Entertainment

New Rep Theatre Receives Grant from National Endowment for the Arts

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The following information was provided by New Rep Theatre:

New Repertory Theatre is thrilled to announce that they have receivedfunding through the Grants for Arts Project Fund from the National Endowment for the Arts in the amount of $25,000. These funds will be used to help support New Rep’s newly commissioned Indigenous Moving Play, our upcoming 2-person production of Romeo & Juliet, as well as other programming to come. The Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) awards range from $10,000 to $100,000 and cover these artistic disciplines: Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater, and Visual Arts. In February 2020, the agency received 1,674 eligible GAP applications requesting more than $82.4 million in FY 2021 support. Approved for funding are 1,073 projects totaling nearly $25 million, with grants recommended to 64% of all applicants and an average grant amount of $23,190.

Entertainment

Make Your Own Creation and Join in YardArt Watertown

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Everyone from artists to people who have never created anything before are invited to make something and display it in their front yard as part of a Town-wide art exhibition. Organizers of the event, dubbed YardArt Watertown, wanted to bring some cheer to Watertown during the gloom of winter, said one of the organizers, Roberta Miller. “We need something this winter that is fun and gets people outside — kind of like porch fest, only it’s art,” Miller said. “Some people have done projects similar to this, decorate your door. So, after a lot of discussion with this small group, the idea emerged that we would do YardArt and we would encourage people to make something fun.

Business

Business Group Seeks Input on Creating Neighborhood Identities, Cultural District

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The Watertown Business Coalition has two upcoming virtual events to discuss promoting the different neighborhoods around Town, and creating a Cultural District. The group welcomes the ideas and input from businesses and residents. Neighborhood Identities

The effort to create stronger neighborhood identities emerged as an idea to boost local businesses during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and moving forward. A virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 8:30-9:30 a.m.

The event announcement said: “We will discuss ways we can rally around the idea of creating neighborhood identities and promote businesses and the communities within those neighborhoods.

Entertainment

Dance Film & Photography Exhibit Showing at Watertown Art Studio

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A shot of the new art installation at Room 83 Spring, “up in the air,” by Margaret Wiss. Watertown art studio Room 83 Spring is hosting an exhibition featuring the work of one artist, who has produced a film featuring dance as well as a photography exhibit. The show, up in the air, features the work of Margaret Wiss, a young, bright, emerging star, according to Room 83 Spring founders and co-curators Ellen Wineberg and Cathleen Daley. The show can be seen by coming into the studio, or from outside. “The whole show can be seen through our  windows and is especially vivid in the deep dark winter nights,” Wineberg and Daley said in the show’s announcement.

Arts

New Rep Director Leaving to Head Mass. Cultural Council

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Michael Bobbitt will take over as New Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director in August 2019. Michael Bobbitt, the artistic director of New Repertory Theatre, will be leaving the company to become the new executive director of the Mass. Cultural Council. Bobbitt took over New Rep in July of 2019, and left his mark in his time in Watertown — increasing audiences, revenues and leading company’s anti-racism efforts in the wake of the George Floyd’s killing. Prior to that, he had already started efforts to stress the importance of diversity, inclusion and equity at New Rep.

Even during COVID-19, New Rep brought theater to town with its Historical Moving Plays, which were performed on the streets of Watertown.

Arts

Watertown Arts Community Invited to Arts Town Hall

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The Watertown Business Coalition’s next Arts Town Hall will be held on Dec. 15. The group will be discussing ways to support and promote the local arts community. Organizers sent out the following information:

Artists, administrators, and educators of all disciplines are invited to join us in conversation about our artists’/organizations’ assets and needs, ways to support each other, and the future of the Watertown Arts Community. Please register at the Eventbrite link below so we can send you the Zoom info, and email Jaclyn Dentino with any questions (jaclyndentino@newrep.org)! 

WHAT: Arts Town Hall

WHEN: Tuesday, December 15 @ 4:00pm

WHERE: Zoom

COST: Free (Registration Required)

Around Town

New Rep Adds 10 New Members to Board of Directors

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The following information was provided by New Rep Theatre:

New Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce that it has added tenfantastic new members to its Board of Directors. Working alongside New Rep’s Anti-Racism Action Plan, which states that board will be comprised of 50 percent members of color by July 2023, members who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color now account for 33.3 percent of the board. Joining New Rep’s Board of Directors are Michelle Aguillon, Benny Sato Ambush, Nicole Dumas, Shannon Fairley-Pittman, Christopher Jones, Cheryl Price, Christopher Shearer, Natalie Stevenson, and Dr. Robert M. Turner. “One year ago, New Rep had only one person of color on our Board of Directors,” shares New Rep Artistic Director, Michael J. Bobbitt. “This was not at all conducive to our efforts in EDI and anti-racism, or to our goal to be a truly multi-cultural theatre.

Entertainment

Watertown Children’s Theater Building on Success of Online Plays

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Children’s Theatre:

Building on the successes of our fall online productions, Watertown Children’s Theatre/Mosesian Center for the Arts will be producing three more online productions this winter for Grades 3-12.  Registration is open now at mosesianarts.org for all winter productions, which begin in early December. For Grades 3-5, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by John Glore is a fun, irreverent look at fairy tales that includes comedy, music and a lot of fun. Based on the beloved book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, this play includes fresh takes on stories like Chicken Little, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and more. Favorite fairy tales are hilariously remixed with comical music and quick-paced scenes to challenge actors and delight audiences. Orientation begins December 9.