"Joe Louis Walker," Spire Center for Performing Arts, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The stage is set and ready to go for another beautiful performance at The Spire Center for Performing Arts in downtown Plymouth.

On this evening, I was able to experience the extraordinary talent of Joe Louis Walker, a life-long musician who is a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and a four-time Blues Music Award winner. He and his band were really outstanding during this performance at the Spire.



Joe Louis Walker.







Late in the set, Mr. Walker came down from the stage and wandered among the audience playing the harmonica, shaking hands and greeting folks, while his band provided the backing.



He had such a genuine personality and friendliness and the crowd, most of whom knew his tunes and his talent were warmed by this gesture of connection. It was a special moment for all.



Retirees like me are often encouraged to learn to play a musical instrument to help keep the mind sharp and add a high level of challenge to their lives as they age. So, a few years back, I started learning to play a nylon string acoustic guitar. I religiously play at least an hour a day along to some of my favored tunes.

As I play at home, alone, along to these artists, I often think - wow, I'm gettin' good - I should be on stage. And then, I go see Joe Louis Walker and his band - and I am humbled by his greatness and skill. No, I'm not ready for the stage.







What a spectacular night!



Mark T. Small, a very talented blues performer in his own right, was the opening act.



The Spire is in downtown Plymouth in a former church building.

"The Greater Plymouth Performing Arts Center, Inc. (GPPAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and dedicated to performing arts and educational programs which support the vibrant arts community in the greater South Shore region. The organization founded The Spire, a venue to serve as a mecca for the arts and showcasing music, theatre and dance performances as well as education that supports the performing arts.

Tremendous acoustics, sightlines, and an architecturally beautiful interior are The Spire’s trademark. The 225-seat performance hall features superior acoustics, custom state of the art lighting and sound systems and original period architectural details offering patrons an exceptional performing arts experience." Source: Spire website.

Support the performing arts here in Plymouth - or wherever you may live in the world.

A Beautiful Spot on Planet Earth, White Horse Beach, Priscilla Beach, Manomet Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

White Horse Beach and Priscilla Beach, low tide on a mid-winter day.

I have set foot on many beaches in my lifetime. (I'm not sure why I feel such a pull to them since I don't swim well and my pasty white skin burns easily, nevertheless......). In North America - on the United States east coast from Maine down to Florida and on the west coast from Alaska down to California and the Hawaiian islands. In Central America - on Mexico's east and west coasts, and in Costa Rica. In the Caribbean - on the Virgin Islands and Bahamas. In South America - in Ecuador. In the Pacific Islands - on Tahiti and Moorea and New Zealand. In Europe - on England, Wales, Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy.

Each has its own special beauty and majesty but, to me, none is significantly more beautiful and wonderful than right here at home in Manomet - White Horse, Priscilla, and Manomet Beaches.

I am lucky to call it home.



Manomet Beach.



And as if spectacular beaches weren't enough, just 1500 feet from the shoreline is the iconic Priscilla Beach Theatre. It just can't get much more perfect than this.

Life willing, I think I'll stay a while longer...................

A Different Season, Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT), Priscilla Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

While the cold blanket of winter may surround it, the promise of the coming season at Priscilla Beach Theatre still shines through.  Only about 70 days until opening night on May 3, 2019!

Soon, the PBT stage will resonate with the voices, songs, and dances of talented casts, supported by an equally talented team of staff and musicians. Here's the line-up for this coming season:

2019 PBT Barn Stage Productions - Adult Cast Series

"Life Could Be A Dream" in May,
"Heathers the Musical" in June,
"Hairspray" in July,
"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" in August,
"[Title of Show]" in September,
"Young Frankenstein" in October.

2019 PBT Barn Stage Productions - Children's Workshop Series

"Seussical Jr" in May,
"Godspell, Jr" in July,
"Junie B. Jones, Jr" in July,
"Little Red Robin Hood" in August,
"Frozen Jr" in August

Come out and support this local jewel of the performing arts and truly a labor of love of Owners, Guardians, and Producers Bob and Sandy Malone!

You can contact PBT online at this link or by phone at 508-224-4888 for ticketing and info.



Past seasons may be reviewed at this link.

Priscilla Beach Theatre Greatest Hits of 2018 - "The Drowsy Chaperone," Priscilla Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This Greatest Hits series will present a very few of my favorite images from each of the 2018 performance season's six major productions on the iconic Priscilla Beach Theatre Barn Stage.  The powerful presentations by these very talented young performers really struck me as extraordinary.

At each final dress rehearsal at Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT), I capture hundreds of images. From those, I will pick a cross-section that portrays many of the scenes and the performers. Those I publish in blogs. Many of the performers will then use those images to help build their portfolios.  A very few of the images, however, stick in my mind and heart - they capture a special moment of beauty and/or emotion.



Those special moments I include here in this post.

Bob and Sandy Malone, owners, guardians, and producers of Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT) brought this production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" to their Barn Stage in June 2018. The production was directed by Robert W. Schneider.

If you want to see all the images from this production again, follow this link to my earlier blog posts.  Check back in coming weeks as I post more Greatest Hits blogs about the other major shows from last season. 

You can contact PBT online at this link or by phone at 508-224-4888 for tickets and information.  If you live nearby, please support this jewel of the performing arts in our community. If you live elsewhere, support the performing arts wherever that might be in the world.

The Barn Stage, a 240-seat venue, is in its 82nd season and is cited as the oldest summer stock barn theatre still operating in America. The original barn was built in 1875. The current owners, Bob and Sandy Malone,  completed a modernization and renovation effort in 2014-15 and also installed new seats and new state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems at that time.

Random Critters Out and About, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This critter normally likes to grab a few sunflower seeds from the feeder, then fly up onto a tree trunk and hammer them against the bark. I like to think of the sunflower seeds as special treats for them - the bird equivalent of dark chocolate for humans.



This local critter made another brief appearance on the ice on the distant side of the pond about dawn this morning.



I see this critter regularly. He scrounges sunflower seeds at the base of the feeder that the birds drop - they are very messy eaters. He then scampers up this oak tree about twenty feet off the ground, and then, he balances very daintily on this narrow branch and enjoys his treat.

Note:  he has to scrounge the droppings off the ground because I have been 100% successful in preventing him and his ilk from climbing up or jumping onto the feeder.  It took many months and design changes and placement changes but, I have won the battle and the war. They still try but, none has been successful against my superior human skills - I claim mastery of the squirrel interloper!



This critter doesn't eat anything - ever. (Art in Brewster Gardens in downtown Plymouth).

"California Guitar Trio and Montreal Guitar Trio," Spire Center for Performing Arts, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I enjoyed another beautiful performance at The Spire Center for Performing Arts in downtown Plymouth recently.

"The Greater Plymouth Performing Arts Center, Inc. (GPPAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and dedicated to performing arts and educational programs which support the vibrant arts community in the greater South Shore region. The organization founded The Spire, a venue to serve as a mecca for the arts and showcasing music, theatre and dance performances as well as education that supports the performing arts.

Tremendous acoustics, sightlines, and an architecturally beautiful interior are The Spire’s trademark. The 225-seat performance hall features superior acoustics, custom state of the art lighting and sound systems and original period architectural details offering patrons an exceptional performing arts experience." Source: Spire website.



This performance included the extraordinary guitar music of both the California Guitar Trio and the Montreal Guitar Trio, each trio performing separately and, also together (shown above) as a sextet.

These images should be okay if viewed on your smartphone.  I captured them from my seat in the very last row with my point and shoot zoom so they are a bit grainy if viewed too closely.











Mostly it was an instrumental performance but, there was some vocal display.



And an occasional instrument other than a guitar was used.



It was another remarkable musical event at the Spire!

If you haven't been to the Spire yet, please come and support the performing arts in our community. If you have been, keep on coming! You can click on this link for more member, ticketing, and/or upcoming event info.

A Winter Day Wander, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Just like a red umbrella or red clothing, it is difficult for a photographer to resist the pull of a red boat moored at the Plymouth wharf in downtown Plymouth harbor.



It is cold and windy today but, at least no ice in the harbor.



Over in Brewster Gardens, this sculpture glistens in the bright winter sunshine.



And somewhere, there is a sad little Cinderella missing her shoe which I found sitting on a random bench by the harbor.



A farmstead that should be covered in snow this time of year - but isn't. Maybe someday before spring.........which is now little more than a month away.

Priscilla Beach Theatre Greatest Hits of 2018 - "The Last Five Years," Priscilla Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This Greatest Hits series will present a very few of my favorite images from each of the 2018 performance season's six major productions on the iconic Priscilla Beach Theatre Barn Stage.  The evocative and emotive star-power of these young performers really struck me as extraordinary.

At each final dress rehearsal at Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT), I capture hundreds of images. From those, I will pick a cross-section that portrays many/most of the scenes and the performers. Those I publish in blogs. Many of the performers will then use those images to help build their portfolios.  A very few of the images, however, stick in my mind and heart - they capture a special moment of beauty and/or emotion.

Those special moments I include here in this post.

Bob and Sandy Malone, owners, guardians, and producers of Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT) brought this production of "The Last Five Years" to their Barn Stage in May 2018. The production was directed by Chris Armbrister.

If you want to see all the images from this production again, follow this link to my earlier blog posts.  Check back in coming weeks as I post more Greatest Hits blogs about the other major shows from last season. 

You can contact PBT online at this link or by phone at 508-224-4888 for tickets and information.  If you live nearby, please support this jewel of the performing arts in our community. If you live elsewhere, support the performing arts wherever that might be in the world.

The Barn Stage, a 240-seat venue, is in its 82nd season and is cited as the oldest summer stock barn theatre still operating in America. The original barn was built in 1875. The current owners, Bob and Sandy Malone,  completed a modernization and renovation effort in 2014-15 and also installed new seats and new state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems at that time.

Blustery Harbor, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The harbor sky hints of snow but, not today - only cold and wind in downtown Plymouth before the rain arrives.



At lower left, part of the salt water harbor is iced over. The structure with the American flag on top is the Harbormaster Office. This wharf and harbor is bustling in the summer - not so much in winter.

I ended up going to an indoor mall to walk a few miles once the rain started. It was not an original idea - lots of old people (like me) were doing laps in the concourse. It surprised me though how many of them had their faces buried in their smartphones as they walked - just like the young folks. I hate to sound like an old fuddy-duddy but, obsessive smartphone use just can't be good for the species long-term.

Many young people today are growing up without ever being out of reach of the electronic tether. When I was a kid, we left the house in the morning, and had to be home when the streetlights came on. Nobody knew exactly where we were or how to find us or what no-good we were up to. There were only occasional injuries.

Growing up outside Washington DC, I remember hiking a few miles to where the Washington Beltway (I-495) was being constructed (in the 1950's) and climbing all over the bulldozers and heavy equipment since everything sat idle on the weekends and we kids were not in school. What a different world.

"Say Darling," Spire Center for Performing Arts, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The stage is set and ready as the audience arrives for a great night out in "America's Hometown" for some live music at the Spire Center for Performing Arts. As you can see, the Spire was formerly a church in an earlier life. It gives a nice spiritual ambiance to the musical magic of the place.



The tools of the art are set and ready to be masterfully played.



The 5-member band, "Say Darling," was a great crowd-pleaser with their rousing original tunes and covers. You can follow this link to their website for lots of additional and detailed info.



Combining their wide ranging talent and musicality with the wonderful acoustics of the Spire made for a really enjoyable show. Even in the back row where I sat, the comfortable size of the Spire still provides excellent musical intimacy for everyone.



Frontwoman Celia Woodsmith also performed a solo set.



One of the band members even hails from Plymouth! (The bass player standing at right)



It was a great show and evening out in "America's Hometown." Come out and support performing arts at the Spire - all year-around - or, wherever you may live in the world.



Afterwards, walking back for my ride home, there were still a few folks out and about on the street. I always smile when I see and say this store name in downtown Plymouth. It's hard to imagine a person named thus, "Hi, my name is Gunther Tootie, how do you do?" On the other hand, it would be a great conversation starter.........