Through May 12
Lyric Stage Boston Presents:The Drowsy Chaperone
Lyric Stage Boston -
Celebrating 50 Years!
140 Clarendon Street, 2nd Floor,
Boston
Located on the 2nd floor of the YW building at the corner of Clarendon & Stuart Streets.
Parking | lyricstage.com | Buy Tix
A refreshing musical cocktail that's like a bubble bath for your heart. But with tap dancing. A comfortable chair with an old record crackling away is the perfect cure for the "blues" for a charming but lonely "Man in Chair," our guide into the world of the show-within-a-show, The Drowsy Chaperone. His favorite cast album from the Jazz Age comes to life complete with a self-admiring showgirl, her gin-soaked chaperone, a saucy Latin lover, a bumbling best man, a clueless soon-to-be groom, and a cornucopia of characters from a befuddled producer, to a dippy hostess and gangsters posing as pastry chefs. This bubbly love letter to musical theater sparkles with one show-stopper after another, mix-ups, mayhem, and a wedding (or two).
May 2
Eire Society of Boston Presents: Gold Medal Award
Omni Parker House Hotel
60 School Street, Boston
Cate McGrail | 617 739-6484
6 p.m. | eiresociety.org
Irish journalist Fintan O'Toole is the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Gold Medal Award, issued annual by the Eire Society of Boston. The longtime columnist for The Irish Times and The New York Review of Books, O'Toole is also the author of numerous books on Ireland. Formed in 1937 the Eire Society is one of New England's leading supporters of Irish cultural expression. The Gold Medal award is granted to recipients who have dedicated themselves to the study and preservation of Irish arts or to the betterment of Ireland itself. Past recipients have included John F. Kennedy, filmmaker John Ford, and architect Charles Maginnis.
May 3
Rockport Music Presents: Carbon Leaf
Shalin Liu Performance Center
37 Main Street, Rockport, MA
978-546-7391 | $29 - $35 | 8:00 p.m.
Buy Tix | rockportmusic.org
A touring mainstay and an indie folk-rock staple, the Virginia quintet's musical style pulls from Americana, indie rock, folk, bluegrass, Celtic and pop traditions using an array of instruments: acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, cello, bass, drums, accordion, penny whistle and rich vocal harmonies—to define the band's lively stage presence and sonic landscape. With a history spanning 30 years, 20 recordings and 3,500 live shows, Carbon Leaf's independent music and spirit continue to resonate with its fans. The band's new, full-length album that is set for release in 2024.
May 3-4
Cape Cod Irish Village Presents:
Keohane & Kenneally
Cape Cod Irish Village
Hyannis, Cape Cod
7:00 p.m. | FREE
theemeraldresort.com
Keohane and Kenneally have been thrilling audiences throughout New England and beyond for years. Hailed as Boston's best duo, Tim and Paul will blow you away with their diverse set list. Keohane (vocalist and guitarist) founded the band Tradition in 1988 and continues to perform with the group today while Kenneally, a member of the Noel Henry Showband (piano, saxophone, flute, tin whistle, guitar) contributes to vocals and harmony. Together they are a tour de force of musical talent that will bring you to your feet.
May 4
JFK Library Presents:
Gund Kwok - Come Dance with Chinese Lions
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Smith Center
Columbia Point, Boston
10:30 - 11:30 am
jfklibrary.org | Register here
Bring the whole family to marvel at Boston’s Gund Kwok, the only all-women lion dance troupe in the US. Using strong but light materials like papier-mâché and bamboo, the detailed costumes with beautifully choreographed movements empower Asian women to show their creativity, power, and strength through centuries-old Lion Dances and dynamic drumming!
May 5
BRT Presents:
Genticorum
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
7:00 p.m. | $25 adv | $28 show night
401 725-9272 | brtri.org/concerts
With multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards, Genticorum have earned a reputation as a leading voice in the evolution of Québécois traditional music. For over twenty years, the trio has earned a place of privilege on world, traditional, folk and Celtic music stages. Solstice Festival favorites, they are known for their unbridled energy, their musicianship, and their magnetic stage presence.
May 5
JFK Library Forum:
Pen/Hemingway Award Celebration
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Smith Hall, Columbia Point, Boston + Online
617 514-1643 | 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. | jfklibrary.org | Register here
Seán Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway’s grandson, honors finalists for the 2024 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel at this celebration. Award-winning author Joan Silber delivers the keynote address. The Kennedy Library is the major repository of Ernest Hemingway’s personal papers. This program is co-presented with The International Hemingway Foundation and Society. Forums are free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly recommended. Doors to the main hall open approximately one hour before the start of each program. Registration guarantees a seat in the building, but not in the main hall.
May 6, 13, 20, 27
ICC Presents:
Set Dancing with Cait Bracken
Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston
200 New Boston Drive, Canton
6:30 pm | $5 donation at the door | Adults (16 & up)
781 821-8291
irishculture.org
Every Monday throughout the year (except Holidays), the ICC presents set dancing with Cait Bracken at 6:30pm. Set dancing is a form of social dancing which has been popular in Ireland for over 150 years. Sets are danced by four couples in a square. No previous dancing experience or partner required! No registration required for this class.
May 8
Quincy Presents:
Taste of the South Shore
Hale Family YMCA
79 Coddington Street, Quincy
6 p.m. / Admission
ssymca.org/events
Enjoy tastings from the area's top restaurant chefs, caterers, bakeries, wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Cast your vote for the best bite & sip. Participate in silent auctions & purchase raffle tickets – win gift cards to participating Taste restaurants. This year, The Taste will include a beer & beverage garden, sports-themed games, reserved "box seating"and local sports legends. PLUS, enjoy live music from local favorite, The Smoking Jackets.
May 10-11
Cape Cod Irish Village Presents:
Ireland The Band
Cape Cod Irish Village
Hyannis, Cape Cod
7:00 p.m. | FREE
theemeraldresort.com
Ireland the band formed in the winter of 2013 with the idea of blending all phases of Irish music into an authentic show. Playing favorite Irish ballads and rebel songs, the band is dedicated to preserving and furthering Irish music and culture.
May 11
BRT Presents:
Hanneke Cassel Band
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
8:00 p.m. | $25 adv | $28 show night
401 725-9272
brtri.org/concerts
Effervescent and engaging, Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel's fiddle music fuses influences from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton with Americana grooves and musical innovations. She has performed and traveled across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Hanneke's music is a blend of the contemporary and traditional, described by the Boston Globe as "exuberant and rhythmic, somehow wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness." Her incredible band features Jenna Moynihan on 5-string fiddle/vocals and Keith Murphy on guitar/vocals.
May 17-18
Cape Cod Irish Village Presents: Dave Try Live in Concert
Cape Cod Irish Village
The Emerald Resort & Conference Center
35 Scudder Ave, Barnstable
Cape Cod 7:00 p.m. | FREE
Berklee college of Music graduate David Try plays the best in Irish music as well as popular bar standards and originals. With an incredible vocal range, his captivating voice is able to cover a variety of styles. This coupled with Dave's multi-instrumental ability makes for a truly entertaining experience and a fun night to sing along and enjoy!
May 18
Quincy Presents:
Music of the 40s & 50s
Hancock-Adams Common
Quincy, MA |
1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
quincyma.gov/specialevents
Mayor Thomas P. Koch & the City of Quincy invite you to "Celebrate a Musical Journey through the Decades" this summer with musical performances spanning the 1940's through the 1990's as well as a patriotic concert. On May 18, enjoy the music of the 1940s and 1950s, with great local musicians, dancers and DJs, including Dan Gabel Music 18-Piece String Orchestra, Legendary International 1950s Rock n Roll Band The Platters, The Randy Andys, The Boston Lindy Hop and Classic Cars.
May 18
ICC Presents: Pop Up Gaeltacht
Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston
200 New Boston Drive, Canton
5 - 8 p.m. | Register here
781 821-8291 | irishculture.org
Enjoy a fun-filled evening of conversation, music, and laughter. Grab a pint, mingle with fellow Irish language enthusiasts, and practice your conversational skills. Don't worry if you're a beginner - everyone is encouraged to participate and learn together. Experience the warmth of Irish hospitality and the joy of speaking in Irish. Whether you're reconnecting with your roots or simply curious about the language, the Pop Up Gaeltacht at the ICC Pub promises to be a memorable night!
May 18-19
Discover Newport Presents:
Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival
Bowens Wharf
Newport, RI
bowenswharf.com | discovernewport.org
Taste your way around the Ocean State! Sip a refreshing cocktail and enjoy oysters and chowder from local growers and vendors on the waterfront all weekend long. Did you know that RI is home to upwards of 45 oyster farms? The flavors are distinctive to each farm, so this is your chance to savor a sampling of them in one festive atmosphere! Oyster growers will be shucking alongside local restaurants and live music under the striped festival tents. All food will be available for purchase directly from vendors.
WIN FREE TIX!
May 19
Rockport Music Presents: House Of Hamill
Shalin Liu Performance Center
37 Main Street, Rockport, MA
978-546-7391 | $18 - $20 | 5:00 p.m.
Buy Tix | rockportmusic.org
Whether they’re ripping through a set of original jigs and reels, adding lush three-part harmonies into upcycled folk ballads or cracking up a crowd with stories from the road, Indie Irish folk band House of Hamill puts on a show that captivates audiences from the very first note. The Pennsylvania-based House of Hamill is a fixture on festival stages across the U.S., and have shared their music and stories on the country’s premier folk stages. Their version of “Pound a Week Rise” rose to #1 on the US Folk DJ charts, and the video for their all-violin cover of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” amassed over 16 million views on Facebook, where it was shared over 400,000 times.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN FREE TIX!
May 19
BRT Presents:
Cathy Clasper-Torch & Shelley Katsh – CD Release
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
3:00 p.m. | $18
401 725-9272 | brtri.org/concerts
Multi-instrumentalists Cathy Clasper-Torch and Shelley Katsh bring years of music making and friendship to a virtuoso collaboration of musicianship and spirit. Their repertoire, as heard on their CD, “From the Inside Out” is infused with melodies ancient and contemporary – played “straight from the heart.”
May 24
Quincy Presents:
Quincy Multicultural Festival
Fore River Field, Quincy
Noon – 4 p.m. / Free | discoverquincy.com/events | facebook
Quincy Multicultural Festival in collaboration with Quincy Public Schools celebrates the city's incredible diversity. Come appreciate the history, taste and beauty behind each culture through food, culture, music, performancesand costumes. Kids can participate in arts, crafts, games, and raffles, and have fun learning about all the different cultures in the beautiful city of Quincy! Food trucks with authentic ethnic food are on hand. All attendees are encouraged to come dressed in heritage colors or something significant to their culture, as well as to bring along their best dance moves and be ready to have lots of fun!
May 24
BRT Presents: A Take It Outside Concert
Emerald Rae
Blackstone River Theatre
549 Broad Street,
Cumberland, RI
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | $15 |
401 725-9272 | brtri.org/concerts
Emerald Rae is an American fiddler and folksinger based now in Nashville. Hailing from the seaside town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Rae began her musical journey deep in the world of traditional Celtic music. With her 2018 self-titled release, Rae broke the boundaries of fiddle-singing with a wide palate of experimental techniques. With her powerhouse vocals, groovy percussive fiddle, and eclectic songwriting style, she has delighted audiences at folk festivals and concert stages across North America.
May 24-25
Cape Cod Irish Village Presents:
Niall O'Hagan
Cape Cod Irish Village
Hyannis, Cape Cod
7:00 p.m. | FREE
theemeraldresort.com
Please check back.
Details to come.
May 31 - June 1
Cape Cod Irish Village Presents:
Dan Gill & The Old Brigade
Cape Cod Irish Village
Hyannis, Cape Cod
7:00 p.m. | FREE
theemeraldresort.com
Music, and fantastic company - that's what you can expect. Dan Gill and The "Old Brigade" will be rocking the house, delivering traditional Irish tunes that will make you want to get up and dance all night long.
May 31 - June 23
Lyric Stage Boston Presents:Yellow Face
Lyric Stage Boston -
Celebrating 50 Years!
140 Clarendon Street, 2nd Floor,
Boston
Located on the 2nd floor of the YW building at the corner of Clarendon & Stuart Streets.
Parking | lyricstage.com | Buy Tix
Truth and fiction blur in David Henry Hwang's satiric memoir about DHH, a playwright plunged into a whirlpool of missteps and unintentional hypocrisy after a vocal protest against the casting of Jonathan Pryce as a Eurasian hustler in the Broadway production of Miss Saigon. What he condemns as "yellowface" soon comes back to haunt him when he later misidentifies a Caucasian actor for mixed-race and casts him in his own Broadway-bound comedy. His personal integrity is compromised as he proceeds to conceal his blunder aiding the narrative of this "born-again Asian." This provocative & comical sideways glance at race and assimilation asks "who has the ownership of a culture?"