fundraiser – Page 6 – Salem Main Streets

Twelfth Night Reaches Beyond The Stage

Mar 312015

Community is a key element both on-stage and off in the current production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by the Salem Theatre. Running now through April 12th, it is a story of a community upended by a shipwreck and how those involved take to comedy and music to solve their dilemmas. And as a city almost entirely surrounded by the sea, Salem provides extra backdrop. But the Salem Theatre is also providing a community initiative: for every sold out performance (as last Saturday’s was) it will provide a performance to a local school, free of charge.

Who says Shakespeare can’t be relevant in the 21st century?

If you are not familiar with the play, it focuses on the hilarious and wild chaos caused by twins, Viola and Sebastian, displaced by the shipwreck. Salem Theatre’s production is directed by Artistic Director Matthew Gray who has stated that while parts of songs are used in many of Shakespeare’s other plays, those in Twelfth Night are sung in their entirety, thus contributing to the story.

The set is sparse, a few benches, a few props, a piano. There is sadness, comedy, and Shakespearean characters defined by their circumstances, all confined to a space that might seem like the hull of a 17th century ship.

Cast members include Salem residents and returning to the Salem Theatre stage Caroline Watson-Felt, Chris Martel and Ariane Grosse; members of Salem’s classical theatre troupe, Upstart Crows Diana Dunlap and Keith Trickett; and Rachel MacAskill, Zachary Reardon, Francis Norton and Christopher Noran.

Performances are on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 pm. Key dates to note:

Thursday, April 2: Student Night – $5 tickets available for all students
Thursday, April 9: LGTB Night – Discount Tickets offered.

Salem Theatre will also update daily the seating capacity for each show; if you want to see Twelfth Night and are open on the date, you might consider booking a near sell-out night to help activate the community initiative for school children.

Additional details are available at www.salemtheatre.com. Performances are held at 90 Lafayette Street.

(Photo courtesy CMB Photography)

Local Voices Sing Out for Salem Boys/Girls Club

Salem Event No Responses »

Mar 242015

Harmony of purpose will fill the air Wednesday night in Salem as 11 young ladies of music will be entertaining to help raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem’s Teen Girls Program. The event is called Rhapsody and you are invited by Creative Salem to attend Opus Underground for an “acoustic evening which will feature a wide range of singers and songwriters, ranging from local open mic legends to award winning artists. Though varying in genres and styles, Rhapsody promises to be an excellent exploration in artistry and musicianship for an incredible local cause.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem program which will benefit from this fundraiser is geared to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.

In other words, a worthy cause.

Donation is $5 to Rhapsody and in return you will be treated to a sampling of music styles currently making the rounds of the greater North Shore, Boston area— and beyond.

The performers will be: Kirsten Manville, Molly Pinto Madigan, Sarah Seminski, Priscilla Swain, Rachel Baldwin, Jade, Briana Paquin, Letriah Masters, Alyssa Grace, Leah Cirker-Stark, and Joey Phoenix.

Several of the performers are Salem natives or residents. Full details of performing styles and pictures can be found on this Creative Salem page.

The music begins at 8:30 pm in the Opus Underground venue, located at 87 Washington St, Salem. For more info call 978-744-9600.

(Image of microphone courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Great Holidays Do Really Begin Here in Salem

Contests, New Businesses, Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping, SMS News No Responses »

Dec 102014

Can you remember a simpler time when holiday shopping was a simple stroll through friendly hometown stores and not a race through impersonal, giant, crowded malls? We do. And we are bringing that back.

Salem Main Streets is introducing a Holiday Stroll on Saturday, Dec. 13th to encourage residents to shop local and enjoy their downtown during the holiday season. Over 40 downtown retailers have committed to staying open until 8 pm on the 13th, and most will be offering special holiday discounts, promotions, and yummy refreshments all day.

How’s that for customer appreciation and “small town” ambiance.

A full list of participating retailers is available for your use.

In keeping with our goal of this being a total community effort, Boy Scout Troop 83 will be running a gift-wrapping station on Derby Square throughout the day, and will be joined by Troop 24, which will be selling wreaths in part to benefit the restoration of the Arch on Salem Common.

And while we are promoting all things Salem for Dec. 13th, don’t miss the Pickering Wharf businesses’ Winter Walk of the Wharf, including a stroll with Santa from 1-4 pm.

But that’s not the only event we have to make your trip worth your time. To add that extra bit of spice to our holiday gift to shoppers, Main Streets is once again conducting the Salem Holiday Window Contest, which runs now thru Dec. 13th.

Over 40 downtown businesses will be participating in the annual Holiday Window Contest, and this year the public can vote on their favorites at a participating business, or online at www.salemmainstreets.org/windows. These retailers go all out to do up their windows to entertain you, and if past entries are any indications (and they are!), we have many, many creative minds— and a couple of far out ones, as you would expect from Salem, MA. A full map of participating windows can be found here. Voting ends on Dec. 13th.

And one more thing. Creative Salem is giving us an extra promotional boost (…thank you, John…) with a related photo contest. For your chance to win a Creative Salem prize pack (valued at $150) take a picture while you are strolling through town or looking at store windows. Share it on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Vine); use the hashtag #salemwindows when posting! Winner will be chosen on the 14th.

Shop, vote, take pictures, find bargains, chat with friendly sales people. All courtesy of your downtown merchants of Salem, MA.

For additional info, contact Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Manager, at 978-744-0004 or kylie@salemmainstreets.org.

Wine Tasting Benefit, Something To Drink To

Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Festivals No Responses »

Nov 132014

When is a wine tasting more than just a wine tasting? When it takes place in Salem Ma, of course. The 7th Annual Grand Wine Tasting is set for Nov.14th at the historic Hawthorne Hotel; as always, it is expected to be a sell-out. And not just for the fine wines available. But also because proceeds benefit local organizations such as the Salem Athenaeum, Historic Salem Inc., Historic New England, and Hamilton Hall.

The event is sponsored by Salem Wine Imports, which knows what it is doing, since it holds its own weekly wine tastings every Tuesday and Thursday.

“We are so excited for everyone to come together once again and enjoy so many delicious wines and varietals – there is literally something for everyone,” announces Kathy Genis, Salem Wine Imports owner.

“Most importantly,” she adds, “it’s an enjoyable way to support these amazing institutions that play such an integral part of keeping our local history alive.”

Gives a different meaning to drinking to someone’s health.

The event will also include a silent auction featuring bottled wine and passes from the popular Salem Food Tours. The Wine Tasting will run from 7- 9:30 pm. Tickets may be purchased online at www.localwineevents.com or by calling 978-741-9463.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Be A Physical Part of History- House of the Seven Gables

History, Salem Event No Responses »

Oct 072014

Overwhelmingly positive and international in scope have been the responses to a fund raising project initiated last June by the House of the Seven Gables. And there is still time for you to get in on the ground floor of this national historic site’s endeavor— literally.

Karen Barter, Director of Development at The House of the Seven Gables explains, “The front entrance walkway of The Gables is in need of brick repair. We decided to do a fund raising project whereby bricks could be purchased and inscribed with the name of a family member or friend. It has been quite successful for other museums and historic sites.”

In fact, she adds that there has been strong interest from foreign supporters of the Gables. Not surprisingly, there are also many writers and authors wishing to invest in the project and have their names associated with the house noted author Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about.

Think of it. Inscribe a wedding date. The names of your children. A loved one who loved Salem. The names will be there for all to see, for years to come. In fact it’s quite possible that your children could bring their children to Salem and take in the surprised looks when the young ones find the family names part of the living history of the House of Seven Gables.

Barter adds that businesses may also support the Gables project. Just no advertising, websites, logos, etc. Only words & numbers.

It’s a chance for you or a relative, whether near or far, to be able to say “that’s my Gables, I own a piece of it” when someone refers to The House of Seven Gables in Salem Ma.

If you’re interested…

Brick, 4″ x 8″, Red clay with laser cut script in black, 1-2 lines (20 characters per line) $65 each brick
Brick, 8″ x 8″, Red clay with laser cut script in black, 1-3 lines (20 characters per line) $125 each brick

The House of the Seven Gables reserves the right to not accept the wording of a donor if it does not align with their mission and code of ethics.

For more information, contact the Development Department at 978-744-0991 ext 126 or email kbarter@7gables.org

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