The Lookout
Sonya Vartabedian
June 26, 2009 12:10 am The Flatbread Co. in downtown Amesbury introduces its newly expanded downstairs music lounge and function space next week with the help of Black Cat Blue. The local acoustic duo will perform Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. Vocalist Jen Meagher of Amesbury and guitarist/vocalist Greg Bowden of Salisbury have been performing and writing songs together for two years. They met as students of E.J. Ouellette at Pine Island Music in Byfield and developed a kinship blending her folk influence with his gritty, no-nonsense blues. Black Cat Blue has performed at other local venues, including David's Tavern in Newburyport. For more, call Flatbread, located at 5 Market Square, at 978-834-9800 or visit www.flatbreadcompany.com or www.blackcatblue.com. Cloth painting demonstration at gallery Eileen Whalen presents a demonstration on floor cloth painting tomorrow from 3 to 5 p.m. at Valerie's Gallery, 26 State St., Newburyport, as part of the ArtWalk Newburyport tour. Whalen may also bring in samples of painted furniture or gilding that she's working on. Admission is free. For more, call Valerie's Gallery at 978-499-8444 or visit www.valeriesgalleries.com. 'Aladdin Jr.' auditions at Byfield Arts Center TTS Players Youth Ensemble is holding open auditions this weekend for its summer production of "Aladdin Jr." at Byfield Community Arts Center, 7 Central St., Byfield. Tryouts take place tomorrow and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. and are open to area youth ages 5 to 16. Auditions will consist of readings from the script, singing of a favorite song to gauge vocal range and light choreography. No experience is necessary. Everyone who auditions will be cast. Kathy Heywood of Newburyport will direct the production, which will be staged July 24 through 26. Rehearsals will take place Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon starting July 6 through 23 at Byfield Community Arts Center. Visit www.tts-players.com or contact Mike Fay at 978-476-6053 or mfay@tts-sports.com. Local performer joins 'Dreamcoat' cast Eric Raimondi of Groveland takes the stage with the Pentucket Players' Youth Theatre group this weekend for its production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at Merrimack College's Church Theatre in North Andover. Raimondi plays Joseph's youngest brother, Benjamin. He has been involved with the Pentucket Players for several productions. Performances are tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call 978-521-9259 or visit www.pentucketplayers.org. Re-enactment highlights anti-slavery heroines Gain some insight into the abolitionist movement courtesy of two women who swayed the direction of the anti-slavery debate in a re-enactment set for Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Rocky Hill Meetinghouse at 4 Portsmouth Road in Amesbury. Storytellers Susan Leno and Lani Peterson will portray South Carolina sisters Sarah and Angelina Grimke in "Turning the World Upside Down," a dramatic historical representation of an interactive parlor meeting. The daughters of southern slaveholders, the Grimkes visited more than 70 towns in Massachusetts in 1837 to tell firsthand of the horrors of slavery. The Grimkes' visit to Massachusetts included a stop in Amesbury, where they inspired historian and poet John Greenleaf Whittier, an outspoken leader of the anti-slavery movement, to write "Pastoral Letter," which speaks of "the thrilling tale of Carolina's high-souled daughters." The hour-long program is being sponsored by the Amesbury Council of Churches, Whittier Home Association, state Rep. Michael A. Costello and the Friends of Amesbury Meetinghouse, and is part of the community's Amesbury Days celebration. A freewill offering to benefit local food pantries will be taken. Refreshments will follow the presentation. Jazzy halftime for Lighthouse Trio's gig Local jazz singer Lori Timony and her musical partner Andy Brewster on acoustic bass return to the halftime spot for the Lighthouse Trio's monthly vintage music session next week at Hobo's Cafe and Lounge at 5 Broadway on Salisbury Beach. The jazz stylings of Timony and Brewster take listeners back to the '40s and '50s when jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee owned the stage. When not performing their sultry blend of jazz and blues, they can be found on stage with the local five-piece cover band This Weekend. The Lighthouse Trio will once again serve up a program built on vintage melodies and swing. The core ensemble of Lou Masiello on drums, George Blodgett on bass and Bob Allison on keyboard and vocals will be joined by guest saxophone soloist John Melisi of Acton, Maine. Bluesman Malcolm Carnwath will offer a blues set before the halftime show, and guest singer Ellen Gutowski and pianist Helen Murphy are expected to contribute a few new tunes as well. The entertainment goes from 7 to 9 p.m., with the halftime slot scheduled for 8. Admission is free. A buffet will be available for $6 with purchase of a bar beverage. Call 978-465-4626 for more. ¢¢¢ 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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