As Beantown prepares to go on winter break and conclude the fall semester, look out for the year-ending performances of music, theater and art from Boston's best colleges.<$>
Not the Nutcracker!<$> On Dec. 3 and Dec. 4, Jeannette Neill Dance Studio will present its winter repertory show, "Not the Nutcracker!" The Jeannette Neill Dance Studio has played a significant role in training some of the best dancers throughout the Boston area for over two decades. Among the performers are some of the most respected and recognized jazz dancers in the world. The Studio has been internationally renowned for its preservation and presentation of jazz dance.
Dear Abbey...:The Dear Abbeys are a leading a cappella group at Boston University who actually forged their way to Tufts earlier this fall, performing in the East Coast a cappella conference hosted by the Tufts' Amalgamates. A renowned, award winning male group, they will present their annual winter concert on Saturday, Dec. 11, 7:30 pm at the Morse Auditorium.<$>
Emerson<$>
Picnic: <$>In this cold? This month, the Emerson Stage Theater presents the story of "Picnic," where a young man arrives in a small town picnic just in time for the title event; in the process several lives are changed. Also explored, are the restrictions on women living in pre-feminist, post-war America. The playwright, William Inge, who wrote "Picnic" in the early 1950s, is often overlooked despite his significant contributions to drama. Yet, although the story itself may be considered old-fashioned, the characters can still be found among us today. This production, across between a "dark comedy" and "light drama," is directed by Courtney O'Conner and will be playing at the Semel Theater from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11.
A Jazzy Tribute<$>: A local jazz group pays homage to legendary jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus in "Fables of Mingus." Mingus' compositions range from hard-bop to Afro-Latin jazz. The Masked Marvels, led by sax player James Merenda, attempt to revere this important jazz artist in their upcoming performance. Merenda has been influenced by jazz greats like Lester Young, Billie Holiday and Ornette Coleman; he delivers his uniquely "aggressive and lyrical" style with pure passion. In an interview with The Boston Phoenix, Merenda says: "Mingus was about fire. He was about making people's f**king hair stand up. I think that's what I'm trying to do, by bringing improvisers of that impact to the music. So not only are these tunes going to get played, they're going to get pushed to the wall." You can experience "Fables of Mingus" this Sunday, 7 p.m. at the Greene Theatre.<$>
Harvard<$>
A-Class A-Cappella<$>: This Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Sanders Theatre, tune into Lowkeys & Opportunes' a cappella show "How The Grinch Stole Jam." The LowKeys and Opportunes are two of the most prominent musical groups at Harvard. The LowKeys is among Harvard's most recent and innovative coed a cappella groups and is made up of sixteen undergraduate students. The Opportunes, meanwhile, was created a little over twenty years ago by two Harvard-Radcliffe students. It became the first co-ed a cappella group at Harvard and is now one of the most renowned. The Opportunes is known for their award-winning performances as well as their sense of humor.
Shakespeare with a Twist<$>: From Dec. 2 to Dec. 5, it's Shakespeare as you've never seen it performed. "The Compleat Works of Wllm Shaksp" (yes, the spelling is correct) is a collection of the great master's works, but presented with a light touch. Through audience participation and continuous comedy, this group of Harvard students will undoubtedly put on quite a show at Winthrop House. In Act One, there is an "Othello" rap and a "Titus Andronicus" cooking show, among other things. Act Two is "Hamlet," including the basic plot and some of their best scenes, like Ophelia drowning herself with a glass of water. In the finale, there are two quick "Hamlet" encores, one presented backwards. This is definitely Shakespearean theater at its best.<$>
MIT Winter Dance Show<$>: The MIT Dance Theater Ensemble (DTE) is a dance ensemble supported by the MIT Theater Arts Program and the MIT Council of Arts. The group performs original pieces along with ones done by guest choreographers and faculty advisor, Thomas DeFrantz. DeFrantz is both the director and a choreographer for the concert and has affiliations with prominent dance companies such as the International Association of Blacks in Dance. You can catch this promising dance showing both Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 at the Kresge Auditorium.
Experience Logarhythms:<$> No not the ones in math. The MIT Logarhythms Winter Concert is an extensive a cappella show featuring the "Logs" as well as Boston University's Terpsichore. This free performance will take place on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Kresge Auditorium. The "Logs" are the fresh, only all-male a cappella group at MIT having originally been formed 1949. The concert will feature songs from their previous records and their latest release, "Soundproof."
Northeastern<$>
Black Nativity<$>: This fascinating production is the longest running performance of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes' Christmas gospel musical in the world. The cast includes 160 singers, actors, dancers and musicians. "Black Nativity" delivers its powerful message of delight, hope, triumph and freedom through its lively description of a 2,000 year-old historic event. Producers and directors Elma Lewis and John Andrew Ross are both very accomplished individuals: Lewis is the founder of the National Center of Afro-American Artists and Ross himself was a personal friend of Langston Hughes as a child. This year's opening of the show marked its 35th consecutive season of performances. Be part of this wondrous and inspirational tradition!
