The Musical Season

Musical Masks

If you’re a big fan of musicals, there’s no better time to indulge in one of your favorite activities than now. This is because many of the theatres and schools that perform musicals begin their musical seasons in the early to late spring. As a result, if you’ve been hoping to catch a show that you haven’t seen before, introduce your kids to musicals, or find a new way to enjoy music with other individuals who are a little less musically-inclined than you are, this is the time to do it. In fact, there are several events this weekend that are sure to help you have a good time no matter what your musical preference may be.

First, if you’re looking for a show you haven’t seen before, you may want to consider seeing the Neverland Theatre Company’s production of the Wizard of Oz. Yes, I know, you’ve probably seen the Wizard of Oz or the musical Wicked, but this isn’t the movie and it certainly isn’t a musical from the Witch’s point of view. This production is a stage adaption of the original film, the Wizard of Oz, which is being performed at the Temple B’Nai Abraham Theater in Beverly, MA from tomorrow (April 5, 2014) to Sunday, April 13, 2014. This means that if you’ve always wanted to see Munchkins or Flying Monkeys on stage rather than on screen, you will finally have the chance. For more information on the Neverland Theatre Company’s Production of the Wizard of Oz and/or to order tickets, please visit the Neverland Theatre Company’s website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a way to introduce your kids to musicals, the North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) may have exactly what you’re looking for. This is because the North Shore Musical Theatre in association with Theatreworks USA is presenting a musical version of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tomorrow (April 5, 2014) for one show only at 11:00 A.M. This production, which is aimed at a much younger audience than your typical musical, will allow you and your children to experience the story of four children traveling through the magical land of Narnia like you have never seen it before. For more information and/or to order tickets, please visit the North Shore Music Theatre’s Children’s Show page.

Finally, if you’re looking for a musical experience that, as Meatloaf might say, has a twist and a bit of spin, the Dane Estate at Pine Manor College in Brookline, MA has the event for you. This is because the Dane Estate at Pine Manor College is hosting an event entitled “Gilded Nights: Masquerade Soireé” tomorrow (April 5, 2014) at 6:30 P.M. However, this soireé is not just a masked party, but is instead a murder mystery with a Phantom of the Opera theme. For more information on Gilded Nights: Masquerade Soireé and/or to order tickets, please visit the Gilded Nights website.

Photo credit: Simon & His Camera / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Friday Fun: Maritime Festivals and Movies

As the summer begins to wind down, it is usually a lot harder to find interesting things to do with your family. In fact, if you’ve been looking for something to do this weekend, you may have already realized that unless you consider barhopping to be a family activity, finding something that kids and parents alike will enjoy is quite a challenge. Fortunately, there are a couple of events going on in the Boston area and north of Boston this weekend that almost everyone will enjoy.

First, if you’re a big fan of antique boats or you simply like the sea, there is a festival in Salem, MA that you won’t want to miss. This festival, which is known as the Antique & Classic Boat Festival, features artists, a boat parade, a craft fair, music, photographers, over 40 vintage boats, and more maritime stuff than you can shake a stick at (or perhaps an oar.) Best of all, the Festival is a great way to entertain the family without breaking the bank as it is only $5 for adults and children under 12 are free. For more information, please visit the By The Sea website.

Secondly, if your family is more interested in movies than they are in maritime history, the HatchShell in Boston may have the solution. Tonight, August 23, 2013, the HatchShell will be showing Oz The Great and Powerful as part of their “Free Flicks” summer series. The movie, which is absolutely free, will begin at sunset and will end approximately 2 hours later (the total run time is 130 minutes.) For more information on the event itself, please visit the HatchShell website. For more information on the film, which tells the origin story of the wizard from the Wizard Of Oz, please visit the Oz the Great and Powerful website.

Friday Fun: Keeping Your Weekend “Green”

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the famous old song “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!” However, if you actually live in one of the areas in which there’s been nothing but snow for the past month, you’re probably thinking “Let is stop! Let it stop! Let it stop!” In fact, you may have already come to the realization that the only people who could possibly ask for more snow are school-age children and people living in warmer climates than you (which, by the way, includes the people that originally wrote the song.) As such, you may be looking for something a little more green this weekend and a whole lot less white. Fortunately, if you are looking for something to take your mind off of the shoveling, the snow blowing, and the slippery snow-covered roads, you’ll be happy to hear that there are a number of “green” events this weekend.

First, if you missed last week’s post about the events in Salem, you may want to know about a certain green villain that is returning to the big screen. I am, of course, talking about the Wicked Witch of the West as Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful opens in theaters today. This film, which stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz, is actually a prequel to the original 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. However, this film, unlike a lot of the other books and musicals that have appeared over the years, focuses on the wizard rather than Dorothy or the witches. For more information on Oz the Great and Powerful, check out the movie’s official website.

Secondly, if you just can’t wait until next weekend for all of the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities, you may be pleased to know that some cities start  their green celebrations a little early. In fact, you may be able to find concerts, parades, races, and other activities this weekend in:

Hartford, CT
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
West Dennis, MA
Detroit, MI
Hamilton, NJ
Morristown, NJ
Rock Point, NY
Boardman, OH
Jim Thorpe, PA
Providence, RI
Manassas, VA
Milwaukee, WI

And a number of other locations throughout the United States.

Don’t see a parade in your area? Don’t worry, you can always check out the Saint Patrick’s Day Website for more information on Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations throughout the world.