Blogs

  • What’s Happening in the Arts May 3-17?

    Posted: May 3rd 2018 @4:45 AM

     If you’d like to keep up with what’s going on in town between installments of Arts Week, you can always sign up for the Ptownie Dispatch at ptownie.com. Want to find out about local music going on all over the Cape? Be sure to visit our website at womr.org and check out the calendar.

    The Peregrine Theatre Ensemble has announced its summer production of Hair. If you’re interested in the dawning of the Age of Aquarius (and who isn’t?) check out their website for dates and times. peregrinetheatre.org

    At the Cape Rep starting May 9 it’s Merrily We Roll Along. Following three best friends over the 20-year span of their artistic careers, Sondheim’s brilliant score includes, “Not a Day Goes By,” “Old Friends” and “Good Thing Going.” As the trio of creatives, Cape Rep favorites Jared Hagan, Trish LaRose, and Adam Berry will bring their real-life friendship to the stage, and the drive and wit of the story to life. caperep.org

    At the Provincetown Theater, starting May 17 you can see You Can’t Take It with You, one of the most popular and produced plays in American history, unfurling under the bohemian roof of Grandpa Vanderhof’s creatively eccentric family—writers, painters, ballet dancers, xylophone players, caged snakes, a Russian duchess, and a basement full of firecrackers. When love blooms between Grandpa Vanderhof’s pretty granddaughter and the handsome son of an uptight, conservative Wall Street banker, the collision of their two worlds explodes into laughter! Provincetowntheater.org

    At the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, PAAM Director Christine McCarthy is thrilled to present the work of artist Yvette Drury Dubinsky in her annual Director’s Choice exhibition. Bringing together approximately twenty works of art from nearly three decades of the artist’s career, this exhibition exemplifies Dubinsky’s powerful ability to combine practices resulting in elegant, textural, organic, and geometric compositions that narrate her life’s journey. A diverse range of media form Dubinsky’s body of work, including drawing, photography, collage, printmaking, and digital manipulation. Based on her personal encounters from global travels to certain smells, social concerns, to living on Cape Cod, the creative process results in a series of compositions that track and record a diverse experience. Opening reception is Friday, May 4, 6pm. PAAM.org

    The Cape Cod Theatre Company is reviving Wrinkles, The Musical, a celebration of women and aging, written by local playwrights Naomi Turner and Wilderness Sarchild; directed by Nina Schuessler; with music by Grammy Award-winner Jason Howland, Cape composer and musical director Malcolm Granger, recording artist Sarah Burrill and Dana McCoy. The show opens on May 24 and runs through June 17, and takes place in a large and very active senior living community in central Florida. Capecodtheatrecompany.org

    The Purple Feather Café & Treatery will be presenting the eighth annual Great Provincetown Chocolate Scavenger Hunt on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 12-13. The Purple Feather creates individual chocolate sculptures that are displayed by partner businesses throughout the weekend. On the day of the event, Scavenger Hunt players will pick up an entry card and hint sheet at the Purple Feather. Once a player has located the partner business and the chocolate sculpture inside, an employee stamps their card.

    From May 30-June 22 at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre it’s THIS IS OUR YOUTH, a living snapshot of the moment between adolescence and adulthood when many young people first go out into the world on their own, armed only with the ideas and techniques they developed as teenagers—ideas and techniques far more sophisticated than their parents ever realize, and far less effectual than they themselves can possibly imagine. What.org

    And, finally, check out this summer’s outstanding lineup of comedians, Broadway performers, and drag shows at the Art House by going to provincetownarthouse.com.

     

     

     

  • Excerpt from Prologue of Bricklayer Bill

    Posted: April 5th 2018 @8:13 AM

    “Earlier that year, New York’s Knickerbocker Athletic Club was hosting a day-long series of amateur athletic contests at Columbia Oval in the Bronx.

     

     

    “The strangest of these was a twenty-five-mile race on the roads from Stamford, Connecticut, to the Bronx, finishing up with two laps around the track in the stadium. No such race had ever been held in America—nor (despite a persistent misconception) had any such race taken place in recorded human history until a few months earlier, in Greece. And about a mile of the Knickerbocker race would pass through Bill’s hometown.

     

    “Thirty men took the train from New York to Stamford that morning, were shown to dressing quarters, and changed into tracksuits. Shortly after noon, an official fired a revolver into the air and the runners were on their way, heading out of town on East Putnam Avenue. “The day,” reported the Brooklyn Eagle, “was glorious for sport,” albeit not exactly for the athletes. “The sun made matters rather uncomfortably hot for most of the competitors,” not to mention that “there was scarcely a breath of wind” to relieve them. But at least “for the spectators the weather conditions left nothing to be wished for.”

    “Accompanied by a group of bicycle riders called the Harlem Wheelmen, the runners covered the first five miles with confidence. Once they passed through Greenwich’s town center, the contestants’ lack of experience started to show. “Several of the runners began to think that their early hopes were not warranted by the facts,” noted the New York Herald. Soon, the telegraph poles disappeared and they were on a dusty, bumpy, rocky, rutted country road.

    “After another couple of miles, the panting plodders crossed a bridge over the Byram River and entered New York. Soon they reached paved roads and civilization once more—Port Chester, the first official checkpoint. A waiting official dashed off a telegram to the Bronx: John McDermott and Louis Liebgold were running neck and neck to lead the pack. McDermott was “a little lank fellow,” according to the Eagle, and he worked during the week as a lithographer. Liebgold “hadn’t trained an hour for the race.” The rest of the field was scattered behind them, about fifteen minutes separating the leaders from the last of the laggards.

    “As the front-runners approached, young Bill Kennedy, spectating from a spot steps from his family’s walk-up flat, couldn’t contain his excitement. With no tape or cop to stop them, he and his pals leapt into the road and ran alongside McDermott and Liebgold. You can picture them hollering encouragement as they dodged the squeaky wheels of the Harlem cyclists. The boys kept up with the leaders all the way to the railroad bridge into neighboring Rye before turning back.

    “Thus,” wrote Bill years later, “I claim the honor of running in this pioneer race, though unofficially.”

    From BrickLayer Bill: The Untold Story of the Workingman’s Boston Marathon
    by Patrick L. Kennedy and Lawrence W. Kennedy
    Copyright © 2017 by University of Massachusetts Press

    Available at Amazon or through your local independent bookseller.

     

  • International Women’s Day

    Posted: March 8th 2018 @8:05 AM

    If you’d like to keep up with what’s going on in town between installments of Arts Week, you can always sign up for the weekly mailing list at ptownie.com. Want to find out about local music going on all over the Cape? Be sure to visit our website at womr.org and check out the calendar.

    I want to urge you to listen to WOMR all day today as we again celebrate International Women’s Day with some amazing music and spoken word programs. We have interviews, live music, poetry readings and critical information-sharing, so please keep your radio dial, as we used to say, tuned here all day long. You can also find us online at womr.org.

    At the Cape Rep in Brewster make sure you check out the season’s first fundraiser, Footlight Fantasies. A guaranteed evening of fun, the show brings together Cape Rep talent with newcomers to the stage; you might even see some of your friends and neighbors performing! The evening is filled with great music, fantastic costumes and lots of laughter. Known for its generosity of spirit, it is a great fundraiser for Cape Rep, as audience members throw money at the stage to egg on the performers. Your ticket price includes admission and light treats and you can also enjoy the cash bar. That’s April 5th through the 8th, and more info is at Caperep.org

    The Water’s Edge Cinema is closed through March 15th for cleaning and renovations.

    The Peregrine Theatre Ensemble has announced its summer production of Hair. If you’re interested in the dawning of the Age of Aquarius (and who isn’t?) check out their website. Auditions will take place in New York City and Boston. Peregrine is seeking singer/actors with a wide vocal range who can move. This production requires musicianship and artistry that connects with the material and heart of the music. Performers who excel in musical styles such as Gospel, R&B, Classic Rock and Soul are strongly needed and encouraged to attend. Dates and requirements are all available at peregrinetheatre.org

    At the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, you can see and hear the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD presentation of Rossini’s Semiramide on Saturday at 12:55pm. The opera has not been seen at the Met in 25 years, so take advantage of this special opportunity! what.org

    Michelle Crone’s film series, women behind the camera, which looks at female directors, producers, screenwriters, costume designers and more, is Fridays at 7pm downstairs at the Governor Bradford.

    The Provincetown Art Association and Museum has extended its Hopper show through April 1, so if you haven’t seen it yet, there’s still time. Included are 96 drawings by Edward Hopper, 69 drawings and watercolors by his wife, Josephine Hopper, and 22 diaries dating between from 1933-1956 chronicling the Hoppers’ lives on Cape Cod and beyond. Hopper’s landscapes are synonymous with Cape Cod; from 1930 on, the Hoppers spent almost forty years in their classic Cape house with a large window overlooking Fisher Beach. Up until his death in 1967, Hopper sought out the Cape to paint what became some of his most famous works, including Cape Cod Sunset, Corn Hill, Seven A.M., and Gas. In total, he painted more than one hundred oils and watercolors depicting Cape Cod. Paam.org

    WOMR is always looking for folks who would like to be a DJ. No experience necessary. We’re also interested in hearing from people who would like to host a talk show. We currently have seasonal openings on alternate Thursdays from 9:30a-12:30p. Send proposals to matty@womr.org

     

  • Arts Week: December 14, 2017

    Posted: December 13th 2017 @5:19 PM

    Today’s guest: David Drake, artistic director, Provincetown Theater

    If you’d like to keep up with what’s going on in town between installments of Arts Week, you can always sign up for the weekly mailing list at ptownie.com. They’ll keep you in the know about all the things you need to know to plan your week. Ptownie.com

    The Center for Coastal Studies’ Winter Lecture Series continues at Napi’s with “Right Whales at the Brink: Stewardship at the Edge of Extinction” on December 27th. Topics will include the status of the population and its recent steep decline, the seasonal arrival of the whales, and the critical role that Massachusetts waters play in their uncertain future. The series is free. Call 508-487-3622 x 103 for more information.

    Want to find out about local music going on all over the Cape? Visit capecodmusic.com for bands and events.

    The Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum is leading Provincetown 400, the initiative whose mission is to oversee events and fundraising for the commemorations in 2020 of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower Pilgrim’s first landing in Provincetown. Also, there’s a fabulous champagne and oyster New Year’s Day party there along with a great vantage point for watching the fireworks. There are a lot of ways for you to get involved, so visit them at pilgrim-monument.org.

    Crone’s Team Trivia is on Thursday nights at Napi’s restaurant at 7pm. You don’t need to come with a team; they’ll help you find one. There is a wide range of topics with some singing and dancing thrown in. Check out the Facebook page for more information.

    The Provincetown Theater has hired David Drake as its new artistic director, which is very exciting. The playhouse will celebrate the holidays in true community fashion this year with three performances of a home-grown yuletide musical revue “A Very Townie Christmas” on Friday & Saturday, December 15th & 16th at 7pm, and Sunday, December 17th at 2pm. As master of ceremonies, Town Manager David Panagore has graciously donated his services as the show’s host. Suggested donation is $10. Kids under 12 get in for free. Seasonal treats will be served. Provincetowntheater.org

    At the Cape Cod Theatre Company you can see A Christmas Carol until December 30th. Celebrate this timeless Christmas tradition with your whole family and recapture the joy and generosity of the season. You can read my review of the show at ptownie.com, and get more information, times, and tickets at Capecodtheatrecompany.org.

    Tuesday December 19th, 7:30 pm at the Monomoy Regional High School you can see Judy Collins in concert, preceded by the completely awesome Tracy Grammer. The concert is presented by the Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music Festival. For more information, visit judyonthecape.bpt.me.

    At the Water’s Edge Cinema this weekend you can see:

    • THE SQUARE: Winner of the Palme d’Or, this zany, yet poignant satire revolves around an altruism-themed art installation in a Swedish museum & the bizarre series of events it sets into motion.
    • Staying in Scandinavia, you can also see THELMA, a supernatural lesbian thriller about a Norwegian college student with a complicated past who discovers she has fantastic powers that grow stronger as she becomes intimately involved with a woman for the first time.
    • And it’s everybody’s favorite, A CHRISTMAS STORY. Set in the 1940s, this instant holiday classic tells the tale of a young boy who wants a Red Ryder B.B. gun more than anything in the world.

    The Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater invites you to an open house celebrating the holiday season this Saturday from 3 – 6 pm, featuring live entertainment onstage, complimentary refreshments and plenty of holiday cheer. And then on Sunday it’s the annual community reading of A Christmas Carol at 3pm. The open house is free, and admission to the reading is by donation. WHAT.org.

    The Outermost Contra dance happens on the third Friday of each month at Wellfleet Preservation Hall. Come dance to exuberant reels and jigs from traditional repertoires of the British Isles, Canada, and America. All levels are welcome and there’s no need to bring a partner. Requested per person donation is $10. Also at Prez Hall this Saturday, it’s the Cool for Fuel Benefit Event, taking up the slack by the cancellation of the Yule for Fuel shows. At 3pm it’s Rose Clancy, Cumberland, Robert Finch, the New Beach Band, and Christine Ernst. At 7:30 pm it’s the Bert Jackson Trio, the Rip it Ups, Monica Rizzio, Rose Martin, and Christine Earnst, and the MC and headliner for both shows is Suede. Please join us for this very special one day event of live music and spoken word performances from some of your favorite Cape artists, with proceeds to benefit the Lower Cape Outreach Council’s winter fuel assistance program. Tickets are $20. More about it at wellfleetpreservationhall.org.

    Those of you who know me, know how much I love the singing string quartet Well-Strung. They’ll make their Town Hall solo debut (and 10 points to anyone catching the Harry Chapin allusion in what I just said) in Provincetown on December 30 with “Home for the Holidays” at 6:30. The hit holiday show features the group’s own unique pop-classical spin on some of the most beautiful and traditional holiday favorites, such as “Silent Night”, “Sleigh Ride,” all the way to Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” and everything in between. Well-strung.com

    I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Joe Gouveia Outermost Poetry Contest, because we’re accepting submissions now! In honor of former Cape Cod Poet Laureate, Joe Gouveia, WOMR/WFMR continues this annual tradition to honor his commitment to the poetry community while supporting a great community asset. Judge Marge Piercy will select the finalists for both the National and Regional categories. We are awarding $1,300 in prizes, and there’s more at womr.org

     

     

     

  • Well-Strung Returns to Ptown for One Holiday Show Only

    Posted: December 7th 2017 @9:00 AM

    … so don’t miss it!

    Well-Strung, the critically acclaimed singing string quartet, will make their Town Hall solo debut in Provincetown on December 30 with “Home for the Holidays” for one show only. The hit holiday show has been devised by Well-Strung, Mark Cortale and director Richard Jay-Alexander, and features the group’s own unique pop-classical spin on some of the most beautiful and traditional holiday favorites, such as  “Silent Night”, “Sleigh Ride,” all the way to Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” and everything in between. Well-Strung’s performance is part of Provincetown’s annual First Light 

     

     

    Weekend and sponsored by the Anchor Inn Beach House and the Provincetown Gym.  For tickets and information visit http://www.ptownarthouse.com/.

    Well-Strung, starring Edmund Bagnell (first violin), Christopher Marchant (second violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello) and Trevor Wadleigh (viola), is a string quartet with a modern twist. The group plays universally recognized classical pieces while singing pop music hits from the likes of Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, and other pop stars for a uniquely engaging experience. The New York Times recently called Well-Strung “A talented quartet of men who sing and play instruments brilliantly fuses pop and classical music from Madonna to Beethoven.”

     

    Conceived by Mark Cortale and Christopher Marchant, the foursome formed in 2012 and has since gained international attention. They have been invited to perform at the Vatican in Rome and at a gala for President Obama. Hillary Clinton requested a special performance by Well-Strung after the release of their viral music video “Chelsea’s Mom.” They have also performed on The Today Show, and live onstage with artists such as Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris, Audra McDonald, Deborah Voigt, and were the opening act for Joe Jonas and his band DNCE at Pride Toronto. They have appeared twice with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and co-starred in two Christmas concerts at Town Hall in Manhattan with the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus in 2016. The group has received critical acclaim at New York’s prestigious Feinstein’s/54 Below and well beyond, from the House of Blues in New Orleans to the Leicester Square Theatre in London.

     

     

    Well-Strung’s second studio album titled POPssical is a celebratory blend of pop hits sung by the group accompanied by respected classical music. The album debuted at #8 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Chart, and features ten tracks including renditions of “Blank Space (Feat. Bach)” and “Royals (Feat. Palladio)” as well as the infamous ode to Hillary Clinton, “Chelsea’s Mom” as a bonus track. To celebrate the release of POPssical, the group surprised their fans with a bonus music video for the track “The Devil Went Down To Georgia (Feat. J.S. Bach).” In the video, the group takes Bach’s Double Violin Concerto and adds the southern charm of Charlie Daniels Band to create a unique sound all on its own. Well-Strung’s POPssical album is availableat iTunes or on CD at CDBaby.

    Their first music video entitled Mozart Meets Kelly Clarkson initially caught the eye of the national press. BBC Radio host Jo Good called Well-Strung “absolutely amazing” after their on-air performance and interview for her show. In the States, they’ve also been called “the hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games” by the New York Daily News, and were featured in their first magazine cover spread for Metrosource.

    For more information and tour dates, visit www.well-strung.com

     

  • Arts Week 30 November 2017

    Posted: November 30th 2017 @9:40 AM

    guests:

    Allison Beaven (Outer Cape Chorale), Nina Schussler (Cape Cod Theatre Company

    ***

    If you’d like to keep up with what’s going on in town between installments of Arts Week, you can always sign up for the weekly mailing list at ptownie.com. They’ll keep you in the know about all the things you need to know to plan your week. Ptownie.com

    On December 7th, the Cape Rep is throwing its gala holiday party at the historic Captain Linnell House on Skaket Beach in Orleans. Tickets are $100 each and available at www.caperep.org. And this is your last weekend to see Boundless, a new play with music that explores how local fishermen navigate the rough waters of politics, science, economics and tradition to survive in today’s world. Created from interviews with Cape Cod fishermen, their families, and the organizations that keep them fishing, Boundless takes us into the heart of their story. Check out my review of the play over at ptownie.com; I strongly recommend seeing it! Caperep.org

    This is Holly Folly weekend, with lots to see and do in Provincetown. Do not miss these three days of holiday revelry, from traditional carols ‘round the piano to the not so traditional Speedo run down Commercial Street. Not quite what Currier and Ives had in mind, Holly Folly antics are a fun kick-start to the season with a non-stop line-up of events including the Gay Men’s Chorus, dancing into the night and the popular Shop Hop, where you vie for great prizes while taking advantage of major sales happening in Provincetown’s shops and galleries. Free to everyone is the ever popular Inn Stroll, an open house at a number of Ptown’s famed guesthouses. Pace yourself for this one, as the innkeepers out-Martha Stewart each other in decorations, treats and libations. http://ptown.org/holly-folly/

    Want to find out about local music going on all over the Cape? Visit capecodmusic.com for bands and events.

    At The Water’s Edge Cinema, it’s 120 Beats Per Minute: In 1990s Paris, amid rallies, protests & ecstatic dance parties, two guys working for an HIV/AIDS organization fall in love, and their passion blazes against the shadow of mortality as the activists fight for a breakthrough. In French w/subtitles. You can also see WONDERSTRUCK, a magical cinematic creation from PIFF Filmmaker on the Edge award winner Todd Haynes weaves together two stories set 50 years apart, both focused on deaf children who run away to NYC on epic quests to find someone with whom they are desperately longing to connect.Watersedgecinema.org.

    The Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum is leading Provincetown 400, the initiative whose mission is to oversee events and fundraising for the commemorations in 2020 of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower Pilgrim’s first landing in Provincetown. Also, there’s a fabulous champagne and oyster New Year’s Day party there along with a great vantage point for watching the fireworks. There are a lot of ways for you to get involved, so visit them at pilgrim-monument.org.

    Crone’s Team Trivia has returned! It’s Thursday nights at Napi’s restaurant at 7pm. You don’t need to come with a team; they’ll help you find one. There is a wide range of topics with some singing and dancing thrown in. Check out the Facebook page for more information.

    After a disappointing season, the Provincetown Theater has hired David Drake as its new artistic director and they’ll be offering a musical holiday revue, A Very Townie Christmas on December 15, 16, and 17. Provincetowntheater.org

    At the Cape Cod Theatre Company you can see A Christmas Carol starting December 8th. Celebrate this timeless Christmas tradition with your whole family and recapture the joy and generosity of the season. Capecodtheatrecompany.org.

    This Saturday at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater you can see and hear the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD: The Exterminating Angel at12:55 pm. WHAT.org

    Tonight at 6:30 The Harper and The Minstrel present An Early Music Wynter Concert at the Provincetown Public Library. The concert will feature Holiday and Wynter Music from The Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Periods and will be accompanied by a variety of Period instruments. More at http://provincetownlibrary.org

    I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Joe Gouveia Outermost Poetry Contest, because we’re accepting submissions now! In honor of former Cape Cod Poet Laureate, Joe Gouveia, WOMR/WFMR continues this annual tradition to honor his commitment to the poetry community while supporting a great community asset. Judge Marge Piercy will select the finalists for both the National and Regional categories. We are awarding $1,300 in prizes, and there’s more at womr.org

     

     

     

  • Arts Week for October 19, 2017

    Posted: October 12th 2017 @7:46 AM

     

    Guests:

    • Turn of the Screw  (WHAT)
    • Dawn Walsh: Day of the Dead Festival

    If you’d like to keep up with what’s going on in town between installments of Arts Week, you can always sign up for the weekly mailing list at ptownie.com. They’ll keep you in the know about all the things you need to know to plan your week. Ptownie.com

    At the Cape Rep in Brewster, starting in November it’s Boundless, a new play with music that explores how local fishermen navigate the rough waters of politics, science, economics and tradition to survive in today’s world. Created from interviews with Cape Cod fishermen, their families, and the organizations that keep them fishing, Boundless takes us into the heart of their story. Caperep.org

    Starting this weekend at the Cape Cod Theatre Company in Harwich, watch for Little Shop of Horrors, a comedy musical about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. Capecodtheatrecompany.org. Also at Cape Cod Theatre Company, there will be a benefit reading of Love Letters on Sunday afternoon (10/22) in Chatham to benefit the company’s kids’ theatre education scholarship fund. And the new season has just been announced, with big wins for womens’ voices and local playwrights/composers! Check it all out at capecodtheatrecompany.org.

    Coming up at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater it’s The Turn of the Screw from October 19th to the 29th: Based on the provocative tale of suspense and horror, this adaptation gives the famous story yet another turn of its own. A young governess journeys to a lonely English manor house to care for two recently orphaned children. But she is not their first governess. Her predecessor drowned herself when she became pregnant by the sadistic valet, who was himself found dead soon after under mysterious circumstances. Now the new governess has begun to see the specters of those two people haunting the children. But are the ghosts real, or are they the product of her own imagination? what.org

    Want to find out about local music going on all over the Cape? Visit capecodmusic.com for bands and events.

    The Provincetown Theater is known for its contemporary and often experimental takes on theater classics. Artistic Director Tristan DiVincenzo and Stage Director James P. Byrne, inspired by Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein, have collaborated on a world premiere adaptation. The Frankenstein monster has been portrayed in over 100 films and has influenced hundreds of books, graphic novels, and television shows. You can see it through the 30th; times and tickets at provincetowntheater.org.

    Halloween is coming, and Ptown is ready! Check out ptownevent.com/Halloween-provincetown for a full lineup , including Spooky Bear events. In particular you might want to check out a ghostly exploration of the UU, hosted by Adam Berry, who’s leading an investigation of one of Provincetown’s most notorious haunts. Some people have witnessed ghostly choirs singing, apparitions of figures walking near the organ, footsteps walking across the pulpit and large shadows darting around the sanctuary. During the last investigation a group of attendees watched a figure appear in the back of the room and strange green light anomalies were witnessed surrounding a few individuals.

    Provincetown’s 2nd Annual Day of the Dead Performing Arts Festival is a community event honoring life and death through art. Inspired by Mexican traditions, the Festival includes art workshops, a procession, an ofrenda exhibition, an evening of performing arts and a dance party. Workshops begin in mid-October. The procession, ofrenda exhibition, performing arts event and dance party all take place on November 2. It is especially important to honor the Mexican roots of the Festival in light of the current national climate of xenophobia and anti-immigration rhetoric. Honoring the Festival’s Mexican roots is an opportunity to recognize the enriching contributions of Mexicans and Mexican culture. provincetowndayofthedead.com

     

     

  • Arts Week for October 5, 2017

    Posted: October 4th 2017 @9:14 AM

    Here’s what’s happening!

    guest: Michelle Crone (Herstory series)

    If you’d like to keep up with what’s going on in town between installments of Arts Week, you can always sign up for the weekly mailing list at ptownie.com. They’ll keep you in the know about all the things you need to know to plan your week. Ptownie.com

    At the Cape Rep in Brewster, it’s A New Brain through October 15. In the throes of writer’s block for an irritating children’s TV show, composer Gordon Schwinn experiences a sudden life-threatening brain disorder which engulfs him and those he loves in a tumultuous, surreal and very funny ordeal. Based on an incident in his own life, William Finn explores what is truly important in life and love. Caperep.org

    Coming up at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater it’s The Turn of the Screw from October 19th to the 29th: Based on the provocative tale of suspense and horror, this adaptation gives the famous story yet another turn of its own. A young governess journeys to a lonely English manor house to care for two recently orphaned children. But she is not their first governess. Her predecessor drowned herself when she became pregnant by the sadistic valet, who was himself found dead soon after under mysterious circumstances. Now the new governess has begun to see the specters of those two people haunting the children. But are the ghosts real, or are they the product of her own imagination? what.org

    Want to find out about local music going on all over the Cape? Visit capecodmusic.com for bands and events.

    The Water’s Edge Cinema has a lineup of movies especially for Women’s Week: Desert Hearts, Chavela, Clambake, Lesbian Shorts Program, Ann Maguire: The Story of an American Hero, and Battle of the Sexes.

    The Provincetown Theater is known for its contemporary and often experimental takes on theater classics. Artistic Director Tristan DiVincenzo and Stage Director James P. Byrne, inspired by Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein, have collaborated on a world premiere adaptation that will draw heavily upon scholarly research and their own backgrounds in dance and movement for stage. The Frankenstein monster has been portrayed in over 100 films and has influenced hundreds of books, graphic novels, and television shows. You can see it from October 5th through the 30th; times and tickets at provincetowntheater.org.

    On Saturday, October 7th, you can show your support and celebrate at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum’s Annual Gala. Celebrate PAAM in style with a catered dinner while honoring PAAM’s artists and supporters for their work and dedication. This year’s gala will celebrate original works of art, architecture, and design created by individuals and shaped by their vibrant partnerships and collaborations. Elegant, creative, black and white attire–inspired by the 1970s. More at paam.org.

    This weekend marks the start of Women’s Week, and it’s filled with so many activities that I cannot name them all here! Special Bay Lady cruises, women’s history walking tours, shows by Cris Williamson, Kate Clinton, Kristen Becker, Jenny McNulty shows Suzanne Westenhoefer… the list goes on and on. Check it all out at womensweekprovincetown.com

    Coming up on October 20th at the Cape Cod Theatre Company in Harwich, watch for Little Shop of Horrors, a comedy musical about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. Capecodtheatrecompany.org.

     

  • Get Ready to Get Scared!

    Posted: October 2nd 2017 @12:00 PM

    Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater offers The Turn of the Screw as this fall’s ghost story, running October 19-29. Based on the provocative tale of suspense and horror, Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of the Henry James classic gives this famous story yet another turn. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., with matinees at 3 p.m. on Sundays.

    In The Turn of the Screw, a young governess journeys to a lonely English manor house to care for two recently orphaned children. But she is not their first governess. Her predecessor, Miss Jessel, drowned herself when she became pregnant by the sadistic valet, Peter Quint, who was himself found dead soon after under mysterious circumstances. Now the new governess has begun to see the specters of Quint and Jessel haunting the children, and she must find a way to stop the fiends before it is too late. But one frightening question tortures the would-be heroine: Are the ghosts real, or are they the product of her own fevered imagination?

    Kelsey Torstveit (I Am a Camera) returns to WHAT as The Woman, while Joe Pietropaolo (Around the World in 80 Days, Moby-Dick) portrays multiple characters as The Man. The Turn of the Screw is directed by WHAT’s own Christopher Ostrom and is appropriate for most audiences.

    Dates of note: Pay WHAT You Can is Friday October 20, Opening Night is Saturday October 21, and a playmaker talkback follows the performance on Thursday October 26.

    The Turn of the Screw

     

    Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher

    From the novel by Henry James

    October 19–29, 2017

    Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 3 p.m.

    $20-$35; students $12


    Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
    2357 Route 6, Wellfleet
    508-349-9428
    www.what.org

     

  • Arts Week for September 21, 2017

    Posted: September 20th 2017 @8:15 AM

    Arts Week: 21 September 2017

    Guests: Tennessee Williams Festival!

    Michael Kellerman, external relations

    Cem and Meltem, two well-established actors from Turkey who both perform in Antony & Cleopatra

    Abena, Ghanaian actress (who spent her childhood in New York City) appearing in both Antony & Cleopatra and the Ghanaian touring production of Ten Blocks on the Camino Real

    Mawuli, the proprietor/head of the troupe called Abibigromma, which performs as the National Theatre of Ghana.

    ***

    If you’d like to keep up with what’s going on in town between installments of Arts Week, you can always sign up for the weekly mailing list at ptownie.com. They’ll keep you in the know about all the things you need to know to plan your week. Ptownie.com

    At the Cape Rep in Brewster, it’s A New Brain through October 15. In the throes of writer’s block for an irritating children’s TV show, composer Gordon Schwinn experiences a sudden life-threatening brain disorder which engulfs him and those he loves in a tumultuous, surreal and very funny ordeal. Based on an incident in his own life, William Finn explores what is truly important in life and love. Caperep.org

    Coming up at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater it’s The Turn of the Screw from October 19th to the 29th: Based on the provocative tale of suspense and horror, this adaptation gives the famous story yet another turn of its own. A young governess journeys to a lonely English manor house to care for two recently orphaned children. But she is not their first governess. Her predecessor drowned herself when she became pregnant by the sadistic valet, who was himself found dead soon after under mysterious circumstances. Now the new governess has begun to see the specters of those two people haunting the children. But are the ghosts real, or are they the product of her own imagination? what.org

    Want to find out about local music going on all over the Cape? Visit capecodmusic.com for bands and events.

    Of course the big news this week is the 12th annual Tennessee Williams Festival, this year pairing Williams with another William—Shakespeare, that is! The festival begins today and runs through Sunday, and if you haven’t secured your tickets yet, now is the time! Go to twptown.org for the full schedule, and we’ll be talking with some of the actors in just a few minutes. Directors and actors have come to Provincetown from all over the world to perform. The festival honors Tennessee Williams by presenting his classic and undiscovered plays, the work of his peers, and new work inspired by Williams’ creative vision worldwide. The Festival contributes to the cultural wealth of Provincetown by celebrating Williams’ connection to Cape Cod, his evolving international importance, and his avant-garde spirit. Twptown.org

    There are four movie options at the Water’s Edge Cinema:

    • DUNKIRK: An emotionally riveting World War II thriller about the heroic mission to evacuate Allied troops from the French city of Dunkirk when they are surrounded by the German army.
    • STEP: An inspiring & dynamic documentary about the young women of a high school step dancing team, each of whom is striving to be the first in their family to attend college.
    • BEACH RATS: A powerful & visually stunning character study of a young man’s adolescent turmoil as he begins to explore his sexuality through hook-ups with older men he’s met on the internet, while simultaneously starting a relationship with a young woman.
    • LUCKY: A special screening in conjunction with Art House Theater Day, this film is a love letter to the life & career of Harry Dean Stanton, as well as a meditation on morality, loneliness, spirituality & human connection. Free to Film Society members.

     

    The tent may be down for the season, but the Payomet Center for the Performing Arts is teaming up with other arts organizations to bring you Darlene Love and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Check them out at payomet.org.

    Fall classes are now enrolling in creative drama, creative movement, acting & improv, teen acting, and more at the Cape Cod Theatre Company in Harwich. And coming up in October, watch for Little Shop of Horrors, a comedy musical about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. Capecodtheatrecompany.org.