What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, December 8, 2024 ???

Sunday, December 8

• Winter Coat Drive (4 drop off locations)
• Franklin Art Association, Art Show & Sale (Norfolk Public Library)

MBTA shuttle bus on Franklin Line

10:00am Breakfast Buffet with Santa Claus (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

11:00am Winter Wreath Design Class (Fiori and Fern)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:15pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: WCVB Chronicle's Ted Reinstein (Franklin Historical Museum)

2:00pm Franklin Performing Arts Company presents The Nutcracker (Franklin High School)

**   NO  Town Meetings today   **

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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Why are there multiple calendars?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

MetOpera Ballet Dancer to Star in The Nutcracker with FPAC Holiday Productions

FPAC Holiday Productions will kick off December with the holiday classic: The Nutcracker, presented December 7 and 8 at the Franklin High School Auditorium. Experience all the festive magic and colorful splendor of The Nutcracker as FPAC stages its cherished annual production of the holiday classic with live orchestra conducted by Austin Davy, special guest artists and more than 100 area dancers. 

The Nutcracker remains a highly anticipated and treasured part of the FPAC season - a popular holiday tradition for more than 20 years. The world-famous ballet, set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, delights the imaginations of audiences young and old with a professional production at a reasonable price.  

Paula Alvarez

Metropolitan Opera Ballet Dancer Paula Alvarez will dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Alvarez, from Mexico City, started training at the Academia de Ballet San Angel Inn where she completed the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD) syllabus with Distinction. Upon graduating high school, she moved to New York City to train at the Joffrey Ballet School under the direction of Era Jouravlev. 

There she had the opportunity to perform leading roles in classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote and The Nutcracker as well as Voices of Spring Pas de Deux by Fredrick Ashton. She started her career as a Soloist at Menlowe Ballet in California where she danced for 3 seasons. During quarantine, she got her CPYB teacher certification and has been working for Joffrey Ballet School as Master Faculty, choreographer and guest dancer, since September 2021. She danced for New York Theatre Ballet performing several soloist roles of The Nutcracker all over New York State. 

Paula’s story has been featured in major international newspapers. During the 2022-2023 season she joined the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center to be a part of the 2019 revival of La Traviata and she is excited to continue working with the MetOpera Ballet as part of their classical production of Turandot in 2024.

James Monroe Števko returns to FPAC Holiday Productions as The Cavalier, having previously danced the role in Franklin in 2021. He is a NYC-based dancer who started dancing at the late age of 18 and was dubbed a "Late Bloomer" by Dekalb's Daily Chronicle eventually leading to his principal acting debut in the award-winning Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish as Mendl. 

Previously, he has danced at: The Metropolitan Opera, seven seasons at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Met Gala with Katy Perry, Milwaukee Ballet and City Ballet of San Diego. He teaches regularly and is a mentor to new graduates hoping to move to NYC in a new program, Off the Lane. 

FPAC Holiday Productions are presented at the Franklin High School Auditorium. For tickets and more information, visit www.FPAConline.com or call the box office at 508-528-3370. 

The Nutcracker, a traditional & key FPAC Holiday Production, is scheduled for Dec 2, 3

FPAC Holiday Productions will present two shows as part of its annual holiday season. December kicks off with the holiday classic: The Nutcracker, presented December 2 and 3 at the Franklin High School Auditorium. Experience all the festive magic and colorful splendor of The Nutcracker as FPAC stages its cherished annual production of the holiday classic with live orchestra conducted by Austin Davy, special guest artists and more than 100 area dancers. 

The Nutcracker remains a highly anticipated and treasured part of the FPAC season - a popular holiday tradition for more than 20 years. The world-famous ballet, set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, delights the imaginations of audiences young and old with a professional production at a reasonable price. The production is staged by Cheryl Madeux of American Ballet Theatre, Hartford Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. Madeux is currently director of BalletFranklin- the ballet conservatory at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. 

Lucy Stewart

Lucy Stewart of Complexions Contemporary Ballet will appear as The Sugar Plum Fairy. Stewart grew up in a suburb of Denver, Colorado, where she spent her early years dancing at a small studio in the mountains and then at Colorado Ballet. Originally training in all forms of dance, her primary areas of study included ballet, contemporary and jazz. She spent her summers training with American Ballet Theatre, The Joffrey Ballet, COMPLEXIONS, and Colorado Ballet. Lucy has studied the last two years at The Juilliard School in the dance division where she had the opportunity to study with various leading artists in the dance world, including Ohad Naharin, Tiler Peck, Rena Butler, and James Whiteside, as well as the opportunity to perform Set and Reset by Trisha Brown. For the last several years, Lucy studied regularly with John Gardner and Amanda McKerrow from ABT. 

Jacopo Calvo, also of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, will join Stewart as her Cavalier. Calvo was born in Asti, Italy. He began his dance training at the age of 11 at his hometown school, Ritmo Danza. At 18, he moved to NYC where he attended The Ailey School on scholarship. He has worked with choreographers such as Marcus Jarrell Willis, Brice Mousset, Ray Mercer, Earl Mosley, Francesca Harper, and artist Nick Cave in The Let Go at the Park Avenue Armory. He has attended summer intensives with American Ballet Theater and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and RESET 2021 with Studio Wayne McGregor. Jacopo has performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for their 60th Anniversary Season in Memoria at New York City Center and for the Ailey Spirit Gala. This is his 2nd season with Complexions.

FPAC Holiday Productions are presented at the Franklin High School Auditorium. For tickets and more information, visit www.FPAConline.com or call the box office at 508-528-3370. 

Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 2, 2022 to Dec 8, 2022

You can dance, or watch dancers, or ballet, or enjoy a beverage and some music, or visit the farmers market, or the Christmas Fair, or the local artesian market, or one of the other options... there is so much to do. Very grateful for the #artshappeninghere in Franklin!

Friday, December 2

5:00pm - Cousins Maine Lobster (food Truck) (La Cantina Winery)

5:30pm - Joshua David (live music) (67 Degrees Brewing)

7:30pm - New Dancer Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Saturday, December 3

9:00am - Christmas Fair (St John’s Episcopal Church)

10:00am - Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Market)

10:00am - Decorated Holiday Wreaths and Arrangements (Franklin Garden Club at Daddario Hardware Store)

10:00am - AcuPUNKture's Local Artisan Holiday Market (AcuPUNKture)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

11:00am - Bollywood Dancing (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

2:00pm - New Dancer Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

3:00pm - Orchard Sl"Hay" Rides (rescheduled -see description 4 details) (Fairmount Fruit Farm)

7:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

7:30pm - New Thespian Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Sunday, December 4

7:00am - “Finding the Light” (free art scavenger hunt, find clues on Facebook @PaintingVenus)

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

2:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

Tuesday, December 6

6:30pm - Popcorn & Pride (LGBTQ Pride event at 99 Restaurant)

7:00pm - Christmas Trivia Night (St Mary’s Parish)

7:00pm - FHS Chorus and Orchestra Concert (Franklin High School) 

Wednesday, December 7 6:00pm - HMMS Concert (Horace Mann Middle School) 7:00pm - Franklin Art Association (Franklin Senior Center)

Thursday, December 8 7:00pm - An Evening with Mystery Writers: Sulari Gentill, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and Eva Jurczyk (virtual discussion) Franklin Public Library

7:00pm - Pour Richard's Wine and Chocolate Pairing (Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits)

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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Community Calendar

Franklin Cultural District: The Nutcracker, holiday fairs, winter farmers market and more

Christmas classics like The Nutcracker and holiday fairs open this weekend along with the Farmers Market and Dean student showcases for acting and dancing. Yes, #artshappenhere in Franklin!

Wednesday, November 30

Escape Into Fiction

6:00pm - Poetry for the People (Escape Into Fiction)

6:30pm - Pointy Strip Star (quilt $kit & class) (Emma’s Quilt & Cupboard)

Thursday, December 1

4:00pm - Tree Lighting (Dean College)

4:00pm - Lego Masters Club (4 weeks $) (Creative Corner Art Studio)

5:30pm - Ken Barney (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

6:30pm - Franklin LGBTQ Alliance (monthly meeting) (Franklin TV Studio)

7:30pm - New Thespian Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Dean College

Friday, December 2

5:00pm - Cousins Maine Lobster (food Truck) (La Cantina Winery)

5:30pm - Joshua David (live music) (67 Degrees Brewing)

7:30pm - New Dancer Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Saturday, December 3

9:00am - Christmas Fair (St John’s Episcopal Church)

10:00am - Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Market)

10:00am - AcuPUNKture's Local Artisan Holiday Market (AcuPUNKture)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

11:00am - Bollywood Dancing (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

2:00pm - New Dancer Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

FPAC Holiday Productions

7:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

7:30pm - New Thespian Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Sunday, December 4

7:00am - “Finding the Light” (free art scavenger hunt, find clues on Facebook @PaintingVenus)

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

2:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

Tuesday, December 6

6:30pm - Popcorn & Pride (LGBTQ Pride event at 99 Restaurant)

7:00pm - Christmas Trivia Night (St Mary’s Parish) 

-------------------

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Visit the Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here!

FPAC announces guest artists for The Nutcracker performances Dec 3-4

Melissa Chapski

Melissa Chapski (Sugar Plum) was born in Medfield, Massachusetts. She trained at BalletFranklin under the instruction of Cheryl Madeux from the age of 11. She danced in FPAC Holiday Productions’ Nutcracker for 6 years, featured in roles from Marzipan to Party Girls and Cousins, Snow, Flowers, Arabian, and Clara. In 2015, she graduated from the Ellison Ballet Professional Training Program in New York City.
 
Melissa danced with the Dutch National Ballet for five years and now dances in Munich, Germany with the Bayerisches Staatsballett (Bavarian State Ballet). Most recently, Melissa performed ‘Embers’ in the Opening Gala at Beijing International Ballet Competition in China. 
 
She was also featured as ‘Emma’ in the movie High Strung: Free Dance and has done ad campaigns for Huawei Mobile, Nikon Europe, TCL Electronics, Discount Dance Supply, Capezio, Body Wrappers, and Russian Pointe. She is currently working towards an undergraduate degree in social sciences at Harvard University's Extension school. 

Sava Milojević

Sava Milojević (Cavalier) was born in Kragujevac, Serbia where he began his ballet training at age 11. He trained from age 14 in Belgrade at Ballet School Lujo Davičo for two years. He soon moved to John Cranko Ballet Academy in Stuttgart, Germany where he was taken into the main company as an apprentice after only two years. After one season with the Stuttgart Ballet, he joined the Bavarian State Ballet’s junior company where he spent two seasons. In 2018, he was promoted to the main company under direction of Igor Zelensky where he is employed presently. Sava has also been awarded numerous medals at Serbian national ballet competitions. In 2018, Sava debuted multiple roles in John Neumeier’s Der Nussknacker with the Bavarian State Ballet. 

 
Some of his most notable performances include tours to Japan and South Korea with the Stuttgart Ballet in productions of both Onegin and Romeo and Juliet. He also danced in Romeo and Juliet at the famous Salzburg Festspiel. Later on Sava toured to Hong Kong with the Bavarian State Ballet dancing in La Bayadere.

Purchase tickets online -> https://www.fpaconline.com/events.php?id=1598&month=12&year=2022

FPAC announces guest artists for The Nutcracker performances Dec 3-4

Nutcracker Storytime at Escape Into Fiction - Saturday, Nov 26 at 10:30 AM

Save the Date for a very special costume #storytime on a very special day!!

The Nutcracker Storytime with cast of @franklin.performing.arts.co and @escape_into_fiction reading #thenutcracker by @janbrett1 a Massachusetts author!

Saturday Nov 26th at 10:30

Come celebrate a holiday tradition with 2 local businesses and show your support on #smallbusinesssaturday

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/ClRjkfAvtcG/

Nutcracker Storytime at Escape Into Fiction - Saturday, Nov 26 at 10:30 AM

FPAC Holiday Productions schedules open auditions for The Nutcracker! - Sep 24

FPAC Holiday Productions is excited to announce open auditions for their annual production of The Nutcracker! Directed by Cheryl Madeux (American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, Hartford Ballet)! This annual production of The Nutcracker will feature guest artists and a professional live orchestra.

Auditions will be held on September 24.

Location: THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, Franklin, MA

Performances: December 3 and 4 at the Franklin High School Auditorium

All are welcome to audition!

Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your audition time to register and receive a number.

Ballet attire is required.

Girls/Ladies- pink footed ballet tights, black, pink or dress code leotard, pink ballet slippers with neat hair or hair in a bun. Pink pointe shoes if auditioning en-pointe.

Boys/Gentlemen- white fitted shirt or white leotard, black tights or black jazz pants, black ballet slippers or white slippers with white socks, and hair neat and out of face.

Please be prepared to stay for the next age group or call back audition.

Off‐Pointe Auditions

Ages 6‐8, 10:00‐10:45 AM  

Ages 9‐11, 10:45‐11:15 AM  

Ages 12‐14, 11:30 - 12:15 PM  

Ages 15+, 12:15‐1:15 PM 

Callbacks off-pointe, 1:15‐1:30 PM  

En‐Pointe Auditions

(Must have at least one year of pointe experience to audition en-pointe)

Ages 12-14, 1:45‐2:15 PM 

Ages 15+, 2:15-3:30 PM 

Callbacks en-pointe, 3:30‐4:15 PM 

Party Parents- Call 508-528-3370 if interested!

For more information call 508-528-3370

Shared from ->  https://www.fpaconline.com/events.php?id=1605&month=09&year=2022

FPAC Holiday Productions schedules open auditions for The Nutcracker! - Sep 24

Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 3 - Dec 9, 2021

Holiday show season is upon us. Dean Colleges has several performances of "I Hate Hamlet" and FPAC brings "The Nutcracker" to the stage at FHS. 

Photos with Santa and Mrs Claus at the Police Station, the Garden Club's Holiday Wreath and Arrangement sale at Daddario’s and the Winters Farmers Market at Fairmount Fruit Farm on tap for Saturday.

 

Friday, December 3
7:30pm - Dean College: I Hate Hamlet

Saturday, December 4
9:00am - Photos with Santa, Mrs Claus
10:00am - Winter Farmers Market
10:00am - Historical Museum (always free)
11:00am - Holiday Wreath and Arrangement Sale
2:00pm - Dean College: I Hate Hamlet
7:30pm - Dean College: I Hate Hamlet
7:30pm - FPAC - The Nutcracker

Sunday, December 5
1:00pm - Historical Museum (always free)
2:00pm - Dean College: I Hate Hamlet
2:30pm - FPAC - The Nutcracker

Monday, December 6
7:30pm - Hamilton ~ Home for the Holidays

Find the full calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

The School district calendar is found   https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26

Community Calendar

"The Nutcracker ~ Masked" live streamed from THE BLACK BOX - Dec 12-13

The Franklin Performing Arts Company is excited to present The Nutcracker- Masked live streamed from THE BLACK BOX on December 12 and 13. The classic holiday ballet will be presented with a small cast of Ballet Conservatory dancers from the Franklin School for the Performing Arts all in masks and socially-distanced, with narration, live at THE BLACK BOX to a virtual audience at home.

Under the direction of Cheryl Madeux, former dancer with American Ballet Theatre, the Franklin Performing Arts Company has found a safe way to present this holiday tradition for the region. The masked production will feature Merrie Whitney’s stunning costume design accompanied by facial coverings. The production will continue FPAC’s collaboration with Franklin TV who will help bring the magic of the season to the audiences at home.

Cast A performs Saturday, 12/12 at 2:00 and 7:00 pm

Cast B performs Sunday, 12/13 at 1:00 and 6:00 pm

Tickets are available for each Livestream show and also an On-Demand option for the Saturday Show and the Sunday Show.  https://www.showtix4u.com/events/17686

"The Nutcracker ~ Masked" live streamed from THE BLACK BOX - Dec 12-13

 

FPAC presents The Nutcracker - Dec 7 & 8

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will kick off December with the holiday classic: The Nutcracker, presented December 7 and 8 at the Franklin High School Auditorium. Experience all the festive magic and colorful splendor of The Nutcracker as FPAC stages its cherished annual production of the holiday classic with live orchestra, special guest artists, and more than 100 area dancers. 

The Nutcracker remains a highly anticipated and treasured part of the FPAC season - a popular holiday tradition for more than 20 years. The world-famous ballet, set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, delights the imaginations of audiences young and old with a professional production at a reasonable price.

Tickets are available at www.FPAConline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370

FPAC presents The Nutcracker - Dec 7 & 8

PEDC presents the Nutcracker! - four performances on Dec 7-8

With the explosive growth of the arts in the Franklin community, Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center is proud to present the Nutcracker with four performances this holiday season. The performances will take place on Saturday, December 7 at 1:30 and 5:30 PM and Sunday, December 8, at 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM at Bellingham High School.

Dancing the role of Young Clara is Haylee Goguen, Cheyanne Kelley and Abigail Scollins. Mature Clara will be danced by Grace Jerrier, Rachel Barrows, Jackie Dubois and Angelina Rak.

In other lead roles, the Snow Queen will be danced by Emily Conroy, Julia Broll, Nora Hansen and Kaitlyn Auerbach. The Dew Drop Fairy features Larissa Logan, Amanda Mason, Ellie Rodrigues and Dani Bean. The featured dancers for the coveted role of the Sugar Plum Fairy are Andrea Gray, Isabella Lambros, Samantha Robillard and Bridgette Ginley. 

The box office is open and tickets are limited for the performances. Ticket prices are family-friendly at $18. Tickets are available by calling PEDC at 508-520-7873 or emailing pedcnews@gmail.com.

The show is performed at Bellingham High School's auditorium, 60 Blackstone St., Bellingham, MA.

From left to right, first row: Abigail Scollins, Haylee Goguen and Cheyanne Kelley as Ypung Clara; second row: Jackie Dubois, Agelina Rak, Grace Jerrier and Rachel Barros as Mature Clara; third row: Julia Broll, Katelyn Auerback, Isabella Lambros, Ellie Rodriques and Amanda Mason; fourth row: Emily Conroy, Samantha Robillard, Bridgette Ginley, Andrea Gray, Dani Bean and Larissa Logan. Missing: Norah Hansen. Photo credit: Marcos Esteves

For more info on the Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center visit
https://www.pattieisenhauerdancecenter.com/

In the News: PEDC presents The Nutcracker; advances in cancer seen

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"With the explosive growth of the arts in the Franklin community, Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center is preparing to present "The Nutcracker" with three performances this weekend. 

Performances are on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 9 at 12:30 p.m. at Bellingham High School, 60 Blackstone St., Bellingham. 

PEDC has cast six girls as Clara, for the first time having three younger dancers portray young Clara and three older dancers portray mature Clara. Each set of dancers will perform for one show. 

Dancing the lead roles in the production are Samantha Robillard, Kaitlyn Auerbach and Andrea Gray as the Snow Queen; Bridgette Ginley, Elizabeth Rodriques and Emily Conroy as the Dew Drop Fairy and Isabella Lambros, Kaitlin Broyles and Alanna Huling as the Sugar Plum Fairy."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20181206/franklins-pedc-to-present-the-nutcracker

"The winners of this year’s Nobel Prize for Medicine say they expect substantial advances toward treating cancer in the next several decades, although it is unlikely the disease could be eradicated. 

James Allison of the United States and Tasuku Honjo of Japan made the assessments at a Thursday news conference ahead of receiving the 9 million-kronor ($999,000) prize. 

They were named winners of the prize in October for their work in immunotherapy — activating the body’s natural defense system to fight tumors. 

“Soon we’ll get close with some cancers,” Allison said, citing progress against some forms including melanoma. But, he said, “the world will never be cancer-free.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20181206/nobel-laureates-despite-progress-cancer-wont-be-wiped-out/1