About
Maddy's Theatre is part of the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine and is described as the longest-running children’s theatre in the nation. It operates within a building that includes over 30,000 square feet of exhibit space across three floors and an Outdoor Adventure area.
• Ages: 3–12 years old
• Schedule: Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm
• Price: Through Museums for All supported by the Lunder Foundation, those receiving SNAP, WIC, EBT, or MaineCare benefits pay $1 per person for admission for anyone over 12 months of age, and admission is $1 on the day of The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival.
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that exists to inspire discovery and imagination through exploration and play. The leadership and staff connected to theatre, programming, and organizational management include Theatre Artistic Director Reba Askari, Programming Associate – STEM Educator T Brazier, Executive Director Julie Butcher Pezzino, Theatre Production Manager Emily Dixon, Development Manager Deanne Dutton, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Hannah Ellsworth, and Programming Senior Associate – Arts & Culture Educator Nolan Ellsworth. Staff credentials include degrees in Theatre Arts, Theatre Education, art education, Theater & Dance, Theatre, Acting, Communications, Public Policy and Management, and related training from institutions such as Mount Holyoke College, Emerson College, Hampshire College, Keene State College, the University of Maine, Syracuse University, and Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine partners with the Institute for Museums and Library Services and the Association of Children’s Museums on the Museums for All initiative supported by the Lunder Foundation. Trusted community partners share information about the Suzanne Olson Scholarship Fund and assist families with transportation, language access, and other support related to memberships. Community Partner Night offers exclusive access after public hours for families from organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, The Opportunity Alliance/Head Start, and Woodfords Family Services. The museum and theatre also partner annually with Indigo Arts Alliance, I’m Your Neighbor Books, Diverse BookFinder, and other statewide collaborators for The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival, which features Black and Black Immigrant children’s books, free book giveaways, media, activities, and community events. The organization publishes an annual Belonging Report that reflects on belonging initiatives and the impact of programs, contributing to over half a million dollars in annual subsidies, and offers Play Your Way, a free, quieter playtime series supported by the Pond Family Foundation and the Judith Glickman Lauder Foundation for families affected by Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Down Syndrome, or other challenges.
Recognitions connected to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine include the 2025 Best Indoor Family Activity + Best Indoor Play Place Kids’ Pick Award, the 2025 Stewardship Award from the Maine Office of Tourism, the 2024 Best Indoor Family Activity + Best Indoor Play Place 0–5 Kids’ Pick Award, the 2024 and 2023 Best Place for Kids from Portland Old Port, the 2024 Hospitality + Tourism Excellence Award from Visit Portland, the 2023 Best Museum – Best of the 207, the 2023 Multi-Category Winner in the Broadway World Awards (Maine), the 2023 Economic Development Achievement Award from the City of Portland Development Corporation, and a 2022 Portland, Maine “Best of Awards” – Best recognition.
Last updated August 8, 2026.
• Ages: 3–12 years old
• Schedule: Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm
• Price: Through Museums for All supported by the Lunder Foundation, those receiving SNAP, WIC, EBT, or MaineCare benefits pay $1 per person for admission for anyone over 12 months of age, and admission is $1 on the day of The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival.
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that exists to inspire discovery and imagination through exploration and play. The leadership and staff connected to theatre, programming, and organizational management include Theatre Artistic Director Reba Askari, Programming Associate – STEM Educator T Brazier, Executive Director Julie Butcher Pezzino, Theatre Production Manager Emily Dixon, Development Manager Deanne Dutton, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Hannah Ellsworth, and Programming Senior Associate – Arts & Culture Educator Nolan Ellsworth. Staff credentials include degrees in Theatre Arts, Theatre Education, art education, Theater & Dance, Theatre, Acting, Communications, Public Policy and Management, and related training from institutions such as Mount Holyoke College, Emerson College, Hampshire College, Keene State College, the University of Maine, Syracuse University, and Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine partners with the Institute for Museums and Library Services and the Association of Children’s Museums on the Museums for All initiative supported by the Lunder Foundation. Trusted community partners share information about the Suzanne Olson Scholarship Fund and assist families with transportation, language access, and other support related to memberships. Community Partner Night offers exclusive access after public hours for families from organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, The Opportunity Alliance/Head Start, and Woodfords Family Services. The museum and theatre also partner annually with Indigo Arts Alliance, I’m Your Neighbor Books, Diverse BookFinder, and other statewide collaborators for The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival, which features Black and Black Immigrant children’s books, free book giveaways, media, activities, and community events. The organization publishes an annual Belonging Report that reflects on belonging initiatives and the impact of programs, contributing to over half a million dollars in annual subsidies, and offers Play Your Way, a free, quieter playtime series supported by the Pond Family Foundation and the Judith Glickman Lauder Foundation for families affected by Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Down Syndrome, or other challenges.
Recognitions connected to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine include the 2025 Best Indoor Family Activity + Best Indoor Play Place Kids’ Pick Award, the 2025 Stewardship Award from the Maine Office of Tourism, the 2024 Best Indoor Family Activity + Best Indoor Play Place 0–5 Kids’ Pick Award, the 2024 and 2023 Best Place for Kids from Portland Old Port, the 2024 Hospitality + Tourism Excellence Award from Visit Portland, the 2023 Best Museum – Best of the 207, the 2023 Multi-Category Winner in the Broadway World Awards (Maine), the 2023 Economic Development Achievement Award from the City of Portland Development Corporation, and a 2022 Portland, Maine “Best of Awards” – Best recognition.
Last updated August 8, 2026.
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