The Lookout: Candlelight Chorale's new director leads 'Requiem'

The Candlelight Chorale showcases the sometimes dramatic, sometimes meditative score of DuruflÃ©'s "Requiem" when it performs Sunday under the direction of its new leader at Newburyport's First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist.

Jay Lane, who took over as music director at the church in May, will lead the community chorus in a new program at 7 p.m. in the church at 26 Pleasant St.

DuruflÃ©'s "Requiem" was commissioned following World War II in 1947 and was written in memory of the composer's father. Nearly all its thematic material comes from Gregorian chants.

"Listening to DuruflÃ©'s 'Requiem' is like going for an ocean voyage," Lane says in a press release. "You are completely surrounded by a different world. Sometimes it is calm, sometimes stormy, sometimes overwhelming. But it is always beautiful."

The Candlelight Chorale will perform the organ orchestration of "Requiem" written by the composer, who was himself a virtuoso organist. Frederick A. MacArthur, organist at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Beverly, will handle the organ accompaniment for the program, with mezzo-soprano Deborah Rentz-Moore as guest soloist, and baritone William Holloway and cellist Beth Pearson featured as well.

The program will also include works by Franck, Saint-SaÃ´ns and FaurÃ©.

Bettina Turner, choir member and chairwoman of the church's music committee, credits Lane with helping First Religious Society continue its tradition of sharing major choral works with the community.

"The Candlelight Chorale is one of the ways the First Religious Society reaches out to the larger community," says Lane, an organist, voice teacher and choral conductor and president of the McClosky Institute of Voice in Maynard. "We draw singers from the region who are not necessarily affiliated with the church, and we offer listeners the experience of beautiful choral music performed in our historic sanctuary."

Admission to the concert is $15. Call the church at 978-465-0602.

Port artist unites with jeweler for new exhibit

Contemporary realist painter Mary Baker of Newburyport is unveiling some of her recent paintings in a new exhibit and collaboration with Kaya Jewelers at 41 State St. in downtown Newburyport.

The display — Baker's first in Newburyport in 10 years — features scenes from her hometown, including Maudslay State Park, the Common Pasture, Plum Island and the flowers and gardens in the city's historic district, specifically Newburyport's South End.

Born and raised in New York, Baker has lived in Newburyport for 30 years. She has shown her paintings from Palm Beach to Newburyport, and has been represented by three New York City galleries. Her work is in private and corporate collections throughout the country.

The show at Kaya runs through Dec. 31. An opening reception is Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. For more, call Kaya at 978-465-1330 or visit www.marybakerart.com.

'Spirit of Music' comes alive at Firehouse Center

Local performers are joining together for "In the Spirit of Music: An Evening of Live Music, Humor & Fun" to benefit the Women's Interfaith Spiritual Encounter tonight at 7:30 at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport's Market Square.

The evening will showcase the Temple Thieves, a new American roots-based spiritual band born out of years of collaboration of the musicians at Unity on the River in Amesbury. The group features Newburyport's Paula Estey, a poet, performer, artist and teacher; and Lisah Plumley, a vocalist, songwriter and artist healer, with Ken Clark, composer, arranger and music director at Unity, and Rev. Shipley Allinson, senior minister at Unity.

The program also includes local singer-songwriter Meg Rayne and inspirational artist Denise DeSimone, ventriloquist and singer Lesley Smith, Sarah Pirtle and Patty Barkas, with music by Ken Clark and Steve Chagaris.

Tickets are $20, and proceeds will support the Women's Interfaith Spiritual Encounter conference, which celebrates the divine feminine, explores creative expression and the healing power of nature, and provides time and space to reflect as well as opportunities for inspired action. WISE is affiliated with the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine, an interfaith wisdom school and nonprofit educational organization.

For reservations, call the Firehouse box office at 978-462-7336 or visit www.firehouse.org.

Next week, the Temple Thieves will present its first full-length concert, "The Temple of My Familiars — A Prodigal Journey to the Heart of God," on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Unity on the River, 58 Macy St. (Route 110), Amesbury. Tickets are $15. Call Unity at 978-834-7830 or visit www.paulaestey.com.

Random Acts returns for theatrical 'thrill ride'

Random Acts 7, Newburyport's annual play-in-a-day festival, returns to Newburyport's Firehouse Center for the Arts in Market Square this weekend.

Random Acts is an evening of short plays that have been written, cast, rehearsed and performed as stage readings — all in just 24 hours. Fourteen writers, 22 actors and seven directors will toss their names into a hat tomorrow night. The writers will be paired off and sent off to create seven short, 10-minute plays over the next 24 hours.

Saturday morning, the finished plays are handed off to directors and actors to be randomly cast and then rehearsed before they're brought to the Firehouse stage at 8 p.m.

Cofounded and co-produced by Hailey Klein and Leslie Powell, Random Acts began in 2001. It is presented by Writers and Actors Ink, a collaboration of writers and actors dedicated to the development of new plays that was also started by Klein and Powell.

Tickets for the staged readings of this year's Random Acts plays are $12. Call the Firehouse box office at 978-462-7336 or visit www.firehouse.org.

Chili cook-off simmers in Rowley

Rowley's eighth annual "Some Like It Hot!" Chili Cook-off is Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary's Parish Hall on Main Street in Rowley.

Sponsored by Mercury Brewing and the Friends of the Rowley Public Library, the chili contest will feature about 18 different types of chili judged by local celebrities, including state Sens. Bruce Tarr and Harriett Stanley. There will also be children's activities, music by the Three Amigos Trio, door prizes and more.

Tickets, which include samplings of all the chili and other food, are $15 for adults, $25 a couple or $30 for a family of four (two adults and two children), and available in Rowley at the library, Old Town Bread Co. and Salt Marsh Antiques. Proceeds support Rowley Library programs. To enter or for details, call 978-973-4052 or e-mail jbpeabody@comcast.net or friends@rowleylibrary.org.

'Seussical The Musical' bounds onto stage

Newburyport Summer Stock brings the fun-filled "Seussical The Musical" to stage tomorrow through Sunday at the Rupert A. Nock Middle School on Low Street in Newburyport.

Under the direction of Mike Pirollo, the production boasts a 70-plus-member cast of local children and adults. Pirollo, a language arts teacher and director of the after-school theater department at Nock, is joined by Music Director Evelyn Mann and Deirdre Budzyna, co-owner of Acting Productions in The Tannery in Newburyport, in overseeing the show.

Proceeds from the production will support the Nock theater arts program and renovations to the theater at the school. Performances are tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $6 to $10. E-mail mpirollo@newburyportsummerstock.org for more.

'Environments Newburyport' at Bridge Gallery

Newburyport artist Marjet Lesk spotlights the charm of Newburyport in a new series of paintings titled "Environments Newburyport" on display this month at Bridge Gallery at 1R Water St. in downtown Newburyport.

A plein-air painter, Lesk says she braves the elements to capture what she calls the capriciousness nature of outdoor light. Her oils, watercolors and acrylics hang in numerous private collections.

An artist's reception takes place Saturday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Bridge Gallery is open daily, except Tuesdays, from noon to 6 p.m. Call 978-462-2740 or visit http://bridgegallerynewburyport.com/.

'Changing Seasons' at Joppa Flats Center

The changing seasons serve as the inspiration for oil painter Janis Sanders, whose "The Colors of Sanctuary — Changing Seasons at Mass Audubon," opens Sunday at Mass Audubon Society's Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport.

The West Peabody artist celebrates the natural beauty of Audubon landscapes throughout the state as they change through the seasons. Many of his paintings feature the salt marsh and river views at Newburyport's Joppa Flats.

All of Sanders' works were painted outdoors, in oil, with a palette knife rather than a brush in order to emphasize strong blocks of light and color. Some paintings are exhibited as individual works; others are in a series of up to five, with the smallest measuring a little more than 6 square inches,

A member of the Newburyport Art Association, Sanders has won numerous awards for his work. He is also a member of the Copley Society of Boston and the Provincetown Art Association, and his paintings can be found in galleries throughout New England as well as in Santa Fe, Mexico.

The "Colors of Sanctuary" exhibit runs through Jan. 3 in the Juliet Kellogg French Room at the Joppa Flats Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike. An opening reception is Sunday at 2:30 p.m. A portion of sales during the show will benefit Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats. For more, call the center at 978-462-9998 or visit www.janissanders.com.

Marsh scenes and seascapes with Amesbury artist

Amesbury artist Charlotte Sorsen shares the results of her summer painting marsh scenes and seascapes in an exhibit of her new paintings this weekend at her studio at 14 Cedar St. in Amesbury.

In addition, new designs in clothing and handmade glass bead jewelry by Sorsen will be on display.

A wine and cheese reception is tomorrow from 5 to 8 p.m. The show continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 978-697-5619.

Plein-air views for Amesbury Lobby for the Arts

Plein-air painter Ann Jones takes the featured artist spot this season for The Provident Bank in Amesbury's Lobby for the Arts show.

Jones began painting watercolors 10 years ago. She enjoys painting on location throughout the Merrimack Valley, North Shore and along the Atlantic seacoast, and the challenge that capturing the light on the landscape before it changes presents.

She is a member of the Newburyport and Greater Haverhill art associations and the Newburyport Sketch Group.

Jones' paintings are on display through December in Provident's Amesbury branches at 5 Market St. and at the corner of Route 110 and Main Street. An artist's reception takes place next Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Market Street branch. Call 978-834-8540 for more.

Photography exhibit in focus at Anna Jaques

Ray Levesque treats visitors to Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport to his photography in a new exhibit that graces the halls of the main lobby.

A New Hampshire native, Levesque owns Curtains 'n' More on Route 110 in Amesbury. He has been interested in photography since the 1970s, but began getting more serious with his camera about 10 years ago. His love of nature and the outdoors is reflected in his images, and he says new technology makes it easy for him to do his own editing and printing,

His exhibit runs through November at the hospital on Highland Avenue.

Girls Night Out of fun, gifts

A Girls Night Out to raise funds for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep takes place tonight from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Dawn Norris Photography Studio, 21 Water St., second floor, Amesbury.

The event will feature gifts and services from local boutiques and vendors, food and drinks, raffles, live jazz music by Jessica Tardy featured on "Lipstick Jungle" and her band and more.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundations aid parents who have lost a baby and are overcome by grief and pain by providing heirloom photographs with a compassionate approach in hopes of honoring the child. Norris offers her photography to the foundation and the parents it supports. Norris will be training with the foundation next week in Colorado to become an area coordinator for the organization.

Admission to Girls Night Out is free. Call 978-378-4535 or visit www.dawnnorris.com for more.

Dinner/dance to combat global poverty

Partners In Development, Inc., an international nonprofit based in Ipswich, will hold its ninth annual Dinner Dance & Silent Auction Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m. at Nicholson Hall, 6 Harris St., Newburyport.

The evening will feature live music, a full dinner with Haitian, Guatemalan and American dishes; a silent auction and complimentary beer and wine. Last year's event raised more than $35,000, all of which went to help the poorest of the poor in the developing world.

Partners in Development is seeking people to get involved with efforts in Haiti and Guatemala. People who have traveled on mission trips with the group will be on hand to answer questions for anyone interested in taking a trip in the future. The 2009 Limited Edition Dolls that were handcrafted in Haiti and Guatemala will also be on sale.

Tickets for the event are $50. Visit www.pidonline.com for more.

Local U2 Eucharist in the name of awareness

The U2 Eucharist, a contemporary worship service that combines the music of U2 with traditional Christian prayers and liturgy, will be presented Saturday at 7 p.m. at Central Congregational Church, 14 Titcomb St., Newburyport.

The service is designed to raise awareness and funds to overcome global poverty and support for the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals. The public is welcome and a special offering will benefit Church World Service and Los Patojos, a group that works with poor children in Guatemala.

"The music of U2 is filled with Biblical imagery and references to global issues," Rev. Christopher Ney, pastor of Central Congregational Church, says in a press release. "So it's a natural fit to use their music in worship and to build global awareness."

Call the church at 978-465-0533 or visit www.centralchurchnewburyport.org.

'Brief History of Newbury' with local author

Bethany Groff, North Shore regional site manager for Historic New England, discusses her book, "A Brief History of Old Newbury from Settlement to Separation," on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St., Newburyport.

Groff introduces the personalities that shaped the history of Old Newbury up until 1764, when Newburyport received its independence from the mother town. From the scandalous exploits of Dr. Henry Greenland to the courageous and sacrificing acts of founding families like the Emerys, Dummers and Pikes, her book offers a glimpse into the early New England town.

In addition to overseeing four early Newbury houses for Historic New England, Groff, of Newburyport, is chairwoman of the Historic Sites Professional Affiliation Group of the New England Museum Association as well as president of the Cultural Alliance of the Lower Merrimack.

Admission is $3, free for Custom House members. For more on Groff's appearance, call the maritime museum at 978-462-8681 or visit www.thechmm.org.

'Tiptoe Through the Tombstones' talks

Newburyport's Ghlee Woodworth discusses her book, "Tiptoe Through the Tombstones, Oak Hill Cemetery, Volume 1," at two readings this weekend — Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Newbury Public Library on Lunt Street in Byfield and Sunday at noon in the library at St. Paul's Church on High Street in Newburyport.

Woodworth's book includes about 80 short biographies of people who lived in Newburyport during the 1800s. Detailed maps, along with 300 images, are included in the book to help guide the inquisitive through Oak Hill Cemetery. Signed copies of the book will be available for sale at both readings.

Author sharing return to crime fiction

Best-selling storyteller John Connolly highlights his latest novel, "The Gates," at a reading and book signing tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Jabberwocky Bookshop in The Tannery, 50 Water St., Newburyport.

With its twisted, dark childhood dreams and nightmares, "The Gates" marks a return to crime fiction for Connolly, whose 2006 novel, "The Book of Lost Things," was an imaginative novel based on legends and fairy tales.

Admission is free. Call Jabberwocky at 978-465-9359 or visit http://jabberwocky.booksense.com.

N.H. homicides form basis of new book

Casey Sherman delves into his new book, "Bad Blood: Freedom and Death in the White Mountains," Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Book Rack, 52 State St., Newburyport.

The book is based on the 2007 double homicides in Franconia, N.H., of a police officer and a man stemming from an alleged long-standing feud. Sherman strives to get at the truth of the story, uncovering what he says is a complicated mix of personalities and motivations in the process.

Admission is free. Call The Book Rack at 978-462-8615 or visit www.bookrackbookstore.com.

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To submit a Lookout item, e-mail it to svartabedian@newburyportnews.com, fax it to 978-465-8505, or mail it to The Daily News, 23 Liberty St., Newburyport, MA 01950.

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