McGRATHPR.com – The spring season bring the finest arts, entertainment and cultural education opportunities to the South Shore, Cape Cod and Boston regions.
Chase Away the Winter Blues
Saturday, January 26, 6 pm to 12 midnight
Boston Marriot Quincy, 1000 Marriot Drive, Quincy
Tables begin at $5,000, individual tickets at $250, which include the After Party.
After Party only tickets may be purchased for $100
South Shore Conservatory celebrates the 13th year of its Chase Away the Winter Blues gala. The festive evening is filled with music, dancing and celebration, and showcases the SSC faculty and the exceptional programs provided to the South Shore community. The event begins with a cocktail reception with an SSC faculty jazz quartet, followed by a seated dinner, outstanding music performances, and exciting live and silent auctions. Those who cannot attend the full gala, are welcome to join After Party starting at 9 pm, featuring great music with dance band East Coast Soul, and a piano bar. For tickets and sponsorship information, visit sscmusic.org or contact Donna Ryan, at d.ryan@sscmusic.org or 781-421-6162, ext. 207.
With a Little Help from My Friends
Friday, February 1, 7 pm
South Shore Conservatory, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham
Admission is free
South Shore Conservatory’s voice and piano department team up to make beautiful music together in this free collaborative concert, showcasing the talents of each department’s students. Open and free to the public.
Open Mic
Friday, February 8, 7 pm
South Shore Conservatory, 64 St. George Street, Duxbury
Admission is free for audience and SSC students, $10 for non-SSC performers
Teens take the stage at South Shore Conservatory’s Open Mic night. Students are welcome to perform, or just hang out and watch. It is an all-inclusive event with a variety of performances, including poetry, rock bands, musicians experimenting on new instruments, solos/duos, a student emcee, and more!
South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestra Concert
Sunday, February 10, 2 pm
Scituate High School, 606 Chief Justice Highway, Scituate
Admission free for students K-12, adults are $10, available at the door
South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestra (SSCYO) presents its annual winter concert, featuring collaborative piece Cecile Chaminade’s Scherzo Colombine with SSC’s dance department. Other repertoire includes arrangements of Mendelssohn’s War of the Priests, and Tchaikovsky’s Cossack Dance. SSCYO two levels of ensembles perform: Repertory (intermediate) and Symphony (advanced), in partnership with the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra.
Of Fur and Friends – A pajama concert celebrating winter
Friday, February 15, 5 pm Suzuki demonstration, 6 pm pajama concert
South Shore Conservatory, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham
Admission is $10 per family, payable at the door
Emily Hale and The Halfmoon Ensemble present a Pajama Concert about winter warmth. The cozy evening of French baroque music performed on historical instruments is wrapped up with Gabrielle Vincent’s well-loved Ernest & Celestine books. Music of Marais, Lully and Couperin.
Pajama Concerts share live chamber music and classic children’s literature in a relaxed and inclusive setting with children and their families. Join us before the concert, at 5 pm, for a Suzuki demo, including a chance to try out an instrument. Blankets, pillows, and favorite stuffed animals are welcome, and a bedtime snack follows!
Early American Music
Sunday, February 24, 4 pm
South Shore Conservatory, 64 St. George St, Duxbury
Tickets are $5 per person, students are admitted free
South Shore Conservatory’s Conservatory Concert Series, sponsored by Jane Carr, presents Early American Music, a concert of American colonial music in dialog with John Cage’s “44 Harmonies.” The concert features a faculty string quartet performing on a combination of period and modern instruments. Led by cellist Ben Swartz, the quartet also includes Daphne Manavopoulos and Emily Hale on violin, and Lauren Nelson on viola. For tickets or more information about Conservatory Concert Series performances, visit sscmusic.org/ccs/, or contact Beth MacLeod Largent at b.macleodlargent@sscmusic.org, or 781-421-6162, ext. 204
Love Songs from the Ages
Tuesday, February 26, 11 am
South Shore Conservatory, 64 St. George St, Duxbury
Admission is free
South Shore Conservatory’s Coffee Break Concert Series features love songs from all around the world, with the Bengisu Acoustic Trio, an ensemble comprised of Berklee College of Music graduate musicians from Turkey and Japan. Love Songs from the Ages tours the languages of love and music, showcasing songs from France, Italy, the United States, Turkey and Spain. Performers include Bengisu Onal, voice, Bengisu Gokce, violin and Emi Nishida, piano. Sponsored by The Village at Duxbury.
Open Mic
Friday, March 8, 7 pm
South Shore Conservatory, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham
Admission is free for audience and SSC students, $10 for non-SSC performers
Teens take the stage at South Shore Conservatory’s Open Mic night. Students are welcome to perform, or just hang out and watch. It is an all-inclusive event with a variety of performances, including poetry, rock bands, musicians experimenting on new instruments, solos/duos, a student emcee and more!
Spotlight on Percussion
Tuesday, March 26, 11 am
South Shore Conservatory, 64 St. George St, Duxbury
Admission is free
South Shore Conservatory’s Coffee Break Concert Series presents Spotlight on Percussion, a faculty performance featuring Marimba solos, ensemble pieces, solos, and a wide variety of percussion ranging from very rhythmic to more atmospheric/ethereal sounding. Performers include SSC’s Victoria Chang, Will Edmundson, Ted Sajdyk, Ed Sorrentino, and department chair Jesse Stiglich. Sponsored by The Village at Duxbury.
South Shore Conservatory Performathon 2019
Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 7, hours TBA
Barnes & Noble, Derby Street Shoppes, 96 Derby Street, Hingham
Admission is free
Performathon engages SSC students, parents and faculty in giving back by raising funds to support SSC’s tuition assistance program. During hundreds of family-friendly performances spanning four days, students of all ages and abilities perform for friends and family in a welcoming and familiar setting. This fun, meaningful and rewarding event showcases the hard work of our students and faculty through performances. The gathering of our community helps ensure that all students have access to SSC’s exceptional programs.
Duxbury Music Festival Preview Event
Sunday, April 7, 4 pm
Location TBD
South Shore Conservatory’s Duxbury Music Festival presents a Spring Preview Concert to give festival lovers a taste of the exquisite music they can expect from the Festival’s upcoming 14th summer season.
Solo Piano Classics with Mark Goodman
Tuesday, April 30, 11 am
South Shore Conservatory, 64 St. George St, Duxbury
Admission is free
South Shore Conservatory’s Coffee Break Concert Series presentsSolo Piano Classics with Mark Goodman. Playing the music of Mozart, Brahms and others, Mark brings the art and nuance of solo piano literature to life in this intimate performance, with commentary to engage the listener and bring greater depth of understanding to some of the most beloved pieces of the classical piano archive. Sponsored by The Village at Duxbury.
Graduating Seniors Recital
Friday, May 3, 7 pm
South Shore Conservatory, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham
Admission is free
South Shore Conservatory graduating seniors celebrate their years of musical accomplishment in concert.
South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestra Concert
Sunday, May 5, 2 pm
Duxbury Performing Arts Center, 73 Alden Street, Duxbury
Admission free for students K-12, adults are $10, available at the door
South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestra (SSCYO) presents its annual spring concert, open to the public. SSCYO is an auditioned, sequential youth orchestra program that provides an opportunity for dedicated young musicians to perform symphonic music at a high level in a well-organized and supportive full orchestra program. SSCYO two levels of ensembles perform: Repertory (intermediate) and Symphony (advanced), in partnership with the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra.
JRP Preview Event
Friday, May 10, 7 pm
Hingham Historical Society, 34 Main Street, Hingham
Tickets: TBA
South Shore Conservatory’s Jazz/Rock/Pop faculty present an evening of memorable music.
SSC Dance Department Spring Concert
Saturday, May 18, 2 pm
Pembroke High School Auditorium, 80 Learning Lane, Pembroke
Admission is $12 adults, free for students under 18, available at the door
SSC Dance Department students perform their year-end Spring Concert, featuring excerpts from the ballet Sleeping Beauty.
SSC Community Voices and SSC Community Voices, Too! Concert
Sunday, May 19
Location and time TBD
Admission is free
South Shore Conservatory’s SSC Community Voices and SSC Community Voices Too! choruses present their spring concert on Sunday, May 19. SSC Community Voices and SSC Community Voices Too! are non-auditioned choruses that provide joyful ensemble singing and performance opportunities to over 60 adults and young adults, many with developmental delays. These choruses are funded by the Cordelia Family Foundation.
Toe Tapping Tunes from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s
Thursday, March 14, 6 pm
Blueprint Medicines, 45 Sidney St, Cambridge
Admission is free
Renowned performing and recording artists The Follen Angels perform favorite classic rock and roll songs to get your feet tapping and put a smile on your face. Songs include Rock Around the Clock, Blue Suede Shoes, Tears on My Pillow, At Last, You Don’t Own Me, Last Dance and others.
A one-night-only, joyful concert, open to all and without cost to bring together the local lung cancer community, including patients, caregivers, researchers and investigators. Blueprint Medicines, a Cambridge-based precision therapy company focused on genomically defined cancers, rare diseases and cancer immunotherapy, joins with Upstage Lung Cancer, unique patient advocate organization that exclusively uses music and the performing arts to support lung cancer research. With both organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people with cancer, their partnership will create a special evening of hope, voice and collaboration through music. For more information, email info@UpstageLungCancer.org or mmurcia@Blueprintmedicines.com.
Here’s to the Ladies: From Lady Day to Lady Gaga
Thursday, April 18, 7:30 pm
The Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown
Tickets are $45 general seating, discounts are available
Complimentary tickets are available to lung cancer survivors
One wonderful evening celebrating the unforgettable music of exceptional ladies of song. Here’s to the Ladies features music of Lady Day (Billie Holiday) to Lady Gaga. Celebrated cabaret and jazz recording artists The Follen Angels, take center stage to benefit early detection lung cancer research. The performance showcases powerful and stellar superstar singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Madonna and others who use their voices to sing out and speak out. Hosted by WBZ’s celebrity radio personality Jordan Rich. Annie Sharkey, celebrated Boston cabaret artist, is a guest performer as is the award-winning Northeastern University a cappella group, NU Downbeats. Tickets are available at mosesianarts.org, for more information, visit UpstageLungCancer.org.
Immersed: A Photographic Exploration of Water – Exhibit by Photographer Laura J. Cardello
Currently on display through February 15
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Admission: Free, on view during business hours
Water, like emotion, is fluid, changing, ebbing and flowing. Imagery of water has long been used in literature and film to describe human experience and human emotion. Water is essential for life; it is part of each one of us, and we interact with it every day. It has the power to sustain us… or to drown us. Water can be destructive and fearsome; alternatively, it can be soothing and nurturing. Ice, steam, droplets, oceans, clouds – in many different forms, water is the perfect artistic metaphor for a wide range of emotions.
This project arises from a common theme that runs through Cardello’s photography: She hopes to take visitors on this journey with her, absorbed in emotion, captivated by water…immersed.
Masterworks for Piano Four-Hands with Heeyeon Chi and Victor Cayres
Sunday, January 27, 3:00 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Tickets: $30 Adults, $25 Seniors 65+, $15 Students
From the faculties of Boston University and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, award winning pianists Victor Cayres and Heeyeon Chi perform a Four Hands Piano Duo Concert of Classical Masterworks, including works by Dvorak, Mozart, Poulenc and Rachmaninoff.
Smart Phone Photography for Adults (ages 18+) with Professional Photographer David Lee Black
Saturday, February 2, 11 am to 1 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Admission: $25 per person, space is limited
Ever wonder how to take the perfect picture of a butterfly or how to catch the light just so as it filters through the trees? What about a great candid of your friends or family? Join professional photographer David Lee Black as he shows you exactly how to capture the moment with nothing more than your smartphone. David has photographed everything from the human form to landscapes, portraits to sculpture, and has taught others all over New England and beyond how to hone their skills. Now he joins us at the James to share his knowledge and unique style with you.
David Lee Black, an award-winning photographer, references the depth of the natural world and its inhabitants with his unique vision. Conveying not only light and shadow, David imparts a sense of storytelling folklore and a timeless mythology. Evoking emotion and the sense of being connected to abandoned places almost sacred, David’s images articulate emotional truths far beyond the scope of literal meaning. Class sponsored by Image Resolutions.
Mondays at the James: Starting Your Genealogy Journey
Presented by Kristen Cabral
Monday, March 4, 7 pm
Reservations recommended at (781) 659-7100 or jameslibrary@verizon.net; Admission is free, donations appreciated
Join professional genealogist Kristen Cabral of Trading Stories as she guides you through what you’ll need to know to get started on your genealogy journey. During this presentation, you’ll learn tips on organizing and preparing for research, common pedigree/family chart structure, how to get started on Ancestry.com, and research dos and don’ts.
Kristen Cabral was raised in Canton and became interested in her own genealogy 15 years ago. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and the Sandwich Historical Society in New Hampshire. Mondays at the James is sponsored by the Cordelia Family Foundation and South Shore Music Circus.
The James Library & Center for the Arts Spring Juried Show
Juried by Beth Urdang of Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston and Wellesley
Exhibition: March 8 to April 12; Opening reception: March 8, 6 to 8 pm
Beth Urdang Gallery is one of Boston’s leading exhibition galleries focusing on contemporary American paintings, works on paper and important secondary market works of the American Modernist period (1915-1945). Prior to opening the gallery on Newbury Street in Boston in 1989, Beth Urdang graduated with a BFA and MA in Painting and subsequently worked in New York as the Associate Director of the Zabriskie Gallery and served as the Director of Jeffrey Hoffeld & Co. from 1973-1984.
After 25 years, the Newbury Street gallery has re-located to the SoWa Arts District in the Boston’s South End. The Wellesley gallery is located at 16 Grove Street. In addition to outstanding solo exhibitions of contemporary art, theme exhibitions of museum quality – often spanning the period 1915 to the present – are a unique aspect of the gallery.
For more juror and gallery info, please visit to bethurdanggallery.com. For more information on this show and how to participate, please visit jameslibrary.org. Sponsored by The Frame Center in Hanover.
Hanz Araki-Campbell,
Winifred Horan and
Colleen Raney, courtesy images
Celtic Concert with Winifred Horan, Colleen Raney, and Hanz Araki-Campbell
Saturday, March 9, 7:30 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Tickets: $30 Adults, $25 Seniors 65+, $15 Students
Irish fiddler extraordinaire Winifred Horan brings her signature flare to the James with an evening of lively Celtic music alongside traditional Irish singer Colleen Raney, and singer and flute player Hanz Araki-Campbell. Formerly of Cherish the Ladies and Irish traditional music group Solas, Horan has traveled the world entertaining audiences with her fierce mastery of the fiddle and incredible vocals. Enjoy these Irish music all-stars as they entertain in the James’ beautiful and intimate performance hall. Sponsored by benefactors HUB International and the Monahan family, and partner Coastal Heritage Bank.
Sponsored by benefactors HUB International and the Monahan family, and partner Coastal Heritage Bank
Favorites from the Great American Songbook, 1920’s – 1970’s
Presented by Jack Craig
Monday, March 11, 2 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Admission is free, donations appreciated
Celebrate a kind of ‘best of’ songwriting by singing along with two dozen cherished songs from the American Songbook. From a few Roaring 20’s hits on to some classic Broadway and movie musical tunes . . . and even a few more modern classics, Jack Craig explores the songs that remind us of all the wonderful years of music in our lives. RSVP to jameslibrary@verizon.net if attending.
Lost Boston with Author Anthony Sammarco
Thursday, March 14, 7 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Tickets: $20 Adults, $10 Students
A limited number of free senior tickets are available, courtesy of the Cordelia Family Foundation by phone reservation at (781) 659-7100.
Join author and historian Anthony Sammarco for a nostalgic journey back in time to visit some of the disappeared buildings and places in all their grandeur, before the wrecking ball and decline set in. From the 1870s up to the present day, 68 different losses are represented here, including schools, churches, theaters, grand mansions, dockyards, racetracks, parks, stores, hotels, offices, and factories. Organized chronologically starting with the earliest losses and ending with the latest, the book features much-loved insitutions that failed to stand the test of time, along with old-fashioned hotels and sports facilities that were beyond updating or refurbishment. Sponsored by benefactors Axiom Architects and Wendy and Dan Bawabe.
Mondays at the James: Collage and Mixed Media Workshop
Presented by Karen Baker
Monday, April 1, 7 pm, reservations required by calling (781) 659-7100 or emailing jameslibrary@verizon.net
Admission is free, donations appreciated
Join award-winning artist Karen Baker of Hanover as she guides you through the art of collage making. Please bring small items such as pictures, newsprint, ribbons, or other materials you might like to incorporate into your artwork. If it can be glued, it can be used! The beauty of collage is it can be whatever you wish it to be. Materials provided, but please bring small items, pictures, newsprint, or other materials you might like to incorporate into your artwork. Mondays at the James is sponsored by the Cordelia Family Foundation and the South Shore Music Circus.
Mondays at the James: Maine Appalachian Trail 100-Mile Wilderness
Presented by Dexter
Robinson
Monday, April 8, 7 pm
Reservations recommended at (781) 659-7100 or jameslibrary@verizon.net
Admission is free, donations appreciated
In August of 2017, Dexter Robinson and three others backpacked the Maine Appalachian Trail 100-mile wilderness. The 100-mile wilderness is generally considered the wildest section of the entire 2,187-mile Appalachian Trail that runs from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. In this presentation, Dexter shares his preparation and experience backpacking this section of the Appalachian Trail using photos and a gear display.
Dexter Robinson is an avid four-season hiker. He is a longtime Appalachian Mountain Club member and for many years led AMC hikes and backpacks to various locations both local and throughout New England. He has climbed all 67 of New England’s four thousand foot mountains as well as the New Hampshire’s four thousand foot mountains in winter. He recently completed hiking Mt. Washington in every month. He has also hiked several mountains out west over 10,000 feet. Dexter is retired from the IT world and lives with his wife and daughter in Hanson. Mondays at the James is sponsored by the Cordelia Family Foundation and tSouth Shore Music Circus.
Weekend Classics Encore: Pianist Eleanor Perrone
Sunday, April 7, 3 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Admission is free, donations appreciated
Dynamic and versatile pianist Eleanor Perrone has captivated audiences at home and abroad with her imaginative programming and depth of artistry. From grand concert halls to community centers, Ms. Perrone is deeply committed to the visceral experience of live performance. Concerts of her extensive repertoire have consistently elicited rousing standing ovations, and her ability to communicate intensity or intimacy is as extraordinary as the music itself. Sponsored by Cordelia Family Foundation, the Douglas N. Perry Fund and Kathleen and Michael Vitale.
Story Slam: “I Can’t Believe I…” with Host Andrea Lovett
Friday, April 12, 7:30 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Tickets: $20 General Admission, $10 Students
A limited number of free senior tickets are available, courtesy of the Cordelia Family Foundation by phone reservation at (781) 659-7100.
Ever do something and wonder what the heck you were thinking? Share that story or participate by listening in. The theme for the evening’s storytelling is “I Can’t Believe I…”, all submissions are welcome.
Story Slams bring stories and people together. Storytellers share funny, emotional and sometimes heartbreaking tales, woven on the model of the popular Moth Radio Hour or NPR’s adored program This American Life. The audience and spoken word create a connection, tapping the power and intimacy that only storytelling in front of a live audience can bring. Modeled after poetry slams, story slams invite participants of all skill levels to share true stories in five minutes or less. Storytelling candidates register upon entry to the Story Slam, and ten participating storytellers will be chosen at random to share stories on the theme of “faux pas”. Audience members will vote on their favorite story and prizes will be awarded to the top three. Everyone has a story, what’s yours?
Renowned storyteller Andrea Lovett appears as host and emcee. Lovett has been performing and teaching storytelling professionally since 1992. From the moment she begins to speak, her audiences are caught up in the magic of story. She has appeared worldwide Sponsored by benefactors U.S. Wealth Management and Mortgage Corp. East.
“In Plain Sight” — Art Gallery Exhibition by Photographers Sue Scavo Gallagher and Janis Owens
Exhibition dates:
April 19 to May 15; Opening reception: April 19, 6 to 8 pm
Admission is free, donations appreciated
Join photographers and artists Sue Scavo Gallagher of Scituate and Janis Owens of Duxbury as they capture moments in time, and the subtleties of everyday life.
Tenor David Won and Pianist Timothy Steele
Monday, May 13, 7 pm
The James Library & Center for the Arts, 24 West Street, Norwell
Admission is free, donations appreciated
Tenor David Won is a popular recitalist and concert singer in the Greater Boston area. In April of 2018 he made his debuts to South Korea and Taiwan, in May of 2016 his European debut in recitals in Padova and Venzia Mestre, as well as a Cremona TV1 interview in Italy. He was a featured soloist at the 9/11 memorial service in 2015 at the Massachusetts Statehouse. In 2013 he was a featured soloist in the Great Mass in C Minor by Mozart with Chorus pro Musica and the New England Philarmonic, under the direction of Dr. Betsy Burleigh. Since December of 2014 he has coached regularly with Timothy Steele and has performed more than 50 full recitals.
Timothy Steele is an active vocal coach, collaborative
pianist, and conductor, and is currently in his twenty-seventh year on the
opera faculty at New England Conservatory. He has conducted for outreach tours
with the Boston Lyric Opera (more than 200 performances for school children)
and is a former music director for Opera Providence. He has served as
conductor/pianist for over 180 operatic productions with 33 companies,
including Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Symphony
Orchestra, Wolf Trap Opera, Central City Opera, and Opera Maine. In workshops
and rehearsals, he assisted the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Madame White Snake’s productions in
Boston and Taiwan.
He currently serves as producer of Milton Community Concerts and is the music
director/organist at historic First Parish Church in Milton. A native of Des
Moines, Iowa, Timothy received his Bachelor of Music from Drake University and
a Master of Music from the University of Southern California, where he studied
collaborative piano with Gwendolyn Koldofsky.
“Night & Day” — Art Gallery Exhibition by Artists Anthony Pilla and Dorothy Amore Pilla
Wood Block, Mixed Media and Digitally Altered Photography
Exhibition dates: May 17 to June 15; Opening reception: May 17, 6 to 8 pm
Sicilian Fantasy by Dorothy Amore Pilla
Admission is free, donations appreciated
Dorothy and Anthony, husband and wife, are longtime residents of Duxbury. Anthony is the Director of Arts Education at South Shore Art Center (SSAC) in Cohasset and both are instructors at SSAC as well. The title of the exhibit, “Night & Day,” represents the difference, independence and slight similarities in the work of this dynamic and unique couple.
For more information about The James Library’s programs and events, please call 781-659-7100, visit www.jameslibrary.org or follow our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra’s Afternoon of Chamber Music
Sunday, February 17, 3 pm
Conductor Matthew Scinto and Composer-in-Residence Francis Snyder Pre-Concert Discussion, 2:15 pm
Pilgrim Congregational Church, 533 Main Street, Rt. 28, Harwich Port
Tickets: $30 general admission in advance, $35 at the door, $15 for students ages 12 through college age, children under 12 are admitted for free
Complimentary reception immediately follows with an opportunity to meet the musicians
Members of the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Founding Conductor Matthew Scinto, are featured in An Afternoon of Chamber Music, offering performances of Mendelssohn’s riveting String Octet in E flat, the debut of new art songs by composer-in-residence Francis Snyder, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Saint-Saëns Fantaisie for Violin and Harp.
Composer Francis Snyder shares some thoughts about his new composition: “For my piece titled ‘Another’, I collaborated with Conductor Matt Scinto and Mezzo-Soprano Marissa Plati to select a text that was both interesting and fun. We settled on several riddles by Irish poet Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver’s Travels.” Snyder scored the piece for mezzo-soprano (Marissa Plati), viola (Sam Kelder), and piano (Matthew Scinto), taking inspiration from Swift’s home country of Ireland by borrowing from many Irish folk tunes. “The work is set in several movements, each its own riddle. Each riddle and movement pairing is titled simply ‘Another’, to allow the audience to enjoy the music, guess the answer to the riddle, or both!”
Program:
BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
SAINT–SAËNS Fantaisie for Violin & Harp
FRANCIS SNYDER Another: Riddles by Jonathan Swift
MENDELSSOHN String Octet in Eb Major
Violinist Jean Huang and Harpist Charles Overton are featured in Saint-Saëns Fantiasie for Violin and Harp, a piece written by Saint-Saëns in 1907, at age 72, while he enjoyed leisure time in the Italian Riviera.
Tickets are available at www.capecodchamberorchestra.org, by calling 508-432-1668, or at the door by cash or credit card. For more information visit www.capecodchamberorchestra.org, or email info@capecodchamberorchestra.org.
Folk and Gorey
Sunday, April 14, 3 pm
Pilgrim Congregational Church, 533 Main Street, Rt. 28, Harwich Port
Tickets: $35 general admission in advance, $15 for students ages 12 through college age, children under 12 are admitted for free
Complimentary reception immediately follows with an opportunity to meet the musicians
Composer-in-Residence Francis Snyder returns for his last concert of 2019 with Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, directed by Founding Conductor Matthew Scinto. A project with the Edward Gorey House explores illustrations and stories from this local talent, a nearly lifelong native of Yarmouth. Folk and Gorey features tenor Joshua Collier, hailed as a “great Italian tenor on the make” by Boston Classical Scene, performing Britten’s stirring Les Illuminations. Folk music flows through the rest of the program, with music of Bartok and Grieg.
Program:
GRIEG Two Nordic Songs
BRITTEN Les Illuminations
SNYDER Commissioning Project
BARTOK Romanian Folk Dances
Tickets are available at www.capecodchamberorchestra.org, by calling 508-432-1668, or at the door by cash or credit card. For more information visit www.capecodchamberorchestra.org, or email info@capecodchamberorchestra.org.
Some Enchanted Evening: A Valentine’s Gala Benefit
Saturday, February 16, 7 pm
Wellfleet Preservation Hall, 335 Main Street, Wellfleet
Tickets: $50 per person, includes post-performance reception with champagne and dessert bites
Love is in the air with Opera Theater of Cape Cod’s Valentine’s weekend benefit concert Some Enchanted Evening: A Valentine’s Gala. Joseph Turbessi serves as music director, and Ethan DePuy is stage director. Black-tie dress is encouraged, but optional. Proceeds from the performance fund expenses for the company’s production of La Bohème, performing this summer.
This night of exquisite opera music and captivating musical theater favorites is a perfect celebration opportunity for Valentine’s Day aficionados. With a program centered around love and all its variations, the concert features select works of Verdi, Dvorak, Rodgers, Sondheim, Gounod and Puccini. Performing artists include Isabelle Zeledón, soprano, Eileen Christiansen, mezzo-soprano, Fausto Miro, tenor, and Thomas Lynch, baritone.
Program:
VERDI Libiamo! from La Traviata
DVORAK Song to the Moon from Rusalka
ROGERS Bench Scene from Carousel
SONDHEIM Agony from Into the Woods
GOUNOD Quartet from Faust
SONDHEIM Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music
PUCCINI A scene from La Bohème
RODGERS Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific
To purchase tickets, visit Brown Paper Tickets online at bpt.me/4052729. To learn more about the venue, visit wellfleetpreservationhall.org. For more information about Opera Theater of Cape Cod, visit operatheaterofcapecod.com.
Minusworld Album Release Party
Friday, February 1, 7:30 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets: $20 adults, $15 students
Dance the night away with Boston-based synthrock band Minusworld at their album release show. Formed in 2005, Minusworld loves big, high-energy synth/guitar riffs matched with driving dance and rock rhythms. Fronted by Melissa Carubia on vocals and keytar, Michael Hawver on guitar, John Fraley on bass and Dave Green on drums, the band performs tracks that emphasize fun and nerd-nostalgia. “Mini-Songs” are performed throughout – short covers of famous video game, television, and movie themes. Their EP titled Giant Blazing Sword features this style in “Black Lion”: a song about the trials and tribulations of Voltron (Defender of the Universe). Minusworld has appeared at Boston’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy convention Arisia, and at the MAGFest Jamspace stage at PAX East. Joined by local bands The New Band and Not Today, it’s sure to be a party for all ages! Cash Bar provided by Cocktails.
Green Day’s American Idiot
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell February 8
through 17, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8 pm; Sunday 3 pm
Tickets: $44
A critical smash on Broadway and in London, the two-time Tony Award® winning hit musical American Idiot tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Based on Green Day’s Grammy® Award-winning multi-platinum album and featuring the hits “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, “21 Guns”, “Wake Me Up When September Ends”, “Holiday”, and the blockbuster title track, “American Idiot” boldly takes the American musical where it’s never gone before. **Note: Contains strong language and drug references.
The Dinosaur Quest of Dr. T-Rex!
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell Wednesday, February
20 at 1 pm and 4 pm
Tickets: $22 adults, $18 kids
“Prehysterical” family fun abounds during school vacation week with The Dinosaur Quest of Dr. T-Rex!! Join well-versed, one of a kind paleontologist Dr. T-Rex as he incorporates six large, highly realistic and life-like dinosaur puppets into a delightfully funny and educational show. Filled with audience participation, the unexpected, and lots of prehistoric mischief and mayhem, perfect for anyone who loves dinosaurs.
Mutts Gone Nuts
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell Thursday, February
21, 1 pm and 4 pm; Friday, February 22, 1 pm
Tickets: $24 adults, $20 kids
Come to the ‘Canine Cabaret’ with Mutts Gone Nuts, a hilarious pack of talented rescue dogs led by Scott and Joan Houghton. This training team has created a professional dog thrill show like no other. Meet incredible high flying frisbee dogs, tight wire dogs, the one and only Sammie the Talking Dog, and Geronimo, a Guinness world record holder! Photos may be taken after the performance with the furry stars for a cash donation to Scituate Animal Shelter.
Late Night Catechism 2: Sister Strikes Back
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell Saturday, February 23,
4 and 7:30 pm; Sunday, February 24, 3 pm
Admission: $30
Sister is BACK, and it’s up to her to save the souls of those assembled – aka the audience! Beginning with an overview of heaven and hell as a Catholic version of Chutes and Ladders and moving onto her proclamation of new sins for the new millennium, Sister is never hesitant to tell us where we’ve gone wrong. (Needless to say, excessive tattooing and piercing are right up there with pornographic websites and dining at Hooters.) And never doubt that Sister can provide a list of every celebrity currently sharing digs with the devil. No one is excused from Sister’s firm belief that “Sometimes we feel guilty because we are guilty.” “…The humor is non-denominationally funny, laugh-out-loud hilarious…” – Backstage.
Evita
March 15 through 31, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Admission: $44
The Tony Award® winner for best musical, Evita is the smash pop opera that follows Eva’s passionate rise to power from the streets of her youth in a rural province outside Buenos Aires, to show business stardom, to becoming the most powerful female political figure in Argentina—the wife of the president Juan Perón. Evita features classic songs from lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber including “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, “Oh What a Circus”, “Buenos Aires”, and “Another Suitcase in Another Hall”. Revered as a saint, cursed as a devil, Eva Perón’s dramatic, meteoric rise from poverty to prosperity is a groundbreaking and heart-wrenching depiction of populism, politics, and celebrity.
Singalong The Sound of Music
Saturday, April 6, 7:30 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Admission: $10
The hills are alive! Calling all nuns, goat herders, baronesses, and kids wearing drapes: this event is destined to be one of your favorite things! Get ready to yodel because this is your chance to sing-along to the most successful movie of all time, The Sound of Music. This is not just an opportunity to see the classic movie on the big screen; it’s a major audience participation event with subtitles for all the songs and a costume contest!
Disney’s Newsies
April 18 through 28, matinee and evening performances available on select dates at 3 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Admission: $22 adults, $18 students
Newsies is the rousing true story of the 1899 Newsboy Strike has been recreated from the Disney film for the stage by the amazing team of Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray, Kinky Boots) and Alan Menken (Legally Blonde, Beauty and the Beast). Jack Kelly is the rebellious and charismatic newsboy who dreams of a better life for himself and his pals, who survive by living on the streets and selling the daily newspaper. When publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike for what’s right! Featuring high energy dance, non-stop thrills, a catchy score, and a timeless message, Newsies is the perfect musical for the whole family.
ABBAMania!
Saturday, May 4, 4 pm and 8 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Admission: $30
ABBAMania!, hailed as the world’s number one tribute production, features a special concert presentation, reviving memories of when ABBA ruled the airwaves. If you’re looking for an excuse to party, reminisce, or simply be entertained by the best music ever, then this is for you! Dig out those platforms, dust off those flares, and enjoy all your favorites including: “Mamma Mia”, “Dancing Queen”, “Super Trouper” and many more!
Memories of the Rat Pack
Saturday, May 11, 4 pm and 8 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Admission: $30
Memories of the Rat Pack is a celebration of the lives and music of its three most famous members: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. In a recreation of the famous nightclub act at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, we learn about the men behind the legend and enjoy 30 of their more popular songs including “The Lady Is A Tramp”, “Luck Be A Lady”, “That’s Amore”, and “New York, New York”.
World Dance Party Benefit Night
Saturday, March 23, at 7 pm
Players Sports Bar & Grille, 86 VFW Drive, Rockland
Admission: $50 per person for adults 21 and over
Ticket bundles: 6 tickets for $250, 10 tickets for $400
The Kerry Jon Walker Fund’s World Dance Party benefit night inspires fans to shake off the winter doldrums and join the fun for a great cause! Adult fans dance to the world music beat of award-winning Afro-Pop stars Kalifa & Koliba. Guests enjoy a buffet of hearty appetizers, games, raffles, a silent auction, tons more surprises! A “Balloon Pop” allows guests to win original art and crafts from Africa. All proceeds support the fund’s mission to helping humanity and supporting those affected by poverty, including mission service trips for teens supporting sustainable programs to improve health, education, and economic opportunity for those in need.
The Kerry Jon Walker Fund provides financially challenged urban teen students the opportunity to create global objectivity and travel abroad in charitable service. To date, the Fund has sponsored 20 students mission trips to Rwanda, where they served 500 orphaned teens at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. While providing service to this community abroad, the Boston teens, most never having never traveled out of the country, gained a new understanding of the developing world.
Admission to the World Dance Party is available online by advance registration at thekerryfund.org/events-1/, and at the door. To learn more or support the Kerry Jon Walker Fund, email mikey@thekerryfund.org, or visit thekerryfund.org.
20th Anniversary Season Celebration: Mozart Requiem
Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 pm
St. Bonaventure Parish, 803 State Road, Plymouth
Sunday, April 28 at 4:00 pm
Scituate Center for Performing Arts, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Scituate
Co-Artistic Directors William B. Richter and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $15 for students over 14, children age 14 and under admitted free
Pilgrim Festival Chorus launches its 20th season with two celebratory concerts with orchestra. Spring repertoire includes Mozart’s masterwork Requiem, one of the best-known choral pieces ever composed, and a setting of John Dryden’s poem, Ode to Saint Cecilia, by Massachusetts composer Clifton J. Noble. The Ode was commissioned by the Assabet Valley Mastersingers in 1998 as a companion piece to Mozart’s Requiem, a fitting companion for this concert series.
This season’s inaugural performance at the Scituate Center for Performing Arts features a collaboration with Scituate High School’s Select Choir under the direction of four-decade educator and PFC Co-Artistic Director William B. Richter. The Select Choir is an auditioned ensemble of nearly 60 high school singers whose spring curriculum immersed them in these works is the classroom. The partnership results in a performance featuring more than 140 multi-generational voices, a landmark achievement for the Chorus, as well as an extraordinary learning opportunity for both the students and adult singers. The collaboration is supported in part by a grant from Scituate Cultural Council, in addition to funds contributed by several other regional Cultural Councils.
Since 1999, PFC has delighted South Shore audiences with classical programming. More than 80 vocalists of all adult ages fill out the ensemble, dedicated to authentic choral singing. Advance tickets and more information is available at pilgrimfestivalchorus.org; and from PFC members. To reserve tickets by phone, call Gail at (781) 826-8416.
Film Making
February 18 through 22, 9 am to 5 pm
Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth
Program Fee: $250 per student
In the February vacation program that welcomes students of all ages, Film Making teaches the mechanics of shooting a short movie – from being behind the camera or behind the scenes working as the director, camera operator, sound person, make up, hair and more. Every student has an active role in the movie making script written by our “Screen Writing” class. The final cut movie will be shown during a red carpet movie premiere, date to be announced.
The Reluctant Dragon
Sunday, March 3, 2 pm
Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth
Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for children, available at the door
Americana Theatre Company’s Studio Americana youth performing arts program presents the family-friendly production The Reluctant Dragon. Widget and his pal Hairytoes discover a dragon lurking a cave. Their secret is exposed by neighborhood bullies, the Grody Gobsters. Suddenly the entire town is whipped into a fury and the cry goes up: “The Dragon Must be Slayed!”
Studio Americana’s mission is to develop talent, inspire creativity, and prepare students to activate their dreams. They offer premiere training in theatre and musical theatre for students at affordable rates.
For complete Studio Americana program descriptions, schedules, pricing, and other information, visit www.americanatheatre.org, or call 508-591- 0282.
Hull Artists’ Gallery Nantasket Valentine’s Celebration Reception
Friday, February 8, 6 to 8 pm, exhibit on display through February 28 during business hours
Gallery Nantasket, Ground Floor of Ocean Place Condominiums, 121 Nantasket Avenue, Hull
Admission is free
Hull Artists, a regional arts association of more than 90 fine artists and craft artisans celebrating more than 23 years on the South Shore, presents an after-hours Valentine’s Celebration Reception. The reception is free and open to the public with light fare and refreshments served. The gallery’s latest collection of fine art, artisan crafts and unique gifts is on display and available for purchase during business hours through February 28.
The public is welcome to meet Hull Artists members at its Valentine’s Celebration Reception, many with work currently on exhibit in the Gallery, and learn about their art. Unique gift items including fine art, photography, fiber arts, painting and jewelry produced by twenty-one local artists is available for viewing and purchase. Visitors have the opportunity to find unique gifts for their special someone, many with a Valentine or love theme.
Hull Artists rotates Gallery Nantasket’s exhibits quarterly for a fresh look at local featured member artists’ work, allowing visitors to enjoy the artists’ full range of creativity through a variety of mediums and styles, many of which are inspired by the land and seascapes of the beautiful seaside community.
Founded in 1995, Hull Artists is dedicated to promoting and supporting the locally produced fine art and artisan crafts of its members. Its Gallery Nantasket exhibits a full range of fine art works, including painting media (oil, acrylic, watercolor), pastels, pencil drawings, photography, as well as artisan-crafted jewelry, fiber and fabric arts, clothing, wreaths, baskets, pottery, cards and more. The artists express their creativity through a variety of materials, including leather, fiber, wood, metal, canvas, glass, clay, paper and shells. Visitors are always greeted by an exhibiting artist at the gallery desk, HA members, well versed in each exhibitor’s work, as well as their own art on display. HA sponsors exhibits and events and offers workshops in a wide array of creative disciplines.
For more information visit hullartists.com, email gallerynantasket@gmail.com or call 781-780-1188.
Michelle McGrath PR | Media Relations provides visibility for the arts, small business and non-profits, mcgrathpr.com
