Arts and Entertainment

Somerville dancer will be kicking high for the holidays

By R.J. Donovan, special to the BIR, December 5, 2011

Rockette Courtney Grassia performs in ‘Radio City Christmas Spectacular’

When The Radio City Rockettes light up the stage at The Wang Theatre all this month with their new “Radio City Christmas Spectacular,” there’ll be a Boston-area native front and center. Courtney Grassia, born in Medford and a resident of Somerville when she’s not on tour, has been dancing as a Rockette since 2006. Having trained at the Donna Miceli Dance Center in Lowell, she has been seen locally in such Reagle Music Theatre shows as “Hello, Dolly!,” “No, No Nanette” (with Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie) and “La Cage aux Folles,” among others. A magna cum laude graduate with a BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona, Courtney also traveled half way around the world to perform at Tokyo Disneyland.
We spoke recently by phone about her work and her return to Boston. This marks her second season at The Wang with the Radio City holiday show. Read more

Back in Davis Square: The Burren's 'Backroom' series

By Sean Smith, special to the BIR, November 14, 2011

One of Greater Boston's most popular Irish pubs, The Burren in Somerville's Davis Square, has relaunched its "Backroom" series of concerts featuring top-notch Irish/Celtic performers from the Boston area and elsewhere. Read more

A Whale of a Tale

By R. J. Donovan, special to the BIR, November 14, 2011

Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" has long ranked as one of the great novels of English literature. Written in 1851, the classic tale follows the tyrannical Captain Ahab in his relentless pursuit of the great white whale Moby Dick. Despite having already lost a ship and a leg to the illusive sea monster, Ahab is hell-bent on revenge at any cost. The story is narrated by Ishmael, a sailor who unwittingly signs on to Ahab's ship, the Pequod, departing from Nantucket. The state of Massachusetts has so long been associated with the tale that in 2008, our House of Representatives named Moby Dick as the state's official epic novel. Read more

Gaelic Roots schedule set; tribute to Derrane on tap

By Boston College Public Affairs, special to the BIR, August 31, 2011

Joe DerraneA special tribute to the legendary Joe Derrane – and a performance by the Boston-born Irish accordionist and composer himself – will highlight this fall’s Gaelic Roots Music, Dance, and Lecture series. The series, under the direction of Sullivan Artist-in-Residence Séamus Connolly, also will feature “The Musical Priest,” Monsignor Charlie Coen, fiddle-piano duo Gráinne Murphy and Kathleen Boyle, and a program of holiday music by harpist Aine Minogue.

This fall also will introduce a new venue for Gaelic Roots, which is sponsored by the Boston College Center for Irish Programs and features music from Ireland, Scotland, Cape Breton, Appalachia as well as other Gaelic-related traditions. Unless otherwise noted, Gaelic Roots events — previously held in Connolly House on BC’s Chestnut Hill Campus — will now take place at 2101 Commonwealth Avenue on the BC Brighton Campus. Read more