Latest news with #ArtsEmerson
Boston Globe
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
ArtsEmerson announces new season of programming
A presenting and producing organization that operates under the aegis of Emerson College, ArtsEmerson announced Thursday evening that it will showcase nine stage productions in the 2025-26 season. The first will be the premiere of 'Food Bank Influencer,' slated for Sept. 19-21. Written and performed by Kristina Wong, it's a musical celebration of the nation's emergency food system, based on Wong's experiences from New York to the Navajo Nation. Advertisement Next, from Oct. 9-12, will be 'Hang Time,' by Zora Howard, in which 'the great loves and bitter blues of Black men in America' are illuminated by a conversation among three men beneath an old tree. Then comes 'The 4th Witch,' from Oct. 30-Nov. 9. A production by Manual Cinema inspired by 'Macbeth,' it uses shadow puppetry, live music, and silhouette actors to tell the story of a young girl — 'consumed by grief and rage' after her father is killed — who comes under the protection of witches after agreeing not to use her powers in a quest for revenge. That proves to be a challenge when she learns the identity of her father's killer. That will be followed by 'Spacebridge,' from Nov. 21-23. Directed by Irina Kruzhilina, it was inspired by 12-year-old Samantha Smith's peace mission to the Soviet Union in 1983. Advertisement 'Spacebridge' chronicles the struggles of Russian children within the New York shelter system and their broader effort to integrate into a new land. From Jan. 29-Feb. 1 will come 'Noli Timere,' an aerial performance that blends circus arts, contemporary dance, sculpture, and music by Québécois composer Jorane. Next up, from Feb. 20-22, is 'The Things Around Us,' a solo show written and performed by Ahamefule, who uses looped music, technology, a trumpet, and cardboard shipping boxes as drums to tell stories and offer reflections about 'strangers, acquaintances, and friends — and how all three might be more similar to each other than we often think.' 'Dead as a Dodo,' a production from Norway that will be at the Emerson Cutler Majestic from March 2-8, centers on the friendship between a skeletal dodo and a young boy who have to flee the Skeleton King after the dodo sprouts wings. From March 21-April 4, working in collaboration with the Front Porch Arts Collective, ArtsEmerson will present Mfoniso Udofia's 'In Old Age.' The penultimate work in Udofia's epic nine-part Ufot Family Circle, 'In Old Age' focuses on Abasiama Ufot. Her husband has died, but she develops a 'spiritual bond' — and a romantic one — with a churchgoing carpenter, Azell Abernathy. Wrapping up the season will be the premiere of a multimedia adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 'The Secret Sharer,' running April 24 to May 3. It will feature music, dance, text, sound, and video projection to explore the intimate connection between two men who are both outsiders. Don Aucoin can be reached at
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
"Utopian Hotline" brings unique live performance with voicemails to Boston's Museum of Science
A unique theatrical experience is now in performance in an unlikely location: the planetarium at Boston's Museum of Science. "Utopian Hotline" is part telephone hotline, part vinyl record, and part live performance. In the wake of the pandemic, a member of the Brooklyn-based theater called Theater Mitu decided to put up fliers, asking people to call a number and talk about how they imagine a more perfect future. Founding Artistic Director of Theater Mitu, Rubén Polendo says, "We sat as a company, looked at the flyer, thought, nobody's going to call, but we just want to hear people have hope, talk about hope. And in fact, hundreds of people called. Hundreds. They called and they told us stories. They put their children on the phone. They sang to us. They prayed for us. They passed it on to other people in their community. And we started amassing this archive of voicemails about hope." One-of-a-kind theater experience The voicemails, combined with music and images, created this one-of-a-kind experience. "We had known about the utopian hotline existing and thought we wanted to bring it to Boston," explains Susan Chinsen, the Associate Director of Programming Engagement at ArtsEmerson. "But where could we put it? It's not a typical theater type of production." James Monroe, the creative director of strategic programs and the Museum of Science says, "Theatre Mitu are using the space and the technology in ways that I've never seen before done in a Planetarium or in the industry." "Planetariums are really designed to be a place where a community comes together and sees that which is not visible with the naked eye. And we sit in the awe and the excitement and the inspiration of that," says Polendo. "And that's exactly what Utopian Hotline does." Four performers lead the audience through the messages left on the hotline, while original music plays and projections appear above. Monroe says, "This is definitely elevating what live performance in theatre can look like at a science museum and at the Museum of Science." Chinsen agrees, telling us, "I think it's such a beautiful thing. The idea of people being able to sort of record their thoughts and feelings about something so grand, really in many ways, feels like it makes it real." And the play is still evolving. "As folks here in Boston call the hotline, their voicemail also enters into the performance and into the production. So it's a really living piece that really holds the community's thoughts and hopes in mind," Polendo explains. "One of the greatest challenges we have is that when the piece is over, people don't want to leave. They sit there and they stay. And that to us is really special and means the world, that people want to stay in that space of community and in that space of engagement. "It just is really breathtaking, and it just sort of puts you in a different sense of being," says Chinsen. "And the fact that you're there communally with all these other people really feels like a special opportunity." You can check out "Utopian Hotline" at the Museum of Science Planetarium through Sunday, May 18th. If you want to participate in the piece call 1-646-694-8050.
Boston Globe
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Five things to do around Boston, April 21-27
Thursday Dot Delicacies Celebrate Boston's largest neighborhood at the 17th Annual Taste of Dorchester. At this night of food and fun, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at IBEW Local 103, try dishes from more than 20 local restaurants, bid in a silent auction, and listen to live music from area bands. $50, with food included in admission; proceeds benefit the Massachusetts Affordable Homeownership Alliance. Advertisement Friday Un-Presidented Join Arts Emerson for a showing of Igualada from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Emerson College's Bright Family Screening Room. This documentary, which director Juan Mejia Botero made over 15 years, follows Black Colombian presidential candidate Francia Márquez. Through her underdog campaign, Márquez challenged Colombia's embedded racial and socioeconomic inequality. Catch a Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening. $12; discounts for students, seniors. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Saturday and Sunday Set Sail Do you want to learn to sail? Join the Courageous Sailing Open House for two days of free 20-minute sails on Boston Harbor from its Charlestown boathouse. Discounts on memberships and lessons will be available. The family-friendly event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. Register for a time slot at Advertisement Saturday and Sunday Japan Jamboree At Japan Festival Boston 2025, celebrate Japanese culture and the Japan-Boston partnership. Try all kinds of Japanese food (for purchase), watch traditional dance and music performances, and learn about Japanese pop culture at this popular annual event, which drew 70,000 attendees last year! Runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Boston Common. Free admission. Share your event news. Send information on Boston-area happenings at least three weeks in advance to week@ Adelaide Parker can be reached at
