Newburyport Arts Community Well Represented in Boston

The weekend of the Boston Theater Marathon is upon us and Newburyport arts supporters have much to be excited about, as the city's vibrant arts community shall be well represented!

For those unfamiliar, the 15th annual Boston Theater Marathon, which takes place at the Boston Center for the Arts, features 50 ten minute plays, by 50 New England Playwrights, produced by 50 New England theaters in a continuous 10 hour stretch from noon to 10pm on Sunday, May 12, 2013. Phew!

In addition, a warm-up lap takes place the previous day on Saturday, May 11 with three plays being presented. And this is where our Newburyport residents start to shine. At 2PM, a staged reading of Widow Walk will take place written by Newbury resident Deirdre Girard. With Newburyport as its backdrop and local women as its primary inspiration, it is a story of friendships challenged when conflicting fundamental beliefs come into play.

Then, on Saturday, at 1PM, Jack Rushton's Remembering Elizabeth will be presented by The Actor's Studio of Newburyport, featuring the acting talents of Newburyport's own Terry Blanchard and Mary Shapiro and directed by Maureen Daley.

And, of course, to toot our own horn a little bit, Stephen Faria will be directing "Twilight (Years)" on behalf of the Firehouse Center for the Arts in the 5-6pm time slot on Saturday, featuring Anne Easter Smith and Alan Huisman as our acting players.

So plan a trip into Boston this weekend and support the immense and varied talents of Newburyport and surrounding towns! The warm up lap is free and open to the public. Tickets for the Boston Theater Marathon on Sunday are $25 and are available online by clicking here. All net proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund which provides financial support to theatres and theatre artists in times of need.  Long live the arts!

Spring Cleaning? Look Out for These Items...

Are you in the midst of some spring cleaning?  As you sort through your belongings, please be on the look out for the following items that we are in need of for our upcoming June production of Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. If you have, or think you may have, any of these items, please contact us at info@firehouse.org.

COSTUMES

(2) Adult night shirts, preferably in cream or white (think of the type Scrooge would wear)

(1) Scottish plaid Tam (hat) and a matching plaid sash (plaid material or an old tablecloth may work)

(1) Men's black suit size 52 short

PROPS

(4-6) glass milk bottles

(1) Milk bottle holder like the milk man would carry

Merci! Merci! Merci!

On behalf of the Firehouse Center for the Arts, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Merci!” to everyone who helped to make our April in Paris fundraiser a success.   We were truly fortunate to have had the support of our incredibly talented and dedicated volunteer event co-chairs, Louis Rubenfeld and Cyndi Barry Rubenfeld, and the exceptional planning committee: Ronna Caras, Sue Christ, Maureen Daley, Brenda Reffett, Esther Sayer, Susan Signori, Ray Tiezzi, Lisa Wetenkamp, Christine Williams, Kim Williams, and Deborah Yameen.  Together, we are thrilled to report that the Firehouse Center for the Arts raised significant funds that will support our mission to foster the growth and development of the arts and humanities in the greater Newburyport region.

Special recognition and thanks to our lead sponsor for the event, “Le Grande Fromage”, the Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation, and to all of our generous sponsors:  Institution for Savings, Newburyport Five Cents Savings, Not Your Average Joe's (In-Kind), Kim Williams and Trevor Miller, SPS New England, Castagna Construction, Newburyport Development, The Pieniazeks, Rotary Club, Kelly's True Value and Kelly's Taylor Rental, Colden & Seymour ENT, Starensier Inc., Pitman Law Offices, Baystate Financial Services, The Provident Bank, Maureen Daley, Esther Sayer, Caras Training, First Ipswich Bank, Sue Christ, and Cynthia and Louis Rubenfeld.    Your continued investment makes our work possible.

To all those who donated auction items, we are forever grateful: 10 Center Street, A Little Bit of Naples, Alan Bull, Andre Dubus III, Ann and Chuck Lagasse, Appliance Warehouse, Bob and Kathy Connors, Bob Lobster, Blue Man Group, Brass Lyon, Brenda Reffett, Brine, Cape Ann Foodie Tours, Chez Boucher, Christine Williams, Chuck Withee, Comina, Circle Furniture and Cyndi Rubenfeld, Compass Rose, Converse, Deborah Yameen, Donna Micahels Carpet and Tile, Doubletree Hilton Danvers, Ed LeClair, Esther Sayer, Four Star Limousine, Ginny Eramo of Interlocks Salon, Glenn’s Restaurant, Hot in Hollywood Jewelry, Jivonne Alley and Noel Ochtman, John Farley Clothiers, Kaya Jewelers, Kim Williams and Trevor Miller, Leslie Novak, Linda McKeehan and Plum Island Beach Rentals, Lisa Wetenkamp, Mad Martha’s, Market Square Optical, Mary and Leo Shapiro, Matt and Shauna Pieniazek, Michael Updike, Michael’s Harborside, MK Benatti Jewelers, Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, Newburyport Development, North Shore Language Center, North Shore Music Theatre and Arianna Knapp, Plum Island Beachcoma, Plum Island Grille, Plum Island Soap Company, Pretty Poppy, Richard’s Appliance, Ronna Caras, Sacred Tree Massage, Salon 42/70, Scott Signore of Matter Communications, Sibel Alpaslan, Smitten, Surfland Bait and Tackle, TD Bank, The Actors Studio of Newburyport, The Dance Place, The Party Cake, The Town of Newbury, Valerie’s Gallery, Wishbasket and Red Bird Trading Company, and the York Harbor Inn. 

For contributing elements essential to the evening's success, we thank Not Your Average Joe's for their French menu,  Tim Hiltabiddle for graphic design work, Jack Senier for French tunes, David Goodwin for photography, Julie Pike Edmond and Johanna Kimball, for leading the Glee Club!, the Glee Club! cast for their performance, Seaport Signworks for sponsor signs, and The Newburyport Daily News and The Current for always sharing the news with our treasured community.  An extra special thanks to Esther Sayer who stole the show as our Live Auctioneer!

Most of all, we thank those individuals who came out to support the Firehouse, who bid generously on auction items, and who shared a memorable evening celebrating April in Paris with us.

Beth Falconer

Managing Director

Firehouse Center for the Arts

April & Art: Upstairs at the Firehouse

Peter Zoltai's "Well Worn Path"In preparation for our wonderful April in Paris Springtime Soiree taking place on Saturday, April 20 at the Firehouse Center for the Arts, our Gallery Director, Judy Hallberg, has brought together a collection of five Newburyport artists for a special exhibit in our upstairs gallery space.

Opening today, the April & Arts exhibit runs through May 5 and includes works by Mary Arthur Pollak, Alan Bull, Vivien Colon-Lebron, Heather Karp, and Peter Zoltai. This collection of Newburyport based artists work with different mediums including acrylic, oil and photography, and offer a broad spectrum of styles including impressionism, photo journalism, figurative and abstract expressionism.

Paris in the early 20^th century, and New York City since the mid-60’s have defined contemporary art by the sheer mass of artists congregating within the same city. Though sinificantly smaller, Newburyport also offers a rich and deep concentration of artists here that allows for an exciting arts atmosphere for the artists, the viewers and the collectors among us.

Please join our group of artists this weekend for a public Artists' Reception on Saturday, April 13 from 3-5pm. The gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, in Downtown Newburyport.  We hope to see you there.

Soiree!

April in Paris is shaping up to be one amazing Soiree!  After this winter, wouldn't you love to be enjoying the cafe culture of Paris in the Spring?  Well, our event is the next best thing.  As you arrive, you will be greeted by artists painting en plein air.  Step through to the gallery, where the art continues, giving you the sense of strolling through the many galleries in Paris.  Check in for your sparkling wine, and head upstairs where the sounds of Claire de Lune, and other French favorites are being played by Jack Senier on our Steinway.  Our big screen will set the stage during our cocktail hour, lending to the sense of being in the City of Love itself.  Tuck into our Photo Booth and snap some shots of yourself wearing a beret.  Chef Mike Romano has created a custom French menu for the evening, which can be found here.  Enjoy the menu with specially selected French wines, or the drink of your choice.  Weather permitting, the balcony will be open, providing the perfect spot to toast Spring with your friends.

And we all know that Paris is home to some beautiful shops!  Our silent auction seeks to create a special experience for you shoppers with items ranging from mini i-pads and wine baskets, to art and jewelry.  Our live auction has even greater options in store, ranging from get-aways to a custom portrait by Alan Bull.

All of this is being done to celebrate the magic of the arts, and to ensure that the Firehouse Center for the Arts can continue producing programs like our School Show Series, Glee Club!, Senior Readers' Theater, New Works Festival, and the quality drama that you have come to expect. 

Thanks to our many sponsors for their support, including the Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation, Institution for Savings, Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, Not Your Average Joe's, The Williams/Miller Family Foundation, SPS New England, Castagna Construction, Colden & Seymour ENT, Starensier, Inc., Inn Street Barbershop, Newburyport Montessori, and Caras Training.  Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and we thank you for your support!