Entertainment

Artist to Discuss the ‘Whys of Painting’ at Watertown Arts Association Event

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The Watertown Art Association will present “Capturing Time in a Moment: The Whys of Painting” with artist and author Andrew Kusmin from 2 to 4 p.m. this Saturday, April 9, in The Innovation Space at the Arsenal Project Mall (Old Navy entrance), located at 485 Arsenal St. in Watertown. Kusmin, an award­-winning and widely acclaimed Plymouth-­based watercolor painter, will give an illustrated talk based on his new book, “Palette of Dreams,” which presents dozens of his paintings, as he explains his philosophy of art. In addition to the dozens of his paintings featured in the book, Kusmin will also share works by the artists who mentored him – those who had the greatest influence on his career – and help guests understand what makes a painting stand out and what jurors look for when selecting award winners. “Palette of Dreams” captures in words and pictures the story behind the author­artist’s inspiration, his reasons for painting and how others can find the all important “why” behind and beneath their own art.

Entertainment

New Rep’s Latest Play – a World Premier – Gets Rave Reviews

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New Repertory Theatre’s latest production, “Blackberry Winter” takes on the difficult subject of a parent facing Alzheimer’s Disease, and the play at the Arsenal Center for the Arts has garnered rave reviews. Adrianne Krstansky stars as Vivienne, who must face the news inside the little white envelope. “With the aid of a creation myth of her own imagination and her insomnia-driven baking, apprehension takes hold as she comes to terms with her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis,” according to New Rep’s announcement. The play is written by Steve Yokey, and directed by Bridget Kathleen O’Leary. Krstansky has earned much praise for her latest role.

Charity

Mount Auburn Hospital Hosts Best Selling Authors to Benefit Breast Center

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Mount Auburn Hospital presents Pink Pages, an evening featuring renowned author Alice Hoffman to benefit the hospital’s Hoffman Breast Center on Monday, May 16, 2016 beginning at 6 p.m. at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge. The event will feature readings and anecdotes from popular best-selling authors Jodi Picoult, Anita Diamant, Lisa Genova, Lily King, Ann Leary, and Elizabeth Strout.Emmy Award-winning arts and entertainment critic, advocate, motivational speaker, and cancer crusader Joyce Kulhawik will serve as the evening’s emcee. A bit about the evening’s participants:

Alice Hoffman has been called “America’s literary heir to the Brothers Grimm” and her luminous and remarkable “fables of the everyday” have enchanted readers since the publication of her first novel, Property Of, in 1977. Her novel, Dovekeepers, spent weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was named one of the top books of 2011 by countless news and literary publications. It has been called “…a major contribution to twenty-first century literature” and in 2015 was adapted as a television miniseries. She has written 39 books including Practical Magic and Aquamarine, both of which were made into major motion pictures, as well as, Oprah Book Club selection Here on Earth.

Boston Marathon Bombing

See Who Will Play Boston Mayor Menino in ‘Patriots Day’

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The makers of the movie chronicling the events around the Boston Marathon Bombings announced the latest casting choice, Vincent Curatola who will portray Boston Mayor Tom Menino. Curatola, who is known for his work on The Sopranos and The Good Wife, joins Boston-native and Academy Award-nominee Mark Wahlberg (The Departed, Lone Survivor), Golden Globe-winner John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane, Inside Llewyn Davis, Argo), Academy Award-Winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Zootopia) and Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley, Criminal Minds) in Patriots Day. The film will be directed by Peter Berg (Deepwater Horizon, Lone Survivor) and produced by Scott Stuber, Mark Wahlberg, Hutch Parker, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson, Dorothy Aufiero and Michael Radutzky. Patriots Day will be co-financed by CBS Films and Lionsgate with the former handling production and marketing and the latter handling distribution.

Around Town

Arsenal Project Hosting a Puppet Workshop and a Blood Drive

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The Innovation Space at the Arsenal Project will be busy in the beginning of April with an events hosted by the New Repertory Theatre and the Red Cross. The Watertown Community Blood Drive will be held on Friday, April 1 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. As a blood donor, you help make some of life’s most precious moments possible from family vacations to first day of school to walks on the beach. You help save lives. For an appointment please call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org

The New Repertory Theatre will host a free, fun-filled event for kids and their families on Saturday, April 2 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Kids will work alongside teaching artists to make their own puppets and learn how to use their puppets to craft imaginative stories. The event is good for children age 3 and above.

Eliza Dushku

See a Clip from Eliza Dushku’s Latest Movie, ‘Jane Wants a Boyfriend’

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Eliza Dushku’s latest movie is “Jane Wants a Boyfriend” – where she plays the sister of a woman with autism who wants to start dating – and it will be coming to theaters in some places Friday as well as video on demand. Louisa Krause (Martha Marcy May Marlene) stars as Jane and Watertown’s Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is her protective older sister, Bianca. Bianca has recently gotten engaged, but she also takes in Jane when her parents move out of their home in Brooklyn. “Bianca worries about the extra burden that Jane brings but also her sibling dating the right suitor for her since she very much wants a boyfriend,” says the article from USA Today. See the whole article and the movie clip by clicking here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/03/22/exclusive-jane-wants-a-boyfriend-clip/82119484/

Entertainment

Multicultural Cooking Class Series Kicks Off This Week

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Would you like to learn how to make some delicious and nutritious Mediterranean or Middle Eastern dishes? If so, then join us for one or more classes in this program series featuring Watertown community “chefs” who will teach you how to make some of their favorite dishes and share stories about food related traditions. Samples will be served! Come learn about Italian Cuisine: Pasta Primavera, Broccoli Salad, and Cannoli Bites

The class is on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Coolidge Street Apartments, 319 Arlington Street, Watertown. Free parking.

Entertainment

Fiddler on the Roof Coming to Watertown High School Stage This Weekend

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Whether you have plans or not this weekend, try to make some room on your schedule to come and see Watertown High School’s version of “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Come watch the troubling love story between a daughter and her father who doesn’t exactly accept her love for what it really is, just because the man is less fortunate! Can you imagine if we weren’t allowed to marry whoever we wanted to marry? Well come and see the show! The Watertown High School Theatre students are putting together a production of the musical Fiddler on the Roof at Watertown High School on March 17, 18, and 19. The students have been working since the end of December right before Winter Break.