Page 58 - WCM Summer 2022

49 Franklin
49 Franklin
Chrissy Crowley delighting the audience with her masterful jigs and reels at 49 Franklin in Rumford.
some were higher than ours, but they liked what our plans were,” Scot said.
“Yes,” said Cindy. “The church was a place for celebrating life events and bringing people together, so they liked our mission. We didn’t start out with performing arts, we were a wedding venue. It took seven years to transform this space. We did it with help from family and friends, and repurposed every- thing we could to maintain the original feel. This church had a vital history in town, and local people felt ownership because of that history. Everyone wanted to be part of this venture.”
Scot and Cindy had the skills needed to run a success- ful venue. Cindy developed her chef chops by working in the food industry, and Scot had knowledge neces- sary to refurbish a building. “We profited in our first five years with weddings. But the trend moved toward barn weddings, and business decreased. That’s what led us to think about ways to divest. Our friend Phill McIntyre was a music producer. He ran the Skye Theatre in Carthage, and booked acts at the “Green Church” in Mexico. He mentored us and gave us a list of musical acts, mostly Celtic.”
The venue also hosts comedy acts, magic shows, dinner theater, and Celtic cabarets. Friday Night Live
Camille and Kennerly Kitt, known as The Harp Twins, beguile their fans with their mesmerizing duets.
(based on the sketch comedy of Saturday Night Live) and Kaleidoscope (a fusion of visual and performing arts) were big draws, but the pandemic curtailed these events. They hope to bring these acts back.
Scot credits his Aunt Lorraine for sparking his love of performing art, and Cindy was a fire spinning majorette in high school. Mostly, they feel joy when patrons thank them for making a “perfect” event, or taking them out of their day-to-day lives with a laugh, or a world-class musical act.
Bear Mountain Music Hall
A 50s baby, Elizabeth Roth grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. “In third grade,” she says, “I was in the slow readers’ group – stuff just a notch above See Dick
and Jane. We read a book with a crow character. He said ‘Caw, caw.’ I acted it out. The whole class turned and looked at me. I had an audience, and knew then
I was a performer. Our teacher, Miss Carbone, saw something in me. She did lots of creative things, and allowed me to partake in every experience. She was the portal into my understanding that I could do it. Very few people in my life gave me the opportunity to shine. I never fit in the picture frame.”
Roth also credits her mother for love of the arts, espe- cially music. “When I was four, she announced that all
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Arts, Entertainment, Adventure and More in Western Maine