Anything Helps God Bless
by Al D'Andrea & MK Wolfe and the AHGB Ensemble
directed by Al D'Andrea
September-October 2017
A world premiere production
Panhandlers versus the City of Portland. The conscience of a community is tested when Portland residents must come to grips with conflicted feelings about homelessness, giving, and individual freedom, as the proposal of a simple public safety ordinance unleashes a torrent of passionate, sometimes outrageous response from all sides that ultimately leads to a heated court battle over Constitutional rights. This 100% true tale of the Portland median strip controversy is told in the voices of those involved: mayors, city councilors, advocates, lawyers, police, neighborhood association heads, the press, and of course, the panhandlers themselves.
Cast
Harlan Baker
Cathy Counts
Tom Handel
Rene Goddess Johnson
Patricia Mew
Eric Norgaard
Bob Pettee
Mary Randall
Pat Scully
Nick P. Soloway
Eric Darrow Worthley
Stories and Reviews
Play tells Portland panhandlers' story in their own words | Portland Forecaster
Play about Portland's panhandling debate takes the stage | Maine Sunday Telegram
Street Theater: Snowlion's 'Anything Helps God Bless' Reckons with Homelessness in Portland | Portland Phoenix
Dramatic Take on Panhandling Pays Off | Portland Press Herald
The Fall Theater Season is Here | Portland Phoenix
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Video
Anything Helps God Bless on NBC news magazine 207 (VIDEO) | 207 on WCSH Channel 6
Anything Helps God Bless on CBS news channel 13 with Kim Block (VIDEO) | WGME Channel 13
Anything Helps God Bless on WGAN radio show Positively Maine with Tory Ryden (AUDIO) | WGAN Positively Maine
This new play tackles Portland's failed panhandling ordinance (VIDEO) | Bangor Daily News