Around Cape Ann
Gail McCarthy
---- — Gloucester’s Sarah Dunlap, a city archivist who recently finished editing a book written by her late father, will do a reading at the Gloucester Writers Center at 126 Main St. on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. The book, “Life on the Abbagadasset: Memories of Boyhood on a Bowdoinham [Maine] Farm,” provides details of farm and fishing life similar to that of West Gloucester or Riverdale. Imagine the time before electricity.
Sarah’s father was Dr. Albert A. Dunlap (1902-1978), a plant pathologist and farmer born in Bowdoinham, Maine. During the last 10 years of his life, he wrote down many stories and memories of his childhood on his parents’ farm and details about the lives of his family and neighbors — how things worked and got done.
“He remembered, and in crystal clear language wrote down conversations, humorous incidents, disasters, disagreements and tragedies. From the tiniest bit of local color to the largest of life’s tragedies, he recorded them in a straightforward manner, with his own insights, surprise punch lines and remarkably precise facts,” said his daughter. “The details of daily life and nature are an honest picture of life before what we now know as the modern world.”
Jazz singers
at Cafe Shalom
“Café Shalom” will feature a night of classic jazz at Temple Ahavat Achim at 86 Middle St. in Gloucester on Saturday, Jan. 12, starting at 7 p.m. with jazz vocalist Henry Allen and his New Swing Set. At 8 p.m., following an intermission, jazz vocalist Judith Murray will perform with pianist Chris Taylor and bassist David Landoni. Murray performs jazz standards from the Great American Songbook, the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, representing music that is classy, sultry, fine and mellow; and sometimes swinging. Murray’s vocals have a sophisticated, sassy, and stunning quality, critics say. Admission is $10. For more information, contact the temple at 978- 281-0739.
Jubilee-style
gospel music
The Annisquam Village Church presents the Washed Up Beulah Band on Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:30. The band is known for its performance of Jubilee style radio-gospel music from the 1930s and 1940s with rich vocal textures, syncopated rhythms, and train-whistle harmonies. The band draws on the influence of such groups as The Golden Gate Gospel Quartet, the Soul Stirrers, The Selah Jubilee Singers and the Kansas City Gospel Singers among others. The Beulah Band performs this throw-back sound with both humor and energy. The band is comprised of Arthur Davis, Luke Hoffman, Kenny Shimizu, and Wheaton Squier. The church is located at 820 Washington St. in Gloucester. The suggested donation is $15 for adults, and $5 for children. Tour information and updates are available on Facebook.
Seeking storytellers
with Fish Tales
The Gloucester Writers Center presents live storytelling in an inaugural event next Thursday. Organizers are looking for storytellers for the kick-off “Fish Tales!” event on Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. “Similar to ‘The Moth Story Hour’ on NPR, at ‘Fish Tales’ you will tell your true story live in front of an audience,” according to a press release. The story must be no more than five minutes from beginning to end, and should follow a traditional story arc — an introduction to set the stage, a story climax, and a conclusion. Those are really the only criteria. “Fish Tales” will be a bi-monthly event, and each reading will have a different theme. The writers center is located at 126 East Main St. in Gloucester.
Auditions for
Fishtown Players
Auditions for the Fishtown Players’ April production of Martin McDonagh’s hilarious and explosive tragic-comedy “The Lonesome West” will be Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at The Rocky Neck Cultural Center at 6 Wonson St. in Gloucester.
Auditions will be based on readings from the script and are available on the Fishtown Players website and at the audition. Those interested may also prepare a short (1-2 minute) monologue if desired. The show will run for two weekends, opening on April 4 and running through April 14, at The Gorton’s Theater, home of the Gloucester Stage Company.
Fishtown Players is a consortium of producing members that produced last spring’s “The Seafarer” and staged a reading of “A Christmas Twist” at the Cape Ann Community Cinema. The principals have more than 30 years of producing professional and community theater.
For more information about the company, the play and reading samples see www.fishtownplayers.com or call 978-515-7957.
Museum celebrates
Folly Cove Designers
The Cape Ann Museum presents a full day of Folly Cove-themed programs on Saturday, Jan. 12. The Folly Cove Design exhibit was recently moved into the Special Exhibitions Gallery upstairs, where the celebration takes place with two programs and a wine and cheese reception. Both programs are free to Cape Ann residents.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families are invited to draw, copy, paint, stomp and repeat in the Children’s Activity Center where they will learn about the Folly Cove Designers’ print-making process, explore their designs and create prints using stamps, foam shapes and Styrofoam.
From 2 to 4 p.m., artist Mary Rhinelander will lead a gallery demonstration in the new Folly Cove Exhibit; visitors will be able to test their skills at block printing and enjoy a wine and cheese reception.
The Folly Cove Designers were a group of 45 designer-craftsmen who worked together between 1938 and 1969 producing carefully wrought designs cut into linoleum blocks and printed primarily on fabric. The Cape Ann Museum houses the largest collection of their work. The collection includes printed textiles and paper, items made from their fabrics and examples of the linoleum blocks they carved. The museum is at 27 Pleasant St. in Gloucester. For information, visit www.capeannmuseum.org.
Two roles open
in ‘Julius Caesar’
Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe has two roles still open for its production of “Julius Caesar” — Lucius for a man late teens through 20s and Titinius (also to play Caesar’s and Octavius’ servant), a man in his 20s through 40s. Rehearsals are weekday nights at the Rockport Teen Center, and performances are Feb. 27 to March 3 at the Gorton Theatre (home of the Gloucester Stage Company).
Auditions will be held Monday, Jan. 14, Wednesday, Jan. 16, and Thursday, Jan. 17, 6:30 to 7 p.m. at the Rockport Teen Center. For information and to make an appointment with the director, Joseph Stiliano, email cast2008@prodigy.net . More about CAST at capeannshakespearetroupe.blogspot.com and Facebook.
Group offers
theater scholarship
The Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe will award a scholarship of $500 to a high school senior studying in a Cape Ann secondary school, or who has worked on a CAST production, who plans to continue study in the performing arts. Last year’s scholarship recipient, Veronica Bland of Pigeon Cove, is studying theater design at Elon University in North Carolina. For information and application materials contact Ray Jenness, CAST president, at P.O. Box 85 in Rockport or online at kjenness045@netzero.com.
Honky Tonk Women concert in Essex
The Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester will perform Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. at One World Coffeehouse at the First Unitarian Church at 59 Main St. in Essex. The Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester will revisit the “golden oldies” era singing the songs of the Shirelles, the Ronettes, the Crystals, the Everly Brothers, the Angels, the Cookies, Brenda Lee, Doris Day, Patsy Cline, Connie Francis, Patti Page, and more. The four vocalists are Caroline Haines, Barbara Jansson, Sheila Jones Schrank and Elaine Persons. Schrank is the fingerstyle guitarist and arranger. Elaine “Patsy Cline” Persons stylizes the late Roy Orbison’s works. Barbara Jansson plays the harmonica and Caroline Haines sings with the popular a cappella group, Leven. Each vocalist crafts her songs with harmony and movement to guide the audience through a “sentimental journey.” For reservations, call 978-768-3690.
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.
