Around Cape Ann
' Gail McCarthy
—
Music will abound on local stages this weekend starting with folk icon and social activist Peter Yarrow — of the multi-Grammy trio Peter, Paul & Mary — performing in Rockport on Friday night and a mosaic of jazz in a special concert on Manchester's Village Green at the newly restored 200-year-old First Parish meetinghouse.
Yarrow will perform at the Shalin Liu Performance Center Friday at 8 p.m.
As part of the 1960s trio, he worked to advance the social movements of the time. He wrote classics such as "Day is Done," "Puff, the Magic Dragon," "Light One Candle" and "The Great Mandala." The trio — featuring Yarrow, Paul Stookey and the late Mary Travers — performed music centering around the 1960s issues of war, homelessness, the environment and world hunger, and won six Grammy Awards between 1963 and 2003, garnering 12 nominations.
Yarrow founded "Operation Respect: "Don't Laugh At Me," a nonprofit organization based on his belief that music has the power to build community and seeks to foster a respectful and safe climate for learning, free of bullying and violence.
Tickets start at $29. For tickets, visit the Shalin Liu box office at 35 Main St. in Rockport, or call 978-546-7391, or online at www.rockportmusic.org.
Mosaic of Jazz in Manchester
The First Parish Church, Congregational in Manchester is hosting a benefit concert for Gloucester's Grace Center with a talented line-up of musicians.
The Jazz for Joy concert, set for May 6 at 5 p.m., at the First Parish Church's 200-year-old meetinghouse on the Village Green in Manchester.
This concert is a way for people around Cape Ann to help the new day program to help the homeless, which rotates among three churches on Middle Street.
The newly restored building where the concert takes place is filled with period details. The sanctuary is noted for its acoustics. The concert features two local favorites — band leader Henri Smith with his quartet, and vocalist Rebecca Shrimpton. The Willie Sordillo Quartet will also perform, as will pianist and cabaret singer Bonnie MacLeod.
Shrimpton said each of the performers offers a different take on jazz.
MacLeod does the American songbook. Sordillo, a long-time member of a Latin ensemble, is a Boson Music Award winner many times. Smith, a New Orleans native and personality, moved to Gloucester in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Shrimpton, a teacher of jazz voice at both the New England Conservatory and the Longy school of Music, focuses on modern jazz and works with new composers.
Tickets are $15 and available at the door.
Skating Club's annual show
The Cape Ann Skating Club presents its 38th skating show titled "City Days & City Nights" Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Dorothy Talbot Rink at O'Maley Middle School in Gloucester.
Tickets are $10 at the door and children under 5 are free. Some 50 members, ranging in age from 3 to 60, will perform routines to music representing cities from around the world.
Featured soloists include Amanda Greel and Meghan Tupper of Rockport, Alexandra Arnaud, Jaqueline Wonson, Jenna Lake, Johanna Couture-Porcaro and Meghan Muniz of Gloucester, Mei Lan and Jia Li Mulvey of Manchester and Kayley Wright of Essex.
Special guests are the members of Imagica Adult Theatre-On-Ice Team from The Skating Club of Boston, featuring local members Faye Greel of Rockport, and Theresa Lee, Doug Grimes, and Anne Marie Crotty of Gloucester.
Visit www.cafsc.org for more information.
RHS drama group presents 'Working'
The Rockport High School Drama Llamas will present their production of "Working," based on the 1974 best-selling book by Studs Terkel, starting Friday.
The Tony-nominated musical examines the hopes, dreams, joys and concerns of the average working American. The script was adapted by Stephen Schwartz (known for hit musicals such as "Godspell" and "Wicked") and Nina Faso.
The show is both comical and poignant. Show times are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sundayat 2:30 p.m., all at the Rockport High School auditorium at 24 Jerden's Lane in Rockport.
Tickets are $10, and $8 for seniors/students/drama alumni. All profits go to the RHS drama program.
Poetry salon
A poetry salon featuring Julian Talamantez Brolaski and Cole Swenson will be held on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gloucester Writers Center, 126 East Main St. in Gloucester.
Brolaski is the author of "Advice for Lovers" and "Gowanus Acropolis." Swenson is the author of 13 books of poetry and recently joined the Literary Arts Department at Brown University.
For more information, visit gloucesterwriters.org or call Annie Thomas at 978-283-7738. Parking for the event is available across the street.
Schooner Adventure Volunteer Mug Up
Schooner Adventure is inviting all current, former and future volunteers to a "volunteer mug-up" this Saturday and on May 12 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Fitz Henry Lane House conference room.
Those interested in volunteering can enjoy coffee and hear about the mission, Adventure's history, restoration status, special events and education programs.
Those interested are asked to RSVP for planning; call the office at 978-281-8079 or email bwelin@schooner-adventure.org.
All the Ships at Sea
The Cape Ann Museum presents an illustrated talk titled "All the Ships at Sea" by art collector and maritime enthusiast William Trayes on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Folly Cove Auditorium.
This program is included with admission, but reservations required. To make a reservation or for more information, call Jeanette Smith at 978-283-0455, x11 or email jeanettesmith@capeannmuseum.org.
In his illustrated talk, Trayes takes a closer look at the history of marine painting with an emphasis on artists who went to sea to get it right. This lecture is offered in conjunction with the special exhibition "Ships at Sea: A Celebration of Cape Ann's Role in the Maritime Trades" on display until May 27.
The museum is located at 27 Pleasant St. in Gloucester. For more information, visit www.capeannmuseum.org.
Painting, sculpture at 'The Annie'
Local expressionist painter Gail Gang and stone sculptors Michael Foley and Mindy Trafton are exhibiting their throughout the month of May at the Cape Ann Theater, also known as "The Annie," at 1 Washington St. in Gloucester.
Gang's works features a love of color through both energetic still life and landscape ;paintings, while Foley and Trafton are sculptors of Cape Ann stone.
A public opening reception will be held at The Annie on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., with "rock readings" by Terry Milton and music by local performers.
Mercury Gallery open for season
Mercury Gallery of Rockport is open for the 2012 season, featuring new acquisitions of works by American Modernist artists of the past and by living painters.
Besides paintings, the gallery exhibits works on paper and sculpture and mounts special exhibits throughout the season. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, visit www.mercurygallery.com, or call 978-546-7620.
Serengenti documentary with Maasai guest
The Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main St. in Gloucester, will show a documentary film, "Serengeti Mara: A Memoir" by local filmmaker Shep Abbott on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Abbott will host a question-and-answer session after the one-hour screening with his Maasai translator on the film, Isaya Lukumay.
The Serengeti Mara is a UNESCO World Heritage site, located primarily in northern Tanzania, that supports the largest migration of mammals on earth. There will be information about The Warriors Organization, whose mission is to support indigenous peoples in Tanzania. For more information, visit www.CapeAnnCinema.com, or call 978-282-1988.
Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-283-7000 x3445, or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com. Items should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event.
