Opera House at Boothbay Harbor technical director, actor and pianist Kevin Kiley is in the “Holidays” issue of Down East magazine. Sara Ann Donnelly’s article ““Gingerbread Man” tells of Kiley’s many years as gingerbread house architect extraordinaire.

“I wasn't really thinking it was going to be just about me. I thought it was going to be about the gingerbread event, we get asked about that all the time. It kind of turned into a story about me which I wasn't expecting.” Kiley said the story was a pleasant surprise in the pandemic, amid the pressures of keeping the venue going and producing quality entertainment for audiences that must be held to an eighth of capacity.

“I think it's important to make it known that you're surviving through this time. That it is very exciting, the Opera House is still vital, it's still doing things that are important for the community, it's still trying to make a contribution to the arts. So, the attention from Down East is great.”

The Gingerbread Spectacular raises money to keep the Opera House going, said Kiley. He has been involved since the event began, and he said it continues to grow. Kiley said Down East caught wind of the Spectacular because Opera House Executive Director Cathy Sherrill sent out the holiday schedule.

“They picked up on this to write a story and instead of just the event, they wanted to do it about a person … The attention and acknowledgment is very nice.”

While the feature was not about the Opera House and its concerts, Kiley said it was good to have a story “because we are much more than just our concerts.”

He also said seeing himself on the magazine’s pages was a little surreal.

“I remember going through my parents' Down East when I was a kid and it was just such a great testament of Maine life. I would go through and read the stories that had Maine history, about the towns in Maine. Then, I would go in the real estate section and look at mansions I would own someday – which of course never happened. So, I've known Down East since I was a kid, so to have a story in it is a thrill.”