



THE PLACE FOR PLAY IN MAINE
At the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM), we set the stage for every child to imagine and learn through play.
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The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine Afterschool Experiences are designed with the whole child in mind. From exploring the interconnection between Maine's aquatic species to creating a show as a theatre ensemble, these experiences foster collaboration, empathy, critical thinking, and self-awareness skills.
Next Up
It’s LOVE WEEK at CMTM! Celebrate love, kindness, and self-appreciation during this special week filled with heartwarming activities for all ages. Included with Admission. Please check the chalkboard upon arrival for a full list of times and activities.
For Pete the Cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up. Even after he gets caught rocking after bedtime and sent to live with the squarest of the square Biddle family, Pete can get them rocking in no time! That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. Pete and Jimmy are total opposites, and have to live together. The last thing Jimmy needs is Pete turning everything upside down. But, when Jimmy has a surprise pop quiz in art, it’s Pete to the rescue! Join Jimmy and Pete on an adventure of friendship, all the way to Paris and back in a VW Bus!
Explore, create, and collaborate during this drop-in class for 2-to-5 year-olds and their caregivers. Each week, experiment with the mediums and styles of both well-known and emerging artists.
This week, we will be focusing on the work of Native American visual artist and cultural arts worker Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. She is an enrolled Salish member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and is known for her complex abstract paintings and prints. Visitors will have the opportunity to create monoprints by painting onto a smooth surface and then transferring the picture onto paper.
Whether you are meeting a dog for the first time or own a dog yourself, all are welcome to greet our friendly, four-legged therapy dog friends. Come hang out, read a book, sing a song, or explore dog training with a certified therapy dog and its caregiver. Therapy dogs will be visiting with a trained adult in the 3rd floor IDEXX STEM Learning Hub and would love to say "hi" to you if you wish. Included with Admission.
For Pete the Cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up. Even after he gets caught rocking after bedtime and sent to live with the squarest of the square Biddle family, Pete can get them rocking in no time! That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. Pete and Jimmy are total opposites, and have to live together. The last thing Jimmy needs is Pete turning everything upside down. But, when Jimmy has a surprise pop quiz in art, it’s Pete to the rescue! Join Jimmy and Pete on an adventure of friendship, all the way to Paris and back in a VW Bus!
Discover the Science for Tots series! This weekly program is designed around sensory-rich experiences for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Each week, experience a different science, engineering, math, or environmental activity based on the theme of the month. Meet new families and make new friends at this special science-focused gathering.
This month, drop in as we launch into love month with science-inspired art in Science for Tots. Mechanical physics will lead us to creative adventures! Through February, create a collaborative piece of art with other scientists by exploring how we can use objects that roll, drop, and spin to make art!
Art Studio is a midday opportunity for artistic expression. Located in the front half of MakerSpace, this program explores creative techniques, materials, and mediums each week, designed for young artists & makers.
Play Your Way is on the way! Mark your calendar for this regularly scheduled event at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine, designed for anyone who would benefit from a quieter, low-key experience. It's an ideal time for families affected by Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or other challenges to explore the Museum & Theatre, connect with other families, and see if it’s the right fit for you and your loved ones.
Let’s Stay Connected!
As a member of our email list, you will receive monthly emails detailing upcoming events, programs, and classes.
In the News
Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and if you’re looking for something fun to do with your kids to celebrate, it's Love Week at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.
It's a week to celebrate love, kindness, and self-appreciation.
In this segment, Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine executive director Julie Butcher Pezzino tells us more about Love Week.
At an event at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine on Tuesday morning, kids talked about what they wish for in 2025.
Mainers party just a little differently than the rest of the world on New Year’s Eve.
Instead of dropping a ball from a big building in a big city, we drop a wild blueberry from a church bell tower in Kennebunk. Instead of making everyone stay up to the stroke of midnight, we hold some New Year’s celebrations in the afternoon or early evening, so kids and early risers can get to bed on time.
On return trips from her old college stomping grounds of Boston, Nancy Martin, business programs manager for the City of Portland, Maine, knows she is home when the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) comes into view. It is arguably the most prominent venue in a development known as Thompson’s Point, which stands out right off Interstate 295. The peninsula setting symbolizes the natural amenities Maine possesses, while the ground below is a prime example of Portland’s desire to maintain its beauty inside and out.
This week, two guests walk us through all these “Beautiful Blackbird” activities – Jordia Benjamin, Executive Director of the Indigo Arts Alliance and René Goddess, a Portland-based theater artist who is Artistic Director of The Theater Ensemble of Color as well as the director of the stage play edition of “Beautiful Blackbird.”
Assembled on a teal cardboard wall is a wide range of children’s artwork: doodles of multiple orange cats, crayon-drawn self-portraits, Acadia National Park depicted in markers, a drawing of a cup of boba tea. While the works vary in style and content, they come together in the mural to create a portrait of the children of the Portland area.
Updates + Stories
Here at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM), it’s one of our favorite weeks of the year—LOVE week! We can’t wait to celebrate with you. The next several days are chock full of heart-filled activities, but how else do we lean into LOVE at CMTM? - A Message from CMTM’s Executive Director, Julie Butcher Pezzino
Opportunities for your students to engage with live theatre! We’re thrilled to share some amazing opportunities for your students to engage with live theatre through the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM).
CMTM is thrilled to bring everyone’s favorite feline rockstar to life in “Pete the Cat,” running in CMTM’s Maddy’s Theatre from February 1-23, 2025. In anticipation of opening night, CMTM spoke with Nathan LaPointe, who plays Pete the Cat, about the importance of music, cats, and what audiences can expect from this rockin’ production.
Discover the incredible journey of Gary the American Eel and explore stories of science, culture, and conservation at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.
CMTM is thrilled to bring A.A. Milne’s classic tales to life in the currently running production of “Winnie-the-Pooh” in CMTM’s Maddy’s Theatre. To give the community a closer look at the creative mind behind this adaptation, we spoke with playwright Sean Patrick Nill to learn more about his artistic journey, his approach to adapting such a beloved story, and what he hopes audiences will take away from this heartwarming adventure in the Hundred Acre Wood.