The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host John Cariani, a Tony Award-nominated actor, accomplished playwright, and author who was born and raised in Presque Isle, as the next speaker in its 2024-2025 Libra Distinguished Lecture Series on Thursday. Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. During his talk, Cariani will read from his recent work, Almost Maine–a novel and a new short story from the world of Almost Maine. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.
Cariani’s Libra Lecture serves as the keynote for Voices in the North Country, UMPI’s writers conference. This year’s event, which stretches over two days from Thursday, Oct. 3 to Friday, Oct. 4, includes an afternoon symposium with readings and a panel discussion, book sales, the evening lecture, and an art exhibition. This year’s event is dedicated to teacher, author, and artist Glenna Johnson Smith, whose papers and manuscripts have been donated to the UMPI library. Cariani was a student of Smith’s at Presque Isle High School.
The theme of Voices in the North Country this year is “Finding Your Voice in Maine.” Designed for writers, literature lovers, and general enthusiasts, Voices in the North Country is an event that allows participants to hone their writing craft, meet fellow writers, and celebrate good writing. Voices has been held five times since 1994, most recently in 2019. Its aim has been to serve as a forum for aspiring writers, published authors, students, teachers, and the general public of New England and Eastern Canada to discuss various topics related to creative writing. Funding for the symposium was provided by UMPI’s Libra Distinguished Lecture Series and the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library. This year’s Voices has the distinction of serving as the kickoff to the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance’s statewide Maine Lit Fest.
Voices in the North Country begins on Oct. 3 in the Campus Center with an afternoon symposium starting at 1:30 p.m., with readings by John Cariani, Maine poet Kathleen Ellis, local poet Lloyd Archer, and UMPI students Aubrey Sinclair and Belen Dougherty, who are published in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Literary Journal, Upcountry. Following a break and book sales, there will be a panel discussion at 2:45 p.m., moderated by author Kathryn Olmstead, about the role of influences and place in the development of each panelist’s work. The day-long event also honors the UMPI Library’s receipt of the papers and artifacts of Glenna Johnson Smith, regular contributor to the local journal Echoes, and author of Old Maine Woman and Return of Old Maine Woman. Her son Melbourne will be present to discuss his mother’s legacy and may read from one of her works.
At 7 p.m. during his Libra Lecture, Cariani will read from his first full-length work of fiction, Almost, Maine-a novel, based on the play of the same name, and from a new short story from the world of Almost, Maine. He also will discuss Glenna Johnson Smith’s influence as a teacher of English and theater on his future career as an author and actor. Cariani has appeared on and off Broadway and in a number of films and television shows. He is best known for his first play, Almost, Maine, which has become one of the most popular plays in the United States and around the world and is notably the most frequently produced play in North American high schools. His other plays include LOVE/SICK, cul-de-sac, and Last Gas. Cariani resides in the Bronx, New York.
The University’s Libra Distinguished Lecture Series was established in 1999. Each year, the LDLS Committee sponsors four to six speakers who come from Maine and beyond, representing a range of disciplines and viewpoints. While the emphasis tends to be on featuring visiting academics, it is not exclusively so. The speakers typically spend two days at the University meeting with classes and presenting a community lecture.
Voices in the North Country culminates on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Reed Art Gallery with the opening reception for the exhibition Glenna Johnson Smith: Writer, Artist, Teacher. Family members will be in attendance to celebrate her life and work. Smith was born in 1920 in Ashville, Maine, in coastal Hancock County. In 1941, she graduated from the University of Maine, married, and moved to a farm in Easton, where she raised three sons. A teacher for many years, she was also heavily involved in the school and community theater productions. Her writing has appeared in Yankee magazine and other publications. She lived to the age of 100.
UMPI welcomes the campus and community to attend all of the Voices in the North Country events. For more information, contact Angelita Hernandez at 207-768- 9593 or email angelita.hernandez@maine.edu.