Entertainment

New Rep Brings Theater & History to the Streets of Watertown Square

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Charles Lenox, played by Kadahj Bennett, talks about his time in the Massachusetts 54th Infantry during the Civil War sitting on a cannon at the Watertown Civil War Monument. The performance is the first Moving Play presented by New Rep Theatre. Visitors to Watertown Square may have recently noticed an enthusiastic, precocious and out-spoken young man wandering around the area. Charles Lenox, or Kadahj Bennett portraying Lenox, will gladly share his views about the major issues of his time — the 1860s — many of which are familiar to people today. The performance, called the Charles W. Lenox Experience, is the first of New Repertory Theatre’s Historical Moving Plays, and focuses on a real Watertown resident during the time of the Civil War.

Entertainment

Photography Exhibit Library Features Images from the New England Coast

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One of the photos that will be in Joseph Weiler’s exhibit at the Watertown Library, “Bluenose II.” The work of Watertown photographer Joseph Weiler will on display at the Watertown Free Public Library in October. The exhibition features photos from around the New England Coast. Weiler sent out the following information about the exhibition:

My exhibit will be at the Watertown Public Library’s Art Gallery from October 2 thru 30, 2020. The 21-framed photographs explore our coastline from Monhegan Island’s artists to Cape Cod’s lovely beaches.

Business

Arts Community Invited to Town Hall Hosted by Watertown Business Coalition

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The Watertown Business Coalition invites the arts related businesses and organizations, people working in the arts and others to a virtual Town Hall meeting to discuss strategies to get through the pandemic shutdown. “We need to support each other as a community to make it out of these leaner times for the arts/media/entertainment industry,” the announcement said. The event will be held on Friday, Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. Those invited to take part include:

Watertown-based arts related business or organizationWatertown residents who are in the Arts, Entertainment or Media fieldsLocal businesses that are dependent on their interaction with the Watertown community

To find out more and RSVP click here.

Entertainment

Mosesian Center for the Arts Announces New Executive Director

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Darren Farrington was hired in August 2020 as Executive Director of Mosesian Center for the Arts. The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

The Board of Directors of the Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts (MCA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Darren Farrington as Executive Director effective August 17, 2020. Darren is a highly experienced and passionate arts administrator, educator, theatre maker, and arts advocate. During these challenging times, Darren’s grounded, creative, and thoughtful leadership brings an unwavering confidence that MCA will continue to deliver on its mission to enrich the lives of diverse audiences and participants by providing exceptional experiences in theatre, visual, and literary arts. For the past ten years, Darren has been the Executive Director of No Boundaries Youth Theater in New Britain, Conn., which he co-founded in 2010 for underserved children and teens. Darren has also worked for the past three years as Administrator for the Connecticut Arts Alliance, a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization for arts and culture.

Business

Arsenal Yards Bringing Art & Music to Outdoor Rivergreen

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Arsenal Yards will host performances and art on the Rivergreen as part of Petals to the Metal. The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

Summer is officially in bloom at Watertown’s Arsenal Yards! Shops and restaurants have been opening up – including recent additions like Ben & Jerry’s and City Works Eatery & Pour House – and Arsenal Yards’ outdoor Rivergreen space is well underway as construction continues. To celebrate all of these happenings, Arsenal Yards has injected some extra color onto the concrete amidst the construction with the launch of a new “Petals to the Metal” public art and music installation. With this new installation, complete with beautiful floral takeovers and live piano performances, Arsenal Yards invites shoppers, diners and visitors to stop by and enjoy the ambiance while shopping, grabbing an ice cream, or enjoying dinner and a drink.

Entertainment

NewRep Pushing Back Performances, Coming Up With COVID-19 Friendly Productions

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Watertown-based New Repertory Theatre announced this week that it will have to push back the performances of two plays, due to the COVID-19 restrictions. However, Artistic Director Michael Bobbitt and his staff are busy coming up with new options for fans of live theater and performances during the pandemic. NewRep tried rescheduling two plays from the spring to the fall, but looking at the COVID-19 restrictions the decision was made to postpone them once again. The company also announced the cancellation of its annual gala, which they had hoped to move from April to October. “It’s the nature of the beast at the moment.

Around Town

Banners in Watertown Square Feature Student Artwork, Tell Tales of Migration

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One of the banners now hanging in Watertown Square. This one features the artwork of Hosmer School students and show their families’ migration story. The following information was provided by the creators of the Watertown Square Banners Project:

The next time you travel through Watertown Square take a few minutesto admire the colorful new banners hanging on poles throughout the square. They were the brainstorm of local graphic designer Carole Katz and feature works developed by students from the Hosmer School and the Watertown Middle School. Driving through the square one day Katz decided the square needed some colorful banners to replace the current historical banners (that she designed) that have been hanging for several years now.

Entertainment

Mosesian Center for the Arts Cancels Summer Programs

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The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

Dearest MCA Community,

We hope you and your families are safe and well. Our staff has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 updates from Governor Baker and the CDC, and the safety of our community has continued to be our utmost priority. After reviewing the most recent state plans for reopening, we have determined that it would be difficult to implement the early phases of distancing protocols for our Summer Youth Arts Education Programs as scheduled. To ensure the safety of our participants, families, teachers, and staff we have sadly made the decision to cancel all Summer Stages and Studios programming for 2020. Summer Stages and Studios is such an exciting highlight of our year, this was not an easy decision for us to make.