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New England New
Year's Eve Celebrations
Editor's note: Please check
in often for updates. Please feel free to send
us your New England New Year's Eve event to be posted on
this page.
FIRST NIGHT 2007 ANNOUNCES EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Holmes Brothers, Flexitoons, Mary Gauthier, John Doe, Carolina
Chocolate Drops, Grigory Goryachev, comedians Tony V. and Frank
Santorelli, Eva Dean's "Bounce" to perform; Pat Oleszko,
New England Anime to exhibit
(BOSTON) First Night Boston is the country's oldest and
largest New Year's arts celebration. On Dec. 31, 2006 from 1
p.m. to midnight, First Night presents a day-long festival of
art, music, dance, ice
sculpture, fireworks and
more. First Night is an alcohol-free event that welcomes children,
families and revelers of all ages to celebrate community and
unity through the arts. First Night 2007 will feature over 1000
artists in 250 exhibitions and performances in over 40 locations
in downtown Boston. Listed below are some of the
highlights of this year's festival.
The Holmes Brothers at the Berklee Performance Center
Since joining forces in 1979, the Holmes Brothers have been
bringing their brand of gospel-inflected
spiritually moving, funky music to audiences around the world.
Their breathtaking harmonies resonate with a passion and conviction
matched only by their inspired musicianship and their ability
to perform sanctified gospel, low-down roadhouse blues, deep
soul, barroom country and pure pop-all in one set. They've recorded
with Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, Odetta, Phoebe Snow, Jungle
Brothers and Joan Osborne. (Presented with
WUMB Folk Radio and The Boston-Baystate Banner) Flexitoons,
New England Anime at MCCA Family Festival at the Hynes The
world-famous Flexitoons puppets, perhaps best known for their
work on Thomas the Tank Engine with Ringo Starr and George
Carlin, create a highly imaginative world of puppets, marionettes,
shadows, sets and blacklight magic, combined with smart scripts,
appealing voices and unique music. They will present a new adaptation
of "Hamlin," the classic truth telling tale; New England
Anime, back by popular demand, present the best in old and new
Japanese animation. A complete schedule will be available soon.
(Anime presented with WFNX)
Carolina Chocolate Drops at Emmanuel Church
This group of young African-American string band musicians
have come together to play Carolina Piedmont fiddle and banjo
music. They carry on the tradition of black musicians like Odell
and Nate Thompson, Dink Roberts, John Snipes, Libba Cotton, Emp
White and countless others who have passed beyond memory and
recognition. They have been under the tutelage of Joe Thompson
(said to be the last black traditional string band player) and
strive to carry on the long-standing traditional music of black
and white communities.
(Sponsored by AAA of Southern New England).
Mary Gauthier and John Doe at the Orpheum Theater
Country-noir singer/songwriter and native Louisianian and
former Bostonian Mary Gauthier
(pronounced go-SHAY) is often compared to artists like Townes
Van Zandt, John Prine and
Lucinda Williams. Her dark, mature, weather-beaten songs tell
tales of longing and redemption, steeped in southern gothic imagery.
As one of the founding members of the Los Angeles band X, John
Doe is of the most influential artists in American alternative
rock. His solo career, launched in the early 90's, marked a departure
from X's fierce but tuneful punk rock, as he explored the more
rootsy country elements hinted at on later X albums. Doe makes
his First Night debut, performing solo. (Presented with 92.5
The River)
Grigory Goryachev at First Church
Russian-born Dorchester classical guitarist Goryachev has
been acclaimed the world over for his blinding virtuosity and
extraordinary musical sensitivity. As a master of both flamenco
and classical styles, he has created a new genre all his own,
and garnered praise from many guitar luminaries. (Presented with
WCRB)
Eva Dean's "Bounce" at John Hancock Hall
"Bounce" is a captivating theatrical experience
featuring dances with balls. A kaleidoscope assortment of colors,
textures and sizes, these spheres are more to Bounce than mere
props. Six performers use balls as dancing partners that extend
movement possibilities and performance intention. Images of serene
orbiting planets, a Busby Berkeley-inspired water ballet, a genie
balanced on a pearl in the desert, a mysterious Egyptian moon
garden, and an ancient Irish dance with a crystal ball inspire
this atmospheric journey. (Sponsored by State
Street Corporation)
Pat Olezsko's "The Fool Emporium: A Snide Slide Show"
at the Park Plaza Castle
Nestled into the vast interior of the Park Plaza Castle,
renowned visual artist Pat Oleszko creates an installation-a
plethora of paltry pulchritude, a dizzying display of dynamics,
a fountain of fearsome fortitude, and a contrarian's concept
of come-uppance. In short, the castle is turned into a contemporary
display of dis playin' around.
Tony V. and Frank Santorelli at the Park Plaza Castle
Join two Boston comedy veterans to ring in the New Year with
so much laughter it'll bring you to tears. Tony V. star of stage,
screen and neighborhood bar, is now a big TV star, with a big
role as a conflicted cop on Showtime's critically acclaimed Brotherhood,
so we should all be grateful that he's spending New Year's
Eve at home with us, his dysfunctional First Night family. Another
TV star, Frank Santorelli, will join Tony. You may recognize
Frank as Georgie, the bartender at the Bada-Bing on HBO's The
Sopranos, but before the bright lights of New Jersey came
calling, Frank was (still is) big man on the Boston Comedy circuit.
In addition to these and other great indoor events, First Night
will also feature five ice sculptures, The Boston Metro First
Night Grand Procession, the Boston Family Fireworks presented
by Mayor Menino and Boston 4 Celebrations, the Verizon Yellow
Pages Midnight Fireworks over Boston Harbor, broadcast by First
Night's exclusive television sponsor
CBS4, plus two midnight countdowns,
both broadcast live on CBS4, with Jack Williams and Lisa Hughes
at Copley Square and the Verizon Yellow Pages Countdown with
CBS4's Joyce Kulhawik at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common.
This will be the 31 st First Night Boston. Founded in 1976, First
Night was started by a group of artists who sought an alternative
to traditional New Year's Eve revelry. The celebration has grown
from a small arts event centered on the Boston Common to an arts
organization that showcases work by Boston's cultural and artistic
community. First Night has gone from attracting about 25,000
people to drawing crowds over one million, and generating an
estimated $47 million dollars in revenue for business in the
City of Boston. The unique concept that originated in Boston
31 years ago has served as a model for more than 200 similar
celebrations worldwide.
All First Night outdoor events
are free, though supported by sales of the First Night button,
which is the ticket for admission to all indoor events. Buttons
are just $15 (children under 4
are free) and are available at Boston-area Shaw's and Star Markets,
Store 24, L'il Peach,
Tedeschi's, Au Bon Pain and dozens of other locations. Buttons
can be ordered online from
www.firstnight.org through Dec. 26. Information about performances
and exhibits at First
Night Boston 2007, and all button sale locations, is also available
at www.firstnight.org.
First Night Boston, Inc. is an independent, 501©3
non-profit organization. It is supported by public and private
contributions, sponsorships, and through the admission sales
of the First Night button. First Night Boston is grateful for
the support of its major sponsors: The City of Boston, Thomas
M. Menino, Mayor; CBS4, The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority,
Verizon Yellow Pages, The Boston Foundation, the Linde Family
Foundation, an Anonymous Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council,
GBCVB, the MBTA and Metro Boston. In addition to
CBS4 and Metro Boston, First Night's media partners include
The
Boston Parents Paper, Bay State Banner, the River 92.5, WFNX,
WCRB, Clear Channel Outdoor, Boston.com, Edgeboston.com and Wall
USA. In addition, the non-commercial Folk Radio WUMB offers promotional
support.
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Bright Night Providence -
Rhode Island's Largest New Year's Eve Party
PROVIDENCE, RI., November 15,
2006 -- Bright Night Providence, the artist-run New Year⤙s
celebration now in its fourth year, will continue its tradition
of ringing in the New Year. This year the festival will feature
expanded children's activities, more great local artists, and
a spectacular display of fireworks to start the New Year with
a bang.
Bright Night, led by local performer
and festival director Adam Gertsacov, already has a number of
events planned for this year. The day will start with children's
events at a number of local venues, including the RISD Museum,
the Providence Children's Museum, Mathewson Street Church, Beneficent
Church, and several other venues. After official opening ceremonies
at the Bank of America Skating Rink, a number of venues around
downtown will host over one hundred performers, including singers,
dancers, musicians, puppeteers, storytellers, and magicians.
The evening will be headlined by a special Bright Night Circus
of Wonders, featuring circus stars from Ringling, Cirque du Soleil,
and other circuses. The Circus will take place in the Providence
Convention Center. A large fireworks display will take place
at midnight.
"Our fourth year will be our best yet," said Gertsacov.
"As an artist myself, I know how important and exciting
this event is for area performers, and we're looking forward
to building on our past successes. We have received strong support
from the City of Providence, from the state, and from our corporate
donors, and we are confident that our audience will come out
and make this year's the biggest Bright Night ever."
Tickets to Bright Night will be available in early December from
ArtTixRI, and available at all BankRI locations. Anyone interested
in sponsoring Bright Night should contact Gertsacov at (401)
351-2596, or visit www.brightnight.org
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Family-Friendly New Years
Eve Celebration at The Childrens Museum
Portsmouth, NH - (October 17,
2006) - Kids can celebrate a "real" New Years Eve well
before bedtime at New Hampshires most unique year-end celebration.
The Childrens Museum of Portsmouth will host its annual Family
New Years Eve Celebration on Sunday, December 31 from
10 AM - 3 PM with plenty of day-time merriment for all.
The museums event is patterned
after a grown-up New Years Eve party. Visitors receive noisemakers
and can create their own party hats to wear. At the top of each
hour from 11 AM - 2 PM, there is a spirited "countdown to
midnight" that rivals Times Square celebrations with music,
confetti and balloons, as a glittering ball drops from the top
floor of the museum. Each visitor also receives a "champagne
glass" of ginger ale to toast the New Year with their family.
For the second year, the museum
will open early for museum members only to enjoy the museum and
participate in their own 9:55 AM countdown before the museum
opens to the public.
Families are also invited to
explore the museums three floors of hands-on exhibits and activities
together. The two newest exhibits include Play It Cool,
which features the fascinating biofeedback game called "Mindball,"
and Kaleidoscopic, a human-sized kaleidoscope that can
accommodate a whole family inside at once. Both of these exhibits
are particularly of interest to older children and adults.
All New Years Eve activities
are included in the regular price of museum admission ($6 for
adults and children, $5 for seniors) and are free for museum
members and children under age one.
The Childrens Museum of Portsmouth
is one of the regions premier attractions for families with children
of all ages. The museum offers a range of informal learning opportunities
in the areas of science, art, music, math, and more. Most of
the museums exhibits have been designed and created by the staff
in conjunction with local artisans, and all are based on important
developmental and educational principles. In addition to its
on-site programming, The Childrens Museum also brings authentic
museum experiences to children throughout New Hampshire via the
award-winning Museum To You program, and currently provides
afterschool learning activities in twelve 21st Century Learner
sites in Nashua, Manchester, Winchester, and Hillsboro-Deering
schools.
For more information, please
call the museum at (603) 436-3853 or visit our website at www.childrens-museum.org.
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More Dec. 31 celebrations
New Year's Bethel, Maine
Lots of great fun and entertainment. An affordable, chemical-free
festival featuring a community bonfire, lighted vehicle parade,
music, dance, story telling, food and fireworks. Fees: Advance
$10 adult, $8 ages 6-18, at the door - $12 adult, $10 ages 6-18,
free under 5. Times: 6:00 p.m. Location: Bethel village. Contact:
Susan Herlihy, Bethel Historical Society. Telephone: 207-824-
2908. Toll Free: 800-824-2910. Mailto:info@bethelhistorical.org.
www.bethelhistorical.org.
New Year's Portland, Maine,
2007
Northern New England's premier family celebration featuring concerts,
children and teen activities, great food, Portland Pirates hockey,
public skating and swimming, the largest indoor fireworks show
ever displayed in Maine. Fees: Most free. Times: 11:00 a.m. -
9:00 p.m. Location: Downtown Portland. Contact: Portland's Downtown
District. Telephone: 207-772-6828. www.newyearsportland.com.
Editor's note: Please check
in often for updates. Please feel free to send
us your New England New Year's Eve event to be posted on
this page.
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