Saturday, May 3 2008

TCAN and EMACT (Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters) are pleased to provide this rare, low-cost opportunity to learn Stage Management. This one-day workshop led by Lisa Goldthwaite, Associate Theater Director at Newton North High School, and Myra Hope-Bobbitt, Masters graduate of Yale University School of Drama, will cover how to manage a show, from pre-production through rehearsals, performances, strike, to post-production. In addition to prospective Stage Managers, the course is invaluable for producers, directors, actors, and other technical crew who are interested in broadening their theater knowledge. Workshop ends at 4:00PM.

Help the BBU wrap up its 32nd concert season (and celebrate Bluegrass Music Month) with a family friendly event.

Picking Party starts at 5 PM, Potluck Dinner at 6:15 PM (for those that bring, of course!) and Performances at 6:30 PM until 10 PM. Featured bands include Back Eddy Bluegrass and Pine Hill Ramblers, plus a short performance from the BBU's Kids Academy. Lots of fun and we hope to see you there.

Note that there will be a Kids Academy Jam beginning at 5 PM. Also, Candi Sawyer has just published this year's edition of the Bluegrass Guide, the source book for bluegrass events in the Northeast. Visit http://www.bluegrassguide.com/ to get your copy.

"Here, two of Western Massachusetts' brightest voices just let it fly on this very folk-flavored disc of original material with plenty of nods and winks to the past. Yes those are traces of 'Scarborough Fair' in 'Abington Sea Fair.' Yes, that's a lot of Pete Seeger influence heard in 'This Train,' And yes, that's a modern-day response to 'The Water is Wide,' in 'We'll Plant an Oak.' Banjos and mandolins dominate much of the musical backing and the sisters' familial harmonies are typically delightful, especially on the ballads "Give Me a Clean Heart" and 'Moonlighter.'"— Kevin O'Hare, Sunday Republican

2nd Show 9:30pm

FEATURING: Drew Sayers - Tenor Sax, Nick Videen - Alto Sax, Alex Asher - Trombone, Cole Kamen-Green, - Trumpet David Bailis - Guitar, Ryan Dugre- Guitar, Eric Lane - Keyboards, Ben Davis - Bass, Adam Clark - Drumset, Samba Cisse - Sabar Drums, Matt Donnelly - Percussion.

THE SUPERPOWERS (formerly Boston Afrobeat Society) is an 11 member, 21st Century Dance Band. Voted Best World Act in the Phoenix 2007 Best Music Poll and 2006 Boston Music Awards, The Superpowers have been hailed by critics as a "poly-rhythmic juggernaut", They have played packed houses throughout the Eastern U.S. and shared the stage with internationally renowned artists including Sierra Leones Refugee All-Stars, John Browns Body, Aphrodesia, NOMO and Audible Mainframe.

2nd Show 10:00pm

Benefit for World Fellowship Center a family camp in the White Mountains with a social consciousness.

Willie will be joined by Josh Rosen on piano and Doug Rich on bass for a set of music starting at about 8:15, and there will be salsa dance lessons and a dance party beginning at 9:00.

r more information about World Fellowship Center, please visit www.worldfellowship.org.

Opening Act: Gretchen Peters

Roaring Brook regulars know why Red House recording artist ELIZA GILKYSON has received many recent honors including a Grammy nomination, two Austin Music Awards and four Folk Alliance Awards. She received standing ovations at both of her RBNC shows. This Is Texas Music, hails her as “one of the most original and influential folk artists of our time.”

Offering a very generous set of music tonight, she performs material from her new CD YOUR TOWN TONIGHT and her previous titles PARADISE HOTEL, LAND OF MILK AND HONEY, LOST AND FOUND; and HARD TIMES IN BABYLON. The Boston Globe praises her work as ‘’masterfully structured, startlingly intimate songs in a beautfully lived-in voice”. Concert highlights include “Tender Mercies”, “Man of God”, “Not Lonely”, Woody Guthrie’s “Peace Call” and her dad Terry Gilkyson’s song “Greenfields”.

Nashville songwriter/gultarist and Folkway magazine's Artist Of The Year Award winner GRETCHEN PETERS performs her RBNC debut opening set with songs from her new CD BURNT TOAST & OFFERINGS.

This lively and poignant comedy about love and survival illuminates the relationships, humor, and feelings of three close friends who meet at the cemetery each month to pay their respects to their late husbands. Each of the widows is at a different stage of healing and moving on with her life. The flamboyant Lucille – whose husband was unfaithful – flirts outrageously, as if to avenge herself. The quieter Doris is content to remember her husband. Ida is beginning to think she’s ready for a second chance at love. But Lucille and Doris aren’t ready for her to take that chance. How the friends resolve this conflict is funny, touching, and thought-provoking.

Colin Hay first landed on American shores as the front-man and principal songwriter of the pop sensation Men at Work, with his own wry songwriting and burnished vocals producing massive hits such as Down Under, Who Can It Be Now? and Overkill, songs that defined pop music of the early Eighties. Forging new roads as a working solo artist and songsmith, Colin, who will be touring this summer in Ringo Star's All-Star Band, has continued to develop his touching, relatable songwriting while recasting his pop records as stripped-down acoustic gems.

special guest Pat Wictor

As one of New England's premier Classic-Progressive Rock bands, Coming Alive continues to deliver on that formula, combining stunning power vocals and impeccable musical delivery, dazzling audiences with near-perfect renditions of classic hits by The Eagles, Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan, The Beatles, Toto, Little Feet, Chicago, Lynyrd Skynyrd and many more. The current band line-up is Bob Lituri: Vocals/Guitars, Mike Zawada: Vocals/Keyboards, Bill Sivret: Vocals/Bass and Jim Sanchez: Drums/Percussion.

featuring: Yoko Miwa, piano; Greg Loughman, acoustic bass; Scott Goulding drums

Technical perfection, pure tone, crystal clear diction – 4-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald is one of the most electrifying performers on Broadway today. Frequently compared to legendary performers such as Barbara Streisand and Judy Garland, McDonald was just nominated for yet another Tony for her luminous portrayal of “Lizzie’ in 110 in the Shade. She also plays Dr. Naomi Bennett in "Private Practice" on TV. Equally talented as a singer and a dramatic actress, she is “one of those rare cabaret concert performers who sends writers running for their thesaurus in search of new ways to say ‘astonishing’” (EDGE Boston).

CABARET: Dinner, Dessert & Cash Bar $3–11. Doors open at 7 pm.

Saxophonist Najee, the two-time Grammy nominee (for 1986’s Najee’s Theme and 1988’s Day By Day, both of which went platinum) and a pioneer of the “rhythm and jazz” movement of the late ‘80s and ‘90s, continues to shed new light on the contemporary jazz scene with his latest CD 'Rising Sun.'

2nd Show - 10:00pm

“Beatlemania-LIVE!, which originated as a Broadway show, goes to near-obsessive efforts to bring to life the best-known band in the world. Of all tribute shows, Beatlemania-LIVE! is the most professionally staged!”

Having toured throughout the world, BEATLEMANIA-LIVE! Will recreate more than 30 Beatles’ classics, played note for note, all LIVE on stage. The show will also feature three full costume changes as they send audiences time-trippin’ back to the days of the Early Beatles, the Sgt. Pepper’s Beatles, and the “hippie-look” Beatles from the Abbey Road period.

Enter Stage Left Theater is scheduling monthly Open Mic nights on the first Saturday of every month. Acclaimed folk artist Stephanie Corby will be featured tonight and the event will again be hosted by Barbara Kessler.

Singers and musicians can register to perform at 7:00 p.m., and the performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Aspiring teens and adult singers and/or songwriters are invited to show off their talents at this informal venue.

 

He'll be joined by the extremely creative Josh Rosen on piano and his frequent partner and the other half of the Tinnitus Brothers, Doug Rich on bass.

Greg Hopkins has been performing in the New England area for the past twenty years. Trumpeter, arranger/composer Hopkins played with Lonnie Smith, and Buddy Rich. Reed man Bill Pierce toured with Art Blakey and Tony Williams. Guitarist Mick Goodrick was with Jack Dejohnette and Steve Swallow. Gary Chaffee is a noted teacher of many famous drummers. Together the group exhibits a mature, hard hitting style.

The Sneade brothers are back, and better than ever! When you think of Steppin Out , you pobably remember the ass kickin southern/classic rockers from day's past. Well take that immage and get ready to dance. The Sneade brothers from Grafton have teamed up with Drummer John Gagne and brother Gene (also well know in the central Mass Rock scene), and have brought back previous Steppin Out front man Ricky Brindisi (yeah he's related to John Brindisi from Counter Attack). Together they have put together a fun, rockin,groovin set of material made up of some of the greatest songs recorded in time. From there own retakes of some 50's hits to current rockers of today. Steppin out's fresh new outlook will keep you movin all night long.

Milo Z is a high energy, super tight, original funky soul group straight out of New York City. The band is refined in all aspects. Their array of catchy songs, top-notch musicianship, flashy outfits, dance steps, and stage presence has been noticed both here and abroad gaining them cult followings throughout the East Coast and parts of Europe. Milo Z is a band ready to break out, with the release of their third CD 'Sweet N' Nasty' featuring brand new singles geared towards radio, can't help it- shake your body dance/funk grooves, and grab your loved one, slow dance smooth sole. The Music for all emotions.

This night will start off with some deep stuff...Then the Latin rhythms will take over...You will be grooving! Leo's band is as good as it gets.