Lincoln Theater is pleased to continue celebrating its remarkable milestone of 150 years with a screening of the 1925 horror classic “The Phantom of the Opera,” playing on the big screen Sunday, March 29. “The Phantom of the Opera” is the second installment in a three-film series celebrating the silent film era and is being presented with live piano accompaniment by Maine musician and composer Doug Protsik.

Celebrating the era of silent films showcases the enduring appeal of early cinema. Each selected film in the series represents a different genre and features live piano, in the tradition of historic movie theaters. The first film in the series, the comedy classic “The General” (1927) played on the big screen in February and drew an enthusiastic audience.

“The Phantom of the Opera,” represents the horror genre, telling the story of Christine Daaé, an aspiring young opera singer who discovers she has a mysterious admirer determined to help her become a leading performer. This masked and disfigured admirer known as the Phantom, lives beneath the Paris Opera House. When he takes Christine prisoner and demands her devotion, her suitor, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny, sets out to rescue her.

Lincoln Theater is thrilled to welcome “old-time piano” player, Doug Protsik, back to the stage to accompany each film in the three-part series. Director of the Maine Traditional Music Association and Maine Fiddle Camp, Doug is a lifelong musician who began piano lessons at age five. He has performed "old-time piano" since the early 1970s, composing, performing, and recording original scores for silent films. He has accompanied countless screenings throughout Maine and has created 12 new “old-time piano” scores for silent movie restoration projects broadcast on Turner Classic Movies. Protsik's scores aim to capture the character of each film while enhancing the action on screen, including playful "musical jokes" woven into each performance.

Silent films, produced from the mid-1890s through the late 1920s, represent a foundational era in cinema. Although historians estimate that more than 75 percent of silent films have been lost to neglect and deterioration, the surviving works continue to be preserved and celebrated for their artistic depth and lasting influence on modern filmmaking. Experiencing these films with live musical accompaniment at Lincoln Theater offers audiences a chance to enjoy them as moviegoers did more than a century ago in the early days of Damariscotta’s beloved theater.

One screening only: Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for Lincoln Theater members, and $5 for youth ages 18 and under. All proceeds go to support the Celebration of 150 Years at Lincoln Theater, located at 2 Theater Street in the heart of downtown Damariscotta.

More information is available online at www.LincolnTheater.org or by contacting the theater office at info@LincolnTheater.org or 563-3424.