11-year-old Holyoke actor lands role in Boston musical. Page D2
STARRING ODIN VEGA
ALSO INSIDE: Fleetwood Macked to play songs made famous by Fleetwood Mac at 52Sumner in Springfield, D4
STARRING ODIN VEGA
11-year-old Holyoke actor
lands role in Boston musical
By Staasi H eropoulos Special to The Republican
When Odin Vega, 11, found out the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston was offering him a role in an upcoming performance, his reaction was real.
“I was like, ‘That would be amazing.’ I started tearing up,” said the child actor from Holyoke.
Vega joins the cast of “The Light in the Piazza” at the Huntington Theater, running through June 15.
The production follows a mother and her daughter on their Italian holiday in the summer of 1953.
Vega is an extra in the musical, appearing in several scenes.
“In the first scene, me and my sibling are in the piazza kicking a soccer ball, and we accidentally kick it to a nun, and the nun kicks it back. It’s all fun,” he told The Republican.
“In another scene, I need to use the
Odin Vega, 11, attends jazz rehearsals that his mom, Debra Vega, teaches every Monday evening in Holyoke. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)
Vega
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D2
restroom at a museum, then I go off stage and get prepared for my last scene, where me and my sibling are on a staircase, fiddling around in the piazza,” he continued.
Vega found out he landed the role last March and has been traveling with his mother and father to Boston for rehearsals six days a week since April 25.
He is part of a cast comprised mostly of adults; many having appeared on Broadway. After beginning his acting career with the St. Michael’s Players in East Longmeadow when he was 7 years old, he feels he has now hit the big time.
“I am a little nervous, but I understand my part really
well and my costume changes enough to not be too nervous or wonder, ‘What am I going do if this happens,’” he said.
On Broadway
Debra Vega, Odin’s mother, is a retired performer who sang and danced on Broadway and as a Radio City Rockette. She has also choreographed productions for the Players in East Longmeadow, bringing Odin with her when he was a baby.
The 11-year-old began his own career there when he played a dancing snowflake in “Frozen JR,” a musical based on the Disney animated film “Frozen.”
Since then, he has performed in numerous produc-
“I thought how I would feel as that person, how hard it was not to walk. I thought about being paralyzed from the hips down and imagined that when I was acting with the wheelchair,” he said.
During one of his performances at the Majestic, Vega played the young lead in “Little Lord Fauntleroy.” He portrayed an American boy who discovers he is next in line to be an English Earl, goes to England and meets his grouchy grandfather, played by a much older actor.
“Because the boy is so sweet, loving and kind, he slowly changes the grumpy old man into a happier person. The dynamic between (Odin) and someone who could actually be his grandfather was neat. He was able to act opposite a theater veteran so readily,” said Petit.
tions with the Players, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield and the Majestic Children’s Theater in West Springfield, where he sings, acts and dances.
Since the summer of 2023, he has appeared in “The Secret Garden,” “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” “Curious George: The Golden Meatball” and “The Aristocats KIDS” in the Majestic’s summer program.
“He is incredibly talented, hard-working and focused. He knows what he wants. Sometimes I forget he’s just 11,” said Stephen Petit, director of the Majestic’s Summer Theater.
After performing as a community theater volunteer,
“He is incredibly talented, hard-working and focused. He knows what he wants. Sometimes I forget he’s just 11.”
STEPHEN PETIT, DIRECTOR OF THE MAJESTIC’S SUMMER THEATER IN WEST SPRINGFIELD
Vega became a paid professional at the age of 9 when he took the stage for the first time at the Majestic. While he considers this to be his big break, he admits being a little perplexed when he saw his contract.
“I thought we had to owe the money we were getting paid. I’m like, ‘Oh no. What are we gonna do?’ Then my mom had me look at the words better, and I’m like, ‘Whoa,’” he said.
Vega has transformed himself into many roles, including the monkey in “Curious George” and a boy in a wheelchair in “The Secret Garden.”
Vega attends the Greater Commonwealth Virtual School, a Massachusetts-based online public charter school. Working on a laptop in a car to and from Boston, he studies in between rehearsals and performances.
Frisky and mischievous
Vega has played both leading and supporting roles and likes getting into character, especially if he is also getting into trouble.
“I enjoy a challenge like being a mean or bratty character. I find it kind of fun to be that person and be all obnoxious on stage,” he said.
“I also love the amazing communities acting can bring together. A lot of people in the business are kind and caring and nice to one another,” he said.
Odin Vega joins the cast of “The Light in the Piazza,” playing at the Huntington Theatre in Boston. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)
SEE VEGA, PAGE D7
Tribute band to perform Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits in Springfield
Fleetwood Macked
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Don’t expect any drama on stage when Fleetwood Macked takes the stage at 52 Sumner this Saturday.
What you will see and hear are an accomplished band of musicians — all of whom have been professional, touring rock performers — who came together with their mutual love of Fleetwood Mac to authentically create the band’s sound for fans of the ever-popular hitmakers.
As for the drama among the members of Fleetwood Mac, husband and wife Michael and Hillary Epstein as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are solidly married unlike the long-term relationship between Buckingham and Nicks that began to fall apart in 1976.
Caroline Purr as Christine McVie and Jay Novas as John McVie aren’t a married couple, so there was no marriage to fall apart as with the McVies. And no problems for Phil Weiss, who plays Mick Fleetwood, who was in the midst of a divorce from his wife Jenny Boyd and who was having an affair with Nicks.
While Fleetwood Mac was a powerhouse of five, Fleetwood Macked has an additional player, Andrew Nadien, on keys, guitar and vocals.
“Our perspective changed like many other people, and we lost our appetite to do what we were doing. We decided to settle down for a time and start a family. Shortly after our daughter was born, we began to miss making music.”
Hillary Epstein of Fleetwood Macked, on how the events of Sept. 11, 2001, changed their perspective
“We were in a band with Andrew before and he is very important to us. He is a monster musician, plays every instrument, everything else we need to sound like Fleetwood Mac,” Hillary said. Prior to forming Fleetwood Macked, the Epsteins were in a group called The Basals. They had a distribution deal with Warner Bros. and were about to embark on their first national tour. Then the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, changed everything.
“Our perspective changed like many other people, and we lost our appetite to do what we were doing. We decided to settle down for a time and start a family. Shortly after
Fleetwood Macked, a tribute band performing songs made famous by Fleetwood Mac, will play the group’s greatest hits at 52 Sumner in Springfield. Above is Hillary Epstein, who takes on the role of Stevie Nicks for the band.
SPRINGFIELD
Theresa Caputo, ‘Long Island Medium’, returns to Symphony Hall
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
Believe her or not, self-proclaimed psychic Theresa Caputo, coming to Springfield Symphony Hall on Friday, has been making a living sharing her messages of comfort and healing derived from the other side with over a million audience members worldwide.
Known to many as the Long Island Medium — a name derived from the TLC reality series of the same name that ran from 2011 to 2019 — Caputo is returning to Springfield once again with her popular show entitled “Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience.”
During the captivating and oftentimes emotional show, Caputo will do audience readings and share personal stories about her life.
Caputo explains on her website how she receives information from the other side:
“I see, hear, and feel things differently than we do in the physical world. Spirit mostly speaks to me through a sixth sense—a kind of feeling and knowing. When I get information, it feels like very strong intuition, or recall. Spirit also uses a vocabulary of signs and symbols that they show me during a reading; over time, I assigned words, phrases, and meanings to certain images I
was shown, and then through trial and error, Spirit helped me add new ones until we created an entire vocabulary for us to work with. I translate my signs and what I feel as best I can and then deliver the messages, but it’s the client’s job to interpret how the meaning is significant. It’s like piecing together a puzzle and can sometimes sound like guesswork, but Spirit speaks “another language,” at another speed, and in another dimension.”
Today, Caputo continues to reach out to fans through a new TLC reality series, “Theresa Caputo Raising Spirits” and a podcast called “Hey Spirit!”
She is also the author of four books, “There’s More to Life than This: Healing Messages, Remarkable Stories, and Insight from the Other Side,” “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up - Life Changing Lessons from Heaven,” “Good Grief - Heal Your Soul, Honor Your Loved Ones and Learn to Live Again,” and “Good Mourning: Moving Through Everyday Losses With Wisdom From The Other Side.”
Showtime is 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available on Springfield Symphony Hall’s website.
A Walk Honoring
Sima and Dylan Pariseau
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Fountain Park - Wilbraham, MA
Post-walk food, live music, raffle, fresh flowers, and signature jewelry!
With your support, we can play a direct role in aiding the lives of domestic violence survivors. All proceeds will go directly to the YWCA of Western MA, in honor of Sima and Dylan Pariseau, who tragically lost their lives to domestic violence in June 2024.
Please help us to honor their legacy by supporting those in need. Register or Donate Today!
Theresa Caputo attends the premiere of Netflix’s “Leave the World Behind” at the Plaza Hotel on Dec. 4, 2023, in New York. (PHOTO BY EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION/AP)
LeFever combines blues with other musical hues
NOT A LOT OF groups employ spoons as a musical instrument, but Dawn Lepere of LeFever has quite a knack for playing them.
“Dawn’s dad is a great spoons player, and he would break them out at a gathering every now and then,” LeFever guitarist Jeff Starns said. “We have songs that are just me playing some sort of fingerstyle acoustic thing while Dawn sings, and I would always tell Dawn, ‘you gotta get some spoons in there on this.’ She finally sat down for a lesson with her dad on one of our visits back to Ohio, and she turned out to be a prodigy! I guess it is in the genes. We have been adding spoons to a lot of material, and it is always the part of the act that draws the most interest.”
LeFever is the guitar-based duo of Lepere and Starns, but they also perform as a trio and full band. They will play Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton as a full band on May 31 at 8:30 p.m. and as a duo at Glendale Ridge Vineyard in Southampton on June 1 at 4 p.m.
While the group won several prestigious blues awards
NIGHTCLUBS
THURSDAY
Delaney House: Gerry Moss. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
The Drake: Holder with Gun to God’s Head, Dream Fatigue, retract, and Meetinghouse. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: Ask Me Now. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
MGM Springfield: MGM Free Music Friday: American Honey. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores’: The Love Dogs. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
SATURDAY
over the years, their repertoire ranges outside a traditional blues band, especially with their original songs. The pair talked about their roots, musical style and influences in a recent interview with The Republican.
Q. So how did you first get interested in music and especially in songwriting?
Dawn: Growing up, we had various old instruments in our house. The first was a piano, then a recorder, then a violin, and an alto sax, an old beat-up electric guitar. I took a spin on all of them with various levels of interest, focus, and success. I never really learned how to read music past the very basics. But what I was consistent about, was creating my own music on each of them. I would spend hours, even when I was as young as 7, creating melodies and eventually in my teens, lyrics. It was simply a very strong impulse and one of the only things I was truly interested in doing.
Jeff: I have been captivated by music and language for as far back as I can remember, so this is a bit like trying to answer, “how did you first learn what the word ‘hello’
means?” So I’ll make things easier on myself and tell you how I got interested in trying to write songs of my own: Quite simply, I met Dawn. She was a songwriter, and we started working together so that I could add some extra guitar parts to her wonderful songs. I started encouraging
Delaney House: CO2. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Todd Royce. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Canyon Lights & Troy Mercy. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: The James Oliver Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Treehouse Brewery: The James
Oliver Band. 129 Sturbridge Road, Charlton
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: The Healys. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
MONDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: 50% off individual deep dish pizza (dine in only). 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
TUESDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Blues Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
WEDNESDAY
The Drake: Survival Center Benefit with Donnie Gallagher & Friends. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to www.masslive.com/myevent
TUESDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849 431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849
Bingo Tuesday
Doors Open at 4PM
2 Progressive Jackpots 6:15PM Early Bird 6:20PM Start
Min. Entry Package $15 Open Seating
2 Halls for Players Handicap Restroom 1st Floor
WEDNESDAY
Polish American Citizens Club 355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385 Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm Doors Open at 4pm. Minimum Admission $50
THURSDAY
Fairview Knights of Columbus 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011
DOORS OPEN 4:30PM
MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
Min. Entry Package $15
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
Dawn Lepere and Jeff Starns of LeFever. The duo will play as a full band at Luthier's Co-op in Easthampton on May 31, and as a duo at Glendale Ridge Vineyard in Southampton on June 1.
(ISABELLA DELLOLIO)
SPRINGFIELD
‘Here Be Dragons’ brings live reptiles to Springfield Museums
Exhibit on display through Sept. 14
The Springfield Museums presents “Here Be Dragons,” on view through Sept. 14 at the Springfield Science Museum. This immersive exhibition brings visitors face-to-face with live reptiles, touchable models, and paleontological discoveries that blur the lines between fantasy and reality.
“For centuries dragons have captured human imaginations! This exhibit brings together the fun and fantasy of dragons with animals that really do exist here on Earth,” said Jenny Powers, Director of the Springfield Science Museum, in a statement. “Families will be fascinated by the living specimens and that it will spark conversations about other fantasy
animals or characters that are also inspired by reality.”
Visitors will explore the real-life animals— past and present—that may have inspired myths and fantasy. From prehistoric flying reptiles to their modern relatives, “Here Be Dragons” combines education, interaction, and a touch of magic. This exhibition is perfect for families, museum enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of myth, biology, and natural history.
Live reptiles
Get up close with modern “dragons:” the rare Egyptian Uromastyx, the sheltopusik (commonly known as a legless lizard), the semi-aquatic Australian water dragon, the spiny-tailed Ackie monitor, and the
our daughter was born, we began to miss making music. A friend of ours was in an AC/ DC tribute band at a time when tribute bands weren’t really a thing yet, and he suggested we do one. I look like Stevie Nicks and my husband like Lindsey Buckingham, and people were always comparing us to them, so it was a no brainer to start a Fleetwood Mac tribute band,” Hillary said.
And it didn’t hurt that the couple are big Fleetwood Mac fans.
“We have seen them live many times. As much as he loves Fleetwood Mac, Michael also loves Lindsey Buckingham’s solo works. And as a producer and engineer by trade who owns his own studio, he feels connected to Buckingham as a producer and more,” Hillary said.
“For me, I knew that I wanted to be a rock singer by the time I was seven and gravitated at a really young age to Stevie. I had a very husky voice like hers and that drew me to her even more. And I loved her whole vibe, the mystique and mysticism, and I was into that, too,” she added.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D3
The Holyoke boy hopes to make it big someday, but until then, he will kick a soccer ball on stage in Boston and appear in two more Majestic productions this summer.
“I’m busting with pride because I have witnessed his growth and how hard he’s worked for everything he has achieved,” said Vega’s mother. “It looks glamorous to be in a show, but there’s a lot of work that goes into it behind the scenes. He is
balancing school and trains many days a week in his singing, dancing and acting. He’s keeping up his chops.”
Vega says it will be just fine if her son does not make it big because he’s learning life lessons along the way. But he has stars in his eyes.
“I want to do it my whole life. I have two dream goals—to be on Broadway and in a big movie,” he said. “I know a lot of people have stage fright, or don’t want to be seen by people, but I love showing my skills in front of an audience.”
Audiences can expect to hear many of Fleetwood Mac’s hits from the ′70s, ’80s, ′90s and today, as well as solo songs, but not many “deep catalog” songs.
“Certainly, you will hear songs like “Landslide,” “You Make Lovin’ Fun,” “Don’t Stop, “Go Your Own Way,” Sara,” and many more. But there’s not a lot of time to go deep into their catalog,” Hillary said. Showtime on Saturday is 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. A cash bar will be available. Tickets, priced from $25 to $45, are available online at 52sumner.com.
to $45, are available online at 52sumner. com.
Fleetwood Macked, a tribute band performing songs made famous by Fleetwood Mac, will play the group's greatest hits at 52 Sumner in Springfield.
Live reptiles, touchable models and paleontological discoveries are all part of the “Here Be Dragons” exhibit at the Springfield Museums.
By ToNy C ApAccIo Bloomberg
For fans of Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible” series, the Pentagon can answer the incredulous question at the climax of its latest trailer: “You gave him an aircraft carrier?”
Yes, the US Navy and Air Force Special Operations decided to accept the mission: help Cruise’s secret agent Ethan Hunt save the world. Or, at least make a movie about it.
For Paramount Global’s “The Final Reckoning,”
Tom Cruise goes for broke in ‘Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning’
By L INDSEy BAHR
Associated Press
Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is getting a bit of a God complex. It’s not exactly his fault after defying death and completing impossible missions time and time again. But in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” now playing, there’s a breathlessness to the naive trust from his growing band of disciples, including the U.S. president (the formerly skeptical Erika Sloane of “Fallout,” played by Angela Bassett ), and Paris (Pom Klementieff), the once delightfully fun maniac assassin who has been reduced to brooding French philosopher. In a series that has often been best when it’s not taking itself too seriously, these dour developments start to feel a little unintentionally silly. And, for at least the first hour, it’s all we have to hang onto.
Perhaps this is part of the point in pitting a human man against a parasitic artificial intelligence set on inciting nuclear extinction, something we’re meant to believe has been brewing in some way since the beginning of the franchise. You can almost see the behind-the-scenes wheels turning: Gravity is kind of a prerequisite when this much is on the line, and when so much pain has been taken to link 30 years and seven movies that were certainly never meant to be connected by anything other than Ethan Hunt. But we don’t come to “Mission: Impossible” movies for the bigger picture, and definitely not to learn what the rabbit’s foot was in the third movie. We come to be awed by the thrills and Cruise’s execution, whether he’s speeding through Paris on a motorbike,
released last Friday in the US, Cruise and the crew spent three days in the Adriatic Sea filming aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, a nuclear powered Nimitz-class carrier commissioned in 2009. It’s the latest cinematic incarnation of Cruise’s career-long affinity for the US military and its aircrafts (as well as doing his own stunts). It’s also an example of the Pentagon’s willingness to showcase its hardware and martial might through a classic piece of American
driving one-handed through Rome in a tiny old Fiat, or hanging on the outside of an airbus, or bullet train, or helicopter, or the Burj Khalifa. And unlike, say, the “Fast & Furious” movies, which long ago jumped the shark, the “Mission” stunts have always felt grounded in some reality and playfulness. It’s not just Cruise’s willingness to tether himself to all forms of high-
This image shows Tom Cruise in a still from the film "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning." (PARAMOUNT PICTURES VIA AP)
This image shows, from left, Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, and Simon Pegg in a still from the film "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning." (PARAMOUNT PICTURES VIA AP)
Events
THURSDAY
Free In-Person Medicare Info Session with Health New England: Thu., 11 a.m. Residence Inn Chicopee, Health New England Medicare experts will be on hand to answer your Medicare Advantage questions and explain the company’s 2025 Medicare Advantage options. Pre-registration at healthnewengland.org/medicare/ sessions is recommended. You can also find other community Medicare sessions at the same site. Free. 500 Memorial Drive, Chicopee. 413-331-4440.
Thursday Night Live Music Series: Thu., 6:30-8:30 p.m. Liston’s Bar and Grill. Performances will take place outdoors (weather permitting). Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs, but seating also will be provided. While outside food and beverages are not allowed, the event will feature their outdoor bar, The 143 Club, offering a limited selection of food and beverages. In addition, their regular restaurant and menu will be open with indoor and patio seating available for those who want to enjoy a meal while listening to the music. Free. 324 Old North Road, Worthington, 413238-5353.
FRIDAY
Theresa Caputo Live “The Experience”: Fri., 7:30 p.m. Springfield Symphony Hall, doors open at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, visit mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/symphony-hall.html. Tickets start at $75. 34 Court St., Springfield, 413-733-2291.
SATURDAY
Comedy Show and Dinner: Sat., Crestview Country Club, show-only tickets or dinner and show tickets available. Dinner show includes a delicious buffet-style dinner and the opportunity to watch the show from your reserved table. Doors open for dinner & the show at 5:45 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. Show-only tickets doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m. For tickets, visit crestviewcc.org/event-calendar/list/, $62.20 dinner and show; $26.50 show only. 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam, 413-786-2593. Doodle-a-thon with Resilient Community Arts: Sat., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. High Five Books. Doodlea-thon is a celebration of youth art, fundraising for the Art is For Everybody Fund of Resilient Community Arts to help youth and teens from low-income homes attend
CALENDAR
today. Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.
programs at RCA’s studio. This free event includes: Doodling for All: with 30 feet of doodling space (free to participate!); mini workshops with local artists, featuring illustrator Madison Safer. Day-of workshop tickets $10 or 2 for $15. Kid-centric raffle prizes include donations from: Easthampton Skate Club, A2Z Toys, Comics and More, Hometown Arcade, GoBerry, High 5 Books and more. Raffle tickets benefit the AEF. Tickets: 1 ticket for $1, 5 tickets for $4, 10 tickets for $8 or an arms length for $20. DIY tie dye and take-home craft kits. Sliding scale prices for tie dye, craft kits $5 each, 141 North Main St., Florence.
Fleetwood Macked: Sat., 8 p.m. 52 Sumner, all ages. For more information, visit 52sumner.com. Tickets available online at Eventbrite. com, $25-$45. 52 Sumner Ave., Springfield.
“Imagined Worlds”: Sat., noon, Children’s Museum at Holyoke. The Children’s Museum at Holyoke and The Color Collaborative invite families to a special Imagined Worlds Artmaking Party. This free community event, held outside the museum, or inside the museum if raining, promises an afternoon of hands-on creativity, connection, and fun — including pizza. Youth artwork will influence the design of a largescale mural on Dwight Street in Holyoke. “Imagined Worlds” is a traveling youth mental health and public art initiative designed by The Color Collaborative. Free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke. 413-536-7048 or childrensmuseumholyoke.org.
”Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” Community Screening: Sat., 7 p.m. BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity. This acclaimed documentary chronicles the life and work of Corky Lee, an activist photographer who dedicated his career to capturing the struggles, celebrations, and civil rights battles of Asian American communities across the U.S. Free. 130 Pine St., Florence. Sacred Balance — A Shamanic Breathwork Ceremony: Sat., 2:30 p.m. The Hidden Temple. Join us in a transformative breathwork ceremony designed to bring you into deep connection with yourself, the earth, and your highest visions. Come as you are. Breathe into who you are becoming. This ceremony can last anywhere from 2-3 hours, and it’s recommended to give yourself time for integration afterward. Open to all who seek to become more embodied in your mission and purpose here on Earth, $45-$65 sliding scale. 221 Pine St. Suite 320, Florence; hiddentemple.org. Valley Jazz Voices Spring Concert: Sat., 7 p.m. Edwards Church of Northampton, $10-$20. 297 Main St., Northampton.
SUNDAY
Montague Soap Box Races: Sun., Unity Park & Skatepark, homemade carts, minimum three wheels, one rider. No motors or any form of propulsion. Registration is open. Racers compete in three age brackets. Visit soapboxes.com to learn how to build a simple gravity fed
car. This event is a fundraiser for Montague Parks and Recreation, 56 1st Street, Turners Falls. Weathervane Arts Presents Montague World Music Mini Festival: Sun., 1 p.m. Downtown Turners Falls. West African Drumming Workshop with John Hughes at the Brick House. $20 registration required. For more info or to pre-register for the drumming workshop visit weathervane-arts. org. Followed at 4 p.m. by culturally diverse music at Peskeompskut Park. Mexican food by El Sotano Taco Truck. In case of rain, this event will be rescheduled. Free, drumming workshop $20. Avenue A, Turners Falls.
Quadrangle
George Walter Vincent Smith
Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums is free. For more information, visit www.springfieldmuseums.org
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “Witch Panic! Massachusetts Before Salem,” through Nov. 2 The exhibition explores how the first instance of witchcraft hysteria in the American colonies influenced the early history of the city and how the conversation continues
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Portraits in RED: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples Painting Project,” through Sept. 7. In this striking series of portraits, artist and activist Nayana LaFond sheds light on the crisis affecting Indigenous peoples, particularly women, who are eleven times more likely to go missing than the national average. The exhibition is the last time the works will be on view together: at its close, the portraits will be returned to living family members. “Van Gogh for All,” through Sept. 14. ‘YoKai: Japanese Ghosts, Demons and Monsters,” through July 20. In the Starr Gallery of Watercolors. On view for a limited-time only; showcasing a stunning collection of Japanese woodblock prints and decorative arts, this exhibition features the diverse forms and stories of supernatural entities known as yokai. Museum a la Carte: May 29, 12:15 p.m. “Saving Nature, Saving Ourselves in Our Own Back Yards.” Cost $4, members free. Presented by Sharon Farmer, Master Gardener.
Springfield Science Museum: “Here Be Dragons,” through Sept. 14. On the Second Floor Changing Exhibits Gallery. Permanent exhibit: State-of-the-art Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station exhibit. The Live Animal Center has been reopend as “Living Waters: From Oceans to Valleys”.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. Firstfloor exhibition features interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia.
Quadrangle admission: $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Museums
Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibits include spaceship, construction site, library, grocery store, as well as weekday activities. Visit ameliaparkmuseum.org for information. Hours: Tue.-Tue., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open for groups Wed. $8 adults; $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); military
Erin Wilson, of Enfield, Conn., pets a goat while attending a past Wine Safari event held at Forest Park Zoo in 2023. The Wine Safari, which pairs animals and wines from around the world, returns to the Springfield zoo on May 31. (HOANG 'LEON' NGUYEN, FILE PHOTO)
Museums
personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission. Members/infants free. 29 South Broad St., Westfield or ameliaparkmuseum.org.
Anchor House of Artists: Rotating art exhibits, self-staged by fine regional talents. The best leastknown gallery in the Pioneer Valley. Free public receptions on the 2nd Fri. of the month from 5-8 p.m. For more information, email artists@ anchorhouseartists.org, go online to anchorhouseartists.org, or call 413-588-4337. 518 Pleasant St., Northampton
East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit: Open every third Saturday of the month, 1-3 p.m. with free admission. Guided tours are available. For more information about seasonal events, search “East Longmeadow Historical Commission” on Facebook. 87 Maple St., East Longmeadow
Edith Wharton — The Mount: Outdoor Sculpture: “Sculpture at the Mount.” Through October. Free and open to the public. 2 Plunkett St., Lenox or edithwharton.org.
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “Open + Shut: Celebrating the art of Endpapers,” through Nov. 9. Guest curated by Bruce Handy. Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. Museum hours: Wed.-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four, “Created in Color: The Picture Book Art of Raul Colon,” through June 1. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or www.carlemuseum.org.
Historic Deerfield: “Spicing it Up! Cooking with Flavors of the Past,” May 31, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register or for more information, visit historic-deerfield.org. Free with museum admission. 80 Old Main St., Deerfield.
Historic Northampton Museum and Education: Permanent exhibit.
Hours: Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation, 46 Bridge St., Northampton or historic-northampton.org.
Josiah Day House: Permanent exhibit: Featuring guided tours, artifacts, furniture, clothing and documents from 1754-1902. Call for open house schedule and individual tours. $3, $1 children 6-12, free for members. 70 Park St., West Springfield, 413-734-8322.
Norman Rockwell Museum: “Norman Rockwell: Illustrating Humor,”
WESTFIELD
Children's Day
Amelia Park Children's Museum is celebrating its 28th anniversary with a "Children's Day" event on Sunday, June 1. From 1 to 3 p.m., the museum will offer festivities including games, arts and crafts and live music from local performers. Children 8 years and under are admitted free all day; other regular admission fees apply. For more information, visit ameliaparkmuseum.org. Above, Wells McNulty of Westfield peers through a magnifying glass during a visit to the museum. (DON TREEGER, FILE PHOTO)
through June 10. $0 - $25, nrm. org/2023/11/norman-rockwell-illustrating-humor/. Permanent exhibit: Gallery. Hours: Thu.-Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Tues. and Wed.; $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retired military; $10 college students; free children ages 18 and under, members and active military.
“Illustrators of Light: Rockwell, Wyeth, and Parrish from the Edison Mazda Collection,” through Jan. 4. $0/$25, nrm.org/2024/09/ illustrators-of-light-rockwellwyeth-and-parrish-from-the-edison-mazda-collection/. “All for Laughs: The Artists of the Famous Cartoonist Course” exhibition, through June 15. Online exhibit: “Imagining Freedom,” highlights the important role of Norman Rockwell and other artists in advancing and communicating these ideals, envisioned as core human rights for all people. The fee for accessing “Imagining freedom” is $5 for the general public, available on the museum’s website. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or nrm.org.
Old Sturbridge Village: “Hands & Hearts: Courtship and Marriage in 19th Century New England,” through June. Explores marriage and partnership by telling the stories of four couples from the 19th century. The new exhibit is located in the Visitor Center and is included with standard daytime admission.
“For the Purpose of Illumination.”
Learn how New Englanders needed, used, and created artificial lighting methods in the 1830s and see firsthand artifacts from the era. Included
Independence and Servitude.” May 31-Oct. 15, with a reception on May 31 at 2 p.m. 130 River Drive, Hadley or pphmuseum.org.
Smith College Museum of Art: “Younes Rahmoun: Here, Now.” Through July 13. Free. Permanent exhibits: “Ancient World Gallery, Beyond the Museum: Art on Smith’s Campus.” Hours: Tues.Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Mondays and major holidays. Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is free to all. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or scma.smith.edu.
Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive programs offered in the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. Wed.-Sun, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. “Victory Garden Launch Party,” May 31, 10 a.m. Join us for the Victory Garden Launch Party and Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. Ongoing throughout the day: Junior Gardener Activity Booklet, plant a seed to take home, learn about rationing, take home recipes from “Baking On Your Sugar Ration”, make a “Dig For Victory button”, take a tour of the Victory Garden. Free. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or www.nps.gov/spar.
Volleyball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit. Open Tues.-Sun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Mon. Last admission is 30 minutes prior to close. $8 adults; $5 seniors 65 and older; $5 students, active and retired military; and free for children 12 and under. Group rates also available online. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or volleyhall.org.
with standard daytime general admission. Standard daytime admission is $30 for adults, $28 for seniors (55+), $15 for youth (4-17), $15 for college students (with a valid college ID), and free for children 3 and under. Route 20, Sturbridge or osv.org.
Pan African Historical Museum USA: Permanent exhibit: exhibitions by local artists. Hours: Tues.Fri. noon-4 p.m. Free. 1500 Main St., Springfield, 413-733-1823.
Polish Center of Discovery and Learning: Permanent exhibit: a living monument safeguarding historical objects representative of the material culture of the Polish people in America. Galleries include “Coming to America”; “At Home in America”; “Folk Art”; “History.” The Polish Center is open to the public daily, Mon.-Fri, 1-5 p.m., except for inclement weather and holidays. Other times may be scheduled by appointment. $5 donation, 33 South St., Chicopee or polishcenter.net.
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum: Open for the 2025 season through Oct. A historic house dating to 1752 in Hadley is now open to the public, and offers guided tours Sat.-Wed. from 1-4 p.m. The Museum’s programs share stories of enslavement, resistance, and independence at Forty Acres, from the Revolutionary Era to the present, and the networks of labor that sustained the site for generations. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children. “Forty Acres and the American Revolution: Stories of
The New England Visionary Artists Museum: The New England Visionary Artists Museum in Northampton has five exhibition showrooms hosting New England artists’ work in all media and is home to Anchor House of Artists, the region’s subsidized studio and representation support to artists living with neurodiverse conditions. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 2-6 p.m., with regular free public receptions on the second Friday of the month, from 5-8 p.m. Find them at 518 Pleasant St. Sign up for the newsletter at the website, NEVA-museum.org; $10 suggested donation asked at the door. Pleasant St., Northampton Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2 children and students. 208 Main St., Indian Orchard or www. titanic1.org.
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: Permanent exhibit: guided tours of the first and second floors. Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are on the hour with the last self-guided tour weekdays at 2 p.m. Call to reserve at 413-637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID and $7 children 5-17. Admission $18; $17 for seniors (65 and over); and free for children 4 and younger. 104 Walker St., Lenox or gildedage.org.
Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and gift shop open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For information about house tours, group tours and upcoming events visit wistariahurst.org. Standard admission: $7 Holyoke residents; $5 seniors; $5 youth (under 18); free museum members, active military and family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke or wistariahurst.org. Yiddish Book Center: “Yiddish: A Global Culture.” Free. Exhibit: “Albert Chasan: Painting His Parents’ Lives,” through Oct. Free, suggested $12 donation, yiddishbookcenter.org/events/ upcoming-public-programs/ albert-chasan-painting-hisparents-lives-exhibit-opening. Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” The center will be open to the public on Thurs, Fri, Sun, and Mon. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children. “The Art of 20th Century Yiddish Poster Design: Theater/ Politics/Lectures,” through Sept. 1. Free, suggested $12 donation, yiddishbookcenter.org/visit/ now-view/art-20th-century-yiddish-poster-design-theaterpoliticslectures. 1021 West St., Amherst or yiddishbookcenter.org.
Markets
Amherst Farmers Market: Saturdays through Nov. 15, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Boltwood Avenue and Spring Street, Amherst
Farmers Market at Forest Park: Every Tues. May-Oct. 12:30-6 p.m. 200 Trafton Rd. or free entry at main entrance on Sumner Ave for market shoppers. Sumner Avenue, Springfield or farmersmarketatforestpark.com.
Northampton Farmers Market: Saturdays through Nov. 8, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 8 Gothic St., Northampton The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to: Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to www.masslive.com/myevent
Live Wire
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Dawn to sing blues music, and ended up writing some blues songs for her to try. She made my songs sound great, and I have been eagerly writing new ones ever since.
Q. You garnered some awards and prestige in the blues community out in the Midwest, and you obviously play plenty of blues music, but while your original music sounds blues-based, it isn’t always strictly blues. How did that blend come about and how much does the blues influence your own writing?
Dawn: At the start, Jeff accompanied me by adding his lead guitar work to my original music that generally fell
into the categories of alternative and singer/songwriter. These are the same categories that I continue to write in today. But it wasn’t long before Jeff, having grown up listening to blues, introduced it to me. Additionally, he wrote some of his very first songs in order to have original blues music for the Blues Challenge held by The Columbus Blues Alliance in Ohio in 2007. So, we definitely love blues, but we work in a range of styles given our different approaches to songwriting. We love to be able to bring a variety of moods and feels to a performance, and it is one of the things that makes our shows unique.
Q. Who are some of your influences both as far as songwriting and vocally, and how did they influence
you?
Jeff: In my formative years, I absorbed a south Louisiana mélange of blues, country, southern rock, swing, funk, and Zydeco. I admire songwriters who can convey a clear theme, incorporate anecdotes and humor, and pay it off with a compelling hook. Willie Dixon comes to mind, and Jerry Reed.
I love people who find a new way to say the old lines that people will never get tired of hearing. Taj Mahal is a great example on that point. Another great attribute of all of these folks is that they write lyrics that sound like people talking, not like something that was written down.
Dawn: I’m not sure how to answer this question. I will say that some of my earliest introductions to music were Willie Nelson, Simon and Garfunkle,
and Barbara Streisand. I went through a period in which I loved anything that I could dance to. By the time I headed off to college, I was a total Zep head. Then my musical taste got expanded by what some of my friends were listening to which included everything from Lenny Kravitz to Tori Amos and Enya.
Now I have added Jeff’s world of blues, funk, and country music! I would guess that every artist and type of music that I love is swimming around in my creative zone, but I don’t tend to want to write like any particular artist, or sound like any particular artist – even though I have great appreciation for so many.
Q. Where did the name of the band come from?
Jeff: Dawn and I met at a club called The Thirsty Ear
back in Columbus, Ohio. They had a great open mic run by the inestimable Billy Zenn. Dawn’s last name is Lepere which undoubtedly became the inspiration for his coining the stage name of LeFever for Dawn. Billy took to introducing her as “Dawn LeFever” when we would play a set. Pretty soon after, one of the waitresses proposed a drink with some of Dawn’s favorite ingredients and because it was delicious, it ended up being added to their drink menu as “The LeFever.” When it came to finding a name for our duo at the time, we decided that LeFever was worth sticking with. We had some great times and made some great friends at those open mics, and keeping the brand going was a way to stay connected to that history once we moved to Massachusetts.
speed transportation for our enjoyment. His reactions — surprise, panic, doubt — are unparalleled. Ethan Hunt is never too cool to look unsure.
“Final Reckoning,” Christopher McQuarrie’s fourth “Mission” movie in the director’s chair, does deliver two truly unforgettable sequences. One is in a long-defunct submarine at the bottom of the sea that will have you squirming; another involves two classic biplanes careening at 170 miles per hour (274 kilometers per hour) over lush South African landscapes. Though they may induce vertigo on IMAX, these are the things that make the trip to the theater worth it. But be warned: It takes a good long while of labored exposition, manic flashbacks and Oscar broadcast-ready greatest-hits montages to get there.
‘MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING’ rrts
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 179 min.
This image shows Tom Cruise in a still from the film "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning." (PARAMOUNT PICTURES VIA AP)
motivated by a character from the past do little to raise the stakes, it also bogs everything down.
unnatural, one-size-fits-all dialogue, which is especially true in the bizarrely sweaty Situation Room where everyone is always finishing each other’s sentences.
Maybe when you have a larger-than-life movie star, you need larger-than-life character actors. Besides, everyone knows they’re there as side players supporting the Cruise show — no one more so than Hayley Atwell as Grace, the once inscrutable pickpocket turned wide-eyed Madonna supporting and tending to Ethan. The loss of Rebecca Ferguson is acutely felt here.
McQuarrie, who co-wrote the script with Erik Jendresen, might have learned the wrong lessons from the past decade of overly interconnected franchise filmmaking. Or perhaps it still seemed like the right call when this two-part finale was put into motion seven
Playing at: Regal MGM Springfield; Cinemark West Springfield, Hampshire Mall, Buckland Hills; South Hadley’s Tower Theaters; Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas West Hartford
years ago. Not only does realizing one previously enjoyable character is related to and
“Final Reckoning” also overstuffs the cast with faces that are almost distracting (like Hannah Waddingham as a U.S. Navy officer, though her American accent is quite good). Maybe it’s overcompensating for the movie’s flesh-and-bone villain Gabriel (Esai Morales), who seems to be there because Ethan needs someone to chase.
There are some fun additions to the lot: “Severance’s” Tramell Tillman as a submarine captain, as well as Lucy Tulugarjuk and Rolf Saxon, for anyone wondering what became of the poor guy in the Langley vault.
Simon Pegg, as the capably flustered tech wiz Benji, is still great, Ving Rhames gets to flex emotionally, and Bassett really makes you believe she’s chosen a U.S. city to destroy as an offering to “The Entity.” But many get lost in the
The “Mission: Impossible” movies, even when they’re mediocre, remain some of the most effortlessly enjoyable cinematic experiences out there, a pure expression of “let’s put on a show.” There’s nothing else quite like it and maybe they’ve earned this self-important victory lap, though it seems to have gone to the characters’ heads.
Saving the showstopper for last will certainly leave audiences exiting the theater on a happy high note. But it’s hard to shake the feeling that in attempting to tie everything together, “Mission: Impossible” lost the plot. ‘Final’
‘Dragons’
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ever-popular bearded dragon.
Paleontology showcase
Fossils and reconstructions of ancient creatures that were real dragons trapped in stone. Upon entering the exhibit gallery, visitors are greeted by a life-size reproduction of a Quetzalcoatlus skeleton. This towering flying reptile lived during the Late Cretaceous period in North America.
Interactive touch zones & reading corner
Feel the texture of scaled skin and fossilized bones with life-like models and replica fossils designed for hands-on exploration. Young visitors who want to dig deeper into the creatures in the exhibition can settle into dragon egg-shaped chairs and read up on myths and legends from around the world.
For more information on “Here Be Dragons,” visit springfieldmuseums.org
soft power, the Hollywood blockbuster.
The Pentagon has a long history as a supporting character, most famously the 1990 spy thriller The Hunt for Red October — the one where Scotsman Sean Connery plays a Soviet submarine captain. Before getting on board, the Defense Department reviews scripts for accuracy and depictions of the military. (The Pentagon declined, for instance, to support Oliver Stone’s multi-Oscar-winning Vietnam War drama Platoon.)
The US military also charges for equipment use, as well as transportation and lodging for personnel. For 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, for example, the Navy was paid as much as $11,374 an hour to use its F/A-18 Super Hornets — which Cruise couldn’t control as he flew in the fighter jet’s backseat.
For The Final Reckoning, however, Paramount’s reported blowout budget of $400 million got a break because the carrier and crew were already on scheduled training missions.
“Most, if not all, of the aircraft time was logged as official training requirements, and therefore not reimbursable,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
The cast and crew — including Cruise, co-star Hannah Waddingham and director Christopher McQuarrie —
were ferried to the carrier aboard Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. MH-60S Seahawks, flown by the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 based in Norfolk, Virginia.
While aboard from Feb. 28 to March 3, 2023, Cruise hosted a “Top Gun: Maverick” viewing in the ship’s hangar bay and visited with sailors, who had been deployed for about six months at that time, the Navy said in a statement Friday.
“Given that we were on deployment, operational and safety plans were in place so that if called upon, we were ready to execute our mission on a moment’s notice,” spokesman Lieutenant Commander Matthew Stroup said in the statement.
The crew also filmed flight sequences, a scene in the navigation bridge and Hunt’s departure aboard a CV-22 Osprey tiltroter aircraft, from the 352nd Special Operations Wing out of Souda Bay, Crete, which was on a joint training exercise with the carrier group.
The film “supplemented the already scheduled training and did not interfere with any requirements,” said Air Force Special Operations Command spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Rebecca Heyse.
The USS Hyman G. Rickover, a Virginia-class attack submarine, also makes a cameo, shot off the coast of Massachusetts.
—With assistance from Christopher Palmeri.
