Cirque du Soleil brings its newest production, Alegría to the DCU Center for 8 spectacular performances December 9-13.

What if anything were possible? What if the stage became a fantastic world where the old were young again, and where the kings were clowns? Come in! You are invited to the celebration at the palace court.

Alegría, which takes its name from the Spanish word for joy and jubilation, is a baroque and operatic production featuring flamboyant costumes, extraordinary lighting and an elaborate set. It is an impressive mix of skill, strength and speed combined with elegant, almost ethereal performances. Cirque du Soleil’s international cast of 55 acrobats, musicians, singers, clowns and characters will captivate you with their two-hour spectacle of breathtaking acrobatics. For more information about Alegria, visit cirquedusoleil.com/alegria.

Our photographer Brittany Durgin had a sneak peek of today’s warm ups – these images capture the hard working Cirque performers gearing up for tonight’s debut!

Show Times:
Wed, Dec 9 at 7:30PM
Thurs, Dec 10 at 7:30PM
Fri, Dec 11 at 3:30PM and 7:30PM
Sat, Dec 12 at 3:30PM and 7:30PM
Sun, Dec 13 at 1:00PM (SOLD OUT!) and 5:00PM

Tickets are ON SALE NOW at the Box Office, Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 or 866-448-7849 and online at ticketmaster.com.

Be a part of Jason James & The Bay State Houserockers’ live CD!

The Blue Plate Lounge in Holden is turning into a recording studio this Friday night, December 11 2009, as Jason James & The Bay State Houserockers record their hot rockabilly session into a live CD!  Be part of the hootin’ and hollering as these amazing live musicians rock the house and blow your mind. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Brenda Lee’s Christmas Show at the Hanover Theatre Dec. 12

“You’ll be “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” at Brenda Lee’s Christmas Show starring Brenda Lee with special guests Johnny Tillotson and The Barons on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7:55 p.m. at The Hanover Theatre in Worcester.

Brenda Lee, the only female performer to be inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Country Hall of Fame, will sing the hits that made her the ’60s top-charted female artist in the first half of the show followed by Christmas and holiday songs in the second half.”

youth classes start January 5 at Worcester art museum

Got a creative kid?  Worcester Art Museum has dozens of classes for kids to channel their creativity and help add shape that budding talent. Registration is now open for the winter session of youth art classes, which run January 5 to March 6.

Programs include everything from painting, cartooning, fashion design, creative writing, and animal drawing, to a portfolio-building course for college-bound students, and family art-making workshops on Sunday afternoons.
“Whether you’re looking for a fun indoor activity, or you need to sharpen your skills before applying to art school, Worcester Art Museum has the class for you,” said Associate Director of Education, Marcia Lagerwey. “Classes are conveniently offered in the mornings, afternoons, evenings and on weekends so they can fit into anyone’s schedule.”

Costs range from $90 to $245.  For a brochure detailing complete course listings and registration information, and 24-hour online registration, visit the Museum’s Web site, <http://www.worcesterart.org/> , or call (508) 799-4406 ext. 3129. A limited number of scholarships are available for those in need of financial assistance.

Located on Salisbury St., in Worcester, Massachusetts, the Worcester Art Museum opened in 1898 and is one of America’s most respected art museums. The museum is world-renowned for its 35,000-piece collection of paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photography, prints, drawings and new media. For more information, visit  <http://www.worcesterart.org/> .

Hat On, Drinking Wine’s last gig of 2009 is at Beatnik’s Dec. 11!

Dance Prism presents THE NUTCRACKER, Mechanics Hall

Dance Prism presents THE NUTCRACKER

Mechanics Hall in Worcester

Sunday, Dec. 13, 1:00 & 5:00 pm

Dance Prism is pleased to announce its 27th season of The Nutcracker. Performances will take place throughout the area, including a stop at Worcester’s Mechanics Hall on December 13 at 1pm and 5pm. The performance of the ballet will be followed by a meet and greet with Clara and her Nutcracker along with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavelier.

Dance Prism, a touring ballet company, has performed throughout New England since 1982, when it debuted its rendition of The Nutcracker, choreographed by former director Scott Ranagan and current Artistic Director, Mary Demaso.  This year, Worcester’s own Angela Bonnici, 26, will perform the role of Sugar Plum Fairy with Partner, Matthew Tucker. Ms. Bonnici teaches and choreographs throughout Worcester County and several of her students will be performing with her in the production’s regional Worcester cast. Her mother, Kathleen Bonnici has managed the regional Worcester cast rehearsals since Angela began dancing with the company at seven years old.

The Nutcracker will be played by newly appointed company member Hugh Geller. Lindsey Lavin, Tiana Eaton and Emily Townsend all of Littleton, MA will alternate the role of Clara. Dance Prism’s ranking actor/dancer and choreographer Jonathan Towle will remain the sole performer of Drosselmeyer for the company. Assistant Director Clarissa Eaton will portray several principal roles including The Snow Queen and the Arabian Divertissement.

Tickets are priced at $16 for children and seniors, $22 for adults; generous group discounts are offered. Seating is reserved; handicapped seating is available and easily accessible. For all performances, order tickets online at www.danceprism.com or call 978-371-1038.

Ballet Arts Worcester performs The Nutcracker at the Hanover Theatre, December 4-7

Nearly 100 cast members of the Ballet Arts Worcester, including the Ballet company’s 80 Bay State children, will team up with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and the All Saints Choir next month to present a production of the Nutcracker at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester.

“I am very excited to be collaborating with these fine organizations, for they will add a heightened experience for all”, quotes, Jennifer Agbay, artistic director of Ballet Arts Worcester.

More than 100 children, ranging in age from 7 to 17, auditioned for the ballet. The 80 children that were cast are from eastern and central Massachusetts, from Worcester to Boston.
”The dancers are exhibiting a great work ethic, they are all very easy to work with, and it is thrilling to see their technical skill and artistry grow, right before my very eyes!” states, Agbay.

The children will appear in the Nutcracker in a variety of roles, including party children, rats, soldiers, angles, sheep, flowers and snowflakes. The role of Clara is played by West Boylston resident Rachele Perla, who is 14 years of age.

The annual performance of this Nutcracker is being held at Worcester’s Hanover Theatre between December 4 and 7. For ticket information please call 877-571-7469 or visit www.thehanovertheatre.org

The cast for this show will also include professionals from the Festival Ballet, Providence, including Lauren Kennedy and Mark Harootian.

Other adult ballet dancers include Thiago Fillipi, a student at the Boston Ballet School, who is also a native of Brazil; the Ballet Arts Worcester’s professional ballet dancers, Ana Luisa Thompson and Rebekah Bohnet Fontane will also appear in the production.

Wonderbox over at Blue Plate Lounge in Holden, December 4

Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson in Concert, December 4

Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson in Concert at Mechanics Hall on  Friday, December 4, 7:30p.m.

Blues Worcester presents Grammy winner Luther “Guitar Jr. Johnson.”

 

This Chicago bluesman is a veteran performer, and has perfomred with MagicSam, Muddy Waters, and Magic Rockers.

 

Blues Worcester is offering a discount coupon to another Blues Worcester concert to patrons who bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots program.

E-mail: info@mechanicshall.org Phone: 508-752-0888

Mechanics Hall 321 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608. Cost: Concert Only: $18; Concert & BBQ Buffet: $33 Promotions: Public Woo Card: 3 points College Woo Card: 3 points

Seth Leary’s One Man Show, Monday, November 30 at The Q

Seth Leary’s One Man Show, Monday, November 30, 7:30pm – 8:30pm

The Little “a” Poetry Series is proud to present thespian, playwright, Shakespeare aficionado and comic Seth Leary to the stage to perform his one-man-show. Performing over different names over the years (those of you who saw him perform at Java Hut open mics might remember him as “Loopy”, and as one half of the political comedy duo The Prose Brothers he was known as Leon one-word-like-Geraldo…) Mr. Leary can be credited with writing and directing the play “The Balance”, he has a forthcoming musical, and is given props for performing soliloquys from Hamlet and Henry V at musician’s open mics.

Held at The Q, 362 Chandler St., Worcester