SACO RIVER THEATRE

Saco River Theatre is Southern Maine's only Actors' Equity Independent Theater, located in a converted 1897 Universalist chapel in the village of Bar Mills (in the town of Buxton). The venue operates as a performing arts center with a focus on professional theater, music, and community events. Seating is general admission.

The resident professional company, The Originals, presents a range of material from cutting-edge dramas to comedies to full-scale musicals, routinely staging Maine and Northeast premieres. The theater also hosts musical concerts, silent films with live piano accompaniment, and contra-dances. At least one performance per production is pay-what-you-can to ensure accessibility.

The building was constructed in 1897 as a Universalist chapel. In 1908, the Maine State Grange purchased it, and it served as a social center for Bar Mills for 60 years. It later became an auction house before being purchased by the Packard family in 1990. After four months of renovations, it opened as a cultural arts center on April 21, 1990. The venue has hosted more than 400 musical concerts and over 80 full-scale theatrical productions. In 2012, the name changed from Saco River Grange Hall to Saco River Theatre.