Around Town

REVIEW: SAATh Festival 2024 Brings South Asian Theater to Watertown

By |

Powerful and complex: Dipanwitha Bhattacharya and Jaideep Banerjee of ENAD Theatre in the Bangla play ‘An (Extra)Ordinary Incident’. Photo by Beena Sarwar. By Beena Sarwar

I went to see “Madho” last night with my mother at the Third South Asia Theatre festival, SAATh 2024, in the Boston area. A musical play set in Lahore, it is written and directed by Sarbpreet Singh, an engineer by profession whose passion is music and storytelling. Based on the timeless tale of the Sufi poet Shah Hussain and the Brahmin youth Madho Laal, who became known as one entity, the story also highlights the syncretic culture of this region.

Entertainment

Actors’ Shakespeare Project Begins Partnership With Watertown’s Mosesian Center

By |

Chloe McFarlane and Paula Plum as Juliet and the Nurse in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Photo by Maggie Hall Photography. The Mosesian Center for the Arts will once again have a resident company when the Actors’ Shakespeare Project moves in this fall. The theater company’s inaugural event at the MCA will be Refresh, a celebration of ASP and a preview of the season, which includes plays by three giants of stage and literature: Jane Austen, August Wilson, and William Shakespeare. See more information and get tickets here.

Entertainment

Watertown Actor Starring in Moonbox Productions’ “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”

By |

Watertown’s Tader Shipley will star in Moonbox Productions upcoming production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The following announcement was provided by Moonbox Productions:

Watertown actor, Tader Shipley, stars in Moonbox Productions upcoming production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by David Yazbek. Directed and co-produced by Allison Olivia Choat with musical direction by Catherine Stornetta and choreography by Brad Reinking, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opens Sept. 27 and runs through Oct. 13 at Arrow Street Arts performance venue located at 2 Arrow Street in Cambridge.

Entertainment

Shakespeare Theater Company Hosting Season Kickoff at Mosesian Center for the Arts

By |

The following information came from Actors’ Shakespeare Project:

It’s a housewarming, a season kickoff preview, a fundraiser for your favorite theatre company, and a big fun party all rolled into one! You’re invited to join ASP’s staff, board, resident artists, and valued community members at our new office and rehearsal space, The Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown! Get a sneak peek into our 2024-25 season with snippets from each of our upcoming shows, and meet some of the actors. You may even get a chance to brush up your Shakespeare and be part of the action! Alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments will be served, along with bites from local Watertown restaurants. 

Click here for tickets

See more about Actors’ Shakespeare Project at www.actorsshakespeareproject.org

Entertainment

Young Watertown Actress Lands Role in American Repertory Theater’s “Gatsby”

By |

Watertown’s Kendall Cote plays Pammy in the play “Gatsby”at the American Repertory Theater. (Contributed Photo)

A young Watertown actress made her stage debut in a play headed to Broadway and on one of the area’s most well known stages. Five-year-old Kendall Cote landed a part in the play “Gatsby,” which is in the midst of a 10 week run at the American Repertory Theater in Harvard Square. In her role as Pammy, the daughter of Daisy Buchanan, she goes into the theater five times a week. “We go in, play for a little bit.

Entertainment

Elton John Tribute, Army Band, Fiddler on the Roof & Much More at the Mosesian Center in June

By |

The Mosesian Center for the Arts has a wide variety of events this June, from concerts to plays to visual art exhibits, plus a community event and arts classes. The MCA provided the following information:

Earfull at Branch Line | June 11, 18 & 25

This performance series features writers and musicians doing their respective things. Writers read from their new books, or about-to-be books, or right from their crumpled-up notes. Musicians range from harpists to hornblowers, from solo songwriters to full-on rock bands. Join for food & drink on the Branch Line patio, great readings and performances, and time between acts to socialize. 

Fork & Shoe Theatre Co-op presents Café du Cheap Artiste: PRESIDENTS | June 8

Cafe du Cheap Artiste is a performance open mic/cabaret presented in a variety of spaces.

Entertainment

New Rep’s Run Ends With Fanfare: Several Nominations & 2 Wins at Theater Awards Ceremony

By |

Valyn Lyric Turner gives her acceptance speech after winning the Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small Theater for her role in “A Raisin in the Sun.” (Photo by Nile Scott Studios)

Watertown-based New Repertory Theatre closed its doors in 2023, but the company’s final season earned accolades at the recent Elliot Norton Awards in Boston. The following announcement was provided by Maria Hendricks, one of the former Resident Artists/Co-Artistic Directors at New Rep.

New Repertory Theatre’s final season went out with a bang as its productions were celebrated at the esteemed 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards, held at The Huntington Theater on May 20. As one of the Greater Boston area’s premiere mid-sized regional theater companies for 40 years, it was especially gratifying for the company to receive such meaningful recognition as it ended its run. New Rep received 7 Nominations:

• Outstanding Production, Small Theater – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small Theater – Damon Singletary – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small Theater – Valyn Lyric Turner – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Director, Small Theater – Lois Roach – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Director, Small Theater – Pascale Florestal – Diaspora!

Entertainment

Watertown Weekend Fun: Lots of Music, One-Woman Show, Plant Sale & a Book Launch

By |

Eden Rays will perform at Mount Auburn Cemetery to celebrate the
100th Anniversary homecoming of the Bigelow Chapel organ. This is a weekend for your ears to experience a dazzling variety of music in a wide range of settings. Catch some original music at Bigelow Chapel in Mount Auburn Cemetery, reminisce about the good ole’ 80’s and 90’s at the Jana Grill, and explore the city during our first annual Watertown Porchfest. There is also time for more quiet gatherings, a one-woman show at the Mosesian Center, a book launch at the Library, and for those reveling in the joys of spring gardening, a plant sale at the Gore Estate. It’s time to get your hands dirty and your garden beautifully productive.