Belfast Maskers

The Belfast Maskers is an organization for the performing arts, devoted to a wide range of creative and challenging theater for the education and enjoyment of the community of both participants and audience members. We serve both educational and social needs by embracing people of all ages and experience levels, learning by doing and learning from each other. Inspired and organized by retired theater teacher Basil Burwell, Maskers had its first production in 1987. Since 1990 the group has been recognized as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit business. Maskers theater currently produces four to five shows per year staged at venues in Belfast and other nearby locations. We also offer Maskers Theater Camp for young performers each summer and an annual summer internship program for teens. More than 1,500 volunteers have participated in productions, many highly skilled professionals, others as a first time experience. All who wish to join this collaborate effort are welcome. Over the years Maskers and its volunteers have received much recognition from the broader community. This includes the 1996 Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce's "Outstanding Citizen Award" to founder Basil Burwell, followed in 2003 by the Chamber's "Business of the Year Award". 2007, Maskers' 20th Anniversary, brought two awards. First, the City Council declared July 26th "Belfast Maskers Day" in recognition of "…the contributions of Belfast Maskers Theater to the City of Belfast". The second, presented to then President of the Board, was a proclamation of thanks from the Maine Senate and House of Representatives for "…bringing edifying culture…to our great state," referring to her work with Maskers and the organization's impact on the community. The Maskers have been honored to be included among Waldo County's "Best of the Best! Thank you for selecting Maskers as the #1 local theater company in 2015 - And for the past five years!