After a debut weekend filled with laughter, the Cape Ann Theatre Collaborative offers four more presentations of the Neil Simon comedy "Rumors" tonight through Sunday at Gloucester Stage Company's Gorton's Theater on East Main Street.
The performances top a busy weekend of arts and entertainment activity around Cape Ann, with tonight's "Rumors" performance serving as a benefit for the Lanes Cove Fish Shack restoration fund.
Shows run tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The show is under the direction of Pat Maloney-Brown. For reservations: visit www.catcollaborative.org or call 978-325-3153, or tickets available at the door.
Paul Ciaramitaro solo show
The Rockport Art Association, meanwhile, is holding a solo show of works by artist member Paul Ciaramitaro, with a free public opening reception Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Ciaramitaro, a lifelong Cape Ann resident, is recognized for his bold drawings and oil paintings. He creates full spectrum of images from semi-abstract, to cubist, to traditional styles.
He is an artist member of both the Rockport and North Shore arts associations. A number of his works are part of Cape Ann Museum's permanent collection.
"A painting must speak," Ciaramitaro comments in his artist statement. "It has to grab you by the shirt collar and say, 'Hey! Look at me!'
"Design is primary, color is secondary," he said. "When both balance each other, you have performed magic. Be brave and bold and above all experiment. Don't fashion yourself after anyone — create your own way."
The art association is at 12 Main St. in Rockport. The show runs through April 12. For more information, visit www.rockportartassn.org or call 978-546-6604.
Monty Python's 'Chickens' for family
Theater Pie Workshops presents the family-friendly production"Monty Python and the 21 Chickens," a new show opening tonight and continuing Saturday.
"Monty Python and the 21 Chickens" is not the average King Arthur story — King Arthur is a woman.
The show is set to a soundtrack of the Beatles, "Star Wars," as well as other music. The shows are free but donations will be accepted. Show times are tonight at 7, and Saturday, March 31, at 3 and 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 4 Cleaves St. in Rockport.
Theater, strings at Shalin Liu
A HD broadcast performance of "She Stoops To Conquer," presented by England's National Theatre, takes place tonight at 7 at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport.
The play by Oliver Goldsmith, described as one of the "great, generous-hearted and ingenious comedies" of the English language, celebrates chaos, courtship and the dysfunctional family.
The cast includes David Fynn ("Doctor Who" and "Leap Year"), Steve Pemberton ("Mr. Bean's Holiday" and a "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) and Sophie Thompson ("Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Gosford Park").
Rockport Music also welcomes the award-winning St. Lawrence String Quartet to the Shalin Liu hall a Sunday afternoon concert at 3 p.m. with a 2 p.m. pre-concert talk.
The program includes Beethoven's Quartet in A-Major, Op. 18, No. 5; Osvaldo Golijov's Kohelet (a St. Lawrence String Quartet commission) and Dvorak's String Quartet No. 14 in A-flat Major, Op. 105.
For tickets and information, visit www.rockportmusic.org.
Sorellanza a cappella
The all-women's a cappella chorus called Sorellanza will hold its spring "Songbird" concert Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 48 Middle St. in Gloucester.
The chorus, led by Patti Pike, will perform songs from many genres: jazz, folk, Beatles, sacred and madrigals. Tickets are $12 at the door.
Variety showas steeple benefit
A group of Rockport High students will present the variety show "Something Very Special" at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport at 4 Cleaves St. in Rockport.
In the spirit of friendship and community, this variety show, produced by William Gleckner, Sam Cunningham, Seth Perkins and friends as part of an effort to save the church's historic steeple, features many local performers.
Performers are donating their time and talent to help preserve this iconic piece of Rockport's skyline.
Admission is by donation.
GHS Docksiders benefit
The Gloucester High School Docksiders present "Spring Break," a collaborative concert and "bon voyage" benefit to help fund the band's trip to Florida where it will perform at Disney World and Sea World.
Allen Estes will be the special guest host. Estes featured The Docksiders on his cable TV show "Local Music Seen with Allen Estes."
Sharing the stage with The Docksiders will be Dan King, AnnMarie, Renee & Joe, and Dennis Monagle, who are members of the Gloucester-based band The Bandit Kings. They will be joined by Mike Lindberg on saxophone.
The concert takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Gloucester High auditorium. Tickets are $10 and are available at Gloucester Music on Main Street and at the door.
New show at Local Colors
Local Colors Artists' Cooperative is featuring a collection of digital photographs of lighthouses printed on canvas, by photographer Jim Sousa.
Also featured are his unique shadowboxes in which he prints the photo on luster photo paper and then mattes with the same image that has been manipulated in Photoshop and printed on matte board.
"Lighthouses" runs from March 31 to April 21 at the gallery at 121 Main St. in Gloucester.
For information, call 978-283-3996 or visit www.local-colors.org.
Artist reception for O'Connell
BankGloucester will host a public reception for Mary Rose O'Connell from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the bank's lobby, with a collection of her work on display at the bank through May 11.
Saturday's reception is an opportunity to meet the artist, and light refreshments will be served.
A liferesident of Massachusetts, O'Connell is a classically trained painter. Her concentration is in portraits and still life done in oil paint.
O'Connell is a juried member of the North Shore and Rockport art associations. More of her work can be seen at the Brush Art Gallery in Lowell.
Free youth strings concert
Two Cape Ann students will be among those performing in a special concert presented by the Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras, with its Honors Chamber Ensemble Concert on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Shalin Liu Performance Center at 37 Main St. in Rockport.
Violinsts Brooks Richon of Gloucester and Madeleine Downs of Rockport will be among the 26 students performing.
Students featured in this concert were chosen based on their outstanding performances at NMYO's annual chamber music concert earlier this month. Ensembles will include three string quartets, string and wind quintet, a brass quartet, and a woodwind quintet, all coached by professional musicians from Greater Boston.
This concert is an opportunity to hear the region's top student musicians.
Through sponsorship by The Geoffrey H. Richon Company, this concert is free to the public.
A reception will follow the performance. For more information, visit www.nmyo.org.
Writer Harrington gives talk
Laura Harrington, a Gloucester author, will read from and discuss her novel "Alice Bliss," next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the upper school building at Glen Urquhart School at 74 Hart St. in Beverly.
The reading is free to the public.
In the novel "Alice Bliss," Harrington treats a teenager's first encounters with some mature and challenging life experiences.
When Alice learns that her father is being deployed to Iraq, she is heartbroken. Her mother begins to crumble under the pressure of suddenly being a single parent and Alice struggles to fill the void as she deals with the drama of adolescence.
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.
Volunteers needed for theater group
Fishtown Players Theater is looking for volunteers for backstage and in house to help with its upcoming production of Conor McPherson's "The Seafarer." The play will performed April 19 to 29, Thursday through Sunday, at Gloucester Stage Company's Gorton's Theatre at 267 E. Main St. in Gloucester.
The troupe needs ushers, refreshment specialists, social media types, carpenters, set painters, etc. This is an opportunity to join a group committed to producing substantive plays that engage the audience and the actors.
Anyone interested may call 978-515-7957 or 978-828-6826.
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