| THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 , 2026
Gondek and Michelle Prindle rehearse for the Five College Opera production of "The Marriage of Figaro" at UMass Amherst. (SOPHIE MARKHAM)
ARE YOU GAME?: Restaurants in Springfield, Chicopee offering Hunter’s Dinners, serving everything from elk to alligator. D6
By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com
Nearly a decade after its last official production, the Five College Opera — comprised of students from Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith colleges, and UMass Amherst — is making a comeback.
“The last Five College Opera happened in 2017, so we’re at just about a decade,” said Jamie-Rose Guarrine, voice professor and interim associate chair for the University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Music and Dance. Another production was scheduled for 2020, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, plans were indefinitely paused.
“The Five College Opera just sort of went into hiatus,” Guarrine said. It wasn’t until last year that a committee was formed to help get the Five College Opera up and running. The committee is made up of professors from across the Five College Consortium, including Klara Moricz and Eric Sawyer from Amherst College; Junko Oba from Hampshire College; Tianhui Ng and Sherezade Panthaki from Mount Holyoke College; Katherine Saik DeLugan from Smith College; and William Hite
and Guarrine from UMass Amherst — all professionals who “love opera” and volunteered their time to “regenerate and reinvigorate this experience for our Five College students,” Guarrine said.
“As we came back, we looked at our student body that we have of our singers amongst the Five Colleges, and we created a short list of potential operas,” Guarrine said.
The decision ultimately came down to “Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage
of Figaro),” which will be staged at UMass Amherst on Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 8 at 3 p.m.
Composed by Mozart in 1786, “Le Nozze di Figaro” is a comedic opera that takes place over a single day in the household of Count Almaviva. Almaviva’s servant Figaro is about to marry Susanna, the countess’ maid, but the count wishes to sabotage the wedding.
“We wanted to have a show that would bring some joy to the community in the dull mid-winter of February,” Guarrine said.
It was also about picking an opera that worked best for the diverse student body of the Five College Opera.
“Pedagogically, vocally, Mozart is really good for young singers. A lot of our choral programs do the Mozart ‘Requiem’ — that’s one of the first choral pieces that our students do. It’s not too big and grand, so it’s good for developing singers,” Guarrine said. “And ‘Marriage of Figaro’ is in what we would call the opera canon, meaning that it’s one of the most popular, most performed shows, so this repertoire would give our students some longevity, a sense that this music may stay
with them their whole lives.”
The cast of “The Marriage of Figaro” features more than 35 students from across the Five Colleges — and not all of them are music or theater majors, Guarrine said.
“We have double majors, we have English majors, electrical engineering majors, chemistry majors, as well as some grad students in voice who are very career-driven, so it’s a combination,” she said. “But they all rose to the challenge, and we’re just so proud of them.”
The students even gave themselves an additional challenge — wanting to learn the opera in its original Italian.
“Once our cast came into focus, we went to them and said, ‘We do have an English translation,’ and the students said, ‘No, we want to try it in Italian. We want to do it,’” Guarrine said.
The principal cast of “The Marriage of Figaro” includes UMass student Christian Bearse as the Count of Almaviva; UMass student Lily Hammond as the Countess of Almaviva; UMass students Sofia Montti and Chana Freedberg as Susanna; UMass student Frederic Gondek as Figaro; Smith College stu-
“Once our cast came into focus, we went to them and said, ‘We do have an English translation,’ and the students said, ‘No, we want to try it in Italian. We want to do it.’”
Jamie-Rose Guarrine, voice professor and interim associate chair for the University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Music and Dance
dent Evelyn Gomez as Cherubino; UMass student Michelle Prindle as Marcellina; UMass student Patrick Spoor as Bartolo; UMass student Gustavo Fernandes as Basilio and Don
Curzio; Smith College student Georgia Pickard as Barbarina; UMass student Branigan Smith as Antonio; Mount Holyoke student Sachary Rodriquez Robles as the First Bridesmaid; and Mount Holyoke student Elizabeth Coon as the Second Bridesmaid. They are joined by a chorus and orchestra comprised of Five College Consortium students.
“The Marriage of Figaro” will be staged in the Bowker Auditorium on the UMass Amherst campus on Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. Tickets are priced at $27 adults, and $22 for seniors 65 and older, Five College faculty and staff, and UMass Amherst faculty and staff. Tickets can be purchased at the Fine Arts Center Box Office (in the lobby of Frederick C. Tillis Hall), by calling 413-545-2511, or by going online to UMasstix. org/musicanddance.
THURSDAY
Theodores’: The High Noons. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: CO2 in the Mick. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Mo Mandel. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Pentland / Bergonzi Quartet. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Tommy Whalen & the Ragged Edge. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Piper-Hopkins Band. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
Delaney House: Newland Trio in the Mick. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Mo Mandel. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Landowner, Slant of Light, Outro. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Professor Harp. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Kilashandra. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Delaney House: Trivia with Bobby Roast Beef in The Mick. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
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
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
THERE ARE PLENTY
of tribute bands for mainstream acts like The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. But a tribute act centered on Joni Mitchell might seem like
a stretch to some. It’s not that the renowned singer-songwriter doesn’t deserve such an honor — it’s just a matter of how successful such an endeavor might be.
But for Teresa Lorenço of
By S cott Tobias The New York Times
The nominees for the 98th Academy Awards have been announced, with “Sinners” receiving a record-breaking 16 nominations and “One Battle After Another” not far behind with 13. Both of those films are currently streaming on HBO Max — it was a big year for the platform’s parent company, Warner Bros. — and are widely available for digital rental, along with the vast majority of nominees in major categories. Of the 10 best picture contenders, only “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme” and “The Secret Agent” are still exclusively in theaters, along with the animated feature nominee “Zootopia 2.”
Nearly every title should be available by the time the ceremony airs March 15, but for now, here’s a complete rundown of where to find all the major awards hopefuls.
‘Sinners’
production design, costume design, cinematography, editing, makeup and hairstyling, sound, visual effects, score, song, casting.
How to watch: Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube.
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actor, supporting actor, supporting actress, original screenplay,
Having established himself as a Hollywood craftsman of the first order with hits like “Black Panther” and “Creed,” writer-director Ryan Coogler combines his keen commercial instincts with a startlingly audacious treatment of racism and cultural appropriation in America. Before busting out into a no-holds-barred horror film about vampires laying siege on a juke joint, “Sinners” patiently evokes life in the Jim Crow south as the Smoke Stack Twins (both played by Michael B. Jordan) return to their Mississippi hometown in 1932 after a lucrative stint working for the mob in Chicago. Recruiting
the Western Massachusetts band Big Yellow Taxi, the endeavor has paid off. The group will play at 52 Sumner in Springfield on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.
from the local community, the twins invest their money and muscle into converting an abandoned sawmill into a lively road house, but their grand opening is disrupted by creatures of the night.
‘One Battle After Another’
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actor, supporting actor, supporting actress,
adapted screenplay, production design, cinematography, editing, sound, score, casting. How to watch: Stream it on HBO Max. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube. From its opening siege on a detention center at the U.S.-Mexico border, led by
Joshua B. Spero, Ph.D, Special Assistant to the President & Professor of Political Science / International Relations at Fitchburg State University How Poland and Ukraine Anchor Europe’s Defense
Thursday, February 12th at noon
1350 Main Street 9th Floor Gallery, downtown Springfield RSVP for lunch provided February 9th
COST
Council Members: $10.00 | $25.00 (includes lunch) Non-members: $15.00 | $30.00 (includes lunch)
Special Thanks To NAI/Plotkin
For more information, call 413-733-0110 or email info@wacwestma.org.
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Last week’s big snowstorm has all but assured there will be plenty left on the ground for this weekend’s Greenfield 104th annual Winter Carnival.
Fun in the snow begins with sledding at Beacon Hill, and continues with a snowshoeing trek, horse drawn sleigh rides by Hubbard Farm, vintage snowmobile rides, and a cardboard sled contest on Beacon Hill.
A tradition that began in 1922, the Winter Carnival will be held Friday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 8, throughout the city both indoors and outdoors to the theme “Yeti or Not.”
“We have a Rolodex filled with ideas for themes, and this year seemed appropriate to go with the Yeti, a cute character who fits in with the wintertime,” said Kelly Jenkins, assistant director of Greenfield Recreation, in an interview with The Republican.
Also referred to as the Abominable Snowman, the Yeti is a mythic, ape-like creature covered in grayish white hair seen in snowy locations such as the Himalayan mountains. The Yeti’s popularity soared during the Christmas season when Target created a cute, fluffy Yeti for their holiday commercials.
Above and at left, carnivalgoers check out the ice sculptures during a past year’s Greenfield Winter Carnival. The 104th annual carnival, themed “Yeti or Not,” returns this weekend.
(THE REPUBLICAN, FILE PHOTOS)
A tradition that began in 1922, the Winter Carnival will be held Friday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 8, throughout the city both indoors and outdoors.
“We have created two contests involving the Yeti which are part of the many fun activities scheduled throughout the city for all ages to enjoy,” Jenkins said.
As part of a Yeti Hunt, 10 Yeti figures will be hidden around town for people to find and bring to Beacon Field on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. A Yeti Yell Contest will also be held on Sunday at 2 p.m.
“Participants can shout like a Yeti and we think we will know a winner when we hear one,” Jenkins said.
But it is not just about the Yeti.
An endless list of contests will be held throughout the weekend including Saturday’s Virtual Jigsaw Puzzle Contest, Cribbage Tournament, Bingo fundraiser at the Elks Club, and Four Phantoms Brewing Company Drag Trivia. Sunday has a Cookie Bake-Off and Chili Cook-Off, K9 Keg Pull, Community Wide Tug of War, and Cardboard Sled Contest.
Even if you are not competing, you can get into the fun
by voting for winners in some of the contests.
“The Chili Cook-Off is a crowd favorite. Anybody can purchase tickets to sample the many chilis entered and vote for their favorite,” Jenkins
said.
If spicy isn’t for you and your preference is for any type of cookie, you can also vote in the Cookie Bake-Off. Both events begin after they are dropped off at Beacon Hill at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Also, throughout the day on Friday, artists will be sculpting their icy creations found in front of sponsoring businesses. The public can vote
for their favorite creation in the online contest by 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Other big events, Jenkins noted, are Friday’s Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. followed by a fireworks display shot from Poet’s Seat Tower at 7 p.m.
“The Parade of Lights is one of the most exciting events that kicks off the Winter Festival on Friday, when
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
1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900
2 - $500 Cover Alls
3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.
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
CALL TODAY 413-788-1250 TO LIST HERE
Min. Entry Package $15
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
Are you game for trying something new on your plate?
How about the rich, deep flavor of wild boar? Or the distinct, savory flavor of venison sourced from deer? Not to mention fried alligator — a Louisiana favorite — and even camel.
Adventurous diners will find those delicacies and much more at special game nights in February and beyond at the annual Hunter’s Harvest at the Munich Haus in Chicopee and at Springfield’s Student Prince and The Fort where they will be serving a Hunter’s Dinner.
“Wild game is an acquired taste, but everything is worth a try at least once,” said Jill Wilkins, bar manager, at the Munich Haus, who noted the unique event has been held for nearly two decades.
“We have been offering game nights for as long as 50 years and I think two things attract people to them. One is the variety, they are coming to the restaurant and getting something different that is not typically on the menu every day. For some it is the different flavor profiles and proteins that are cool. The other is that is has become a tradition passed down in families,” said Tim Saxer, executive chef at The Student Prince
Tickets are selling out fast for the wild game dinners at Student Prince and The Fort, where this Thursday’s dinner and that on Feb. 12 have sold out with only a few seats left for Feb. 19 and 26.
The Munich Haus Hunter’s Harvest will be held on Feb 21, March 21, and April 18 at 6 p.m.
“Our Hunter’s Harvest is so popular that each year we have added more dates
game kabobs, game stew, game sausages, alligator sausages, venison sausages, fried alligator and rabbit stew — all served with an assortment of cheeses, salads, chips and dip, oven-roasted potatoes, red cabbage, sauerkraut and a dessert station.
The cost for the Hunter’s Harvest — which is held in the restaurant’s banquet hall separate from the dining room — is $70 with tickets available
“Wild game is an acquired taste, but everything is worth a try at least once.”
after beginning with just two months. Now we hold them in November, January, February, March and April,” Wilkins said.
“We have four dinners every Thursday and we have been adding more over the years because of their popularity,” Saxer added.
Hunter’s Harvests are served buffet-style.
“We have a carving station with fresh meats carved right in front of you including bison, kangaroo, venison and elk, meats you don’t see very often,” Wilkins said.
There will also be turkey schnitzel, marinated squid, shrimp, roasted wild boar,
online at munichhaus.com. Diners can order from the bar and Wilkins said a variety of German-style dunkel lagers — dunkel means dark in German — go good with game.
At The Student Prince and Fort, they shut down normal dinner service in the dining room and serve a prix fixe menu for only those with tickets to the Hunter’s Dinner.
“We try our best to source a variety of different proteins every year. In past years we have offered mako shark and kangaroo, but we try our hardest to keep the menu fresh every year so diners have something different to
come back to,” said Nathan Yee, hospitality director for the Bean Restaurant Group which operates The Student Prince and The Fort.
The six-course menu ending in dessert with a black forest brownie includes a sausage plate, venison and elk meatball, camel sloppy joes, crocodile and elk jager schnitzel. Drinks from the bar can be purchased separately during the nearly three-hour meal.
The cost for the Hunter’s
Dinner is $89 and includes tax and gratuity. Tickets can be purchased online at studentprince.com, pending availability.
Additionally, The Student Prince has several Game Month specials on their daily menu including Nashville Hot Alligator Bites, Venison Sausage Plate, Spatchcock Cornish Game Hen, and Elk Roulade. And The Munich House is currently offering Fried Alligator as an appetizer on their regular menu.
By JONATHAN L ANDRUM JR . Associated Press
LOS
ANGELES
— Once upon a time, the Super Bowl halftime show belonged to marching bands and pageantry. But these days, it belongs to global pop stars, cinematic production and moments that ripple beyond the stadium.
Over the years, the league’s brief intermission has transformed into one of entertainment’s biggest stages, hosting era-defining performances from Prince in the rain to Rihanna’s record-setting return, Usher’s tightly choreographed showcase and Kendrick Lamar’s layered, visually driven storytelling. What began as intermission filler has evolved into a global spectacle, rivaling the NFL’s
More on this year’s Super Bowl: What to know about Bad Bunny, this year’s Super Bowl halftime show performer. Page D11
“It has been an interesting experience in terms of our demographic and who is in our audience,” Lorenço said in a recent interview with The Republican. ”Some places we have a huge audience, and other places are smaller. But the one thing is that people who come see us really know her stuff.”
Lorenço had played a few Mitchell songs as a solo artist and one day decided that she wanted to pursue Mitchell’s catalog on a larger scale.
“I wasn’t sure it was going to work, but after her brain aneurysm, I read something that said she was taking a turn for the worse, and I knew I just had to keep her music alive,” Lorenço said. “So it really didn’t have anything to do with being successful, but more to do with keeping her music alive. But the fact that it’s working well is really a lovely benefit.”
Of course, Mitchell still has health problems, but she made a strong comeback when she made a surprise appearance at the 2022 Newport folk festival. Lorenço found that occurrence a bit seren-
dipitous.
“It’s been kind of funny. It seems like Joni is unwittingly helping us,” she said. “Not just the Newport Folk Festival, but she’s also been in the press a lot, and that’s been really beneficial for us.”
Lorenço said Mitchell’s appeal stems partly from her insightful and honest lyrics.
“I heard it when I was 19, and here she was expressing her real feelings, and I thought, ‘oh my God, some-
one understands me,’”she said. “And I think a lot of people experience that when they listen to her stuff. You feel seen and like you’re not the only person in the world to feel the way you do.”
One facet of Lorenço’s voice allows her to sound uncannily like Mitchell: her finely controlled vibrato. Is that something she studied?
“It’s natural,” she said. “However, I’ve been obsessed with music my entire
life and listening was a big part of it. So, it’s hard to say whether my vibrato was totally natural or just came out from singing along all the time.”
Mitchell’s music, especially the later material, can be quite challenging to play. How did Lorenço find the right bandmates to execute the songs?
“I have to be honest. It was pure luck. I’m a Sagittarius and I think we’re the
“I wasn’t sure it was going to work, but after her brain aneurysm, I read something that said she was taking a turn for the worse, and I knew I just had to keep her music alive.”
Teresa Lorenço of Big Yellow Taxi
luckiest sign,” she said with a laugh.”This is the fourth iteration of band members, so it took a while and it took a lot of patience and a lot of negotiating. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
The band includes Joe Fitzpatrick on drums, John Cabán on guitar, Rich Cahillane on bass and Robert Sherwood on keyboards and guitar.
While they’re all locally-based musicians, the band will soon end up playing nationally.
“We just got representation, and they’ll be booking us on the West Coast in the fall,” Lorenço said. “We’re really excited.”
Greenfield’s Winter Carnival: Fri.-Sun., Downtown Greenfield, featuring ice carvings, glow party, family activities, jigsaw puzzle contest, fireworks, parade of lights, Yeti hunt, fire and ice show, and much more. Takes place throughout the town. Main Street, Greenfield, 413773-5463 or www.franklincc.org.
Opera House Players present “Chess”: Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Enfield Annex, Visit opera houseplayers.org/tickets or get tickets at the door. Call the Box Office for discounts on groups of 10 or more at 860-498-8899. Performances are at the Enfield Annex, 124 North Maple St. “Chess” is a Cold War-era rock musical by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and lyricist Tim Rice, using a World Chess Championship between American and Soviet grandmasters as a backdrop for political intrigue, espionage, and a love triangle. $25 regular; $21 senior 60+, children, and students. 124 North Maple St., Enfield.
Belchertown Historical Association Annual Murder Mystery Dinner: Sat., Tony & Penny’s Restaurant. The show will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a dinner buffet. Guests can arrive as early as 6 p.m. This year’s show, written by Paula Hilton, is titled “Death by Cupcake.” Tickets include the show, dinner and dessert. Tickets are available at Cold Spring Liquors (on the Town Common in Belchertown) or by contacting Sally Shattuck at 413-230-2022 or emailing sallyshattuck54@gmail. com, $47 each. 18 Canterbury St., Ludlow, 413-583-6351 or www. tonyandpenny.com
Greenfield’s Winter Carnival: See Friday listing Nova Linea Contemporary Dance: Sat., 7 p.m. Cultural Center at Eagle Hill. Nova Linea Contemporary Dance is Wisconsin’s premier contemporary dance company. In this evening of dance, Nova Linea will present “some wounds never heal”. Choreographed by artistic director Jared Baker, this piece delves into the emotional landscape of loss. Tickets priced from $30-$35. 242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick, or thecenterateaglehill.org.
Opera House Players presents “Chess”: See Friday listing
Greenfield’s Winter Carnival: See Friday listing
Opera House Players present “Chess”: See Friday listing
Silver Chord Bowl: Sun, 2 p.m.
John M. Greene Hall, $15-$35. College Lane, Northampton; www. smith.edu.
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; Feb. 17-21, school break program “Critter Crossing.”.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: Permanent Exhibit. The Indian Motocycle Collection is the largest collection of Indian cycles and memorabilia in the world. The Firearms Collection includes more than 1,600 firearms, with the largest collection of Smith & Wesson guns in the world. The Automobile Collection includes an 1899 Knox, a 1901 Crestmobile, a 1925 Rolls-Royce roadster, and a 1928 Rolls-Royce roadster.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Markets, Foodways, and the Essence of Place: Works from the Museo de Arte de Ponce,” through Sept. 6, on the first floor of the Alpert Gallery. Musuem a la Carte: Feb. 5, 12:15 p.m. “Obsessions and
Observations: Exploring an Artist’s Work.” Cost: $4, free for members. “Please Touch! A Tactile Exploration of Sante Graziani’s Mural,” through July 26.
Springfield Science Museum: “Math Alive! Exhibition,” through May 3. This exhibit reveals how real math powers sports, nature, robotics, music, dance, movie-making, and more. Free with museum admission. Permanent exhibits: The Science Museum houses permanent collections of natural science, anthropology and physical science.
The Science Museum’s Seymour Planetarium consists of the historic Korkosz Starball, now the oldest
operating star projector in the United States. “Stars Over Springfield,” Feb. 6, 7 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Cost $7, members $5. This beginner’s astronomy program will feature a short talk by a local expert, handson activities or demonstrations, a planetarium show with our historic Korkosz starball and brand-new Zeiss projector, and stargazing in our rooftop observatory. Recommended for ages 8 and older. This month’s topic is “Seasons of the Sky.” To register, go online to www. springfieldmuseums.org.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. Firstfloor exhibition provides opportu-
The 42nd annual Silver Chord Bowl, an a cappella showcase presented by the Northampton Arts Council in partnership with Smith College, returns to the John M. Greene Hall at Smith College on Sunday. The showcase begins at 2 p.m. and doors open at 1:30 p.m. Advance pricing is $35 for premium reserved seating and $15 for general reserved seating, available online at www. freshtix.com/events/silverchord-bowl-3. Day-of pricing is $40 for premium reserved seating and $20 for general reserved seating, available in-person at the Box Office starting at 1 p.m. At left, Northampton High School a capella group, the Northamptones, perform at last year’s showcase.
(SOPHIE MARKHAM PHOTO)
nities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with 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.
Bentley emphasizing the visual splendors of a Pacific Northwest under construction and Edgerton lending quiet dignity to the role of a logger and seasonal laborer who carves out an unsteady life for himself in the forest. Combining intimacy and scope, the film celebrates one of the invisible men who built this country and reflects on the burdens and wonders of transformative change.
‘Bugonia’
Nominated for: Best picture, actress, adapted screenplay, score.
How to watch: Stream it on
as most of the arguments Michelle makes for being human are dismissed as the clear machinations of an extraterrestrial.
‘F1’
Nominated for: Best picture, editing, sound, visual effects.
How to watch: Stream it on Apple TV. Buy it on Amazon, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube.
a leftist revolutionary group that calls itself the French 75, Paul Thomas Anderson’s rousing combination of political thriller, shaggy-dog comedy and large-format action spectacle feels uncannily like a movie of the moment.
Loosely adapting Thomas Pynchon’s “Vineland,” Anderson casts Leonardo DiCaprio as a former French 75 munitions expert who’s been living on the lam and raising his daughter (Chase Infiniti) for the past 16 years. When a renewed push by authorities arouses him from his stupor, “One Battle After Another” sends him on an odyssey through the underground as a network of sympathetic operatives, like a karate sensei/ community leader (Benicio Del Toro), shield him from an obsessed colonel (Sean Penn) and a shadowy right-wing organization.
‘Sentimental Value’
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, original screenplay, editing, international feature.
How to watch: Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube.
Continuing a run of literate, keenly observed dramas like “The Worst Person in the World” and “Oslo, August 31st,” Norwegian director Joachim Trier gathers an
exceptional ensemble cast for this story of a family whose long-simmering dysfunction gets processed into art. Stellan Skarsgard stars as the chief instigator, a notable filmmaker who resurfaces in the lives of his estranged daughters, one an actress (Renate Reinsve) with crippling stage fright and the other a historian (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) with a more stable home life. When Skarsgard arrives with a new personal project, he’s forced to cast an American star (Elle Fanning) in a role he’d written for his actress daughter, but that doesn’t prevent old resentments and recriminations from bursting to the surface.
‘Frankenstein’
Nominated for: Best picture, supporting actor, adapted screenplay, production design, costume design, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, sound, score. How to watch: Stream it on Netflix.
In an almost inevitable addition to a career full of lush period fantasies like “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “The Shape of Water,” director Guillermo del Toro’s sumptuous adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel emphasizes gothic atmosphere and the all-encompassing price of hubris. Hewing closely to the book, “Frankenstein” carefully details the events that lead Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Issac), the wayward son of a renowned doctor, to assume the godlike role of creating new life out of reanimated flesh. But the
True to a racing circuit known for its high-tech sleekness, ruthless efficiency and conspicuous wealth, “F1” is an impeccably machine-tooled blockbuster that’s faithful to the team dynamics and technical language of Formula One while customizing itself around Brad Pitt’s lead performance. In a young guy’s sport, the idea of a middle-aged driver returning to F1 after a 30-year absence seems absurd, but Pitt’s preternatural confidence allows him to play a brush hotshot and a seasoned mentor all rolled into one. The racing sequences are the film’s true star, however, and director Joseph Kosinski captures the incremental grind of the F1 season, when cumulative success only arrives after small improvements and painful stretches of trial and error.
film gains in power once the Creature finally emerges from the laboratory and Jacob Elordi leverages his size and sensitivity into a performance that brings a tragic dimension to the classic monster.
‘Train Dreams’
Nominated for: Best picture, adapted screenplay, cinematography, song.
How to watch: Stream it on Netflix.
A poetic reverie on American progress in the earlyto-mid 20th century, Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella isn’t an obvious candidate for adaptation, because of its taciturn hero and its reliance on descriptive language. But director Clint Bentley (who wrote the screenplay with Greg Kwedar) and his star, Joel Edgerton, convert those limitations into assets, with
Peacock. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube. Since his breakthrough dark comedy “Dogtooth,” Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos has frequently returned to the premise of characters who live in self-sustaining bubbles of delusion and misinformation.
With “Bugonia,” his provocative English-language remake of the Korean film “Save the Green Planet!” Lanthimos casts Jesse Plemons as a loner who believes that Michelle, the high-powered CEO of a pharmaceutical company played with Type-A pugnacity by Emma Stone, is an alien plotting to destroy the Earth. After he kidnaps her with the help of his autistic cousin (Aidan Delbis), the epic power struggle that commences oscillates between the desperate and the hilariously absurd,
‘It Was Just an Accident’ Nominated for: Best original screenplay, international feature.
How to watch: Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube.
After periods of house arrest and imprisonment for running afoul of Iranian censors, director Jafar Panahi made this deserving Palme d’Or-winner in secret with French producers, and his personal experience weighs heavily on its tale of oppression and retribution. The accident of the title brings an Azerbaijani auto mechanic, Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri), in touch with the peg-legged man (Ebrahim Azizi) he has strong suspicions was his chief tormentor in prison. But before Vahid can exact his revenge, he needs to confirm
Artist Michael Madeiros, of Greenfield, sets up his contribution to the “River Valley Radical Futures” exhibit at the Taber Art Gallery at Holyoke Community College. The exhibit, which features the work of eight area artists envisioning a future Pioneer Valley 100 years after the fall of capitalism. The exhibit is on view through March 12 and is free nad open to the public Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., during regular school sessions. (SUBMITTED
Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibits include spaceship, construction site, library, grocery store, as well as weekday activities. Visit ameliaparkmuseum. org for information. Admission is $8 adults, $8 children (12 months and older), $4 grandparents/seniors (60+), and members/infants free. Military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission. 29 South Broad St., Westfield or www.ameliaparkmuseum.org.
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “Cooking with Eric Carle,” through Aug. 23, 2026. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or www.carlemuseum.org.
Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: Various American and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. Museum hours: Tues.-Thurs. and Sun. 9 a.m.-midnight; Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 220 South Pleasant St., Amherst or www.amherst.edu.
Norman Rockwell Museum: “Shine A Light: The Art and Life of Deb Koffman,” through June 7. “Jazz Age Illustration,” through April 6. “Norman Rockwell: Home for the Holidays,” through Feb. 22. Online exhibit: “Imagining Freedo,” 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 at NRM.org.
“A Brief History of Illustration: The Abyss,” through May 31. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or www.nrm.org.
Smith College Museum of Art: SCMA Exhibition “Crafting Worlds,” through Aug. 23. This installation explores how artisans in Japan utilized materials and handcrafted techniques to forge social relationships and engage with the world around them. It features lacquerware, ceramics, bamboo baskets, and metalwork from the 18th- through21st centuries, when Japan shifted from a feudal society to a modern nation. SCMA Exhibition “A City in Flux: Reflecting on Venice,” through March 22. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or www. scma.smith.edu.
The New England Visionary Artists Museum: The New England Visionary Artists Museum in Northampton has five exhibition showrooms hosting N.E. 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. For more information, visit NEVA-museum.org or call 413-5884337. Pleasant St., Northampton 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, $7 children 5-17,
and free for children 4 and younger.
“The Winter Wonders Market,” Feb. 7 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. A cozy indoor local Makers & Growers market. Admission is free with a suggested $5 donation for mansion maintenance.
“Ghost Tours with Robert Oakes,” Feb. 7, 20 7 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended as tickets are limited. Admission is $30 and minimum age to attend is age 12.
“Gilded Age Trivia,” Feb. 8 at 4:30 p.m. Join Richard Dauchy, Berkshire docent, in the library at Ventfort Hall for a spirited game of Gilded Age trivia. A cash bar for beer and wine will be available. Reservations are required as seating is limited and can be made online; walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. Admission is $20 per person and free for members. 104 Walker St., Lenox or www.gildedage.org.
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 www. volleyhall.org.
Windsor Historical Society: Permanent exhibit: Explore the people, places and events that have shaped Windsor for over four centuries.
Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with house tours at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. General admission to the library and historic houses is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for students and free to children under 12 and WHS members. Visitors are free to browse the museum store and exhibit galleries at no charge. 96 Palisade Ave., Windsor or www.windsorhistoricalsociety.org.
Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent
Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Winter Garden,” Feb. 5-28, reception on Feb. 6 from 5-7 p.m. Art Forum online Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., Register at www.gallerya3.com Gallery hours: Thurs.–Sun, 2–7 p.m. 28 Amity St., Amherst, or 413-2564250.
Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Hours: Sat. noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard, or 413-543-3321.
LAVA Center: “Trees.” Feb. 5 - 28. Reception, Feb. 5, 5-8 p.m. “Geoff Bluh Photography Exhibit,” Feb. 727. Opening reception Sat., Feb. 7, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 324 Main St., Greenfield Old Town Hall: N.S.F. Work. Feb. 7-28. Reception on Feb. 7, 4-7 p.m. during ArtWalk Easthampton. 43 Main St., Easthampton
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 www.wistariahurst.org. Standard admission is $7 Holyoke residents; $5 seniors; $5 youth (under 18); free museum members, active military and family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke or www.wistariahurst.org.
Yiddish Book Center: 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. Admission is $8 adults; $6 seniors; and free for members, students and children. 1021 West St., Amherst or www.yiddishbookcenter.org.
A.P.E. Gallery: “Light Being” by Elizabeth stone, Rosalyn Driscoll, & Tori Lawrence, through Feb. 28. Arts Night Out and opening reception: Feb. 13, 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sun., 12-5 p.m., Fri. 12-8 p.m., closed Mon. & Tues. 126 Main St., Northampton or www.apearts.org Center for the Arts Trust Building: “Mutating Origins” through Feb. 28. Arts Night Out and exhibition reception: Feb. 13, 5-8 p.m., in the Split Level Gallery. “Listen to My Photographs:” Featuring the work of artists from The Care Center Art Exhibition, through Feb. 28. Split Arts Gallery. Arts Night Out/Opening reception: Feb. 13, 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours: Wed.-Fri, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat, 12-7 p.m. Closed Mon. & Tues. 33 Hawley St., Northampton
Taber Art Gallery: “River Valley Radical Futures,” through March 12. The gallery will host a closing talk from project lead and curator Alix Gerber and book launch on Thursday, March 12, from 5-7 p.m. 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke, 413-552-2614.
Trinity United Methodist Church: Art exhibit by Trish Pilon, through Feb. 28. Gallery hours: Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield, 413737-5311.
Great Falls Discovery Center: Indoor StoryWalk - “Rabbit’s Snow Dance” by James Bruchac’s, through Feb. 28. Free. “Nice & Easy Walks,” Feb. 5, 12, 19, & 26, 1–2 p.m. Easypaced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for older adults, but open to all. Free. “Great Hall Exhibit: Maps of River History by Joe Kopera,” Feb. 5 – March 28. “Kidleidoscope Story Hour,” Feb. 6, “Winter Insects”; Feb. 13, “Porcupines”; Feb. 20, “Rabbits”; Feb. 27, “When Will It Be Spring?” 10:30–11:30 a.m. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Free. “First Friday: Zine on the River,” Feb. 6, 3–5 p.m. Meet in the Great Hall. Free. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or www.greatfallsma.org. Mt. Greylock State Reservation: “Discover Greylock Hike,” Fridays through April from 1-3 p.m. Locations vary, call ahead for information. Dress appropriately for winter weather. Call 413-499-4262 for information. “Nature Scavenger Hunt,” Ongoing Sun., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There are several seek and find scavenger hunts for different age and skill levels. Scavenger hunts are available at the Visitor Center. “Cabin Fever Story Time,” Feb. 8, March 8, 1-2:30 p.m., for all ages. Join Park Interpreter Mike by a warm fire. Free. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough
championship game itself for attention from more than 100 million viewers worldwide.
That evolution continues this year as Bad Bunny prepares to take the halftime stage, placing Latin culture and Spanish-language music at the center of America’s most-watched television event.
“The halftime performance has come a long way,” said Dan Marino, the Hall of Fame quarterback who played 17 seasons with the Miami Dolphins and competed in the 1985 Super Bowl. As an NFL analyst, Marino’s had a front-row seat to several halftime shows.
“Not a lot of people really watched it,” he continued. “But now, people love to watch the halftime show.”
That shift did not happen overnight. For decades, the halftime show reflected the NFL’s family-friendly image, built around marching bands, drill teams and patriotic spectacle. As the Super Bowl grew into an unofficial national holiday — and a global broadcast event — the league began rethinking the power of those 12 to 15 minutes, gradually turning the break into a cultural platform capable of launching careers, shaping narratives and, at times, sparking national conversation.
Last year, Lamar used the halftime stage as a narrative space, weaving choreography, costuming and staging to explore themes of identity, power and perception. The performance stayed within league parameters while still drawing broad interpretation and debate over its imagery and tone.
Lamar’s show became the most-watched halftime performance on record, drawing roughly 133.5 million viewers, surpassing Usher’s 2024 performance, which reached about 129.3 million. That number from Lamar’s set is about 6 million more than Fox’s broadcast of the
Bad Bunny arrives at the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, in Los Angeles. (JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I think the live element is pretty exciting for people because it’s a massive production and there’s so many moving pieces,” said actor Scarlett Johansson, who doesn’t consider herself a football enthusiast. But she’s intrigued by the unpredictability of the halftime show like Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction,” Lady Gaga dropping from a stadium roof and Rihanna’s pregnancy reveal.
“You kind of watch with nervous excitement,” Johansson said. “You know at any moment something could maybe go wrong.
That’s why it’s so fun to watch it because you’ve got all this anticipation. The production is so huge and so many people have come together to create this one moment. It’s kind of awesome.”
Kris Jenner agrees, calling the halftime show a “giant surprise.”
“The production level and how quickly they put it together as they’re breaking into commercial and come back with this fabulous, epic show,” said Jenner, the matriarch of “The Kardashians” reality television show. “Through all the years and technology, it gets better and better. It’s so exciting to watch and see what they
“Through all the years and technology, it gets better and better. It’s so exciting to watch and see what they come up with next and who is going to perform. It’s such a big deal.”
Kris Jenner
come up with next and who is going to perform. It’s such a big deal.”
Usher said his appearance with the Black Eyed Peas during the 2011 Super Bowl taught him not to “take the moments for granted because you only get 13 of them.”
His show in 2024 was vastly different from the NFL’s first Super Bowl halftime show in 1967, which featured marching bands from the University of Arizona and Grambling State University, a historically Black college, along with hundreds of flying pigeons, thousands of balloons and two soaring men wearing jetpacks.
After the inaugural Super Bowl, the NFL kept bringing back other marching bands,
show at the Rose Bowl in Southern California, where the King of Pop notoriously moonwalked across the stage and performed hits including “Billie Jean,” “Black or White” and “Heal the World.”
Jackson’s stellar performance opened the door for other stars like the Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira who are eager to perform.
This year’s Super Bowl halftime show performer, Bad Bunny, is a Puerto Rican singer/rapper, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio in Puerto Rico. His music blends Latin trap, reggaeton and música urbana. He came into the spotlight with his 2016 song “Diles” and rose to international fame through hit songs and collaborations like “I Like It” with Cardi B and J Balvin and “Mia” with Drake. Most recently, his 10th studio album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” took home Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking the first time a Spanish-language album took home the top prize. “Puerto Rico, believe me when I tell you that we are much bigger than 100 by 35,” he said in his acceptance speech in Spanish, referring to a Puerto Rican colloquialism about the island’s small size. “And there is nothing we can’t achieve. Thank God, thank you to the Academy, thank you to all the people who have believed in me throughout my career.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
drill teams, signed Chubby Checker and Up with People, an organization that stage positive thinking through dance and song performances. However, none of those acts were considered huge draws.
But as the Super Bowl’s popularity soared and game day emerged as an unofficial holiday in the U.S., the NFL wanted the halftime show to grow in the same capacity. The league tapped New Kids on the Block and Gloria Estefan the first two years of the ’90s. Then it saw a huge breakthrough when Michael Jackson headlined the 1993
The NFL handles production costs and expenses for performers — who don’t get paid — but the exposure to hundreds of millions of people worldwide is considered priceless.
Some notable examples include U2’s remembrance of the 9/11 victims; Beyoncé’s unapologetic Blackness and political activism through her Black power anthem “Formation”; and the first show to feature hip-hop artists led by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in 2022.
Snoop praised NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Jay-Z for pushing the halftime show forward. The league worked with Roc Nation to help its Inspire Change initiative, created by the NFL after an agreement with a coalition of players who demonstrated during the national anthem to protest social and racial injustice in this country.
“Shout out to Jay-Z for changing the climate. Roger Goodell for giving him an opportunity,” Dogg said.
“This is music. The music that dictates the world is what’s performing at halftime now. They’re starting to understand that it’s about what those players want to hear, what those fans want to hear, and what’s universally effective.
Snoop added: “It has no color on it now. Pop used to have a color on it. Now pop is popular. So, the most popular music is the music that we make. It makes sense to put those people on there that make that music.”
This story first moved in January 2024 and has been updated ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl.
anywhere from 10 to 20 vehicles participate in the parade by adorning their cars with holiday lights,” she said about the parade, which travels from Newton School, along Main Street, down Federal Street and ending at Beacon Field.
And there are still numerous other events and activities jam packed into the three-day festival, including Family Night at the Y, Youth Basketball League games, Carnival Crafts at the Library, Winter Farmer’s Market, Mad Science Fire & Ice Show, Glow Party at Greenfield Middle School Cafeteria, Flash Mob, and that is only half of the lineup.
History buffs can stop into the LAVA Center from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday to watch a restored nine-minute film documenting Greenfields first Winter Carnival. In
March of 2024, local history fans and researchers Chris Clawson and Carol Aleman discovered a Pathé News newsreel from just over 100 years ago. The forgotten reel from that year, along with another from a year later, sat on a Historical Society of Greenfield shelf when they suddenly caught Clawson’s attention and he and Aleman set about researching and restoring the films.
To keep the carnival going for many more years, snow or not, the Friends of Greenfield Recreation will hold a Can Raffle fundraiser with prizes donated by local businesses set up at various events throughout the weekend.
It all ends at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday with an awards ceremony to announce winners of the weekend’s contests.
For a complete list of happenings throughout the three-day festival, download the Winter Carnival brochure at greenfieldrecreation. com.
.● 2 Dozen Chicken Wings (Plain, BBQ or Buffalo)
.● 1 Dozen Mozzarella Sticks w/ Marinara Sauce
.● 1 Dozen Buffalo Chicken Bites
.● 1 Bags of Frigo’s Homemade Chips
.● 2 Dozen Chicken Wings (Plain, BBQ or Buffalo)
.● 1 Dozen Philly Steak & Cheese Egg Rolls
.● 1 Dozen Mozzarella Sticks w/ Marinara Sauce
.● 2 Dozen of Cheddar Bacon Tater Tots
.● 2 Dozen Chicken Wings (Plain, BBQ or Buffalo)
.● 2 Dolo Breads (Steak, Sausage, or Spinach)
the man’s identity, leading him on a road trip that’s surprisingly funny and absurd before Panahi shifts gears toward an ending of scorching emotional intensity. The film confirms Panahi as not merely one of the world’s most courageous directors, but one of its best.
‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ Nominated for: Best actress.
How to watch: Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube.
Exercising the full spectrum of her talent as a comic and dramatic performer, Rose Byrne is the harried face of maternal ambivalence in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” which bundles urgent conflicts in an ulcerous mass but nonetheless finds room for welcome jabs of gallows humor. Byrne stars as a Long Island psychologist who’s mostly left alone to treat her
daughter’s mysterious illness while also managing a patient (Danielle Macdonald) who’s abandoned her newborn child and a therapist (Conan O’Brien) who exudes the opposite of warmth.
‘Song Sung Blue’ Nominated for: Best actress.
How to watch: Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home and Google Play.
Based on the true story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a Milwaukee couple whose Neil Diamond tribute band, Lightning and Thunder, was enough of a sensation that it opened for Pearl Jam in 1995, sounds like the stuff of an ingratiatingly offbeat romance and musical. While that’s true to an extent, the hardships that life threw at the Sardinas make this a triumph-over-adversity scenario that “Song Sung Blue” doesn’t try to sugarcoat, which gives the film a burnished soul to go along with the crowd-pleasing covers of “Sweet Caroline” and “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show.”
.● 1 Bags of Frigo’s Homemade Chips
.● 1 Pint of Buffalo Chicken or Spinach Dip
.● 3 Full Size Vienna Grinders (Classic Italian, Ham, Roast Beef or Turkey)
3 Dozen Chicken Wings (Plain, BBQ or Buffalo) .● 2 Dozen Mozzarella Sticks w/ Marinara Sauce .● 2 Dozen Cheddar Bacon Tater Tots .● 3 Bags of Frigo’s Homemade Chips
