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by Eden Holt, Contributing writer  Revels RiverSing is an experience difficult to put in words or even truly capture in pictures or on film. There is a power, a force, that is created when people come together and sing. I sat with the group's Artistic Director, Patrick "Paddy" Swanson, to hear more about Revels and this wonderful experience.
Who are the Revels? Revels are a group of artists and performers. We have been performing for by Molly McCaul, Contributing writer
On August 23, the musical prodigies of the All You Got Tour lit up the Herter Amp stage and celebrated the beauty of art and life. The tour has become a sort of regional staple for young artists, with its 2017 tour featuring over 40 stops and 65 artists aged 22 and under. I had the wonderful opportunity to speak to Patty Duffey, the President of the Young Performers Club and a founding supporter of the tour, about the importance of amplifying young voices, providing opportunities to grow musically, and the beauty of it all.
by Eden Holt, Contributing writer  Eaton St. Funk, a Boston based band putting a funky spin on popular hits, had the crowd on its feet on Friday as part of the Friends of Herter Park's inaugural summer performance season. Playing everything from TLC to the Allman Brothers, from Tina Turner to Stevie Wonder, the young band gave every song a little bit of an Eaton St. spin. After the show, I had a chance to chat with lead singer and band director, Dylan Levinson:
How did the band get together? We were all students at Providence College in RI when Jack McShane (key- by Eden Holt, Contributing writer  This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 10th – 12th, Brown Box Theatre Project returns to the Herter Park Amphitheater performing three free shows of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
A non-profit touring theater company, Brown Box Theatre Project travels across states performing 35 shows a season. Going on their 8th year, Brown Box has a mission and that is to breakdown financial and social barriers to art. They insist on free shows to audiences from all walks of life. by Eden Holt, Contributing writer  The latest performers to grace the Herter Park Amphitheater stage were the story telling movement company, ParadiseMoves. Boston based, this is a group of talented dancers and story tellers interested in having a conversation, and know exactly how to get that conversation started. To beautifully composed original music and choreography, ParadiseMoves urges us, in their piece called Enough, to think more broadly, more compassionately, about gender, mental illness, and friendship.
Focused on the formative high school years, Enough tells the story of Noah, a young student grappling with his sexuality, identity, and mental illness. Supported by a cast of wonderful dancers, Noah discovers the value of relationships, explores his inner voices, and is quite literally saved from himself.
We have had several events since we last spoke, bringing over 1,200 folks through our gates! Word is spreading about our free, all-ages shows & the venue itself. This past Saturday 7/14 brought in the amazing Phunk Phenomenon Urban Dance Theatre, complete with several performances by the young phunks from the summer hip-hop dance classes. Sunday 7/15 was a huge a cappella festival hosted by Vocal Revolution. The festival, lasting 4 hours, showcased over a dozen of Boston's premier a cappella groups. Check out our Facebook page for photos & videos.
But wait! There's more! Saturday July 21 brings in the Boston Minstrels with a huge repertoire of your favorite classics. All welcome to sing along! Thursday July 26 is our first Open Mic Night! Sign-up to perform HERE! First come, first play. (Some slots will be held for walk-ins the day of.) And stay tuned for information for Open Stage Night - a variety show where all types of acts & talents are welcome to perform! We are still adding shows every day. Even more movie nights may be wedged in last minute, so check the SCHEDULE page for latest info. See you at the Amp!
Ready... Set... GO! So our June is off to a great start. We had three awesome shows last week. The Boston Hassle show presented 4 local bands, running the gamut from ingenue Ragu to local legend Bad History Month. The following evening showcased 4 youth musicians on The All You Got Tour. On Tuesday 6/12, we held our first children's event with a sing-a-long with Kassandra Melo. Both she & the bubble machine were a big hit & we can't wait to have her back!  UP NEXT - The Seba Molnar Jazz Quartet will grace our stage on Fri. 6/22, 7-9 pm. We had a cancellation for our scheduled theatrical performance on 6/24, so this might be it for June, #sadface. But don't worry, we will be back after the Independence Day break & will be going like gang busters! We are still ironing out contracts with performers, so we will be adding another 20 or so events to the schedule as things get signed. Stay tuned to the SCHEDULE page for updates! We are looking for volunteers to help us at each event, so if you have already received that email, please complete the poll & let us know your availability. If you haven't signed up to get email alerts yet (about shows, volunteer events, etc.), please do so on the GET INVOLVED page & we will contact you.
Have a safe & happy 4th everyone!  Wow, do I have a lot to cover! So, our Grand Ribbon Cutting on 5/17/18 went great. It was great to get DCR officials & state Reps in the space, celebrating all the hard work of our volunteers. DCR Commissioner Leo Roy even sang a solo rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow!" (That takes GUTS, man. Know how hard that song is to sing?!) Anyway, head on over to our Facebook page for a video of that & more photos from the event.
The following night (5/18/18), we welcomed Brown Box Theatre Project back to the space for the Broadway Jukebox. The night was cold, but urns full of free hot coffee & cocoa kept our guests warm. Unfortunately, the second evening was rained out. But don't fret - they will be back in August with Shakespeare's As You Like It! COMING UP THIS WEEK - we have 2 great shows. On Fri 6/8/18, Boston Hassle will present 4 great local bands: Ragu, Giving Up, Bad History Month & NEST. On Sat 6/9/18, the All You Got Tour will showcase musicians & bands ages 22 & under. Come show these kids some love & encouragement to pursue their dreams! Let's give 'em a packed house, huh? Stay tuned to the SCHEDULE page for the most up-to-date calendar. We have about half of the dates up there so far & are adding events daily, as performers are confirmed. Bookings are a little slow this month, but will be jam packed come July on. We are psyched about the super-diverse nature of our programming. The #HerterAmp belongs to everyone! Huzzah!  Hi everyone! Well we did it. Thanks to 50+ volunteers last week, the amphitheater is in tip-top shape & ready for our upcoming season. Please join us on Thursday, May 17, at 7 pm, as we celebrate the completion of the Herter Amphitheater Lighting Project, by flipping the switch & launching our summer season!
DCR Commissioner Leo Roy is expected to attend this event, as are other local & state officials. Please come out & support us! Show them that the community supports our restoration & programming efforts! RSVP not required but appreciated: kshea@ciccologroup.com.  What's everyone doing this Saturday, May 5th? Come on down to the ole Herter Amphitheater & help us get ready for our upcoming season (opening in just 3 weeks!). We need all hands on deck to help us rake, prune, weed, clean, scrape, paint & repair. If you have waders, boat hooks or pool nets, please bring 'em as we need help removing dead branches & debris from the moat. The day is short - just 9 AM - noon, so there is plenty of time to get your Cinco de Mayo on afterwards. And besides, what better way to enjoy an ice cold margarita or cerveza than after a few hours or hard (but rewarding!) work?
Please wear appropriate clothing, no open-toed shoes. Hats are always encouraged. Bring sunscreen or bug repellent, or what ever you may need. BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLE OR SNACKS. Email Sasha at svallieres@thecharles.org to sign up. |
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