The Stage Door

The First Annual Townie Awards were presented at the Firehouse Center's Way-Off-Broadway Party that was held Saturday, May 5 at the historic theater on Market Square. There was conviviality, dancing, more than a few great bargains to be had at the auctions, and a couple of individuals even went home with a trophy (or two!) under their arm. Many thanks to David Goodwin for the great photos!

David Auburn's award-winning play "Proof" opened Thursday, March 8 and has received rave reviews. Theater-goers are praising everything from the acting and the directing to the incredible set. Here are a few photos taken by Tim Hiltabiddle. Need more Proof? You can see for yourself Thursday - Sunday, March 15-18. "Proof" is directed by Suzanne Bryan (Winthrop)and stars Elizabeth Pasarilla (Beverly) as Catherine; Paul Wann (Newbury) as Robert; Jason Novak (Newburyport) as Hal; and Mara Flynn (S. Berwick, ME) as Claire. Set Design by David Stawasz and Set Builder is Fred LaRoche.

Rehearsals are underway for Robert Auburn's Proof which goes onstage March 8 - 18 at the Firehouse. Directed by Suzanne Bryan, Proof stars Elizabeth Pasarilla (Beverly) as Catherine, Paul Wann (Newbury) as Robert, Jason Novak (Newburyport) as Hal and Mara Flynn (S. Berwick, ME) as Claire. Thanks to James Sandman for the photos!

The 10th Annual New Works Festival was presented Fri-Sat, Jan 20-21 and 27-28, 2012. A perennial favorite, the Festival attracts playwrights from all over New England and offers audience members an insight into the creative process. Thank you to all the playwrights, actors, directors, judges and New Works Festival Committee members who worked so hard to make this year's Festival so successful. We are deeply grateful to James Sandman for all these wonderful photos!

On Sunday, January 15, 2012 nuns, brown paper packages tied up with strings, and adorable children in lederhosen were just a few of our favorite things seen entering the Firehouse for a very special screening of Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music. Master of ceremonies John Budzyna warmed up the audience and led all of us in choruses of "do, a deer, a female deer..." A thousand thanks to Jenny Coyle for submitting these photos!!

On December 3, 2011 Steinway Artist Robin Spielberg gave the very first performance on the new Firehouse piano. The holiday concert was a magic moment enjoyed by one and all and Robin's talents provided an apt christening of the eighty-eight keys. This acquisition will provide years of fond Firehouse musical memories for a long time to come thanks to the generosity of local arts lovers. Thank you.

When Opportunity Knocks, you answer the door. For the Firehouse, opportunity knocked in August, with an opportunity to purchase a Steinway piano, at a price well below market value. The Falcone piano that had seen the community arts organization through its first twenty years and numerous fine performances served them well – however there’s nothing like a Steinway. A hugely successful cooperative effort between businesses, foundations and individual donors took just slightly over a month for their efforts to coalesce into solid results. On a rainy Thursday morning the new piano was loaded into the Arakelian Theater and on hand to document the event was Firehouse Board Member Louis Rubenfeld. Thanks Louis!

Instructors JOHANNA HOYT KIMBALL and JULIE PIKE EDMOND worked their magic once again during the week- long program of voice instruction and choreographed pop and Broadway show tunes for Glee Club this summer! Areas of instruction included the basics of good breath support, posture and vocal production, and performance techniques... all taught while these talented kids had fun singing the songs they love. The week culminated in a public performance on Friday, August 26, 2011. Thanks to everyone who helped make this program a success!

The Firehouse Center for the Arts relies upon its largest annual fundraising event to continue to keep the arts alive in our community. This year, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the theater located in historic downtown Newburyport at Market Square, theatrical magic transformed the auditorium into a speakeasy complete with live music, dancing, gambling, delicious food and drinks -- all the elements that made the Roaring Twenties so fun. Overseeing it all was "club owner" Danny Harrington and when the good times were deemed too much of a good thing, authorities rounded up the usual suspects to cool off in the Juliet Box, which was transformed into a jail cell. How to get out? Bribes were paid and promises made to keep the arts alive at the Firehouse for another twenty years. Elliot Ness, aka Pete Kelly, was the Guest of Honor for his twenty years of continuous service to the Firehouse. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!