EMPLOYMENT

Maine Arts hires an Oddfellow

By Sam Pfeifle

As producers of the Maine Festival, New Year’s Portland, and Congress Square Events, the non-profit Maine Arts Inc. is a force behind the local arts scene, finding work for an army of performers; everyone from performance artist Tony Montanaro to ska rockers like the Bottle Rocket Kings. With the resignation earlier this year of Executive Director Nicolaus Bloom, however, the organization was without a General Patton.

No more.

The Maine Festival rapidly approaching on the horizon, Maine Arts’ board of directors hired Oddfellow Theater head Michael Miclon on Tuesday to take over the helm. “He is passionate about the mission of Maine Arts,” says board president Peter Taylor. “He will really bring together what Maine Arts is about: celebrating Maine artists. The board is absolutely thrilled that he has accepted this position.”

It helps that Miclon is a Maine artist himself. He got his start back in 1982, apprenticing with Benny and Denise Reehl’s Buckfield Leather and Lather Traveling Variety Show — touring in a 1928 REO Speedwagon — and has since helped to foster the “new vaudevillian” scene here in Maine. “They were my mentors,” Miclon says of the Reehls, while citing folks like Randy Judkins and Fred Garbo as influences in combining traditional vaudeville entertainment with contemporary comedy.

Miclon’s biggest contribution has been his renovation, and expert direction, of Buckfield’s Oddfellows Hall. Since 1996, it has been the site of more than 140 performances, including folk singers like John Gorka and clowns like Avner the Eccentric. And how about “The Early Evening Show,” their spoof of late-night television? It’s sold out every monthly show for three years, with Miclon as charismatic host, and odd guests like “Moto Hoonchback.”

“It’s really a generational thing,” Miclon says of vaudeville. Passing down vaudevillian knowledge “not only keeps it going, but it flourishes with each new fresh take. There’s always a new flavor.” He explains that vaudeville is also exciting in that it allows audiences to connect with performers, which he hopes to foster with Maine Arts. “I want to really help Maine artists,” Miclon says, “and help audiences find them and connect with them.” He is also currently in the performance-juggling group Fusion with Jason and Matthew Tardy; the “next generation,” as they were originally Miclon’s apprentices.

It is this ability to provide mentoring, and understand the artists’ needs, that makes Miclon most suited for the job, says Taylor. In fact, Miclon knows first-hand the value of being involved with events like the Maine Festival, where talented and experienced performers can impart wisdom on young and hungry artists. “We look forward to bringing artists together,” Taylor says, “and continuing to reinforce [the Maine Festival] as the preeminent cultural event in the state of Maine.”