Arts

Footlight Club’s Psychological Thriller, ‘Blood Relations,’ Digs Into Facts & Speculation of Lizzie Borden

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The life of Fall River's Lizzie Borden has always fascinated Americans interested in the macabre. The Footlight Club's "Blood Relations" uses historical facts and speculation to paint a picture of the woman who was accused and acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother. (All photos courtesy of Sacred Harbor Photography)

Directed by Kristin Hughes, “Blood Relations,” opened Feb. 2 and runs for six shows through February 16. Canadian Sharon Pollock's play paints a picture of Borden, who was charged and acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother, in a time when individuality and freedom of women was stifled.

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Arts

Photos: Footlight Club’s ‘Honk!’ Tells Ugly Duckling’s Story

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The Footlight Club's current show, Honk!, is a fun romp for the entire family and there's two more weekends to catch the show. All photos courtesy of Sacred Harbor Photography

The musical, originally performed in the United Kingdom, is based on Hans Christian Andersen's well-known story "The Ugly Duckling." The musical tells the story of an odd-looking baby duck, Ugly, and his quest to find his mother. The cast is lead by Robb Russ as Ugly, Elizabeth Bean as Ida, Colin Gillis as Cat and Greg Quilop as Drake. The production is directed by Eleza Kort, with musical direction by Shawn Gelzleichter and produced by Leslie Sullivan and Gen Ryan Gelzleichter.

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Arts

Photos: The Footlight Club’s ‘Pippin’

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The Footlight Club kicked off its 142nd season with "Pippin" this past weekend for a run of six shows. All photos courtesy of Sacred Harbor Photography. "Pippin" is the story of a young man's journey to be incredible. Pippin is a young prince who is heir to the Frankish throne, and in search of true happiness and fulfillment. Pippin looks for the secret to happiness on the battlefield, through temptations of flesh and the intrigues of political power.

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Arts

Photos: Footlight Club’s ‘Our Town’ Takes the Stage

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In the Footlight Club's "Our Town," director Katie Swimm uses the 1930s play's movement and music to tell the story through an ensemble of actors that reflect the diverse community of Jamaica Plain in 2018. All photos are courtesy of Sacred Harbor Photography. Playwright Thornton Wilder penned "Our Town” in the 1930s when he was in his 30s, as a response to not being satisfied with theater of his era. Uniquely, it is narrated by a stage manager and is performed with minimal props and sets. Wilder wanted to create something that was more direct, which led to the play’s distinctive self-awareness and breaking of the fourth wall, which was not common back then, and is a beloved aspect of the show now.

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Arts

Footlight Club’s ‘Heathers The Musical’ Opens April 13th

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The Footlight Club's "Heathers The Musical" is based on the cult classic 1980s movie starring Christian Slater, Winona Ryder and Shannen Doherty. That trio are not in the local show, but that's probably for the best as the drama will remain on stage and not behind the scenes in the Footlight's version opening April 13th. With music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy, the musical tells the story of Veronica Sawyer, originally played by Ryder, who is a brainy and beautiful teenager, and part of the Heathers, the most popular and powerful clique in high school. She finds out that being part of the clique means she's got to bully kids, including former friends of hers. She ends falling for a mysterious newcomer, Jason Dean (JD), originally played by Slater.

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Arts

Jamaica Plain Artists Association Spring Members Show Opens April 13

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America's oldest community theater is teaming up with the Jamaica Plain Artists Association to debut the Footlight Club's "Heathers: The Musical" and the association's Spring Members Show on April 13th. The Jamaica Plain Artists Association (JPAA) Spring Members Show will feature more than 25 artists exhibiting original paintings, photography, encaustic art, mixed-media, sculpture and more. The artists are all local from JP, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Brookline and more. There will be an Artist Talks event on Wednesday, April 18th from 6 to 9 pm during which several exhibiting artists will discuss their art and creative processes. Artists included in the show are: Nicole Bahlmann, Erica Baptiste, Phyllis Bluhm, Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri, Lynn Dann, Erik Gehring, Lisa Goren, Suzanne Hoffman, Yangsoon Ji, Cynthia Kollios, Victoria Laje, Joni Lohr, Nancy Marks, Silvina Mizrahi, Erica Nazzaro, Fiona O'Connor, Remi Picó, Mardi Reed, Andrea Tamkin, Al Wallstrom, Barbara Ellen Watkins, Nancy J Young, Richard Youngstrom and Ginny Zanger.

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Arts

Footlight Club’s ‘In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play’ opens Feb. 2

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Benjamin Franklin is often credited with discovering electricity. But did he ever think that doctors in the 1880s would use vibrators to treat "hysterical" women (and some men)? Probably not, but it actually did happen. The Footlight Club's play "In The Next Room or the Vibrator Play" focuses on a doctor, his wife and how this newfangled therapy affects their entire household. “In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play” was a 2010 Tony Nominee for Best Play, Best Costume Design and Maria Dizzia was nominated as Best Featured Actress.

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From the Community

‘Laugh Liberally’ at The Footlight Club on New Year’s Eve

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Say goodbye to the only year that could make 2016 look good! A stand up comedy show for the people who march, and the people who would... if they could only find a babysitter. The show will feature some of Boston's best comics and the Left Leaning Dad Mike Dorval at The Footlight Club on New Year's Eve. Laughing Liberally's "Good F*#cking Riddance 2017" will feature Dorval
and his friends at The Footlight Club (7A Eliot Street, JP) from 8 to 10 pm on New Year's Eve.

1,641 Views
Arts

Footlight Club’s ‘Music Man’ Opens Nov. 4th

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The Footlight Club's newest production, "The Music Man," features a fast-talking salesman who gets his heart stolen by the town librarian. The Tony-award winning musical comedy is fun for the whole family and opens Nov. 4th. The musical is about con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys band leader and organizer, selling instruments and uniforms to Iowa townsfolk. Hill promises to train all the musicians, but he really plans on skipping town without giving any lessons.

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The Footlight Club

Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man

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There's trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen by the town librarian.This Tony-award winning classic musical comedy is fun for the entire family!