Category
Archive
2/22/2012
Coralie Pasero
It has been now three weeks that I am part of the Citi Performing Arts Center. Time flies…
Last week I went to the Addams Family Musical, which was an interesting experience for me. To be honest, this is the second real “Broadway” musical I have ever seen in my life. I only have seen Avenue Q in London two years ago, and I loved it.
What I enjoyed about the Addams Family musical are the staging and the decors which were dark and almost disturbing, but the contrast with the humor was delightful (European people like black humor). During the show, I have been amazed by the actors’ performance. I think part of what interests me with Broadway musicals - and please tell me if you disagree with me - is that the actors are accomplished performing artists: they can dance, sing and act at the same time.
Musicals are a little bit different in France. First, most of our shows are dramatic, tragic or sad, because I guess it can only be a good show if it is about some serious topic. Then, the main characters are most often professional singers, and that’s it. They don’t really dance, figurants will do it for them.
They have tried to import “Mamma Mia!” in France, and I think they made a mistake: Producers decided to translate the songs into French, which did not sound right to me, and to most of the French fans of Abba!
But anyway, I would be curious to know how people did like the Addams Family Musical! Tell me your thoughts!
Share
Read more
2/21/2012
Last Wednesday, the City Spotlights Spoken Word Project wrapped up its second session at the Dudley Branch Library. Participants developed spoken word, storytelling and performing arts skills while exploring hip hop culture. Eighteen students completed the session, which ended with an inspiring final performance featuring the students’ original poetry and a full audience. Click here to view some of the students' moving words.
This week, many of the teens will be back at the Library during school vacation week for Spoken Word workshops with teaching artist, Ramona Lisa. Click here to meet our all-star teaching artists.
Share
Read more
2/15/2012
Target Arts Residencies wrap up this week at the King School and the Tobin School. During the residency, students and teaching artists focused on “No Snap Judgments,” a program created by The Addams Family Musical Tour, to promote acceptance and respect by celebrating what makes us unique and what brings us all together. Students and teachers had the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet cast members and then see them onstage, when they attended The Addams Family at Citi Shubert Theatre last week.
This week, the tables have turned as the participating students take the stage themselves, to perform for their peers. Check back for photos from their sure to be spine-chillingly creative performances. While The Addams Family leaves Boston at the end of the week, their message of tolerance is here to stay—check out www.nosnapjudgments.org or our own educator resources to learn how to apply these lessons in your classroom, workplace, and beyond. Watch the video below to hear what interesting questions the students had for members of the cast.
Click here to view the video.
Share
Read more
2/14/2012
It’s Valentine’s Day, and Citi Performing Arts Center is celebrating love at the theatre…and not just onstage! In the past, the Citi Wang and Shubert Theatres have played Cupid for many romantic moments, from first dates to legendary proposals—who could forget this one at the Elvis Costello concert, and most recently on stage after a performance of Radio City Christmas Spectacular. And every year dozens of eager brides work with our events team to create their special day on center stage! See the photo below to get a taste for the elegant affairs.
This Valentine’s Day, we are fortunate to be hosting an epic love story of the macabre sort, as Morticia and Gomez and the whole Addams Family face the creepy and kooky trials and tribulations of love onstage now through Sunday, February 19. Tickets are still available here.
Do you have a special event (wedding or otherwise) that you think would be great in our theatres? Visit our plan an event page to learn how. See pictures of our recent Addams Family Cast Party and Addams Family Gala for inspiration.
We love our fans, and hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Share
Read more
2/8/2012
Coralie Pasero
For the next 5 months, Citi Performing Arts Center will follow the Bostonian adventures of Coralie, our new marketing intern from Avignon, France. Follow her travels right here on the Citi Center Blog.
My first day in Boston, my first days at Citi Performing Arts Center…what an experience! It would take too much time to tell you every detail but I will give a short overview.
When I arrived, I felt very confused: even though I love your accent, do you realize how fast you speak, people from Boston? Well, I guess I will have to get used to it then! I got to the Citi Center, surrounded by huge dizzy skyscrapers, red houses, American flags, and people walking on the street with cups of coffee from Starbucks! I realized that I had already seen such scenery… in movies! Being part of this almost makes me feel like being in an American movie - and yet, I have heard many times that Boston looks much more European than any other American city.
The first days as a marketing intern are tough, particularly for a non-native speaker I guess. There is a lot to learn here, and the American way of talking about cultural & artistic venues seems different from the French way. I mean, the idea of culture for-profit is not so common in France. I guess it is also because here culture is private, while in France it is mostly financed by the State. We also don’t really have shows like the Broadway musicals. I mean, we do have musicals, but for sure they are not as good! I am lucky to arrive for the Addams Family show!
I had seen the Wang and Shubert Theatres in pictures on the website, but this is nothing compared to the reality. When I saw the Wang Theatre for the first time, it reminded me of the palace of Versailles. And actually, the theatre was inspired by the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera Comique. Now when I look at the Wang Theatre, I am proud of French architecture.
So this is what my first impressions are, and I feel like there will be much more to talk about in the weeks ahead!
Share
Read more
2/7/2012
No matter how often you visit the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, from ushers who consider it a second home to out-of-towners visiting for the very first time, its magnificence takes you by surprise every time. In all its incarnations over 86 years—movie palace to Broadway beacon to concert venue—the Citi Wang Theatre remains a cultural landmark in Boston for good reason—and here are five:
The Citi Wang Theatre has been called by several names over the years. Originally conceived as the Capitol Hotel, it was re-imagined as a theatre when the investors ran out of money, and named The Metropolitan. In 1962, it reopened as the Music Hall. It wasn’t until 1983, when a life-changing gift from Dr. An Wang saved it from certain demolition, that it became known as the Wang Theatre.
Modeled on Paris’ Opera Comique, the theatre cost $8 million to build; today, that translates to more than 10 times as much. On opening night on October 16, 1925, over 20,000 New Englanders crowded Tremont Street hoping to be among the first to see what newspapers called the “marvel of the show world.”
Ushers have always been an important part of the theatre experience. During the 1920’s, the rules were much more stringent than they are today. For example, all ushers were male and trained by a head usher, an ex-drill sergeant. On the evening of a performance, ushers were carefully inspected, and then sworn to silence—communicating only using a form of sign language.
During the 1970s, the theatre began to show signs of age; the building was literally falling apart when a ten foot section of the ceiling’s roof beam collapsed during a performance. Instead of demolishing the building, individuals led by Dr. An Wang launched a campaign to save the theatre and restore it to its 1920s glory. Today, the Citi Wang Theatre is recognized as one of the most important cultural facilities in New England and listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places.
In Fall 2011, Citi Performing Arts Center received a grant from The Kresge Foundation to support vital facilities maintenance—from upgrades to make heating and cooling the theatre more energy efficient to updating the emergency systems to keep patrons safe and sound.
The next time you attend a performance, we hope you will remember this quick history lesson and consider making a contribution to make sure the theatre remains a “marvel of the show world” for years to come.
For more theatre history, check out Arthur Singer and Ron Goodman’s newly published book Boston’s Downtown Movie Palaces.
Share
Read more
2/1/2012
Fans flocked to the Citi Wang Theatre Jan. 26 & 27 to bask in the rockstar glow of Kelly Clarkson and Lenny Kravitz. Kelly’s Stronger Tour pulled in a sold out crowd on Thursday thrilling diehard fans who sang along to every song, and the next night, Lenny Kravitz kicked off his Black and White America tour with a bang. After their Boston stops, both Clarkson and Kravitz are now headed to Indianapolis.
Kelly Clarkson, the inaugural winner of American Idol and now well-established pop star is set to sing the National Anthem at this weekend’s Superbowl featuring the New England Patriots and New York Giants! Kravitz will also be at the Superbowl, entertaining fans before the game. Click here for a full breakdown of the day's entertainment.
In honor of the the rivalry, Boston’s Mayor Menino and New York’s Mayor Bloomberg made a friendly wager –the loser must host a lucky family from the victorious team for a “Super tour” of their city. In the off chance the Pats come home empty-handed, Citi Performing Arts Center will be treating a New York family to a a show as part of the deal. Click here to read full coverage of the Mayors’ deal from Boston.com.
Were you one of the enthusiastic fans at Kelly & Lenny? Did you jump at the chance of getting in a photo-op at our new paparazzi photo backdrop? Follow us on Facebook and click here for Kelly Fan Photos and here for Lenny Fan Photos.
Missed the concerts last week? Then you’re in luck—watch Kelly Clarkson’s amazing show from set up to breakdown in less than 2 minutes.
Share
Read more