THE UMBRELLA STAGE COMPANY LAUNCHES NEW THEATER WITH 42ND STREET

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The Umbrella Stage Company kicks off its 2019-2020 in a newly constructed theater, with a new name, and a new status — as Greater Boston’s newest professional theater — with a buoyant production of the classic musical, 42nd Street (Sep 27-Oct 20).

The story of aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer (played by Gillian Mariner Gordon*) who comes to the big city and lands a spot in a glitzy Broadway show is a perfect way to introduce the new company and space, says Brian Boruta, The Umbrella Stage Company’s Producing Artistic Director. 

“The grand opening production in our new space is a moment to celebrate,” Boruta says, “and 42nd Street is nothing short of the greatest celebration of musical theatre and the people who make it happen. Splashy and grand, this tap-dance fueled musical is a visual feast, and is the ultimate showcase for the capabilities of our new main stage.”

The show features both fresh faces and established talent, including Elliot Norton Award-winner Aimee Doherty* who makes her debut at The Umbrella as Dorothy Brock. The cast also includes IRNE nominee Todd Yard who last appeared on The Umbrella’s stage as Albin in La Cage Aux Folles. The cast also includes Mickey T. White as Billy Lawlor, Daniel Forrest Sullivan as Andy Lee, Barbara Pierre as Maggie Jones, Ryan Malyar as Bert Barry, Ashley Nicole Martin as Anytime Annie, Temma Beaudreau as Lorraine, Rachel Tata as Phyllis, with, John Breen, Chris DiOrio, Cara Guappone, Gordon Ellis, Will Fafard, Alden Gagnon, Jackson Jirard, Thom Hardy, Erica Lundin, Nick Osborne and Hannah Shihdanian. Directed by Brian Boruta with music direction by James Murphy, choreography by Lara Finn, Scenic Design by

Benjamin D. Rush, Lighting Design by SeifAllah Sallotto-Cristobal, Sound Design by Elizabeth Havenor and Costume Design by Brian Simons.

More About Brian Boruta & The Umbrella Stage Company

As Director of Performing Arts for The Umbrella, Brian Boruta has pioneered its quest to produce Bold, Daring, and Innovative theatre. Since 2012, his productions have amassed over 100 award nominations including Best Production nods for Equus, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Red, Angels in America – Millennium Approaches, and Bonnie and Clyde, winning 4 times for Parade, Big Fish, To Kill A Mockingbird and True West.

The Umbrella Stage Company is part of the expansive Umbrella Community Arts Center (formerly Emerson Umbrella), a multifunction 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization founded in 1983 in Concord, MA. Its expanded, six-show season ranges from high-kicking spectacle to punk rock musical to socially urgent drama. With shows alternating between a 344-seat mainstage and flexible 100-seat blackbox, it will be the first season staged in The Umbrella’s brand-new, state-of-the-art, multi-theater performing arts facilities at 40 Stow Street. Season, Flex Pass, Group and Individual tickets are available. Learn more at TheUmbrellaStage.org .


Living Concord Up Close and Personal: Local Pastry Chef Robert Gonzalez appears on The Food Network’s Chopped: Sweets Showdown this Week

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Looking for something to do Thursday evening? Head over to Trail’s End Lounge to watch their very own pastry chef, Robert Gonzalez, compete on Chopped. The episode actually aired last night (we watched it… desserts looked delicious), but Trail’s End will be streaming the episode on Thursday evening.

Robert will be there to answer questions and bake his challenge recipes for everyone to sample!

We love highlighting members of our community and Robert currently heads the Pastry department at the Concord Market and Trail’s End Cafe which focus on bringing customers the very best scratch made confections and an artisan bread program.

Robert has a distinguished career as a pastry chef.

Robert studied to be a pastry chef at Miami Culinary Institute. Robert was selected to intern at Tuyo Restaurant, where he worked his way up to Head Pastry Chef under mentors Chef Norman Van Aken, Pastry Chef Max Santiago and Chef Victor Santos.

In 2015, Robert made his Boston debut at the esteemed Bistro du Midi working alongside Executive Chef Robert Sisca, during which time he was recognized as an Eater Young Guns Semi-Finalist.

In 2018 Robert joined the highly anticipated opening of Cultivar in the Ames Hotel in downtown Boston. As part of their inaugural team, he headed pastry. His creations consisted of rotating produce-driven desserts to complement the New England food scene.

He has also won a number of awards including:
Boston Common Magazine’s – The Best Fall Donuts in Boston – Bistro du Midi
Brickell Magazine’s Top 50 Best Dinning Experiences 2015 – #8 Butternut Squash Semifreddo

Looking forward to many more of your dessert creations!

Kicks for Cancer and The Mighty Moose are this weekend in Concord, MA

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Many fundraising events are taking place this weekend in Concord, MA to support cancer research. If you have some time, please join!
Below is a brief description of how members of our community are
supporting cancer research.

The 13th Annual Lois Wells Memorial “Kicks for Cancer” event will
be held on Saturday, September 28, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. Please join us at CCHS on this exciting and meaningful day in support of women’s
cancer research.

Kicks for Cancer is this Saturday. Started in  20​07, Kicks for Cancer is played annually in support of all families who have been touched by this awful disease. All proceeds from the evening’s game will be
donated in memory of Lois Wells to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to support women’s cancer research. Teams will wear pink or teal
uniforms to support breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
​
For the first three years of the event, only one game was played.
Starting in 2010, Kicks for Cancer expanded to 2 games. The
following year the event expanded again, featuring 6 games and now features 10 matches between some of the top high school soccer
teams in Massachusetts. The 2017 Kicks for Cancer event will see 7
recent state champion teams take the field.
​
“Kicks Weekend” now includes the Pink Dance (the all-school dance on Friday night led by CCHS students), the Saturday Sticks and Kicks for Cancer games (Field Hockey & Soccer), and the Mighty Moose 5K FunRun on Sunday. All three events during “Kicks Weekend” have
one goal – to raise money for ovarian cancer research. Total
donations from “Kicks Weekend” events will go directly to Dr. Kevin Elias’ lab at the Dana Farber Institute. Dr. Elias’ lab is developing a
groundbreaking new blood test for early detection and diagnosis of
ovarian cancer. This is on the forefront of ovarian cancer research
and we are all proud to contribute in support of this work.
Please plan to come out and be a part of Kicks for Cancer 2019!!!

Since it’s inception, Kicks for Cancer has raised $463,347.02 
​
2018 – $112,556.42
2017 – $62,642.30
2016 – $60,021.00
2015 – $46,940.00
2014 – $44,307.65
2013 – $33,409.01
2012 – $28,989.96
2011 – $28,273.27
2010 – $17,051.00
2009 – $10,124.25
2008 – $11,032.40
2007 – $8,000.00
 
The 2018 Kicks for Cancer raised $112,556.42

Turf 1 – UPPER Turf 2 – UPPER Field
9:30 AM Reading vs. Woburn (Boys) Newton South vs Westford (Boys)
11:45 PM Boston Latin vs Waltham (Boys) Acton-Boxborough vs Cambridge Rindge & Latin
2:00 PM Concord-Carlisle vs LS (Girls) Bedford vs Acton-Boxborough (Girls)
4:15 PM Concord-Carlisle vs LS (Boys) Bedford vs Wayland (Boys)

Lower Field – Stadium
9:00 AM Concord-Carlisle Field Hockey JV vs Lexington JV
10:30 AM Concord-Carlisle Field Hockey Varsity vs Lexington Varsity
12:30 PM Needham vs. Lexington (Boys)
2:45 PM Newton North vs. Brookline (Boys)

UPPER Grass Field
9:00 AM Concord-Carlisle v Lincoln-Sudbury JV Soccer (Girls)
11:15 AM Concord-Carlisle JV Soccer v Lincoln-Sudbury JV Soccer (Boys)
1:30 PM Weston vs Cambridge Rindge & Latin (Girls)
3:45 PM Burlington vs Wakefield (Boys)

​
Sunday is the Mighty Moose!

The Mighty Moose Fun Run/Walk is held in memory of Jenna Swaim, a loving mother and wife who lost her courageous four year battle
to ovarian cancer on July 3, 2018. She was 43 years old.  The name of the event is inspired by Jenna’s Alaskan roots, love for fun, and
strength! The event is part of the Kicks for Cancer weekend, which is the very successful Dana Farber fundraiser that Ray Pavilk and the
Concord Carlisle High School soccer team started several years ago.  

Together, we will continue Jenna‘s legacy and vision to raise crucial
funding for this cause on Sunday, September 29, 2019. Last year in
our first year, we were able to raise over $63,000 and had over 1,200 race registrants.  This year, our new goal is $150,000! All funds raised will support the ovarian cancer research of Dr. Kevin Elias of
Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Verrill Farm Hosts its 12th Annual Stone Soup Farm to Table Event in Concord MA

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Verrill Farm hosted its 12 Annual Stone Soup Farm to Table Event this Sunday and Mother Nature was there to support it. It was a beautiful evening to spend time with friends while enjoying incredible food, music, and drinks. 

This event supports Concord agriculture and 100% of the “profits” are donated to the Concord Agricultural Committee to help keep farming alive and well in Concord. 

What’s unique about this event is the food is donated by the Concord farms and then prepared by the local chefs of your favorite restaurants.

Some highlights from this year’s menu include:

  • 80 Thoreau: Chilled corn soup with tomato jam and crispy ham
  • Adelita: Pollock ceviche with fresh cilantro and peppers
  • Concord Market: Salmon and Shrimp poke bowl with cucumber and radishes
  • Debra’s Natural Gourmet: Butternut hemp pesto delight
  • Fiorella’s: Roasted butternut soup with sage
  • Haute Coffee: Tomato gazpacho with corn, peppers, and onion
  • Papa Razzi: Braised duck with carrot and sage maltagliati
  • ReasonsTo Be Cheerful: Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Verrill Farm: Grass fed beef enchiladas wrapped in a white corn tortilla

The local farms participating include:

  • Barrett’s Mill Farm
  • Brigham Greenhouses
  • Hutchins Farm
  • Kenney Farm
  • Macone Farm
  • Marshall Farm
  • Saltbox Farm
  • Scimone Farm
  • Silfer Leaf Farm
  • Verrill Farm

Other participants of the event are The Concord Cheese Shop, Woods Hill Table, and Trail’s End Cafe.

This is an incredible community event that began in 2007. The idea was to celebrate “community, respect for the land, and gratitude for what it provides”. Plus the food is delicious and it’s a lot of fun catching up with neighbors on a Sunday afternoon.

If you missed it, mark your calendar for next year’s Stone Soup Farm to Table Event!

Earth Day Celebration

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The Musketaquid Arts and Environment Program of the Umbrella Community Arts Center hosts an Earth Day celebration on April 28, 2018 (rain date April 29). This vibrant town event is a celebration that brings awareness of local and national environmental issues. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Gathering Places”. This free, four-part celebration welcomes and encourages public participation. For more information, visit http://theumbrellaarts.org or contact Nancy Lippe at nancy@theumbrellaarts.org.

Earth Day Parade: 10:30 – 11:30 am The event kicks off at the Umbrella Community Arts Center on Stow Street where participants gather for a parade down Main Street. All are welcome to join in. Participants may bring their own puppets and banners or pick up one of the large puppets available in front of The Umbrella. The parade with banners, flags, and beautiful giant puppets which depict local plant and animal wildlife bring color and life to the streets of Concord. Professional musical and dancing groups aNova Brazil, Dirty Water Brass Band, and Diabolis In Musica entertain the community and join the parade.

River Ceremony: 11:30 – noon The parade leads to the banks of the Concord River at the Old North Bridge for a River Ceremony. The Ceremony begins with the emergence of the River Spirit played by CC King. The ceremony is accompanied by multicultural performances: improvisational drumming by Grant Smith, Latin American music and dancing performed by Rosalba and the young dancers of La Piñata, and Geri Barney, Navajo woman, singing Native American songs. The River Ceremony concludes with the launching of “Earth Floats” made of natural materials that carry “wishes for the earth.”

Earth Day Festival: Noon – 2:00 pm The merriment continues with a Festival on the grounds of the historic Old Manse, a Trustees of the Reservations property. The entertainment includes several performances. Eric Bornstein’s Behind The Mask Theater presents “The Woman Who Outshone the Sun”, an allegorical play that combines masks, music, dance and storytelling to create a dazzling theatrical experience. A contemporary dance performance by the Jody Weber Dance Company engages the public in the expressive power of movement with excerpts from “Her Sylvan Ascent”. Mass Audubon Society’s Drumlin Farm offers a live presentation on Birds of Prey. There will be activities for children including kite building and spoon making, non-profit exhibitors, and food vendors.

The Earth Month Art Exhibit at the Umbrella Community Arts Center is a non-juried art show featuring works using a variety of media around this year’s theme “Gathering Places”. The gallery is open April 12 through May 6 daily 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Exhibit Opening and Artists’ Reception will be held on Thursday, April 19, from 6:00-8:00pm.

Concord-Carlisle Community Chest “Night Out for Neighbors”

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CASUAL BREW HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

LIVE BAND
FULL BAR
RAFFLE, CORN HOLE, and other GAMES

Click HERE to buy tickets
$75 in advance, $85 at the door
(includes 2 drinks tickets and appetizers)

http://www.cccommunitychest.org/news-announcements/night-out-for-neighbors/

 

Egg Hunt: Friday, March 30th from 5:00-6:30 PM,  Memorial Field at Concord-Carlisle High School

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Concord Recreation will be hosting its 2nd Annual Egg Hun on Friday, March 30th at the Doug White Fields at Concord Carlisle High School. This is a free community event for individuals age 2 through 2nd grade. Participants will search for prize filled plastic eggs, get photos with the Easter Bunny, and more!
 
Egg Hunt times are as follows:
Age 2- 5:15pm
Age 3- 5:30pm
Age 4- 5:45pm
Grades K & 1- 6:00pm
Grades 2 – 6:15pm
 
For more info, please visit www.concordrec.com or call 978-287.1050.
 

Conversations in a Civil Society – April 3rd

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“The right to criticize, the right to hold unpopular beliefs, the right to protest, the right of independent thought, all basic principles of Americanism.”
– Margaret Chase Smith

Come join this discussion on how to navigate our differences:
politics, religion, values, life style. How do we learn to have conversations around issues that sometimes divide us? How do we learn to listen better, discuss, and even bridge that divide?

Moderator: Ethan Hoblitzelle, Social Studies teacher, CCHS
Panelists:
Ona Ferguson from Consensus Building Institute
Robert Munro from Middlesex School
Rose Pavlov from Ivy Child

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Student tickets are $5. Enter code: STUDENT

Additional Information:

SECTION LOCATION DATES DAYS TIMES INSTRUCTOR FEES
ACE101 Concord-Carlisle High School, TBD 04/03 – 04/03 Tu 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM TBD $10.00 REGISTER NOW

And the Winner is…

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We can’t believe how many people in our community entered the “Win a Valentine’s Day Dinner at Karma” contest!

Tracy White is the winner! Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone for entering the contest and for spreading the word about the new town calendar. We now have close to 400 members of the community who have signed up to receive our weekly email. This is a community service for Concord and Carlisle – schools, sports organizations, and non-profits are all posting events to the calendar.

Thanks for spreading the word.

CCHS presents a Parent/Student Dialogue Night on Thursday, January 18, 2018

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CCHS is presenting a Parent/Student Dialogue Night on Thursday, January 18, 2018. All parents and their teens are invited to join us and discuss the issues of stress and pressure in our school community.

This is an evening of student skits, honest discussion, and brainstorming ways to de-stress our students’ lives. Reserve your spot as soon as possible. For questions regarding this event, please contact Assistant Principal Leslie Knight at lknight@concordcarlisle.org.

We are very excited to offer this event to our families and hope you can join us!