Tonight is the benefit opening of Island Theatre Workshop, Inc.’s latest production, Gian Carlo Menotti’s beloved family opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. in the Katharine Cornell Theatre in Vineyard Haven.
More magic from the Oak Bluffs School drama department, which this weekend premieres the original one-act musical Waking Beauty, A Fairy’s Tale.
This play tells the true story of Sleeping Beauty and the fairy who was not invited to the princess’ christening. The fairy, named Mathilda (pronounced with the “h”), was not evil but more of a magical klutz who had a habit of giving bad gifts. Once the beauty is asleep, the rest of the fairies work to find the princess’ one true love to wake her and the rest of the kingdom.
Arts & Society presents the 30th annual Bloomsday celebration of music and drama based on the text of James Joyce, on June 16, at 8 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, Spring street, Vineyard Haven. Tickets are $18 general, $15 senior and student, and may be purchased at the door or at the Bunch of Grapes. For information, call 508-696-0539.
The Yard is looking for a few energetic kids to share the stage with two all-star casts. Actors, dancers and singers in third through twelfth grade are invited.
The first event, Diversity in Dance ’08, will take place on Sunday, July 20, at the Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m., and will feature Taylor 2, Gus Solomons Jr and Carmen de Lavallade alongside a special dance performance by Island kids.
Edgartown native Emily Hartford is nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for outstanding ensemble for her work in The Night of Nosferatu, which was produced by Rabbit Hole Ensemble (online rabbitholeensemble.com).
The nominees were announced at a sold-out event on July 21 that was attended by over 500 artists and guests. The Awards will be presented on Sept. 22 at a ceremony held at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
The good thing about January is that it isn’t December. December, of course, is when we spend too much money on presents, stress out that we’re compelled to send cards and letters, attend parties and fundraisers, and string up tired decorations. Or we’re feeling guilty that we’re not doing any of those things. But on occasions during each Christmas season, we’re bound to partake of an event that makes it all worth while. A performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors is one of those occasions.
Christmas lights illuminate the yellow upstairs room filled with squashy armchairs, each of which contains at least one sprawling teenager. Up front, two boys fool around with a microphone, testing their amplified voices, revelling in the leisurely atmosphere — that is, until the real show begins.
The lights go out and the theatre is dark for a preternaturally long time. The sound of gushing water engulfs us, and we’re savvy enough about the events of August 30, 2005, in New Orleans to know that this is the 18-foot wall of water funneling down the streets of all the neighborhoods fanning out from the levees of Lake Ponchatrain.
IMP All Things Theatre Camp proudly presents Spontaneity at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, August 8, at the Edgartown School Café. Come see the future stars of Vineyard and beyond as actors 11 years and older create short-form games and skits based on audience suggestions. This improv show is for all ages and is enjoyable even if you have never heard of IMP Camp before. Tickets available at the door ($8 adults, $6 kids, $25 family). For more information, call 508-939-9368.
To the untrained eye the scene was this: two adults on stage, one speaking in an English accent, the other in a cross between a buccaneer’s snarl and a schoolyard bully. Five kids looked expectantly at their director, an adult on hands and knees, who crawled dramatically across the Vineyard Playhouse stage. The cast watched seriously for a good half-minute before all, director included, erupted into uncontrollable, side-clutching giggles.
