extra layer, or even a blanket, for when the sun goes down!
Parking will be available at Standish Congregational Church, 25 Oak Hill Road, Standish, Maine.
S E A S O N S P O N S O R S
The Poland Spring Preservation Society
The Gwendolen Elwell Flanagan Foundation