The Lookout
Everyone loves a wedding, except maybe the feisty ladies in The Valley Players' production of "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" opening Saturday at Amesbury Playhouse Dinner Theater, 194 Main St. Amesbury.
The adult comedy by Alan Ball, the writer behind the film "American Beauty" and producer of the HBO TV shows "Six Feet Under" and "True Blood" spotlights five reluctant, identically clad bridesmaids who hide out in a bedroom, each with her own reason to avoid the proceedings.
The bridesmaids include Frances, a painfully sweet but sheltered fundamentalist played by Megan Nickerson of Amesbury; Mindy, the cheerful, wisecracking lesbian sister of the groom played by Kate Gilbert of Merrimac; Georgeanne, whose heartbreak over her own failed marriage triggers outrageous behavior, played by Jenna Lee Cusack of Manchester, N.H.; Meredith, the bride's younger sister whose precocious rebelliousness masks a dark secret, played by Jacqui Beaulieu of Amesbury; and Trisha, a jaded beauty, played by Jackie Foss of Amesbury, whose die-hard cynicism about men is called into question when she meets Tripp, a charming bad-boy usher played by Rob Carroll of Newburyport.
The show runs through Sept. 20. Because of strong language and adult subjects, it is recommended for mature audiences only.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., Sundays at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Weekday matinees are Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 9 and 10, at 1:30 p.m. Dinner is served 90 minutes before each performance.
Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Playhouse at 978-388-9444. For more, visit www.amesburyplayhouse.com.
Labor Day Fest brings music, fun to Port
Music from jazz to straight-up guitar, food and other activities will highlight a family-friendly, free Labor Day Festival in downtown Newburyport this weekend.
Hoping to fill a void left by the cancelation of the annual Buskers Festival presented by the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Kathy Heywood and Dale Reynolds decided to coordinate their own weekend of entertainment.
The festival will be held Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in and around Market Square and feature music, food and fun. Guitarist Scott Ouellette; a Klezmer band from Boston; the Jazz in the Air Band; the Violette 6tet Band, featuring Violette de Bartillat of Berklee College of Music in Boston and jazz pianist Mina Cho of Berklee; Reynolds and Heywood will be among the performers.
Organizers are also hoping to host several events in Market Landing Park on the waterfront, including a demonstration by the Essex County Sheriff's Department's K-9 Unit on Sunday, and baby, kids and family races, a dog parade and a community "gam" gathering on Monday.
Area restaurants and civic groups will be selling food throughout the weekend, and several local organizations will be manning informational booths as well. Admission is free. For more on the festival, call 978-463-3746 or visit www.myspace.com/newburyportlabordayfest.
Adam Ezra delivers Salisbury summer concert finale
Adam Ezra and his acoustic roots rock band head to Salisbury Beach this weekend to cap off the final summer concert and fireworks show.
The band will perform a free concert Saturday at 7 p.m. on the beachfront stage, followed by a fireworks finale at 10 p.m.
A self-taught musician and songwriter who considers himself an experimentalist, Ezra is known for his intellectual pop song-writing. A native of Wayland who now lives in Somerville, Ezra and his band devote much of their touring to community outreach and activism to preserve the music business as well as planet. One of the band's recent Boston appearances sold out a week after tickets went on sale.
For more on the Salisbury concert, visit www.beachfests.org or call 978-462-SBPI (7274).
Japanese fish prints form 'Catch of the Day'
Newburyport artist Gail Boucher offers some insight into the Gyotaku Japanese art form of fish prints in "Catch of the Day," an exhibit opening today in Laura Coombs Hills Gallery of the Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water St., Newburyport.
Boucher's fish prints are created by rubbing real fish, which creates mirror images of the finned creatures on rice paper. She is also displaying some of her recent acrylic and watercolor works painted over the last few years.
An opening reception takes place tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m. Boucher will also lead a workshop on how to print and render Gyotaku fish prints on Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.
The exhibit runs through Sept. 16. Gallery hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. (closed Tuesdays). Call 978-465-8769 or visit www.newburyportart.org.
Gallery, pottery studio brewing up 'Tea Party'
Bridge Gallery artists' cooperative in downtown Newburyport is teaming up with Purple Sage Pottery of Merrimac to present "Newburyport Tea Party" this month at the art gallery at 1R Water St.
The show features about 30 contemporary teapots by 11 Purple Sage potters. According to organizers, the teapot is considered the most difficult shape to master in the world of pottery. An opening reception for "Tea Party" featuring a Japanese tea ceremony performed by Hiromi Satoh takes place Sunday, Sept. 13, from 3 to 6 p.m. It runs through Sept. 28.
In addition to "Tea Party," Bridge Gallery is spotlighting the work of Andrea Holland Hart in its featured artist spot for September.
A liberal arts graduate of the former Bradford College, Hart studied at the University of Massachusetts, Massachusetts College of Art and Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, and has taught art therapy and portrait painting. Her work also includes landscapes, still life and semi-abstraction.
An opening reception for Hart's "People and Places" exhibit will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., with music by harpist Avanah Trudeau.
Bridge Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Labor Day. Beginning Sept. 8, the fall hours will be noon to 6 p.m. daily (closed Tuesdays). Visit www.BridgeGalleryNewburyport.com or call 978-462-2740 for more.
Solo exhibit highlights local artist's work
Local artist Rose Russo is showing off her artwork this month at Atria Merrimack Place, 85 Storey Ave., Newburyport.
An artist's reception takes place Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. Reservations are requested for the reception by calling 978-462-7324.
Maritime Museum hosting Friday Night Social
The Custom House Maritime Museum is hosting a 1st Friday Night Social tomorrow from 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum at 98 High St. in Newburyport.
Members and guests are invited for beer, wine and cheese. Museum directors and volunteers will be on hand, and guests are invited to check out the displays and see what's new. A 10-minute artifact deep-dive discussion is also planned.
Call the maritime museum at 978-462-8681 or visit www.chmm.org for more.
Lake Attitash Grand Illumination boat parade
The Lake Attitash Association takes to the waters for its 2009 Grand Illumination and Boat Parade on Saturday.
Members of the lake community are encouraged to decorate their boats and join the lighted procession around the shoreline. Boat parade participants will gather at the state boat ramp in Merrimac at 6:30 p.m. Residents on and near the shore can add to the event by placing lights and other decorations on their homes, lawns and docks.
This year's grand marshals are sisters Elizabeth and Ernestine Goodwin, who have been lifelong residents of Lake Attitash.
Visit www.lakeattitash.org for more.
'Tiptoe Through Tombstones' cemetery tours make rounds
Newburyport's Ghee Woodworth is offering a series of "Tiptoe Through the Tombstones" cemetery tours in Newburyport this month. All tours last for up to 90 minutes. While admission is free, donations to support cemetery projects will be accepted.
At the end of each tour, Woodworth will have copies of her newly released "Tiptoe Through the Tombstones, Oak Hill Cemetery, Volume I" for sale. The book, which sells for $35, highlights many of the notables buried in the Newburyport cemetery.
Tours will be offered at Oak Hill Cemetery at Oak and Brown streets on Saturdays, Sept. 5, 19 and 26, and Sundays, Sept. 20 and 27, at 10 a.m. Meet at Brown Chapel at the main entrance.
Tours are planned at Old Hill Burying Ground, which received a $10,000 community preservation grant for gravestone restoration, on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 10 a.m., and Saturdays, Sept. 19 and 26, at 2 p.m. Meet at the Greenleaf Street entrance.
Woodworth is also presenting a walking tour, highlighting African Americans in Newburyport in the 1800s on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. The tour starts from Brown Square across from Newburyport City Hall at Pleasant and Green streets.
For more on the tours or the book, call Woodworth at 978-462-2010.
'Kidleidoscope' returns to Maudslay State Park
The weekly Kidleidoscope nature program for preschoolers returns to Maudslay State Park on Curzon Mill Road in Newburyport on Fridays at 10 a.m. starting tomorrow.
The park interpreter will present a three-part program that includes a story, a craft and an activity that involves outdoor exploration. The program is geared to ages 3 to 6.
Here is what else is in store at the park:
A History Tour of the farm complex area within the former Moseley family estate that was rained out last weekend takes place Saturday at 2 p.m. Ages 8 and up are invited for a tour of the hay and dairy barns, root cellar and other small buildings in the area and a discussion of their historical significance.
Hikes to Health are making paths through Maudslay. On Sunday at 1 p.m., the park interpreter leads a moderate hike less than 2 miles long designed for all ages to improve cardiovascular health and begin or continue an exercise regime. A second, slower-paced Hike to Health geared especially for seniors but open to all ages takes place Saturday at 9 a.m. It combines exercise with resource discovery. Bring water, binoculars and comfortable walking shoes.
Afternoon walks head out Mondays at 1 p.m. The walks are open to all ages, but seniors are especially welcome.
Slow-paced, leisurely evening strolls for all ages continue every Tuesday in September from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. A different path is explored each week.
All programs start from the park headquarters. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by adults. Call the park at 978-465-7223 for more.
Philosophy discussion unfolding at Jabberwocky
Socrates Cafe, a philosophy discussion group, meets the second and last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Jabberwocky Bookshop in the Tannery.
The next meeting on Sept. 8 will begin with a screening of the 25-minute film "What Is Human Nature?" from "The Examined Life" series. A discussion will follow.
Call Elaine Mawhinney at 978-556-3395 for information.
Afternoon tea on tap in Whittier's garden
The Whittier Home at 86 Friend St. in Amesbury sets the table for its final tea of the season on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m.
Tea will be served in the late poet's garden, a testament to his love of nature, where the descendents of the purple gentian, monarda and grapevines he wrote about are still in bloom.
The menu will include sandwiches, desserts, tea and lemonade. Admission is $15. Call 978-388-1337 for a reservation.
Slide show spotlights Arizona's birding paradise
Ann Gurka shares her experiences visiting the birding paradise of the Verde Valley in north central Arizona during a slide program and lecture on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport.
Arizona's Verde Valley, encompassing the communities of Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Cornville, Cottonwood, Page Springs, Jerome and Sedona, offers abundant year-round birding opportunities along rivers, in the desert and among cliffs, buttes and mesas. The mild, four-season climate attracts nearly a third of the 900 species of birds in the U.S. and Canada — from the miniature hummingbird to broad-winged raptors.
All ages are invited; reservations are not necessary. Admission is $4, free for Mass Audubon members. Call 978-462-9998 or visit www.massaudubon.org.
'In Transition' documentary screening at Port library
Transition Newburyport is hosting a screening of the documentary film "In Transition: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience" on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in the Newburyport Public Library Program Room, 94 State St.
The film tells the story of people working together toward community resilience in the face of the challenges of fossil fuel depletion, climate change and economic uncertainty. A discussion will follow the screening. Admission is free.
Transition Newburyport is focused on building community resilience by acting together locally to make the transition to a post-fossil-fuel world. For more on the group, visit www.transitionnewburyport.org or e-mail transitionnewburyport@gmail.com.
Civil War Roundtable talks 'Fall of New Orleans'
Professor and author Michael Pierson presents "Mutiny at Ft. Jackson: The Untold Story of the Fall of New Orleans" at the monthly meeting of the Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Senior Center, 43 Lafayette Road (Route 1), Salisbury.
Admission is free. Anyone with an interest in America's Civil War is invited. Call 978-462-8518.
Open invite to Plum Island House Tour
Plum Island residents will open their doors for the annual House Tour on Saturday, Sept. 12. Buses will transport participants to the featured homes starting at 9:30 a.m.
The tour, which goes off rain or shine, is presented by the nonprofit Plum Island Taxpayers Association, and proceeds will support preservation efforts and other projects on the island.
Tickets are $25. Seating is limited to 140 people, and the event traditionally sells out. No tickets will be sold the day of the tour. For tickets or information, call 978-465-9394.
Sunset reggae cruise prepares to set sail
A sunset reggae cruise takes place Friday, Sept. 11, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. aboard Captain's Lady III from Captain's Fishing Parties out of Plum Island Point in Newburyport.
The dinner/dance cruise will feature music by Boston's Tropical Fire Caribbean dance band. A dinner buffet will be served, and a cash bar will be available.
Tickets are $33 before Sept. 7, $36 after that date. The cruise is presented by Vanessa Galvanek of Atlantis Productions. A portion of proceeds will support the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Immaculate Conception Church of Newburyport. For tickets or information, call 978-462-3971 or 978-462-3141 or visit www.captainsfishing.com.
Tom Rush sharing what he knows at Firehouse
Folk favorite Tom Rush spotlights his first studio recording in 35 years, "What I Know," on a visit to Newburyport next weekend. He'll take the stage Sunday, Sept. 13, for two shows filled with music and humor at 3 and 7 p.m.
"What I Know" includes 15 tunes, five of them Rush originals. Some are foot-tapping like the "Silly Little Diddle," while others are more mournful and bittersweet. In addition to the new material, there are also a few old favorites covered by Rush, including the familiar "Drift Away" by Mentor Williams.
A longtime staple of the folk music scene, Rush has been touring almost for the past four decades and is credited by Rolling Stone magazine with ushering in the era of the singer/songwriter. In addition to performing his own compositions, he has covered songs by Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, James Taylor and Murray McLaughlin, and helped them gain recognition early in their careers.
Tickets are $35, $32 for members. For reservations, call the box office at 978-462-7336 or visit www.firehouse.org. For more on Rush, visit www.tomrush.com.
Port Choral Society returns for new season
The Newburyport Choral Society under the direction of Gerald Weale will be holding registration for the upcoming season starting Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Rupert A. Nock Middle School cafeteria, 70 Low St., Newburyport. New singers are invited to join the group.
Following registration, the group's first rehearsal of the season will take place at 7 p.m. The group will begin working on its holiday concert program featuring Carl Off's "Carmina Burana, Carols of the Season."
Registration will continue on Mondays, Sept. 14 and 21, from 7 to 7:30 p.m., followed by rehearsals.
For more on the group, call 978-462-0650 or visit www.newburyportchoralsociety.org.
Women's choral group holding auditions
WomenSong, a choral group for women, is seeking singers for its fall concert on Nov. 21. The concert will feature an all-baroque program in partnership with the instrumental ensemble Joyful Noyse.
Rehearsals take place Wednesdays from 7:15 to 9 p.m. Singers should be experienced in choral work and have some reading ability. Contact director Frances Burmeister at fburmeister@hotmail.com to set up an audition appointment. For more on WomenSong, visit www.womensong.org.
Beach music sets stage for NECC fundraiser
Papa Doo Run Run, a nationally recognized band that plays the California beach sounds as well as other surf and rock classics, headlines a benefit for the Northern Essex Community College Annual Fund on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. in The Collins Center for the Performing Arts at Andover High School, 100 Shawsheen Road, Andover.
The band, which has been performing since 1965, has toured and recorded with The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, as well as earned two Gold Records and a Grammy nomination on its own.
Tickets for the fundraiser are $35. Proceeds will benefit the college's Annual Fund, which provides funding for student scholarships and programs and the college's endowment. The event is presented by Northern Essex Community College Foundation, the Women of NECC and the NECC Alumni Association.
Contact Lori Smerdon at 978-556-3870 or lsmerdon@necc.mass.edu or visit www.mvarts.info for tickets.
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