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Arts & Entertainment

Let the Holidays Begin!

Hanukkah kicks off, CYT holds auditions, and two local organizations get their presents early.

 

Happy Hanukkah! Yes, it’s the first night of the Festival of Lights, and the good news is, if you’re not quite ready for it, you’ve got seven more days to get it all done. Time to make the latkes and play with dreidels, and of course, light the menorah. Let the holiday begin!

If you’re NOT celebrating today, and you have, or are, a child 10 or older, you might want to consider auditioning for the Concord Youth Theater’s next production, The Pied Piper. This is the story of the town of Hamlin, which is overrun with rats, and what happens when you don’t pay your bill. Auditions run today and tomorrow, from 3:45 to 6 p.m. I’m not sure if there are openings for today – you only need to attend one of the audition dates – but if you call 978-371-1482, someone will get back to you. Just leave your name, age, which date you prefer and phone number. Rehearsals start Jan. 4, and take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Show dates are March 9-11 and 16-18.

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One more thing to know: there’s a $5 fee to audition, and if you’re cast, tuition is $380.

The gift of giving

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Some groups in town seem to have gotten their holiday gifts early. A while ago I told you that there was a committee planning to build a playscape over at the Ripley building. This playscape would be an open play area incorporating natural play spaces along with traditional playground equipment, ideal for all kids, particularly those with sensory issues. But first, they needed funding, and to kick things off, they had applied for a grant from the Community Preservation Committee. Well, last week the playscape committee heard that the CPC had recommended $48,000 for the first phase of the project, the Woodland Trail and Play Area project. Next step is to take this recommendation to Town Meeting in April. Keep your fingers crossed!

The other group to get a gift is Decibels, the organization that funds the birth to 3 program over at Minute Man ARC for children with hearing loss and their families. Seems that a local employee of PNC Bank saw an article about Decibels, and decided they would be a great fit for the bank’s PNC Grow Up Great initiative. So PNC Foundation gave Decibels a $3,333 grant – enough for three children and their families to receive three months of services at the MMARC Early Intervention Program for Children with Hearing Loss. That’s a really cool gift, and I know those babies and their families are grateful for it.

Enjoy the holidays! 

 

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.

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