Given today's kids' widespread exposure to IMAX theaters and shocking facility with YouTube and iPad apps, you have to wonder how much longer laser shows will appeal. If kids abandon them, perhaps the split could reunite domed light shows with certain vanguards of the contemporary art world. Just last year the Southworth hosted a concert by indie drone-rock duo Planets Around the Sun — that band now tour musical installation-performances around the country. I could see several of Portland's more adventurous musical outfits performing (or presenting) their albums here, and maybe with the right training, some of its filmmakers and tech-heavy visual artists might be interested in projecting work onto the dome ceiling too. The Southworth might agree: Boston-based ambient guitarist Rob Byrd plays there March 3. Could be even more adult than Metallica.

Nicholas Schroeder can be reached at nschroeder@phx.com.

LASER FEST | through Feb 26 | Southworth Planetarium, 70 Falmouth St, Portland | 207.780.4249 |  usm.maine.edu/planet

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