McGRATHPR.com – As colorful leaves begin to drift throughout New England, so do the finest arts, entertainment and cultural opportunities in the Greater Boston, South Shore, and Cape Cod regions and beyond. Enjoy all that’s ahead this season!
A Swingin’ Affair All-Star Big Band
The Best is Yet to Come: A Swingin’ Affair’s All-Star Tribute to Sinatra
Saturday, October 25, 7:00 pm
Scituate Center for Performing Arts, Scituate High School, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy, Scituate
Tickets: $40 for general adult seating, $25 for students/seniors/groups, at tinyurl.com/24x2t8au, or at the door
In honor of Frank Sinatra’s timeless music returning to Billboard 200’s “Top 10” albums in 2025, A Swingin’ Affair presents 25 of Sinatra’s top hits, the voice of a generation, dovetailed among captivating stories of the “Rat Pack,” a little ol’ blue-eyes banter, and tunes served straight up with a twist from the Chairman of the Board’s swoon music anthology. “The Best is Yet to Come” features greater Boston’s all-star professional performing artists, convened in captivating swing and song – a rare opportunity! Revel in 16 inspired instrumentalists as they dive into the toe tappin’ Great American Songbook, showcasing the legendary tunes of Frank Sinatra and more. Swoon over the huge swingin’ sound of professional frontman vocalist Donnie Norton, and special guest vocalist Sarah Bass, as bandleader Steve Bass brings all the class, fun, and excitement of Sinatra’s soundstage to you! Hit songs include “Fly Me To the Moon” and “I’ve Got The World On A String,” “New York, New York,” and so much more, delivered with a twist from the circa-authentic stage set. No big band concert would be complete without a little dancing in the aisles, so wear your dancing shoes, and sway the night away!
The Company Theatre
Late Night Catechism Las Vegas: Sister Rolls the Dice
Saturday, September 20, 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm
The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets are $44, available at companytheatre.com
The latest class in the sinfully funny Catechism series. The church needs a new roof, so Father Murphy has decided that Sister, with her extensive gambling experience running the Church Bingo for the last 25 years, will organize a Las Vegas Night! Sister will tackle topics ranging from magicians to showgirls. Don’t forget: “What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas,” but God sees everything!
Life is Short – Wear Your Party Pants
Sunday, September 28, 4:00 pm
The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets are $79 premium, $44-$54 standard, available at companytheatre.com
Join us for an entertaining afternoon with Loretta LaRoche, an internationally acclaimed stress expert, humorist, author, speaker, and TV personality. In “Life Is Short—Wear Your Party Pants,” Loretta provides the tools to not only reduce feelings of tension but also to bring joy, passion, and gusto into your life. Her techniques are a brilliant blend of old-world common sense and contemporary research in brain chemistry, psychology, and mind-body studies. Loretta gives you dozens of proven techniques for recognizing the ten simple truths that will lead you to an intense, happy, successful life.
The Cottage
Select Thursdays through Sundays, October 11 through 26, matinees at 3 pm, evening performances at 7:30 pm
The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets are $48 Premium, $42 Standard, available at companytheatre.com
This side-splitting romp is an outrageous tale of sex, betrayal, and love. Set in the English countryside in 1923, Sylvia decides to expose her affair to both her husband and to her lover’s wife. The true meaning of fate, identity, and marriage are called into question as a surprising and hilarious web of secrets unravels in this ridiculous – potentially murderous – romantic comedy.
Madagascar
Friday, November 7, 7:30 pm, Saturday & Sunday, November 8 & 9, 1:00 and 4:00 pm
The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets $41 Premium, $34 Standard, available at companytheatre.com
Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. follows Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo, and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins, as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
Founded in 1979 by Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman, The Company Theatre (TCT) is an award-winning regional theatre, a true treasure of Boston’s South Shore. The destination center for the arts produces musicals, plays, youth productions, and a concert and special event series annually, attracting more than 35,000 patrons. The Academy of Company Theatre (ACT) offers year-round technical training in voice, acting, dance, film and more to both youth and adults, and the heart of ACT – its renowned summer workshop.
The Company Theatre’s widely acclaimed integrity is rooted in presenting highly trained and dedicated actors, live music performances, lavish costuming, elaborate set work, as well as its outstanding educational programs. Its staff and artistic team are on a continuous quest for excellence by producing passionate, energetic, and professional quality performances. TCT attributes its success to its long-time dedicated staff and artisans who are proud to bring their craft to loyal patrons.
The Company Theatre’s box office is open on Mondays from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm, and two hours before each performance. For more information, visit companytheatre.com, email boxoffice@companytheatre.com, call 781-871-2787, or follow The Company Theatre on social media.
Social Justice Choir of Southeastern Massachusetts
Social Justice Choir’s Facebook Page
Social Justice Choir of Southeastern Massachusetts Fall Festival
Singer rehearsals: Saturday, November 8, 8:30 am to 4 pm, and Sunday, November 9, 1 to 3 pm
Concert: Sunday, November 9, at 4 pm,
Bridgewater State University’s Horace Mann Auditorium, 131 Summer St., Bridgewater.
The festival welcomes both experienced and novice singers to join the combined ensembles of Bridgewater State University (BSU), the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMD), and community participants.
This fall, the choir’s repertoire includes Elaine Hagenberg’s “Refuge,” the traditional protest song “We Shall Not be Moved,” “Nia” from Nguzo Saba’s Suite op. 41, no. 5; and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gary Barlow’s “Sing,” featuring participating youth singers in a tribute to resilience and unity. Audiences will also enjoy a lively rendition of the Doobie Brothers’ 1970s hit “Listen to the Music.”
SJCSM’s “Fall Festival” also launches two community support drives. Shelf-stable food items will be collected for the BSU and UMD food banks. The “Warmth in Cold Places” project, in partnership with Bridgewater’s First Congregational Church UCC, collects coats and cold-weather clothing for those in need. Attendees and participants interested in supporting these drives can bring donations items to the festival performance, or to Hunt Hall room 115, 26 School St., Bridgewater.
Singers may register to join the choir at tinyurl.com/ynf3d4xw. The SJC is open to community members of all ages and ability levels, welcoming everyone. Participation in the Fall Festival is free. Rehearsals are held on the Bridgewater State University campus, at Rondileau Student Union room 017e, on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7 pm throughout the semester, and on the UMass Dartmouth campus at 11:00 am in Room 104 at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA).
To register to participate in the “Fall Festival,” visit tinyurl.com/bdzz77hj. Audience members may arrive prior to the performance time on Sunday, November 9 at 4 pm. The Horace Mann auditorium is fully accessible. Free parking is available in the Boyden Hall parking lot, and paid parking is available in the Spring Street Parking Lot and the Commuter Parking Garage. Visitors can use the Passport Parking app to pay for hourly or daily parking. Paid ADA-compliant parking spaces are available for visitors with the proper placard.
Admission to the performance is free of charge, donations to support the choir’s mission are gratefully accepted. For more information, contact Dr. Sarah McQuarrie by email at smcquarrie@bridgew.edu, or follow the Social Justice Choir of Southeastern Massachusetts on Facebook.
Founded in 2022, the Social Justice Choir of Southeastern Massachusetts (SJCSM) is an intergenerational ensemble led by Dr. Ronald Sherwin of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Dr. Sarah McQuarrie of Bridgewater State University. The choir brings together university and community singers to explore music as a catalyst for positive change, programming works by underrepresented composers and exploring themes of justice, equity, and social responsibility. In addition to presenting powerful concerts, the choir engages in service projects and a “Fall Festival” each season to create tangible impact in the community, demonstrating its belief that singing can both inspire and transform.
Singers may register to join SJCSM at tinyurl.com/ynf3d4xw. The choir is open to community members of all ages and ability levels. Rehearsals are held on the Bridgewater State University campus, at Rondileau Student Union room 017e, on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7 pm throughout the semester. For more information, contact Dr. Sarah McQuarrie by email at smcquarrie@bridgew.edu, or follow the Social Justice Choir of Southeastern Massachusetts on Facebook.
Plymouth Center for the Arts
58th Annual Juried Art Show Competition & Exhibition
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North Street, Plymouth
Opening Celebration and Fundraiser Saturday, September 13, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
$60 per person
Exhibit On View: September 13 through October 19
Hours: Weds. through Sat., 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sun., 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Admission is free
This year marks the 58th Annual Juried Art Show. To kick off the exhibit, we invite you to the festive Opening Night Celebration and Fundraiser.
You won’t want to miss this event! View the show while sipping a Signature Cocktail and mingling with artists & friends. Enjoy gourmet appetizers and desserts, groove to the music of the John Stein Trio, and participate in both a silent and rollicking “live” auction to benefit Plymouth Center of the Arts.
Art In Bloom
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North Street, Plymouth
Opening Celebration: Friday, September 26, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
$20 per person
Exhibit On View: September 26 through September 28
Hours: Weds. through Sat., 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sun., 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Admission is free
Floral Interpretations of Art from the 58th Annual Juried Art Show created by local Garden Clubs. Enjoy delicious small bites and sip a glass of wine while you view this extraordinary exhibit. A Raffle will be held to win a beautiful floral arrangement. Proceeds to benefit Plymouth Center for the Arts!
Visual Inverse 2025: An Ekphrastic Event
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North Street, Plymouth
Reading and Opening Reception: Sunday, October 12, 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Exhibit on View: October 12 through October 19
Hours: Weds. through Sat., 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sun., 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Admission is free
A Live Reading of Poetry inspired by Artwork from the 58th Annual Juried Art Show.
Artisan Shop
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North Street, Plymouth
Weekly, during gallery hours, Weds. through Sat., 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sun., 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Haven’t been to the Plymouth Center for the Arts Artisan Shop yet? What are you waiting for?! The shop carries a wide variety of items, all made by our artists. Where else can you get affordable gifts that are one of a kind, from artwork to handmade jewelry to clothing and trinkets and much more? There is no better place to shop for gifts or something special for yourself.
Plymouth Center for the Arts (PCA) had it beginnings some 55 years ago as the Plymouth Outdoor Art Show (a.k.a. the Tent Show) on the waterfront in Brewster Gardens. This annual art show quickly became a tremendous success attracting artists and visitors from all over the region, with 20 years on the waterfront and then moving to several different locations until 2008 when the organization opened Plymouth Center for the Arts on North Street in the historic Russell Library.
Today the Plymouth Center for the Arts offers 10 to 12 gallery shows throughout the year in three separate galleries. The PCA also offers a wide variety classes and workshops geared towards both young and adult students. Located just steps from Plymouth Rock and Plymouth’s waterfront on historic North St., the beautifully restored 1902 Russell Library gallery and the 18th century Lindens building possess uncommonly elegant gallery spaces and diverse work created by regional artists. The PCA is a wonderful place to visit! Admission is free and the center is open to the public from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm weekdays and Saturday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday. For more information, call (508) 746-7222, or visit artsplymouth.org.
American Ancestors®
Lecture: Getting Started in Family History Research
Presented by Melanie McComb, Senior Genealogist
Saturday, September 27, 1:00 to 2:00 pm
American Ancestors, 97 Newbury Street, Boston
Tickets: $15 at americanancestors.org/events
Anyone can do family history research! In this one-hour lecture, you will learn about key resources, strategies, and first steps to discovering and recording your family history. We will also demonstrate how to use important organizational tools, such as the multi-generational chart, family group sheet, and research log. And you will learn how to create a solid research plan. By the end of the program, you will be ready to hit the ground running and make real headway in your family history research!
On Demand Course: Researching & Verifying Mayflower Ancestry
Five classes, on demand, presented by Lindsay Fulton, Kristi Schkade, and Christopher C. Child, The Brue Family Center
Original Broadcasts November 2024
Four hundred years ago, the Mayflower landed on the shores of Massachusetts with 102 passengers aboard. Today, there is an estimated 35 million Mayflower descendants worldwide. Join experts from American Ancestors for a five-session online course that will explore the many resources, record collections, and research strategies for verifying your connection to the Mayflower. We will also include several case studies demonstrating ways to break down brick walls, including an examination of using DNA to confirm a hypothesis. Finally, we’ll discuss how to take your research further by contributing your finding to ongoing Mayflower scholarship.
Class 1: Getting Started: Mayflower Resources and Records, Lindsay Fulton
This first class will get you started on the right track for verifying your line. We will discuss organizing your research, “hotspots” for Mayflower connections, and many trusted resources and record collections to make your research more efficient and effective.
Class 2: Applying to the Mayflower Society, Kristi Schkade
Many researchers want to confirm their line to a Mayflower passenger so they can apply to the Mayflower Society, a national lineage society. In this second class we look at the details for working with a state historian and completing your application.
Class 3: Creating a Proof Argument: Documenting Your Mayflower Lineage, Lindsay Fulton
You’ve verified that you have a Mayflower connection, now it’s time to document each vital event and generational connection! This class will go over the steps of creating a qualification outline and demonstrate how and when you may need to write a proof argument.
Class 4: Advanced Strategies, Christopher C. Child
Hit a brick wall in researching your Mayflower line? This class will look at several case studies that use various strategies for breaking down a brick wall, including using DNA to confirm a hypothesis and prove a connection.
Class 5: Contributing to Mayflower Scholarship, Christopher C. Child
The passengers on the Mayflower and their descendants continue to be a popular area of genealogical study. New discoveries are being made all the time! In this final class, we will discuss some of the ways you can contribute to this area of study through publications, online group projects, and more.
On Demand Course: Writing and Publishing Your Family History
Five classes, on demand, presented by Sharon Inglis, Kyle Hurst and Cecile Engeln, The Brue Family Center
Available through November 30, register at americanancestors.org/events
Course Series: $125, including five 90-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation
Now is the perfect time to write your family history! Think about the legacy you will be leaving if you write and publish your own family research: not only a legacy for current and future family members, but an important resource for current and future genealogical researchers.
This five-session online seminar led by the writing and publishing experts at American Ancestors will provide you with a step-by-step approach to turning your raw data into an illustrated narrative, Register-style genealogy or Ahnentafel. Topics include organizing your materials, choosing a genealogical format, writing family stories, adding citations, page layout, and final steps in self-publishing.
Class 1: Getting Started, Sharon Inglis
Ready to write? Learn about the decisions you’ll need to make before starting: Who is your audience? What families in your ancestry do you want to cover? Learn about helpful tools and how to organize yourself before beginning to write.
Class 2: Structure, Sketches, and Citations, Kyle Hurst
Time to get technical! In this class, we consider the genealogy’s overall structure and master the numbering systems for the Register-style and Ahnentafel formats. Learn how to write a genealogical sketch in each format while properly citing sources.
Class 3: Adding Story to Family History, Kyle Hurst
Going beyond names and dates, how can we add narrative that brings our ancestors to life? This class will cover story structure, writing tips, and how to add biographical and contextual details that show how each ancestor lived.
Class 4: Photos and Illustrations, Cécile Engeln
Get a handle on photo-research basics. Learn how to choose, scan, edit, and insert photos, documents, and other images to make your family history publication come alive.
Class 5: The Publishing Process, Sharon Inglis
Learn how to edit, lay out, proofread, and publish your work. Gain valuable tips on finding freelance editors and indexers and working with publishing vendors.
American Ancestors® is a national nonprofit center for family history, heritage and culture based in Boston, Massachusetts that has been setting the gold standard for genealogical research since its founding in 1845. Today, American Ancestors serves 400K+ members and subscribers through AmericanAncestors.org, one of the world’s largest online collections of family history resources. In 2025, American Ancestors launched the Family Heritage Experience, an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibition that introduces visitors to the joy of family history research, located at 97 Newbury Street at our headquarters in Boston. American Ancestors is also home to the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, which preserves New England’s Jewish history, and 10 Million Names, a project dedicated to finding the names of the enslaved men, women, and children in pre- and post-colonial America before emancipation. For more information, visit americanancestors.org.
Tutti Music Collective
Seasons of Spirit – exploring the Celtic Festival Tradition
Saturday, November 8, 7 pm
Venue and ticket prices TBA
Ishna, and Tutti Music Collective’s orchestra and choir, Elijah Langille, conductor
“Seasons of Spirit” is an orchestral and choral program that explores the rich tapestry of Celtic festivals, tracing their ancient Pagan roots and their evolution into Christian traditions.
Experience the timeless heart of Ireland through music, blending choral music with traditional Irish and orchestra instruments. Join us for an unforgettable and collaborative evening performance of Irish jigs and reels, ballads and storytelling, brought to life by the contemporary Irish folk band Ishna, accompanied by Tutti Music Collective’s orchestra and choir.
Tutti Music Collective is committed to showcasing the music of local minority, LGBTQIA+, and living composers. It believes that concert music should reflect the diversity of the world in which we live. The Collective strives to create spaces where all musicians’ voices are heard and celebrated. Through its performances, it aspires to engage audiences while championing inclusivity and equity in the arts. Learn more at thetuttimusiccollective.org.
Concord Women’s Chorus
Open Rehearsals & Singer Auditions
Tuesday, September 9, and Tuesday, September 16, 9:30 am
Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord
Admission to audition is free, membership information is available on site
Concord Women’s Chorus (CWC), fostering the power of women’s voices in song, invites new singers to join its ensemble this fall. Artistic Director and Conductor Jane Ring Frank welcomes newcomers to visit rehearsal and learn more. Auditions will be held after rehearsal on September 16. Rehearsals continue Tuesday mornings, 9:30 am to 12 noon, also at Trinity Episcopal Church, throughout the 2025-26 season.
CWC welcomes singers with prior choral experience including good sight-reading skills, solid intonation and vocal quality, responsiveness to direction and the ability to blend within an ensemble. For auditions, prospective members may be asked to sight-read a short passage and/or sing a familiar tune, arriving with a prepared solo is not necessary. An information form is available to be printed in advance and brought to the audition at concordwomenschorus.org/wp/sing-with-us. Chorus members are expected to attend rehearsals and to participate in performing scheduled concerts. Since CWC values opportunities to collaborate and perform with other musical and cultural groups, additional commitments may become available during the season.
For more information, visit concordwomenschorus.org or email manager@concordwomenschorus.org.
Americana Theatre Company
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
October 29, 30, and November 1 and 2, 7 pm and October 31, 9 pm
Historic Union Church, 29 South Main Street, Carver,
Tickets are $25 general admission, subject to capacity, at the door or americanatheatre.org/tickets
Americana Theatre Company presents an original, one-actor adaptation of story classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” bringing Washington Irving’s haunting tale to life just in time for Halloween weekend. Created by Artistic Directors Derek Martin and Jesse Sullivan, this original production has been performed nationally, delivering Ichabod Crane’s eerie encounter with the Headless Horseman in a bold, imaginative staging. Set at Carver’s historic Union Church—surrounded by old burial grounds—it’s the perfect place for a ghostly visit…you might even catch a glimpse of the Horseman himself!
To purchase tickets, or for more information about Americana Theatre Company, visit americanatheatre.org/tickets, or call 508-591-0282. For the latest updates, follow Americana Theatre Company on Facebook and Instagram.
Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra
Celebrating Music In Weymouth
Sunday, November 9, 2:30 pm
Weymouth High School Auditorium, One Wildcat Way, Weymouth
Admission is free
Nathaniel Meyer, Conductor, Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra; Kathleen Kenny, Weymouth High School Music Director
Join the Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra in a musical celebration collaboration, together with Weymouth High School music department, featuring 55 orchestral musicians performing with guest string student musicians, offering a diverse program of captivating orchestral works.
Program:
Star Spangled Banner
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Irving Berlin A Symphonic Portrait – God Bless America
Sound of Music
Schubert Symphony No. 8 (first movement)
Strauss Emperor Waltz
Strauss Thunder and Lightning Polka
Sousa Stars and Stripes Forever
Considered the oldest continual civic orchestra in the country, Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1914 as the Whitman Orchestral Club. The orchestra’s mission is to provide fun and experience for musicians and audiences of all ages and levels of accomplishment. For more information, visit southeasternphil.org.
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