City: Portland, ME

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (207) 842-0800 (tickets)

Address: 20 Myrtle Street

Description: The Merrill Auditorium at City Hall has been a staple of the Portland arts scene for nearly a century. In 1997 the city completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of this 1,900-seat auditorium, which improved the acoustics and the view of the stage. Merrill Auditorium, or “the Merrill” as it is known to locals, dates back to 1912. It is the home theater for the Portland Symphony Orchestra and also regularly hosts first-rate touring shows, including Broadway productions, opera, and performances from legends like the late Ray Charles and Bruce Hornsby. The Merrill is also the permanent home of the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, a 5,000-pipe instrument that was donated by publishing tycoon Cyrus Curtis in 1912. The Merrill hosts frequent organ recitals to spotlight the instrument. Tours of the Merrill are available on request.