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Arts & Entertainment

Kid's Play

Concord Youth Theater presents Anne of Green Gables this weekend and next; CCPI presents another APPLAUD installment.

 

I am a big fan of theater. I love watching it — the musicals where people spontaneously break into song and dance in the middle of their regular life; the comedies where you can forget your troubles and just laugh; and the dramas that make you think. And I love performing it — standing on a stage in front of people who have come to be entertained by you. There’s nothing so exhilarating as looking out into those lights, saying your lines, and hearing the response of the audience. It’s a total adrenaline rush.

What’s also great is that theater can be a lifelong interest, for both spectators and participants. The Concord Youth Theater provides that opportunity right here in Concord. For the young performer, CYT offers classes and workshops, as well as several opportunities throughout the year to appear onstage. And for the young spectator, they choose innovative and kid-friendly shows, designed to introduce young audiences to the joy of a live performance.

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One such spectator opportunity happens this weekend and next, when CYT performs the show “Anne of Green Gables.” Based on the popular book by Lucy Maude Montgomery, the story is about an older couple who decide to bring in an orphan boy to help out around the farm. By mistake, the orphanage sends a girl, who manages to win them over, despite being a handful to have around. Anne is a great character, because she’s always getting into scrapes and messing things up, and then figuring out how to fix them. Which any kid can relate to, of course. It’s a well-loved story and I have no doubt the talented team at CYT will do it proud.

And that’s the other reason this is a great show to take your kids to: they get to see other kids doing something amazing, being their best selves up on stage. It’s empowering, for everyone. There are a bunch of local kids performing, including Paige Walker, Julia Nelson, Carly Mahoney, Sarena Sabine, Linnea Hubbard-Nelson, Willie Page, Grace Crozier, Sydney Brown, Fiona Doull, McKenna Peck, and Chad Arle.

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The performance happens over at the Fenn School, at 516 Monument Street, in Robb Hall; CYT’s performance space in West Concord is under construction at the moment. The show runs Fridays, Dec. 2 and 9 at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays, Dec. 3 and 10 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, Dec. 4 and 11 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $13, general seating, and there are three ways to get them: in person at their office at 50 Beharrell Street between noon and 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday, by phone at 978-371-1482, or online at www.ticketstage.com/CYT. For full details, click here.

And for something more educational…

Tonight the Concord Carlisle Parents Initiative (CCPI) is hosting the third session of : A Prevention Program Learning About Underage Drinking & Drugs, and they say it’s appropriate for parents as well as kids in grades 5 to 12. So bring the kids: the topic is marijuana, and they’ll be telling you all about the drug, its affects and the laws surrounding it. Pretty heady stuff. Marilyn Belmonte, a veteran in drug abuse recognition and prevention among teens, will give the presentation. It takes place from 7 to 9 pm in the Little Theater at CCHS. If you need more information, you can contact them at ccpi.mass@gmail.com.

 

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.

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