How to submit a listing for this column: It’s easy. Just email Robert Knox at robert@plymouthindependent.org. A good quality photo without type on the image – sent as a jpeg attachment – helps. We’ll accommodate as many listings as possible.
“Wampanoag: Stories for All Time,” a work composed for the celebration of Plymouth’s 400th anniversary in 2020 but put on hold by the Covid pandemic, will be performed by the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra during its “Great Collaborations” concert on Saturday, March 23.
Tonya Wind Singer’s original composition, an orchestral tone poem, was co-commissioned by the Plymouth Philharmonic and the Cape Symphony for performances during the milestone year of 2020. After Covid erased the possibility of public concerts for two years, the program was rescheduled for a Sunday in January 2022. But what Plymouth residents recall as “the surprise Blizzard of 2022” brought the town to a halt and caused yet another cancellation.
Four years from the intended date, the orchestra will finally perform composer Singer’s “richly layered” orchestral tone poem at Memorial Hall – and with plenty of company. Forty-two student members of the South Shore Conservatory of Music will join the Plymouth orchestra, pushing the number of musicians to more than 100.
In planning the 400th anniversary concert that never happened, music director Steven Karidoyanes said, planners realized “we needed two pieces. One from the Wampanoag perspective and one from the settlers.”
“We’ve been here for 400 years,” Karidoyanes said. “But 4,000 years before that, the Wampanoag were here. We are still on that land together.”
The concert was originally planned to feature Jonathan Perry, a Wampanoag traditional singer, dancer, and speaker as the work’s narrator. Plans also called for a group of Wampanoag singers to offer wordless soprano effects in the tone poem.
The orchestra eventually performed the tone poem on Aug. 28, 2022, on the town library’s front lawn, but without participation by the Wampanoag performers, who were attending a national conference that weekend. And a recent injury will prevent Perry from participating in the upcoming concert.
For the “Collaborations” program opener, the Plymouth orchestra will combine with 42 members of the South Shore Conservatory’s youth orchestra in a performance of English composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “The Bamboula,” a rendering of a fiery West African dance.
“Students love it,” Karidoyanes said. In programming participation by the conservatory student musicians into each year’s concert schedule, the conductor said, he tries to find music that’s “a stretch” for them.
“Collaborations” also includes early 20th century English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus,’” based on a folk tune first collected in Elizabethan times.
“This is stunningly gorgeous music that we last performed in 1994 at my very first concert as music director,” Karidoyanes said.
The concert program will conclude with Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s“Pictures at an Exhibition,” a piano suite based on an art exhibit by a friend, who died shortly afterwards. French composer Maurice Ravel orchestrated the work, which has become a highly popular and frequently performed concerto for orchestras.
“The two worlds collide spectacularly in this bold and brilliant Russian and French musical alliance,” Karidoyanes said of the compositional collaboration.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by an informal presentation by the conductor entitled “All About the Music.”
The audience is also invited to attend a cocktail party at Memorial Hall from 6 to 7:30 p.m. It will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets to the reception are $25 each and can be purchased by calling the office or by going to the orchestra’s website.
Tickets to the concert itself range from $30 to $65. They are available online or by calling 508-746-8008.
Things to do this week and beyond
Monday, March 18
“To Fill a Jar with Water,” a contemporary fiction novel set against the backdrop of Plymouth and written by Plymouth resident Juliette Rose Kerr, was released this month. The book is available at Book Love, 7 Village Green South and at Titcomb’s Book Shop in East Sandwich. It can also be bought on Amazon and through Barnes & Noble.
The Plymouth Center for the Arts has issued a call for artists for an upcoming exhibition, “The Horseshoe Crab: Against All Odds.” The show will explore the world of horseshoe crabs. It’s scheduled to take place at the arts center, 11 North St., from June 12 through July 7. More information and the online submission form are available here.
Children under the age of 12 are invited to “Read to a Dog.” Tasha is a purebred Maltese who is certified by Therapy Dogs International. Sign up for a 15-minute reading session at Plymouth library here.
Photography by Plymouth residents Lisa Redburn and Diane Collins is on view in a show titled “At the Edge of the Sea” at the Plymouth library. The library’s gallery space consists of two areas at the bottom of the stairway to the second floor, along the stairs, and a group of spaces on the second-floor landing. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays.
Tuesday, March 19
The Plymouth library will host the YA Book Club for Adults, Forever Young, led by youth services librarian Madde Mahony. Each month the club discusses a different young adult book. The club meets one Tuesday a month from 6 to 7 p.m. Registration is required here.
The Plymouth Library Chess Club takes place Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Nook Road study room areas. Open to adults and students, the club welcomes chess players of all levels. Chess sets are provided, but feel free to bring your own chess set.
Join the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate Old Colony Elder Services’ grand re-opening at 204 South Meadow Road. The gathering takes place from 10 a.m. to noon. If you’re planning to attend, register here.
The Plymouth library hosts “STEAM Explorers: Tissue Paper Art” from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Each month the group will explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering, art, and math, focusing on one or more aspects of “STEAM.” Hands-on experiments and artwork will flex participants’ creative muscles. This program is designed for children ages 6-8. Registration is required and is available here.
Thursday, March 21
If you’ve ever wondered what the money you pay to the Town of Plymouth in taxes and fees is spent on, here’s a presentation for you. Beginning at 4 p.m., the League of Women Voters of the Plymouth Area will present a forum featuring Town Manager Derek Brindisi and School Superintendent Chris Campbell, who will speak on “Where Do Your Taxes Go?” This one-hour session will take place at the Great Hall in the Plymouth Town Hall, and the public is invited to attend. The forum will be simulcast on PACTV and also shown later on the station’s ongoing programming. The League will also have the video available on its website soon afterward.
Plymouth library hosts an online talk by Madeline Miller, bestselling author of “The Song of Achilles” and “Circe,” from 7 to 8 p.m. She will discuss her body of work and her working process in retelling Greek classics as modern epics in fiction. Find out more here.
Friday, March 22
Indian Pond Country Club, 60 Country Club Way, Kingston, will host “Dancing With Our Stars,” an “evening of Country Glam” to benefit The Plymouth Area One Fund. General admission is $65 and includes hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour. The benefit runs from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Reserve tickets here.
Draw the Line, an Aerosmith tribute band endorsed by Aerosmith, performs at The Spire, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28.80 and $32 and are available here.
Saturday, March 23
Plimoth Patuxet Museums opens for the 2024 season today, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum was recently awarded $10,000 from Americana Corner’s Preserving America Grant Program. The funds will be used for the acquisition of reproduction items and materials needed to update the 17th century English village’s palisade. Tom Begley, the museum’s deputy director of research and public engagement, said the grant “will enable us to deepen the living history experience in the 17th-Century English Village and enrich the immersive quality of the exhibit.” Plimoth Patuxet has welcomed millions of people since its founding more than 75 years ago. For ticket info and to purchase tickets, visit the website.
The Manomet branch library invites adults to “make a spring fairy in the style of Lenka Vodicka-Paredes from her book “Forest Fairy Crafts!” The program runs from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. All supplies will be provided. Participants are urged to bring “nimble fingers and your crafty sensibilities.” Register here.
The Plymouth Lions Charities’ “March Vegas Night,” sponsored by Tracy Auto, will take place at the Plymouth American Legion Post, 199 Federal Furnace Road, from 7 to 11 p.m. “The ponies will be running, the chips will be flying, and the raffles will be there for the winning,” the charitable organization said. As in the past, the proceeds of the evening will fund scholarships to be awarded to members of the current Plymouth high school graduating class. Tickets for the event will be available at the door. Admission is $10 per person.
Sunday, March 24
First Parish Church in Plymouth will host conductor David Hoose as part of a special Palm Sunday Service beginning at 10 a.m. in Brewster Chapel, 12 Church St. Music director of Collage New Music ensemble, music director emeritus of Cantata Singers & Ensemble, and professor emeritus at Boston University, Hoose will present “Reflections on the Brahms Requiem: A Path for the Living.” All are welcome.
LaVie Luna Apothecary, 65 Main St., holds a candle-making workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Two 9-ounce non-toxic soy wax candles will be provided for participants to pour to create their own fall candle scents using certified non-toxic fragrance oils. Wine and other refreshments will be provided. Tickets are $65. To purchase, visit the website.
The Shady Roosters will perform in the lobby of the Spire Center from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets are sold at the door; cash only.
Plymouth G Pub, 101 Carver Road, hosts Supersports Sunday, screening “all games, all day” from noon to 9 p.m. The pub has a top TV sports package, including ESPN+, and television screens throughout the premises.
Monday, March 25
La Vie Luna Apothecary, 65 Main St., hosts candle-making from 6 to 7:30 p.m., offering 12-ounce non-toxic soy wax candles. Participant will pour their own candles, with many colors to choose from. Tickets are $65 and are available here.
Uva Wine Bar, 46 Main St., hosts a spring flower arranging event from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $75 and are available here.
Tuesday, March 26
The Plymouth library hosts the British Mystery Book Club every fourth Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Register to participate here.
Wednesday, March 27
Pilgrim Hall Museum is open for its 200th anniversary season, Wednesday to Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum displays include William Bradford’s Bible, a portrait of Pilgrim Edward Winslow, a cradle, and the “great chair” of Pilgrim spiritual leader William Brewster. Admission is $15, seniors $12, children ages 6-18, $9.
Plymouth library hosts the Anime Club for ages 11 to 18 from 4 to 5 p.m. Participants are invited to watch anime, try different Japanese snacks, and participate in “anime/manga” themed crafts. Activities will be chosen based on member interest. Email Miss Madde at mmahony@ocln.org to express interest or for more information. Register here.
Shea Custom Carpentry and Shea Customer Containers celebrates its new location at 11 Memorial Drive, Suite 2 (second floor), behind Memorial Hall. The public is invited to the celebration from 3 to 4 p.m. Register here.
Thursday, March 28
The Manomet History Book Group meets at the Manomet branch library from 4 to 5 p.m.
Uncle John’s Banjo, a four-piece group that puts a bluegrass spin on the music of The Grateful Dead performs in The Spire Lobby Series from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.
Friday, March 29
No school. It’s Good Friday.
Plymouth Family Resource Center, 430-3 Court St., hosts a spring egg hunt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Egg hunters will be divided into two groups, ages 2 to 5 and 6 to 10. The event is free and will include games, music, and a free lunch. In the event of rain, the hunt will move into the center’s large indoor space.
A “Seal Walk” will take place starting at Center Hill Preserve, 158 Center Hill Road, from 9 to 9:45 a.m. The event is described as “a guided walk down to a secluded beach location to view seals resting and swimming in their natural environment.” On the walk, suitable for children and adults, guides will share facts about seals. Admission is by donation, which can be made here.
Saturday, March 30
Plymouth library hosts the Discovery Channel’s Ronny LeBlanc in a program called “Paranormal Hot Spots,” focused on areas throughout the United States that seem to attract UFOs, Bigfoot, and other paranormal anomalies. The program is intended for ages 12-18 and takes place in the Fehlow meeting room from 4 to 5 p.m. Registration is required here.
Plimoth General Store & Eatery, 44 Main St., hosts an Easter Cookie Decorating Class, plus an Easter Bunny visit, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. A combination admission for one adult and one child costs $25 and is available here.
Dawna Hammers brings her “Back to the Garden” Joni Mitchell Tribute to the Spire Center from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $27 and $30 and available here.
Sunday, March 31
It’s Easter Sunday. The Church of the Pilgrimage, 8 Town Square, conducts a service from 10 to 11 a.m. Christ Church Parish, 149 Court St., holds services at 8 and 10 a.m. and an easter egg hunt at 11:30. The Second Church of Plymouth, 518 State Road, holds a Sunrise Service at 6:20 a.m. at Cleft Rock, followed by a continental breakfast at the Second Church; and a worship service at 10:00 a.m. Coffee and light refreshments following the service. To see a fuller listing of Easter services offered by Plymouth churches go here.