Firehouse

Terezin: Children of the Holocaust
2023-05-15 19:00 (America/New_York) | MA
TIckets: $20/adult; $12/student and senior
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Terezin: Children of the Holocaust, the recipient of the 1984 Children’s Television Drama Award, is a theatrical play that follows a day and night in the lives of six children held at Camp Theresienstadt in the Czech Republic. The camp, also known as Terezin, imprisoned many thousands of European Jews, including over 15,000 children during the Nazi era. While the play takes place during the Holocaust, it teaches its audience about the consequences of discrimination in general, the need for higher social responsibility, and the infallible power of every individual voice.
Written and directed by Anna Smulowitz.
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SCENES - A Billy Joel Experience
2023-05-19 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$22/Members
$25/Non-Members
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Formerly known as Cold Spring Harbor, Scenes – A Billy Joel experience, has been performing throughout New England and beyond since 2013. Their mission from the beginning was never to play impersonator, but instead celebrate and recreate the music of Billy Joel to the highest and most authentic standard, bringing people the $400 Billy Joel concert experience, for a reasonable price that all fans can afford! Their almost ten-year journey has lead them to some amazing venues and events, most notably Touch of Texas in Binghamton, NY, and the Newburyport Yankee Homecoming celebration playing to more than 3500 people. From specific piano sounds that Billy uses himself, to the Billy Joel classic Ray Ban sunglasses, this show is not to be missed!
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An Evening with Lucy Kaplansky
2023-05-20 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Members:
$18 in advance
$20 Day Of

Non-Members:
$22 in advance
$25 Day Of
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Lucy Kaplansky is an acclaimed singer-songwriter of rare talent, “a truly gifted performer with a bag full of enchanting songs” (The New Yorker) and “the troubadour laureate of modern cityfolk” (The Boston Globe). She has released eight critically acclaimed CDs, two of which were awarded Best Pop Album of the year by the Association for Independent Music. National Public Radio described her 2012 album Reunion as “a master class in making the personal universal,” and her most recent album Everyday Street has been dubbed“ spare and luminous” and “remarkable.”
Lucy was part of folk supergroup Cry Cry Cry with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell (which The New Yorker dubbed “a collection of lovely harmonizing and pure emotion”). Their album was an astonishing success in stores and on radio resulting in a national tour of sold-out concerts, as well as a national sold-out reunion tour in 2018.
Her recording of Roxy Music’s “More than This” has over 12 million streams on Spotify, and she has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, and Morning Edition as well as BBC Radio 2 and 4, and CBS Sunday Morning, and has sung harmony on albums by
Suzanne Vega, Bryan Ferry, Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin. Her song “Guilty as Sin” was featured in the NBC television show “Ed,” and her vocals were featured in the Tom Cruise film The Firm. She released her latest album, Last Days of Summer, written and recorded during the pandemic, in Spring 2022.
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A Spicy World - Second Act Readers' Theatre
2023-05-21 14:00 | MA
$5/All Seats
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Our Second Act Readers Theatre Program presents the short play of New England playwright, David Susman. Join us after the show for a talkback with the cast and playwright!
This session of Second Act Readers’ Theatre is dedicated to longtime participant, and well-loved friend, Pauline Wright who lost her valiant battle with cancer last month.
The Firehouse’s arts education program, Second Act Readers’ Theatre, is show biz without the stress! Individuals perform while comfortably seated and there is no memorization required. We welcome individuals 55 and older, regardless of experience, to participate in the magic of theater. Second Act Readers’ Theatre is generously funded in part by The Friendship Foundation.
David Susman’s ten-minute and one-act plays have been staged at festivals across the United States and in Canada. His works have appeared in anthologies by Smith and Kraus and Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, and several of his plays—including “Meet the Author” (2018) and “Stuck” (2019)—have been made into short films by Blackwood Productions, with screenings at the Boston International Film Festival, The New Indie Film Festival of London, the Sedona International Film Festival, and elsewhere.

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THE PROGRAM
Great Escapes
When Fred’s elderly mother escapes from her nursing home, it leads to a comedic showdown between mother and son, with revelations for both.

Lorraine – Maureen Daley
Fred – Jay Dunigan
Spice
When a long-married couple brings a video camera into the bedroom, the results aren’t what they expected.

Eleanor – Pat Tosches
Fred – Allan Haley
Margins
A cantankerous professor clashes with an underperforming student—until they discover some common ground.

Ashley – Miranda Gualtieri
Professor Hoffman – Roger Burgess
The Last Laugh
Two aging sitcom writers struggle to finish a script, and encounter problems both comedic and serious.

Jackie – Lenora Salvucci
Sammy – Susan Geib
Speed Date
What do Andrea and Michael do on their first date? Absolutely everything.

Andrea – Candie Benjamin
Michael – Victor Atkins
Waiter – Jay Dunigan
Stuck
A husband and wife decide to expand their sexual repertoire, and encounter unforeseen problems.

Helen – Sharon Curtis Phelan
George – Andy Griffith
Meet The Author
In this romantic comedy, love blooms between a writer and a reader, until a difference of literary opinion threatens everything.
Jennifer – Deborah Baker
Marvin – Michael Kimball
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Never Forget Jack
2023-05-26 18:00 | MA
FREE, but tickets required
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When a mysterious object appears at a friend’s house, Jack Harrington’s peaceful life quickly becomes uprooted. He and 3 of his best friends are thrust into a war against opposing forces who threaten their past and their future…
Writer and Director: Keenan Jackson
Director of Photography: Aidan O’Connor
Starring: Cole Jones, Leela Kowalksi, Graham Smith, Sam Walker
Genre: Indie Sci Fi Action Drama
This film contains some violence, blood and profanity.
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Jesse Ruben
2023-05-27 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Member Pricing
$15 In Advance
$20 Day Of
Non-Member Pricing
$18 In Advance
$22 Day Of
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Jesse Ruben is a singer/songwriter currently living in Brooklyn, NY. Best known for his lyrical storytelling and engaging live shows, his songs have been heard on more than a dozen TV shows in the US and abroad including Teen Mom, Switched at Birth, The Bachelor (Germany), and the recent Disney+ series Diary of a Future President. His most recent single “This Is Why I Need You” reached the top 10 in 12 different countries, and has been streamed more than 45 million times across all platforms. He has recorded live sessions for NPR and MTV Asia, and has been featured on CNN and in Esquire Magazine.
Beyond his music career, Ruben is highly active in philanthropic endeavors. He has run the NYC Marathon three times for The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the largest non-profit devoted to spinal cord injuries, and five times to raise money for Lyme disease research. He is also the founder of The We Can Project, an initiative for young students designed to help them discover their passions and give back to their communities. So far, more than 500,000 students have participated. To promote the program, he was personally invited by Hoda Kotb to perform live on The Today Show.
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The Women Who Rode Away
2023-06-03 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Tickets
$45/VIP
$30/General Tickets
VIP TICKETS INCLUDE A PRE-SHOW ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE WITH MELISSA FERRICK BEGINNING AT 6:30PM
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All proceeds to benefit Newburyport Pride
Edifying and entertaining, Natalia Zukerman’s The Women Who Rode Away seamlessly melds the talents of the songwriter, painter, and storyteller into a moving evening of reflection and perseverance. Featuring original music and projected paintings by Zukerman, this intimate portrait recounts the artist’s journey of finding her own voice through the stories of the women in her life that paved the way. Grab your organic needs from the latest Publix weekly ad which as good as artsy craft here. The production is directed by Kira Simring and features projection design by Gertjan Houben.
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Pippin
2023-06-09 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$35/Members
$40/Non-Members
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Winner of Four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by Roger O. Hirson
Directed and Choreographed by Taryn Herman
Heir to the Frankish throne, the young prince Pippin is in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power (after disposing of his father, King Charlemagne the Great). In the end, though, Pippin finds that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day.
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Approximate Length: Pippin runs approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes including a 20-minute intermission
Age Appropriate/Recommendation: Recognizing that families can make the determination for what their child is allowed to view, this show is recommended for children aged 10 and up.
Sensitive Content Warning: Representation of sexual acts

Being Petty - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers EXPERIENCE
2023-06-15 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$22/members
$25/non-members
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What would it be like if Tom Petty was still with us, performing with the Heartbreakers to this day?
Now the fantasy comes to life, with Being Petty – the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Experience.
In early 2021, Bruce Hilton and Larry Ladrie embarked on a mission to create the ultimate Tom Petty tribute band, dedicated to sharing all the excitement and emotion of a live performance from the original band. The result is an assemblage of massively talented musicians/performers with a passion for the music, and the skills to pull it off.
After their FIRST PERFORMANCE, they were invited to participate in the Legends Tribute show at the 8,000 seat Bank of NH Pavilion alongside some of the best tribute bands in the country.
Being Petty is more than just the average cover or tribute band. Audiences are awestruck by the flawless recreation of the look (accurate wardrobe, wigs and accessories), sound (authentic guitars, amps and drums) and feel of the original band. The live show now includes multimedia for a truly huge concert experience.
The Being Petty song list covers all phases of Tom Petty’s incredible musical legacy, including all of the hit songs from the 1970’s through the 2010s, plus some surprise “deep cuts” for the true fans!
At every show, during every song, Being Petty is committed to respecting the fans, and honoring the musical and cultural legacy of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
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Favorite Poem Project
2023-06-17 14:00 | MA
FREE, but tickets required
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Come to hear members of the community including the Mayor, city councilors, school administrators, students, old-timers, and new-comers read a diverse selection of their favorite poems with poems in Swedish, Japanese and more written by poets both traditional and non-traditional.
Everyone is welcome to attend… even if you think you don’t like poetry! You might find yourself surprised!
The brainchild of former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, The National Favorite Poem Project was launched in 1997 to celebrate the sheer pleasure of poetry with the public at large. Pinsky put out a call for favorite poems and received 18,000 responses from Americans of diverse regions, ages, and backgrounds. For the past twenty years, the Creative Writing Class at Newburyport High School has curated the Favorite Poem Project of Greater Newburyport, ensuring a platform for a wide variety of voices.
This uplifting event has become popular among many locals and visitors through the years. The audience is always delighted to hear a wide range of community members read poems that have made an impact on them. By the end of the program, we all feel enriched by each other’s stories and the power of poetry to connect us all.
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Judy Collins
2023-06-29 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$140/Members
$160/Non-Members
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*Due to the special nature of this event, Member COMP Tickets and I Believe Passes will not be accepted*

Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 55-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century.
The award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions. Her stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, Wildflowers, has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Judy’s dreamy and sweetly intimate version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical A Little Night Music, won “Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards. She’s garnered several top-ten hits gold- and platinum-selling albums. Recently, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Dolly Parton, Joan Baez, and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.
Judy began her impressive music career at 13 as a piano prodigy dazzling audiences performing Mozart’s “Concerto for Two Pianos,” but the hard luck tales and rugged sensitivity of folk revival music by artists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger seduced her away from a life as a concert pianist. Her path pointed to a lifelong love affair with the guitar and pursuit of emotional truth in lyrics. The focus and regimented practice of classical music, however, would be a source of strength to her inner core as she navigated the highs and lows of the music business.
Judy Collins is as creatively vigorous as ever, writing, touring worldwide, and nurturing fresh talent. She is a modern-day Renaissance woman who is a filmmaker, record label head, musical mentor, and an in-demand keynote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention. She continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.
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Oh He Dead
2023-07-03 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$22/Members
$25/Non-Members
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Oh He Dead hails from Washington, D.C., and is quickly garnering national attention. Lead singer CJ Johnson “maneuvers her powerful voice — a combination of Stevie Nicks and Tracy Chapman” (NPR) in rhythm with the band’s “infectiously groovy” and “sublime instrumentation” (NPR) to create an “infectious and soulful sound” (Washington Post). Founded in 2015 by Johnson and Andy Valenti, the now five-piece group includes lead guitarist Alex Salser, John Daise-on-the-bass (say it out loud), and Adam Ashforth on drums. The close-knit band weaves in and out of genres ranging from soul to funk to folk to rock, all tied together by the stirring harmonies of Johnson and Valenti.
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BLKBOK
2023-07-12 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Tickets
$18/Members
$20/Non-Members
“A Neo-Classical Masterpiece” Atwood Magazine
“Takes listeners on a musical journey” The Atlantic
“BLKBOK plays it all” NPR
“Generation Next – Featured Artist” The Today Show
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Born and raised in Detroit’s inner-city, BLKBOK (born Charles Wilson III), grew up in a music-filled house and by the time he was 8, BLKBOK was an acclaimed piano prodigy, winning statewide accolades and college-level competitions. When it came to music, most of the kids he grew up with pursued hip-hop, adopting rap names. However, it’s no coincidence that Charles chose the name BLKBOK, which echoes that of one of the greatest pianists and composers of all time. The tag is also an apt reflection of the elements that have contributed to the artist’s identity and symbolizes his colorful journey from pop and hip-hop culture to his critically acclaimed, neo-classical debut album Black Book, and various Mixtape projects and collaborations.
BLKBOK’s live, high-energy performance is culturally reflective and seeks to entertain with a live piano based performance like none you have ever seen before. BLKBOK’s vision is to illuminate awareness for all, encouraging dialogue and counterpoint in the way we perceive ourselves and the world we live in together.
BLKBOK’s critically-acclaimed debut album Black Book, served as a founding cornerstone at the very first Juneteenth Foundation’s Freedom Concert and was re-released as a DLUX Edition in June, with two new tracks, Forgotten Girls and Kendrick + Karine, covering relevant topics in mainstream culture, and in the voice that is uniquely BLKBOK. His first Mixtape release, CVRART, and Mixtape project Angels Watching Over Me, with world-renowned tenor Lawrence Brownlee, illustrate the innovative and disruptive musical landscape that is BLKBOK. His original track Stars (Ad Astra) was performed as the first-ever piano duet from Space in April 2022.
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Aaron Goodvin w/ special guest Renee and the Renegades
2023-07-13 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$22/Members
$25/Non-Members
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In addition to being an electrifying live performer, Goodvin is an incomparable singer/songwriter whose music resonates with fans worldwide. His dossier includes two critically acclaimed albums, two number one singles, several top 10s, a 2018 CCMA Songwriter of the Year Award, a 2020 JUNO Award nomination for Country Album of the Year, and a tour with Rascal Flatts. Lucky Stars is the first of a planned pair of EPs teeing up major touring – including a 2023 Headlining Tour – intended to bring Goodvin’s uniquely accessible music to every corner of the planet.
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“Renee Leavitt is the real deal,” said legendary rock n’ roller, Gary U.S. Bonds. Renee starting singing at the age of three and entered her first contest at the age of eight, finishing in 2nd place overall. Leavitt is building upon her fan base through her songwriting abilities, catchy tunes, pure voice, poised stage presence and her “girl next door,” blue eyed, strawberry blonde, country look.
To date, this country sensation has 21 original songs. Her band, Renee and the Renegades, has what fans and their manager call a ‘unique’ sound. There is no one in country music that can scratch an itch for one of their original scores. Her Karen Carpenter like voice mixes Zydeco, Irish Folk, Pop, Rock, and Vintage Country. Some have characterized it as: Americana.
Renee has been played on several radio stations in New England and Ireland, including WKLB Country 102.5, The Bull 101.7, WOKQ 97.5, the River 92.5, North Shore 104.9, WRKO 680, WMEX 1510 and Ireland’s own KFM Radio. Leavitt will soon be heard on PBS, singing the theme song “Friends For Life” for a Children’s Animated Series, called Charlie Horse.
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An Evening with Chris Smither
2023-07-23 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
*SOLD OUT*
Born in Miami, during World War II, Chris Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. The son of a Tulane University professor, he was taught the rudiments of instrumentation by his uncle on his mother’s ukulele. “Uncle Howard,” Smither says, “showed me that if you knew three chords, you could play a lot of the songs you heard on the radio. And if you knew four chords, you could pretty much rule the world.” With that bit of knowledge under his belt, he was hooked. “I’d loved acoustic music – specifically the blues – ever since I first heard Lightnin’ Hopkins’ Blues In My Bottle album. I couldn’t believe the sound Hopkins got. At first I thought it was two guys playing guitar. My style, to a degree, came out of trying to imitate that sound I heard.”
In his early twenties, Smither turned his back on his anthropology studies and headed to Boston at the urging of legendary folk singer Eric von Schmidt. It was the mid-’60s and acoustic music thrived in the streets and coffeehouses there. Smither forged lifelong friendships with many musicians, including Bonnie Raitt who went on to record his songs, “Love You Like A Man” and “I Feel the Same. (Their friendship has endured as their career paths intertwined over the years.) What quickly evolved from his New Orleans and Cambridge musical experiences is his enduring, singular guitar sound – a beat-driven finger-picking, strongly influenced by the playing of Mississippi John Hurt and Lightnin’ Hopkins, layered over the ever-present backbeat of his rhythmic, tapping feet (always mic’d in performance).
Smither’s first albums, I’m A Stranger, Too! (1971) and Don’t It Drag On (1972) were released on Poppy Records, home of kindred spirit Townes Van Zandt. By the time Smither recorded his third album, Honeysuckle Dog with Lowell George and Dr. John helping out, United Artists had absorbed Poppy and ultimately dropped much of their roster, including Smither. Smither made his next record in 1985, when the spare It Ain’t Easy on Adelphi Records marked his return to the studio.
By the early ’90s, Smither’s steady nationwide touring and regular release of consistently acclaimed albums cemented his reputation as one of the finest acoustic musicians in the country. His 1991 album, Another Way to Find You, was recorded live in front of an in-studio audience with no overdubs or second takes. This would be the first of two albums with Flying Fish Records. His next recording, Happier Blue, was embraced by Triple A radio and received the NAIRD (now AFIM) award as Best Folk Recording of 1993. Up On The Lowdown (1995) marked the first of a trio of albums to be recorded with producer Stephen Bruton at The Hit Shack in Austin and his first of five albums with roots label HighTone Records. Up On the Lowdown rode the crest of the newly formed Americana radio format wave and sparked considerable interest abroad. A tour of Australia with Dave Alvin and extensive solo touring in Europe led to an expanding global interest in Smither. His song, “I Am the Ride,” from this album inspired the independent film, The Ride, for which Smither also composed the original score.
In early 1997 Smither released Small Revelations. It climbed the Americana and Triple A radio charts and led to concert dates with B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Nanci Griffith, and the hugely successful, original Monsters of Folk’ tour with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dave Alvin and Tom Russell. Small Revelations also generated several film projects for Smither. Emmylou Harris recorded his song, “Slow Surprise,” for the The Horse Whisperer soundtrack on MCA. And his recording of “Hold On” was used in the indie feature film Love From Ground Zero. Smither also shared insight into his guitar style and technique on two instructional DVDs, available from Homespun Video.
His CD, Drive You Home Again (1999), garnered four-stars from Rolling Stone. And with it, Smither continued to tour world-wide. Shortly after, in 2000, Smither released his one-man-tour-de-force, Live As I’ll Ever Be. Recorded in-concert at various clubs and concert halls in California, Dublin, Galway, Boston, and Washington DC, it has proven to be a fan favorite, capturing Smither at what he loves to do: performing in front of an audience.
Train Home (2003) was Smither’s last record for HighTone and his first with producer David Goodrich. Over a six-week period, basic tracks for Train Home were recorded in the relaxed environment of Smither’s home near Boston. Working with new session musicians, the record is simultaneously sparse and assured. Bonnie Raitt graciously provided backing vocals and slide guitar on Smither’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row.” And Smither’s “Seems So Real” from the CD earned a Folk Alliance Award as “Song of the Year.”
In 2005, jazz great Diana Krall covered “Love Me Like A Man,” introducing what is now a blues standard to a whole world of jazz fans. Shortly after, Smither’s song “Slow Surprise” was included in the independent film, Brother’s Shadow. In addition, Smither narrated a two-CD audio book recording of “Will Rogers’ Greatest Hits.” Continuing to expand his creative horizon, Smither was invited to contribute an essay to Sixty Things to Do When You Turn Sixty, a 2006 collection of essays by American luminaries on reaching that milestone. In 2009, Melville House published Amplified, a book featuring 16 short stories by notable American performing songwriters. Smither’s story Leroy Purcell about a touring musician’s encounter with a Texas State Patrolman leads off the collection.
With the release of his 12th recording Leave The Light On (2006) on his own imprint, Mighty Albert, Smither began a new label relationship with the renowned acoustic and modern folk label, Signature Sounds. For the recording, Smither reunited with producer David Goodrich and session musicians Mike Piehl, Lou Ulrich and Anita Suhanin. As an added treat, Smither invited good friend and Grammy Award-winning multi- instrumentalist, Tim O’Brien, along with rising American roots stars, Ollabelle, to add their distinctive talents on several tracks. Smither followed this with Time Stands Still (2009), his most stripped down recording in some time, working with just two accompanists after the same trio had played a rare band performance – a non-solo setup required in order to play a Netherlands festival.
About the recording Smither says, “We’re the only three guys on this record, and most of the songs only have three parts going on. We had a freewheeling feeling at that festival gig, and we managed to make a lot of that same feeling happen in this record.” In 2011 Smither put out two fan projects: a collection of live tracks from newly discovered concert recordings from the 1980s-1990s titled Lost and Found and the rollicking EP, What I Learned in School, on which Smither covered six classic rock and roll songs.
Smither followed these fan-projects with Hundred Dollar Valentine (2012), a ★★★★★ (MOJO) studio record of all Smither-penned songs. With longtime producer David “Goody” Goodrich at the helm, this collection sported Smither’s trademark acoustic guitar sound and evocative sonic textures meshed with spare, brilliant songs, delivered in a bone-wise, hard-won voice.
In 2014 Smither released Still on the Levee (2014) – a double-CD retrospective. Recorded in New Orleans at the Music Shed, this career-spanning project features fresh new takes on 24 iconic songs from his vast career and some very special guests including the legendary Allen Toussaint and Loudon Wainwright III.
The coffee table style book Chris Smither Lyrics 1966-2012 and Signature Sounds’ Link of Chain – an all-star tribute record including a stellar list of artists offering their takes on some Smither favorites including Josh Ritter, Bonnie Raitt, Loudon Wainwright III, Dave Alvin, Peter Case, Tim O’Brien, Patty Larkin, and many others were fan-favorite accompaniments to the retrospective CD .
In March 2018, Smither released his eighteenth record, Call Me Lucky (Signature Sounds/Mighty Albert) once again teaming up with producer and multi-instrumentalist David Goodrich. Also joined by Billy Conway (Morphine) and Matt Lorenz (The Suitcase Junket), Smither recorded eight new originals along with some very special and surprising covers at the Blue Rock studios in the Texas hills in June 2017.
In October 2020, More From The Levee, the followup to the 50-year career retrospective Still on the Levee, was released.

Rock of Ages
2023-08-04 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$35/Member
$40/Non-Member
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Nominated for Five 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical
Book by Chris D’Arienzo
Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp
It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace, and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strips last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock ‘n’ roll fairy tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it’s too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.

Click Here to check out our Virtual Playbill
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Gavin Marengi
2023-08-09 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$12/Members
$15/Non-Members
w/ Special Guest Nora Baker
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“With Southbound, you’ve crafted an epic journey through heartfelt melodies and captivating harmonies, creating a mesmerizing soundscape that lingers in the listener’s mind long after the last note has faded. Your evocative voice, coupled with introspective lyrics that resonate with themes of longing, solitude, and self-discovery, showcases your impressive talent as a songwriter and musician at just 15 years old. Your song paints a vivid picture of your small-town roots and passion for music, with haunting finger-picked guitar melodies and atmospheric harmonies that reveal the boundless potential of music to touch the soul. I am thrilled to share this deeply moving work of art on Instagram and support your pursuit of your dreams. Keep chasing that dream, Gavin, because you’re undeniably on the right path.” – Certified Bop
Gavin Marengi, a singer-songwriter hailing from Salisbury, Massachusetts, is a true hometown enthusiast. His deep connection to his small town roots and his formative experiences growing up shape the heartfelt narratives woven into his songs. Despite being just 15 years old, Gavin possesses an extraordinary talent that captivates audiences wherever he performs, leaving them spellbound by his impressive guitar skills and soulful, raspy voice.
Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres, Gavin’s music is a captivating fusion of Americana, Classic Folk, Southern Rock, and Outlaw Country. Through his heartfelt compositions, he skillfully portrays the essence of his musical journey, contemplating the possibilities of leaving his beloved Salisbury behind. His debut single, “Southbound,” released on all platforms on February 10th, 2023, serves as a poignant reflection of his thoughts and aspirations. Featuring weeping slide guitars, a lively and infectious melody, and the raw passion of a talented 15-year-old, the song showcases Gavin’s innate ability to create music straight from the heart.
With his 10-song album “Southbound” released March 31st 2023, Gavin’s journey as an artist has taken flight. There is an undeniable sense of promise surrounding this young musician, and his fans eagerly anticipate the musical tapestry he will weave. In his own humble words, Gavin would simply describe himself as a boy chasing a dream—a testament to his unwavering commitment and passion for crafting songs that resonate with listeners. Keep a close eye on Gavin Marengi as he continues to carve his path in the world of music, for there is undoubtedly something remarkable unfolding.
Gavin has brought together an exceptional lineup of seasoned musicians to form a powerhouse band. Terry Marengi on guitar, AJ Pappas on bass guitar, and Ron Stewart on drums join forces with Gavin to create an unforgettable live experience.
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The Commonheart
2023-08-10 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$15/Members
$18/Non-Members
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“This band is therapy for me to bring myself back to being a better person, and I hope people come along with me,” says powerhouse singer Clinton Clegg of The Commonheart.
Clinton didn’t grow up in a Baptist church, and his soul machine of a band isn’t pushing religion. Live and in the studio, the Pittsburgh-based collective is offering feel-good positivity, Golden Rule messaging, and sweat-soaked performances that nimbly ease through blues, vintage soul, and rock.
The nonet is bonded by familial-like ties and a desire to foster spiritual uplift. Among its ranks are female backup singers, drums, bass, guitar, a horn section, and keyboards. Out front is Clinton, a lightning bolt charismatic front man with dynamically expressive pipes that effortlessly traverse bluesy pleading, and honeyed balladeering.
The Commonheart’s sophomore album, ‘Pressure’ (Jullian Records), is both rugged and refined. The 10-song album showcases raw-nerve soul musicianship pristinely recorded. It’s an album by a band on a mission. “We are willing to take risks and to go at any lengths for this band,” Clinton says affirmatively. “We are ready to spread positivity and make a stretch of this thing.”
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An Evening with Charles "The Lord" Shaughnessy
2023-08-28 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$25/Minimum Donation
ALL LEVELS OF SUPPORT ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED
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Enjoy a fun evening with Charles who will be sharing stories of his life and career and how he truly became a “lord” all while helping to support 2 great non-profits & “partners in the port” – Turning Point, Inc. and the Firehouse Center for the Arts.
Charles was born to a showbiz family in London and educated at Eton and Cambridge University, where he tried to “do something sensible” by getting a degree in Law.
It didn’t work.
Performing in the celebrated Footlights Revue was a lot more fun than Torts and Land Law so he decided to join the family business after all. After a few years of gainful employment in England, Charles pursued a gorgeous American actress to Los Angeles, married her and raised two equally gorgeous daughters, who are the light of his life. He made his professional U.S. debut on this very stage in 1984 in Howard Brenton’s “The Genius”. He went on to a successful and multi-faceted career on stage and screen that took him from exotic locations like Hawaii and Paris to stages on Broadway and The North Shore Music Theatre. He considers himself extremely lucky to have made a living in this crazy business and has enjoyed every second. You might recognize him from his roles on some beloved TV shows like The Nanny and Mad Men, but then again….you might not .
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John Gorka
2023-08-30 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$30/Members
$35/Non-Members
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From New Jersey, John Gorka is a world-renowned singer-songwriter who got his start at a neighborhood coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania. His rich multifaceted songs full of depth, beauty and emotion gained attention from critics and audiences across the country, as well as in Europe . In addition to his 11 critically acclaimed albums, many well known artists have recorded and/or performed John Gorka songs, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Mary Black and Maura O’Connell. John has graced the stage of Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, etown and has appeared on CNN. His new song “Where No Monuments Stand” is featured in the upcoming documentary Every War Has Two Losers, about activist and Oregon Poet Laureate William Stafford (1914-1993).
John Gorka lives in Minnesota and when not on the road, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He continues to tour, playing festivals, theaters and clubs all over North America and Europe.
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Improv at the Firehouse
2023-08-31 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$12/Members
$15/Non-Members
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Presented by Stranger Than Fiction
The Granite State’s premier improvisational comedy troupe
Established in the spring of 2004, Stranger Than Fiction strives to provide audiences with shows that rival improv clubs around the world. The cast is a diverse collection of talented actors and comedians, united by the shared passion to make the world a funnier place.
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Chicago Total Access
2023-09-07 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$18/Members
$20/Non-Members
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Chicago Total Access is a music group made up of 10 talented musicians which all grew up listening to the music of the 60s and 70s. Our group is dedicated to the music of the American rock band “Chicago”. There is no other American Rock n Roll band with horns that has influenced more musicians, is loved by millions of people worldwide and has become such a deep part of Americana as the band Chicago. Since 1967, 46 years of sold out concerts, millions of record sales and legions of cheering fans worldwide Chicago is still going strong in 2019. The members of Chicago Total Access have attempted to recreate a slice of the timeless musical catalog of Chicago as well as stay true to the spirit of the original recordings. We hope you enjoy our efforts! The liner notes of their first recording titled “The Chicago Transit Authority” still inspire us and I hope you as well.
“The printed word can never aspire to document a truly musical experience, so if you must call them something, speak of the city where all save one were born; where all of them were schooled and bred, and where all of this incredible music went down barely noticed; call them CHICAGO.”
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The Firehouse Celebrates
2023-09-08 18:00 | MA
In 2023, the Firehouse Center for the Arts celebrates 200 years since our Marketplace opened. In those 200 years, the building has transformed from a single level marketplace to adding the second story, first as a chair factory and then followed by a Lyceum where the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Daniel Webster enlightened mid-19th century Newburyport residents. In 1864, the Marketplace was transformed into the Central Firehouse of Newburyport where it remained until 1979 when a new Fire Station was built. For nearly a decade, the former Firehouse sat unused until the Society for the Development of Arts and Humanities of Greater Newburyport proposed transforming the building into cultural center for the City. Construction began in 1987 and in 1991, the Firehouse Center for the Arts opened its doors.
This year, we celebrate our past while looking forward at our future. Our goal is to raise $200,000 to commemorate our 200th Anniversary. Join the celebration!
SILENT AUCTION LIVE NOW

HOSTED BY BILLY COSTA
What: Our Annual Gala
Where: Black Swan Country Club, Georgetown, MA
When: Friday, September 8 at 6:00pm

M.K. BENATTI RAFFLE - Single Ticket

M.K. BENATTI RAFFLE - Three Tickets

Taylor Ashton
2023-09-10 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$18/Member
$20/Non-Members
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Recorded over the course of a 4,000-mile cross-country roadtrip, Taylor Ashton’s gorgeous new album, Stranger To The Feeling, is a sonic odyssey through the heart of America, one that works its way chronologically and geographically from coast to coast as it meditates on the meaning of closeness and connection. The performances are warm and inviting, anchored by Ashton’s deft guitar and banjo work and rich, easygoing melodicism, and the recordings—helmed by producer Jacob Blumberg and captured with a broad range of collaborators including Courtney Hartman, Big Thief’s Buck Meek, Lake Street Dive’s Rachael Price, Vulfpeck’s Theo Katzman, Late Show bandleader Louis Cato, and Mipso’s Jacob Sharp—are alternately sparse and lush, with arrangements often serving as aural reflections of their physical environments. From a blanket in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park to a spiritual vortex in Sedona, AZ, the settings are inextricable from the songs, and the result is a moving collection that manages to evoke both the gentle virtuosity of Nick Drake and the buoyant wit of Paul Simon.
Born and raised in Canada, Ashton got his start fronting the beloved Vancouver five-piece Fish & Bird. After moving to NYC, he teamed up with Courtney Hartman for 2018’s Been On Your Side, which Rolling Stone proclaimed “packs a punch,” and two years later released his solo debut, The Romantic, earning widespread praise alongside dates with the likes of Sarah Jarosz, Madison Cunningham, The Wood Brothers, and more.
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Peter Yarrow
2023-09-14 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$35/Members
$40/Non-Members
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Peter’s talents as a creative artist—both with Peter, Paul & Mary and as a solo performer—are frequently directed at using music to convey a message of humanity and caring. His gift for songwriting has produced some of the most moving songs Peter, Paul & Mary have recorded, including “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” “Day is Done,” “Light One Candle,” and “The Great Mandala.” As a member of the renowned musical trio, he has earned many gold and platinum albums, has been awarded numerous Grammys, and nominated for several more. More important to Peter, however, is the acknowledgment of the central role that he and his partners have played in bringing the folk renaissance of the 1960s to the hearts and homes of the American public.
Peter Yarrow’s life and work, culminating in the founding and leadership of Operation Respect, embraces the premise that if each person finds a way to articulate his or her own voice and joins with others, together they can become a powerful force for the transformation of society.
Peter is not about to give up the demanding path he’s chosen. “We’ve lived through a time in which people have felt they could forge their own future and make a better world,” he said. “We may not have achieved our dreams in the time frame that we once believed was possible, but the magnitude of what is yet to be achieved only confirms the importance of our commitment. Knowing this,
we can’t stop now.”
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Newburyport Documentary Film Festival
2023-09-15 15:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
The 2023 Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, running September 15-17, will include events held at the Firehouse. Please note that tickets will be available for sale at the Firehouse starting on Friday, September 15th. Prior to the 15th, please purchase tickets online through the NDFF website.
‍NDFF Tickets HERE

Annisquam
2023-09-22 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$40 All Tickets
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*A LOCAL COMMUNITY PRODUCTION*

Something strange is going on in the tiny seaside community of Annisquam. Dr. Wendell Petit, a well respected Psychologist, has not been showing up for work. He has been drinking way too much and his daughter has noticed some very erratic behaviors coming from the man she once idolized. Rumor has it that the good Doctor might be romantically involved with a woman less than half his age, and the neighbors are starting to talk.
That is the premise of Lawrence Hennessy’s darkly disturbing, sometimes comic, always tragic play, Annisquam. Directed by Tim Diering, Annisquam stars Jim Manclark as the troubled Dr. Petit, with Katie Makem Boucher as his daughter, Emma, and Emily Colwell as his former patient, Allison. The play includes adult themes, and may not be suitable for children under the age of 16. Tickets: $40.00; Seniors and Students: $35.00.

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Tom Chapin
2023-09-24 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$27/Members
$30/Non-Members
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In a career that spans six decades, 26 albums and three GRAMMY awards, Hudson Valley Troubadour Tom Chapin has covered an incredible amount of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, Chapin has acted on Broadway, as well as working extensively in television, radio and film. As a music-maker, the multi-talented singer/songwriter/guitarist has maintained two long and productive parallel careers, both as a highly respected contemporary folk artist and as a pioneer in the field of children’s music.
In both roles, Chapin has established a reputation for insightful, heartfelt songcraft and effortlessly charismatic live performances. He continues to engage the hearts, minds and imaginations of young listeners with witty, life-affirming original songs delivered in a sophisticated array of musical styles. In either format, Chapin’s infectious songs, sterling musicianship and personal warmth consistently shine through, whether he’s performing on record or in a concert hall, an outdoor festival, a school, in front of a symphony orchestra or in an intimate coffeehouse. The New York Times called Chapin “one of the great personalities in contemporary folk music,” while Billboard called him “the best family artist around” and described him as “totally captivating.”
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Randy Edelman
2023-09-29 20:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$18/Members
$20/Non-Members
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Randy’s music is not of an ordinary world, but rather from an other dimension …one that has no time for things that have no soul. Cascading wildly through infinity his music brings joy, an ephemeral spark, a firefly’s ethereal glow, the feeling of running against the wind, a quicksand of shadows and an echo of memories, the darkness of bitter coffee, the light of a madness that shines. His symphonies embody all of those emotions and more…sensitivity is his strength, romance his poetry…music his passion and predestination….

It’s never safe to think we are done in life. When we imagine we have finished our story destiny steps on turning the page and showing us another chapter. Randy’s career dances with change. From conducting orchestras in the pits of Broadway to Clive Davis and Columbia Records, to a pop career in the UK on Elton John’s Rocket record label, Randy wrote songs covered by icons including Patti LaBelle, Olivia, Newton-John, The Carpenters, Nelly, Willy Nelson, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Dionne Warwick, and even Bing Crosby. He opened arena and stadium concerts for The Carpenters, and even the legendary Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention….
Suddenly serendipity stepped onto the threshold of success and Randy went on to become one of the leading soundtrack architects for over 100 motion pictures and television themes. Some of those include “My Cousin Vinny”, “Ghostbusters ll”, “The Bruce Lee Story”, “Dragonheart”, “While You Were Sleeping”, “Kindergarten Cop”, “Twins”, the theme for the hit series “MacGyver”, the theme for the Olympics, and the monumental film “Last of the Mohicans” which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
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The Jungle Book KIDS
2023-10-05 19:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
$20 for Adults
$16 for Students/Seniors
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Produced by Acting Out Productions
Directed by Deirdre Budzyna
The jungle is jumpin’ with a jazzy beat in Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS. Banished by the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan, a human boy named Mowgli and his panther friend, Bagheera, are on the run in the deepest parts of the jungle. On their journey, the two meet a sinister snake named Kaa, a herd of elephants and a giant bear named Baloo, who teaches them the swingin’ musical rhythms of the jungle. After surviving a dangerous encounter with a band of monkeys led by King Louie, Mowgli and Bagheera are forced to run for their lives. When Shere Khan returns, our heroes must rally their fellow animals into battle and restore peace throughout the jungle. Join a local cast of student actors who are playing multiple parts in multiple shows.
Click here to check when your favorite actor is playing your/their favorite role!
OCTOBER 7 Costume Contest: Come dressed as your favorite Jungle Book character or jungle animal and get your picture taken with the cast! Prize for best costume and goody bags for everyone!
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