Sorellanza, the 13-member women's a cappella group, will perform Saturday, Sunday and Nov. 15 in Gloucester, Beverly and Rockport. The fall series, "With Calls of Longing," features songs that speak to one's search for peace and a place of belonging.¬
Directed by Rockport resident Patti Pike, Sorellanza formed in 2006 and continues to draw enthusiastic audiences. Pike's relaxed teaching style and wide-ranging repertoire choices keep the singers coming back season after season. In the words of Julie Wyman, a middle school math teacher from Gloucester and an alto in the group since its inception, "the opportunity to sing with other enthusiastic singers under Patti's creative leadership makes each season a new experience."
Pike chooses songs from every genre, including jazz, sacred, madrigals, rounds, gospel, renaissance, Broadway and Beatles, to name a few. Pike challenges her singers to memorize all the songs, which increases their ability to respond to her directing. The singers' level of experience varies from some who were musically talented but singing in public for the first time, to some who have sung in choirs all their lives. Their commonality is their love of choral music. The level of musicianship increases with each season, as the singers gain experience under Pike's direction. In turn, their audiences are treated to an electic and wonderful musical experience in which the members of Sorellanza share their great love of music. For information, call 978-281-6417. The concerts are as follows:
Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Church, Lanesville, at 1123 Washington St., Gloucester
Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. at First Parish Church, at 225 Cabot St. in Beverly
Sunday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m at St. John's Episcopal Church at 48 Middle St. in Gloucester
New England humor
Fred Dodge will tell Down East stories in the "Bert and I" tradition at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The always dry, often vaguely familiar tales range from rambling stories to one liners, many of them punctuated by distinctive low -ech sound effects.
"Why are you so het up?"
"I had to shoot my dog."
"Was he mad?"
"Guess he weren't so darned pleased."
Fred is the brother of the late Marshall Dodge, who together with Yale classmate Robert Bryan originated the "Bert and I" stories over 50 years ago. Specializing in a distinctive Maine dialect, the pair created the roles of two Down East fishermen whose boat sunk after being sliced in two by a steamer. Fred honors his brother's memory by keeping the stories alive. He uses humor to explore the true character of crusty Yankee New Englanders.
The storytelling presentation will take place in the Heritage Center's new Gorton's Seafoods Gallery. Cozy up with a cup of hot cider and homemade cookies amidst the kind of artifacts that fill many coastal New England attics - compasses, foghorns, shipbuilding tools, old codfish boxes and the like. What finer setting for enjoying an evening of stories that evoke the smells, sounds, sights, and characters unique to New England's salty, foggy coast?
Admission is $8, $6 for Heritage Center members. Refreshments are included. For further information or to purchase tickets in advance, call the center at 978-281-0470.
Know Your Place— Ravenswood Park
A series of events this month wil help residents and visitors alike learn more about one of Gloucester's little known gems, Ravenswood Park.
This Saturday, from 1 to 3 p.m., John Ratti offers "Ravenswood Rocks," a geological tour of the park. A rock is not a thing, but a drama. It reflects universal axioms such as, "As above, so below," and is the great unifying science of the world. Join the Trustees, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Ratti, a recreation educator, for a unique presentation of this science. The program is free for members, and $5 for nonmember adults. Pre-registration required.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., author Lisa Peek Ramos presents "A Brief History of Magnolia" including stories of a cast of characters, natural wonders, and how Ravenswood's Sweetbay magnolia influenced the town's name, at The Trustees' Cape Ann Discovery Center at the Park. This event is free to members of its hosts, The Trustees and the Magnolia Historical Society and $5 for nonmember adults. Pre-registration required.
On Saturday, Nov. 21, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. , the Trustees offer the Great Magnolia Swamp Hike, a four-mile long rocky loop through park's beautiful habitats. The program is free for members, and $5 for nonmember adults. Pre-registration required.
Any day, at any time, people can take self-guided treasure hunt, "Sweetbay Swamp Quest!", through the swamp trails at Ravenswood Park. Hikers will discover stories about our "loved to death" Sweetbay Magnolia. Self-guide clues are available at the park's bulletin board.
For more information about The Trustees' Cape Ann programs, call 978-281-8400 or visit www.thetrustees.org.
Comedy for Cape Ann Animal Aid
The Rhumb Line in Gloucester is hosting a night of comedy featuring popular comedian Paul D'Angelo and friends on Thursday, Nov. 12, to benefit Cape Ann Animal Aid, the local animal shelter. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and are on sale at Cape Ann Animal Aid on Main Street,a t The Rhumb Line, or at the door.
The Rhumb Line is also hosting a road rally Nov. 22 in memory of Dana "Captain Leisure" Todd. Fee is $10 for a driver and navigator. This event is part scavenger hunt, part puzzles and part observations. Everyone gets a T-shirt and food. Sign up at The Rhumb Line before Nov. 15.
Only 60 tickets left
There are only 60 tickets left for the "Banana Glam O Rama" fashion show Sunday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m. This is a fundraiser to support the restoration of Gloucester City Hall. The show takes place at Gloucester City Hall at 9 Dale Ave. Saturday night has sold out but there are tickets for Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. Tickets, $25 a piece, are available at Bananas at 78 Main St.
Walking tour of church's architecture
The Cape Ann Museum presents a walking tour of the church architecture of downtown Gloucester with museum curator Martha Oaks on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. This program is included with museum admission. The walking tour will be held rain or shine. Space is limited and reservations are required; call 978-283-0455 x 11.
The tour includes the central downtown churches along Prospect, Pleasant and Middle streets, including Our Lady of Good Voyage, St. Ann, Trinity Congregational, St. John's Episcopal, and the Independent Christian Church, the first Universalist church in America. The tour will explore the impact of these historic structures on the surrounding neighborhoods.
Cape Ann Museum is at 27 Pleasant St. in Gloucester. Admission is $8 adults, $6 Cape Ann residents, seniors and students. Children under 12 and museum members are free. For more information call 978-283-0455, or visit www.capeannmuseum.org.
Leonard G Joiner Solo Show at RAA
The Rockport Art Association will host a a free opening reception for the solo show of award-winning fine artist Leonard G Joiner. The reception will be Sunday, Nov. 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.
An Andover native, Joiner is known for his intricate and accurate drawings of the natural settings of New England. Joiner has been drawing in graphite since age 8.
"My medium of choice is graphite and my subjects are New England farm and country scenes as well as seascape towns," he said. "I especially love the textures of barns, boats, tress, rocks and water."
After spending 34 years as an illustrating artist, Joiner retired in 2000 and became a full-time fine artist. Leonard lives with his wife and daughter on a farm in Methuen, where they farm and raise most of their own food.
The art association is at 12 Main St. in Rockport. For information, visit www.rockportartassn.org.
George Martin: artist reception
George Martin will hold a solo exhibit of original paintings at St. John's Episcopal Church at 750 Hale St. in Beverly Farms. A public artist reception takes place Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. The show runs through Nov. 29. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturdays by chance. For details, call 978-927-0229.
Local cinema celebrates veterans with films
The week of Veterans Day, three films that celebrate our veterans will show at Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main St. in Gloucester.
The exclusive, one-night-only presentation of "The Good Soldier" is on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. The film follows the journeys of five combat veterans from different generations of American wars as they sign up, go into battle, and eventually change their minds about what it means to be a good soldier.
An encore of the DoctoberFest Documentary Film Festival favorite, "The Way We Get By," runs next Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. This extremely moving film is about a group of senior citizens who gather daily at a small airport in Bangor, Maine, to thank American soldiers departing to and returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m., "Rethink Afghanistan" makes its local debut. The film is a ground-breaking documentary about the war in Afghanistan, which aims to foster the kind of discussion, debate, and dissent President Obama has called for, serving as a driving force to help make congressional oversight hearings a reality.
For each ticket sold, Cape Ann Community Cinema will make a donation to the Gloucester Office of Veterans Services. Additional films for the week include:
"Big Fan," the acclaimed drama starring comedian Patton Oswalt as an obsessed football fan. The film will be shown Friday at 2 and 4 p.m; Saturday at 2, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; Sunday at 7:30 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 9, through Sunday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m.
"The Age Of Stupid," a documentary told from the point of view of a person 50 years in the future, in a world in which mankind did not respond to the threat of global warming. This thoughtful and frightening "what-if" will be shown on Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m.
On Friday, at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m,), Cape Ann Community Cinema welcomes back "the friggin' funny folkie" from Lynn, Don White, for the first music performance since the cinema moved downtown this summer. Tickets are $15, and are available at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.
All film tickets are $9 adults, $7.50 students and seniors (60 and older) and $6 for members. More information about the cinema and its offerings are available at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.
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, ext. 3445, or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com.
