Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

JULY 1, 2024 ~ THE CUT LIVE ~ 

It’s 4th of July Week and while we’ll be taking a little time to unwind, we also have a couple FANTASTIC shows in store!!

Wednesday: The Fishtown Horribles Parade will be passing by our doorstep right at the corner of Main Street and Pleasant Street around 7pm (the parade runs on a schedule all its own, so this is our best guess). Make a reservation for dinner and step outside to watch the parade go by! We have a huge bar and the red, white and blue drinks will be flowing!
Friday: The Marc Sandman Memorial Concert – Gone 25 Years, But Not Forgotten. Show at 8:30pm. There are a VERY limited number of tickets left to this show. Music: Rock, Funk, Indie
Saturday: Heavy Metal Horns. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 8:00pm. There are still some tickets available for this show. Music: Blues, Pop, Rock, Funk, Soul.

MARC SANDMAN TICKETS

HEAVY METAL HORNS TICKETS

WE HAVE NEW SUMMER HOURS: WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY | 4PM – 12AM

WE WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY, JULY 4TH

THE CUT | 177 Main Street | Gloucester, MA

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JUNE 30, 2024 ~ SAWYER FREE LIBRARY ~ 

Summer fun officially kicks off on Tuesday, July 9, at 10:00 am with an interactive live animal presentation by Wildlife Encounters Ecology Center 

School is out, and summer has officially begun! To celebrate, Sawyer Free Library is launching an exciting calendar of free events and programs to inspire, educate, and entertain people of all ages.

This summer’s reading program, titled “2024: Read, Renew, Repeat,” offers a diverse and enriching experience for the entire community. By focusing on conservation, the Sawyer Free Library encourages participants of all ages to discover the joy and power of reading while developing a sense of environmental consciousness. Through engaging activities, interactive workshops, reading challenges, and more, participants will learn about the critical role of conservation in maintaining the health and vitality of our planet.

“At Sawyer Free Library, we believe that reading can inspire change and foster a deeper understanding of the world around us,” said Sawyer Free Library Director Jenny Benedict. “Our summer reading program promotes learning and educates participants of all ages about the importance of conservation and the actions we can take to protect our natural environment – right in our own neighborhoods and backyards.”

The Library’s innovative incentives and activities encourage kids and teens to stay active and read for fun, helping them avoid the summer slide, where critical skills learned during the school year are lost over the summer. To get started, young people and their families can pick up their Summer Reading Information and Activity Logs at the Library, which includes program information, the event calendar, and a reading log. Children can track their summer reading with their “Read, Renew, Repeat” time-tracking reading logs. Register from now until August 1, and read (or be read to) for at least 500 minutes throughout the summer to earn prizes, including tickets to the Topsfield Fair. Registration is available in person or online.

Summer fun at Sawyer Free Library for children and families officially kicks off on Tuesday, July 9, at 10:00 am with an interactive live animal presentation by Wildlife Encounters Ecology Center taking place at Captain Lester S. Wass American Legion Post 3 located at 8 Washington Street. During this event, attendees will meet some of the world’s most amazing animals and learn about their habitats, adaptations, environmental roles, and how we can all help the animals with whom we share this planet.

Younger library-goers will move and groove during “Love Our Planet Earth” musical story time with Ruthanne Paulson on Friday, July 26, and August 23. Throughout the summer on Thursday mornings, they can play with soil while sharing stories and gardening with Backyard Growers in the Library’s raised gardens.

Children and their families will be wowed by the environmental-themed magic show EcoMagic with Mike Bent’s Abrakidabra on July 19. They can then learn about the snakes of New England with the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team on Saturday, August 10, and explore soil and decomposers using a worm bin with the MA Horticulture Society Plantmobile on August 24 as part of their award-winning traveling science program.

Elementary and early middle school aged students are invited to unleash their creativity with local paper artist and teacher Katherine Morrison in a bookmaking workshop on July 12. All materials will be provided for his hands on and creative program. 

The Library will also host fun local field trips for children and their caregivers, including visits to Maritime Gloucester on July 29 and Hammond Castle on Tuesday, August 13. And everyone is invited to a midsummer celebratory outdoor concert featuring the energetic and interactive band “Ants on a Log” in collaboration with Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport Public Libraries on Monday, August 5, at Maconomo Park in Manchester.

It is a busy summer for tweens and teens at the Sawyer Free Library, too. Students entering grades 6-12 can track their “Summer Reading and eco-friendly actions” on the Library’s Summer Reading Bingo Board, which is available on the Library’s website. They can also earn raffle tickets for every book they read to qualify for cool prizes, including an Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera.

Middle and high schoolers are encouraged to check out the Library’s full summer schedule of weekly programs, including “Unlocking Your Musical Journey: A Songwriting Workshop” with award-winning singer-songwriter Briana Cash on July 11, and Reverse Glass Painting with Pop-Up Art School on July 16. There will be two Dungeons and Dragons meet-ups on July 23 and August 7, a Teen Bowling Night on July 9, an Ice Cream Float Party on July 25, Henna Temporary Tattoos for Teens and Tweens on Thursday, August 1, and a Teen Board Game Night on August 7.

SFL also knows that summer reading is for everybody, whether you read at the beach or on your commute to work, so adults can join the fun by rating the books they read this summer to win prizes. Fill out the Summer Reading Book Rating form, which is available online or at the Library. For each book rated, you earn entry into a raffle for a $25, $50, or $75 Cape Ann Gift Certificate. 

In addition to the myriad of resources and programs the Library offers adults—weekly device advice assistance, job search help, historical resource assistance, and more—there will also be summer-themed special programs and reading lists available, from local author talks and community creations programming to art and gardening workshops, and much more. Plus, library cardholders can use their library card to book free or discounted passes to many local cultural attractions.

Thanks to the generous support of the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and the Gloucester Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, program participation is free. Registration is now open for all children, teens, and adult programs.

Sawyer Free Library’s summer operating hours at 21 Main Street are Monday and Wednesday from 8 am to 6 pm, Tuesday from 8 am to 6:15 pm, Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm, Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm, and 24/7 online at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

For more information about “Summer at the Sawyer Free Library” and to register for programs, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Comfortable, Hides Your Belly, Accentuates Your Arms This Is A Steal At $35

Link to purchase- https://gloucesterapparel.square.site/product/lightweight-performance-cocktail-short-sleeve-polo/59

Check out this forecast from Cape Ann Weatherman

https://www.lobstercraterace.com/

Submitted by Juni Van Dyke

First photo shows detail of “The Fort”. by Pauline Dion.

Second photo shows detail of “Portuguese Hill” by Judy Menicocci, Gerri Lovasco,

Ida Spinola, Jenny Parisi, Ed Hanson, Conni Troisi, Ross Means., and Lois Stillman.

Both are part of a collection of seventeen large quilts honoring the many Gloucester neighborhoods and were created by over forty Gloucester Citizens under the guidance of Juni VanDyke.

The collection of quilts resides in the permanent collection of The Cape Ann Museum.

World Premier of playwright Aurora Real de Asua’s breakout new comedy at Gloucester Stage from July 5 – 28

Gloucester Stage Company is thrilled to announce the next production in its 2024 season, WIPEOUT by Aurora Real de Asua. As part of its rolling world premiere through the National New Play Network, this breakout new play will run at Gloucester Stage from Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 28.

Directed by the talented Shana Gozanskyº and starring Karen MacDonald (Gary), Cheryl D. Singleton (Claudia), Noelle Player (Wynn), and Thomas Bilotta (Blaze), WIPEOUT follows the story of Gary, who desires one thing for her seventy-seventh birthday: to go surfing. The only hiccup? She’s never touched the water. But with the assistance of a spirited teenage surf instructor and her two best friends, Gary is poised to conquer the unknown. Set on surfboards against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, WIPEOUT is a poignant comedy about friendship and the unpredictable tides of life.

“As a young surfer, I’d be paddling hard, getting ready to catch my wave, only to find a blissed-out grandmother already hanging ten. That’s what I love most about surfing. Anybody – any body – can do it. The ocean is our great equalizer,” said playwright Aurora Real de Asua. “It has a way of revealing the truth, of disintegrating the boundaries we place around ourselves and each other. This play is my love letter to the joys of surfing, the power of the ocean, and the tenacity of female friendship.”

“We are honored to be a part of the National New Play Network’s Rolling World Premiere, partnering with Rivendell Theatre in Chicago, IL, and B Street Theatre in Sacramento, CA,” shared Gloucester Stage’s Artistic Director, Rebecca Bradshaw. “What is special about this collaboration is that each company has had a different director, design team, and cast – but have all worked from the same text. Aurora worked with each ensemble to hone the script and find nuances between each audience and performance. She will join us in Gloucester for the final leg with tools and lessons she’s learned along the way – what a gift! We are grateful for a process like this as it underscores our commitment to supporting playwrights and fostering new works.”

WIPEOUT has already garnered great attention. It was workshopped at prestigious venues, including Manhattan Theatre Club and Williamstown Theatre Festival, before arriving on Gloucester Stage’s shore.

“I feel quite lucky to be the last production in this rolling premiere. Aurora has learned so much from her other collaborators, including the generous audiences who have attended performances and readings. I’m so grateful for Aurora’s endless curiosity and openness about how to design a play that takes place in the ocean. I am excited to share what we’re creating,” shared the production’s Director, Shana Gozansky. “At its core, this play celebrates living and all the wisdom from our experiences – no matter a person’s age. It’s one of those plays that feels like a privilege to be a part of, and I hope audiences feel the same after seeing our production.”

WIPEOUT‘s creative team includes Jenna McFarland Lord (scenic design), Jen Greeke (Costume Design), Kat Zhou (lighting design), Aubrey Dube (sound design), and Carolyn Ferris (prop design).

WIPEOUT will run from Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 28. All performances, unless noted, are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, located at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. Tickets are now on sale and available at GloucesterStage.com.

The 2024 Season at Gloucester Stage has been made possible by the Shubert Foundation. WIPEOUT is made possible in part by Suzanna Natti and Alan Willsky.

PERFORMANCE TIMES AND LOCATIONS:  Unless noted, all performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, located at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW: Tickets to the Gloucester Stage 2023 season are on sale now. Single Ticket prices range from $15 to $67, with discounts available for seniors, military families, college students, youth under 18, young professionals under 35, Card to Culture (E.B.T. and W.I.C.), and Cape Ann residents. For detailed ticket information, visit http://www.gloucesterstage.com.

Season Packages start at $200 for four tickets for any mainstage performance and include early access to seating, no fees, and free ticket exchanges. Packages can be purchased or renewed by calling the Box Office at 978.281.4433 or visiting gloucesterstage.com/subscribe.

For additional information, contact the Box Office at 978.281.4433 or boxoffice@gloucesterstage.com. Located at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, the Box Office is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm.

ºStage Directors and Choreographers Society (S.D.C.) Union Member     *Actors Equity Association (A.E.A.) Union Member

Doug Johnson, owner of Annisquam Studios, featured Fiesta photos by Walter Bibikow and Good Harbor surfing photos by photographer Daniel Tedeschi, among others. Johnson met Tedeschi 22 years ago when he was his high school photography teacher, and he’s been a fan since! Come on down and check out this show until August 11th at 34 Leonard St.

Doug and former student Daniel Tedeschi

Bob Callahan sculptor

Fiesta photos

Betty and Rita Go To Paris-Michael Malyszko

Who: Janie Brendel & Friends: DANCES to the Music of Brahms

Time: Friday, August 2nd at 7:30pm and Saturday, August 3rd at 7:30pm

Place: Windhover Center for the Performing Arts on the outdoor stage covered by a tent

257R Granite St, Rockport, MA. 01966

Renowned modern dancer Janie Brendel and her New York City dance company Janie Brendel & Friends will be performing a portion of their complete show, “Inspired” at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts. It is a tribute to Howard Gilman, White Oak, and the dances it inspired.

Janie Brendel & Friends spent three life changing summers in residency rehearsing and creating dances at Howard Gilman’s White Oak, a 13,000 acre conservation center, wildlife preserve, and utopia for dance. The dances are all set to the music of Johannes Brahms, rooted in both its passion and compassion. The works are infused with the luxuriant beauty of this paradise, the powerful spirit of its roaming animals, and the kind generous people who worked there, the White Oak family.  This dance project is being done in the spirit of gratitude, which was the feeling generated by White Oak. They will share two and a half of the four dances, a glimpse of the entire show. The choreographers brought to White Oak were Adam Hougland and Kenny Larson. They also rehearsed and performed a piece by Peggy Baker.

At a time when both the arts and the earth are under serious threat, Mr. Gilman’s vision of dance and nature has never been more relevant. The beauty of Windhover is an ideal setting to feature these works.

Conceived by Janie Brendel

Artistic Directors for Inspired:

Janie Brendel, Roger C. Jeffrey, and Jason Jordan

Dancers:

Janie Brendel, Jennifer Golonka, Roger C. Jeffrey, Jason Jordan, Aaron Loux, Xavier Porro,

Uta Takemura

Program includes: 41 minutes

• Peggy Baker’s “Her Heart” danced to Brahms Opus 117 #1 for one dancer

• Brahms Opus 118 #5 a recording made by our pianist and Musical Director John Gavalchin

piano only, no dancers

• Adam Hougland’s Brahms Opus 91 for piano, soprano, and viola, and four dancers

• Adam Hougland, a 17-minute excerpt of his Brahms Opus 36, string sextet for 6 dancers

Tickets range from $10-$20 and can be purchased in advance at

https://windhover.org/event/janie-brendel-friends/ Or go onto the

Windhover.org website under the tab: “Performances” and follow the link.

What a story. What highs and lows for one family in one day.