Around Town

Hear How Watertown is Tackling the Growing Problem of Hunger at a Live Roundtable Discussion

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After the ceiling collapsed in the church that hosts the Watertown Food Pantry, pickup was moved outside for several weeks. (Photo by Kathy Cunningham)

A lack of food has long been a problem for some Watertown residents, but the number of people worried about going hungry increased during the Pandemic and the numbers have only declined slightly in the past few years. On Feb. 12, Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access Television will host a live discussion with some of the people working on the problem of food insecurity in town. The Watertown Food Pantry has seen the number of families served each week double from pre- to post-pandemic.

Entertainment

2 Watertown Children’s Theater Plays Coming to Newly Renamed Theater at Mosesian Center

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The black box theater at Mosesian Center for the Arts was recently renamed in honor of Watertown Children’s Theater Founding Artistic Director Dinah Lane. (Photo from MCA)

Mosesian Arts’ Watertown Children’s Theater will produce two plays this winter in the newly named Dinah Lane Theater. New classes in performing and visual arts for all ages also begin this month at the arts center. A program of the Mosesian Center for the Arts since the two organizations merged in 2013, Watertown Children’s Theatre engages young individuals and groups in the process of making theater. Initiated in 1983 by Founding Artistic Director Dinah Lane, the program celebrated forty years in November with a benefit reception and performance titled 40 Season of Love.

Entertainment

LOVEFOOL Returns to the Mosesian Center for the Valentine’s Day Weekend

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Michael John Ciszewski returns to the Boston area with his third solo show LOVEFOOL to celebrate Valentine’s Day Weekend with two performances at Watertown’s
Mosesian Center for the Arts. The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

This February, NYC-based queer actor and comic Michael John Ciszewski returns to Boston with his third solo show LOVEFOOL to celebrate Valentine’s Day Weekend with two performances at Watertown’s Mosesian Center for the Arts after a smash 2023 tour that filled houses from comedy clubs to Pride festivals across the northeast with big gay joy. The show is co-created and produced with Brian Dudley and directed by Noah Simes. Following packed performances in New York City (Asylum NYC, Pete’s Candy Store, QED Astoria), Jersey City (Jersey City Theater Center), Provincetown (Redroom), Providence (Fletcher House), Philadelphia (Yellow Bicycle Theatre), and Boston (Rockwell & New Rep), the LOVEFOOL team is thrilled to bring their “celebration of queer love” back to the community that raised them for the third year running! LOVEFOOL is a dazzling and deliciously silly romp through flings, flirtations, and first loves that brims with heart and hilarity.

Around Town

Tradition of Giving Gifts to Kids in Need That was Started by Former Watertown Police Officer, Continues Today

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Toys collected for the Whooley Foundation during a recent drive. Pictured, from left, Rotary Club President Kim Severino, Watertown Business Coalition Co-President Doug Orifice, Whooley Foundation President David Collins, Watertown Business Coalition Co-President Bob Airasian, and Mosesian Center for the Arts Executive Director Darren Farrington. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Every year, days before Christmas, toys donated from around the community fill the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station in preparation to be distributed to families in need around the community. The drive is organized by the Sonny Whooley Foundation, named for a former Watertown Police officer known for his generosity, said David Collins, president of the Whooley Foundation. Over the years, the Whooley Foundation has helped thousands of families, Collins said.

Entertainment

Mosesian Center Offering Special Offer to New Rep Community

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The Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. (Courtesy Photo)

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

The Mosesian Center for the Arts is truly heartbroken with New Rep’s closure, as it has not only meant the loss of programming on our stages, but impacts so many of our colleagues, collaborators, and friends. We are grateful to New Rep’s staff, artists, and administrators for their longtime partnership, and we wish everyone all the best and much future success! FREE AND DISCOUNT MEMBERSHIPS

We are reaching out to the New Rep community with a special offer of a FREE Mosesian Arts Insider Membership. MCA insiders receive regular newsletters with details about upcoming performances, programs, classes, and other events. MCA Insider members are also eligible to submit artwork to MCA’s Annual Members Exhibition with a guarantee of at least one entry annually.

Entertainment

Holiday Makers Market Coming to Mosesian Center for the Arts

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The following information came from the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

On November 25 & 26, the Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving Weekend, join Mosesian Arts for our first Holiday Makers Market! Crafters, creatives, artists, and artisans from Watertown, Greater Boston, and around New England offer a wide range of affordable, giftable, one-of-a-kind creations. We’ve got jewelry, pottery, handknits, and greeting cards; calendars, paintings, ornaments, photo prints, and so much more to choose from. The Makers Market also coincides with our annual Members Exhibition in the MCA galleries, with many pieces for sale, which we encourage all visitors to explore. In addition to our artist vendors, we’ll be joined both days by Lawson’s Finest Liquids for a pop-up brewery event in the MBar, and by local food vendors and musicians.

Entertainment

Two Watertown Natives Bring Play Focused on Interrogation of JFK’s Assassin to the Mosesian Center

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Louis Fantasia was in West Junior Middle School — the former name of Watertown Middle School — when the principal came on the school P.A. system and announced the school was closed for the rest of the day. “They didn’t say anything about what it was. They just dismissed us and sent us home,” he said. “In those days there were maybe 10 houses between the school and Main Street, so all the old ladies saw us coming out of school, and they knew something was up, and that’s when people turned on their radios and TV.”

What had happened? JFK had just been assassinated, one of those moments that pauses our collective historical memory and everyone can recall clearly exactly where they were and what they were doing.

Entertainment

Mosesian Arts’ Members Exhibition Explores a Variety of Themes

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Ann Forbush’s “Time Signature” will be on display during the Mosesian Center for the Arts’ Members Exhibition. (Courtesy of the MCA)

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

The Mosesian Center for the Arts is excited to showcase a diverse body of art works from our current members. The upcoming exhibition gives our artist members the opportunity to demonstrate many and various ways to create work. In addition, artists explore a variety of themes. Several of the artists have turned to nature for inspiration, for comfort, and reflection.