About Town: A Pops Concert, Friending the Library, and More Arts for You

Hello, people, and welcome to Thursday! Just one more day stands between you and the weekend – and if you’re Christian, Easter candy. I’ve got my chocolate bunny all picked out and ready to eat. Here’s my question: do you start with the ears or the tail? Oh, who cares, it’s all good.

We’ve got a bunch of good stuff coming up here in town so let’s get started. First up is the Rotary Club of Concord’s 37^th Annual Pops Night on April 13, featuring renowned jazz vocalist Amanda Carr along with our own Concord Band. Here’s what Roger Crane, writing for the International Review of Music, has to say about Carr: “She is a singer who deserves to be heard, a singer who revives the finest qualities of the jazz vocal art. In fact, if we lived in a rational world, she would be declared a national treasure.” Who wouldn’t want to hear that??

The Concord Band, directed by James O’Dell, will play a program that includes light classical, marches, show and Latin tunes, in addition to jazz. The nice thing about pops-style concerts is that you sit at tables to listen to the music, allowing a more casual atmosphere where you can hang with friends and enjoy refreshments.

Here’s another great reason to go: your ticket price helps to support the Rotary’s charitable activities. Local recipients include Gaining Ground, Open Table, Communities for Restorative Justice, and MCI, in addition to Middle School and High School awards. And the proceeds from the Silent Auction will go to support the community of Henryville, Indiana, where tornadoes demolished the high school.

It takes place at 8 p.m. the Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden St.; doors open at 7 p.m. for refreshments and the silent auction. Tickets are $25 a person or $100 for a table of four; you may purchase them from members of the Rotary Club of Concord or by calling Dick Hale at 508-878-6577. All seats are reserved, so call them now.

Learning from Little Women

That’s the title of the third and final lecture in the series of talks sponsored by The Concord Players, Orchard House, and The First Parish Transcendentalism Council, all having to do with Louisa May Alcott. It happens next Thursday, April 12, over at the First Parish church, at 7:30 p.m.

Why does "Little Women" have such enduring popularity? What does this book, published first in 1868, tell us about ourselves today? What does its worldwide popularity tell us about human nature? Gifted storytellers Jayne Gordon and Philip McFarland will explore these questions. Jayne has been the Director of Orchard House – Louisa May’s home when she was writing Little Women – as well as Director of Education for the Concord Museum. Philip is a teacher emeritus at Concord Academy, and has written several books about New England authors and activists, including “Hawthorne in Concord” and “The Loves of Harriet Beecher Stowe.” There’s a $5 donation at the door, and teachers and students are free.

Shakespeare on the Lawn Auditions

I love sitting outside on a warm summer evening, listening to the crickets and gazing at the stars. I love outdoor picnics and outdoor concerts, and really anything that can entertain me while enjoying the great outdoors. So I’m pretty excited that the Concord Players are planning to bring a little bit of Shakespeare to the library lawn in July. Only thing is they need some actors first. If you love the bard and enjoy being the center of attention, you might want to audition for Midsummer Mechanicals: Scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this Friday, April 6 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 7 at 4 p.m. Auditions will be held at 51 Walden for the parts of Quince, Bottom, Flute, Snout, Snug, Starveling, Puck, Titania, Theseus and Hippolyta. Performance dates are July 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 2 p.m., and if you need more info, email Robert Runck at r.runck@comcast.net.

You Gotta Have Friends

If you’ve ever gotten a museum pass from the library, seen a film there, or gone to a poetry or author reading, then you’ve been the lucky recipient of the cornucopia of goods and services provided by a group known as the Friends of the Library. Who are these generous souls? Well, they’re simple townsfolk like you and me, and now is your chance to join them, if you haven’t already. The Friends have sent out their membership mailing, and all you need to do is fill it out and send in the modest fee. Or send in MORE than the modest fee, if you feel like being generous and want to continue to support these great services. The Friends can always use extra help, too, so think about volunteering to sell books at the book sale in June, or introduce the film at the next film series. Whatever your expertise or passion, they’ll find a way to make you feel useful. If you need more information, go to www.concordlibraryfriends.org or to one of our two branches.

Enjoy your weekend!

Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net or Maureen at mcb23@comcast.net, and we will be happy to help you spread the good news. And follow us on Twitter: Maureen is @cosmo1162, I’m @stefanie3131.