‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise’
Gregory Boover plays Jack, a young Army doctor stationed in Oregon.
Alexandra O’Halloran plays Louise, an aspiring Broadway actress in NYC.
Majestic Theater 2026 season continues
today through April 4
Actors Gregory Boover, left, and Alexandra O’Halloran are shown in a scene from “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” which is at being staged at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater today, Feb. 26, through April 4. (KAIT RANKINS PHOTOS)
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Letters can tell you a lot about a person.
That was the case for two pen pals who never met in person, but still managed to fall in love, during World War II.
And, starting today at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, audiences will meet Jack and Louise on stage in “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” the fourth play of its 2025-2026 season.
An epistolary tale similar to A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” the play tells the story of the relationship between a young Army doctor, Jack, stationed in Oregon, and an aspiring Broadway actress in New York City named Louise. As their correspondence deepens, the two begin to fall in love despite the physical distance and the challenges of wartime life. The play explores themes of love, hope and resilience, offering a poignant look at how relationships can flourish even in the most uncertain
times. With a charming mix of humor and emotion, “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” captures the timeless power of connection and the courage it takes to love from far away.
Jack is real-life Jack Ludwig and Louise is Louise Rabiner, the parents of Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig, who wrote the play to retell the heartwarming story of his parents’ courtship during the war. The cast includes Gregory Boover as Jack and Alexandra O’Halloran as
Louise. Aaron Mancaniello serves as understudy for Jack, and Rachel Ballasy as understudy for Louise. Sue Dziura, the Majestic’s producing director, is directing the play.
“Danny (Eaton, who is founding producer of The Majestic) has been wanting to stage ‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise’ at The Majestic since he saw it performed at Shakespeare & Company back in 2023. He knew that it would be a perfect play for our audiences. I agree. It is a perfect piece and a beautiful love story. I think that audiences will see themselves or family members in the story,” said Dziura.
She noted staging the play is unique with each actor at one end of the stage with appropriate scenery to their whereabouts. They are not seen holding their letters and reading them but have memorized the dialogue and address the audience directly without looking at each other.
Also, as coincidence would have it, both Boover and O’Halloran saw the
“When I saw it at Shakespeare & Company, I loved it. Here was a gal who was an actress like me, and it was wonderful to see someone in the 1940s to be so endearing and alive despite the challenges of the times.”
Alexandra O’Halloran
‘Dear’
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D2
same production of “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” as Eaton did at Shakespeare & Company.
“When I saw it at Shakespeare & Company, I loved it. Here was a gal who was an actress like me, and it was wonderful to see someone in the 1940s to be so endearing and alive despite the challenges of the times. Also, you don’t see much theater that centers on being an actress in that time period,” O’Halloran said.
Each actor has their own way of getting into character for the play.
“I grew up watching old movies like ‘White Christmas’ and other movies from right around the end of the war watching actresses like Ginger Rogers, Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis, and more recently looking at films online to use for reference on how women dressed and to get a sense of what was going on during that time when women had to step up and make sacrifices during the war,” O’Halloran said.
“For me it was opening my ears and eyes to that historical time period by doing research about what it would have been
like living on an army base and finding out what life was like for an army captain and doctor like Jack when war was becoming such a major historical moment. And then there was listening to the music from those days and reading passages like those from Winston Churchill’s biography and even interviewing my own parents, who each had a father in the war,” Boover said.
Boover has a favorite letter from the play.
“It’s one of my longest letters. We were supposed to have a date that had been painstakingly set up while I would be on leave. But something comes up that prevents Louise from being there... she books a tour and doesn’t know what to do because they have been planning this special time to finally meet and be together. In his letter to her, Jack tells Louise that she must do the tour and they would figure out another time for a date ... that she has to live the life of her dreams,” he said.
Tickets to the show — which runs today through April 4 at the West Springfield theater — range from $35 to $38 and can be purchased in person at the box office, by calling 413747-7797, or by going online to majestictheater.com.
Actors Gregory Boover (left) and Alexandra O’Halloran are main characters in “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” a heartwarming story set in World War II, at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater today through April 4. Tickets are $35-$38 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 413-747-7797 or going online to majestic theater.com.
(PHOTO BY KAIT RANKINS)
‘HOPE & GLORY’
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
While it is the season, “Hope & Glory,” the title of Saturday’s Young@Heart Chorus concert at the Hope Center for the Arts, is not about Easter.
“Hope refers to us working for the first time and performing at Springfield’s Hope Center for the Arts, and Glory refers to the late Evelyn Harris who was a glorious performer with Young@Heart,” said Bob Cilman, executive director of Young@Heart, in an interview with The Republican.
The Saturday performance begins at 4 p.m., and will include a musical tribute to the late Harris.
In addition to Young@ Heart, the concert will also feature Sweet Honey in the Rock and former member Yasmeen Betty Williams, who is traveling to Springfield to honor Harris. She was a member of the internationally recognized Black women’s a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock for 18 years.
“I’ve always had a plan to bring Young@Heart to Hope Center for the Arts, where we could work with students in their arts programs to put on a show,” Cilman said.
He noted that plan was somewhat changed when Harris died in December, and the group wanted to celebrate her life with music that she performed with Young@ Heart.
“We do, however, have Kayla Staley, who is director of the vocal ensemble at the Hope Center’s after-school program, performing two songs that Evelyn performed with us in the past. She is amazing and it is quite an honor to have her performing with us,” Cilman said.
The group has been planning to perform at the Hope
Center for the Arts for quite a while, even before Harris’ death, Cilman explained.
“We wanted to do a show in Springfield because we have many people from there who attend our concerts. And we wanted to perform where some of our members live and hopefully recruit more members for the chorus,” he said.
Harris, who died in December at age 75, was a Grammy-nominated singer, composer and activist who grew up in Virginia and studied music at Howard University. She eventually moved to Easthampton and became active with the Northampton Community Music Center, where she was a teacher; the Ujima Singers, whom she
Young@Heart Chorus
to honor legacy of former member
Evelyn Harris
directed; and served as a vocalist with StompBoxTrio in addition to her work with Young@Heart.
“Evelyn was a legend. She was a joy to work with, but she could have been a diva with the professional experience she had behind her. She really wanted to be a part of Young @Heart and enjoyed being with our members and was very supportive of them. And that was an honor for me and everyone else. In the short time she was with us, just two and a half years, Evelyn made such an impression and a lot of people learned from her. Her loss is felt very deeply,” Cilman said.
‘HOPE’, PAGE D7
“Evelyn was a legend. She was a joy to work with, but she could have been a diva with the professional experience she had behind her.”
BOB CILMAN, DIRECTOR, YOUNG@HEART CHORUS
The late Evelyn Harris performs with the Young@Heart Chorus in this file photo. The group will honor Harris, who died in December 2025, in a concert at the Hope Center for the Arts on Saturday.
(JULIAN PARKER-BURNS PHOTO)
In the spirit of the festivities surrounding the Holyoke St Patrick’s Parade 2026 the Hibernians of Hampden/Hampshire counties invite the public to attend the annual
Sunday March 15,2026 –8am Mass at St Jerome Church Holyoke Breakfast to follow at Wyckoff CC Holyoke
Guest Speaker-Ian Delahanty Associate Professor of History at Springfield College Presentation of the 2026 Hibernian Christian Charity Award to Sister Betsy Sullivan SSJ Tickets are $30.00 per person by March 10 Contact Joe O’Connor 413-627-7148 or Fran Hennessey at 413-785-5687
Nightclubs
THURSDAY
Holyoke Media: Masters of Sonic Liberation. 1 Court Plaza (23 Suffolk St.), Holyoke
The Drake: LaMP featuring Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger, Ray Paczkowski. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: By The Way. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: Alex Touhey in the Mick. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
The Drake: Muswell Hillbillies. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Wyckoff Country Club: DJ Boogy, Jeffrey Speller Foundation Celebrity Bartending Event. 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.
Theodores’: Michelle Willson. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Frank Serafino. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
Delaney House: Billy Eagan in the Mick. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
The Drake: Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Wyckoff Country Club: Billy Eagen (Irish Trio). 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.
Wyckoff Country Club: The Vagina Monologues — A Fundraiser for Women’s Domestic Violence Organizations. 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.
Theodores’: The Matt Swanton Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: The Healys. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Delaney House: Trivia with Bobby Roast Beef in The Mick. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Wyckoff Country Club: The Vagina Monologues - A Fundraiser for Women’s Domestic Violence Organizations. 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.
‘Look
Ma, no guitars!’ Ray Mason’s ‘Glaze’ forgoes his trusty Silvertone
RAY MASON‘S sound and songwriting is so intertwined with his 1965 Silvertone guitar, it’s hard to imagine anything else spearheading his music. He has been playing the road-worn instrument for decades
That’s why his new album, “Glaze,” is so startling. There’s no guitar at all on it — just bass, keyboards and drums.
Mason, who has long resided in Haydenville, decided to forgo his tried-and-true approach for the album and simply employed Ken Maiuri on keyboards and Keith Levreault on drums, while handling bass duties himself.
“Well, the funny thing is that we wanted to do something different, but I write all my songs on the guitar.” he said in a recent interview with The Republican. “So, I did a little scratch thing as a reference CD to give to Ken and Keith to learn the songs, but they just had the songs with me playing them on guitar. But then I told them when we record these, there’s not going to be any guitar.”
Once it was set in motion,
with Mason for many years — both in an early version of the Ray Mason Band and now in The Lonesome Brothers — Maiuri is a more recent addition to the Ray Mason universe. Maiuri played on Mason’s last two solo efforts, 2024’s “You Never Lose That Grip,” and 2023’s “Is There Wiggle Room?” Mason said he relied heavily on Maiuri’s talent and knowledge for
“I just try to keep things real and relaxed and have fun doing it.”
Ray Mason
it didn’t take long for the project to come to life. After Maiuri and Levreault learned the songs, the trio rehearsed together only once. They then went into the studio and laid down all 10 basic tracks in one session, adding only minimal overdubs to a few tracks.
A few weeks later, Mason went back and sang the songs a few times each to have different vocal takes to choose from for each song.
“I just try to keep things real and relaxed and have fun doing it,” he said. While Levreault has played
the keyboard parts.
“He did a lot on his own because I know he’s just going to take it and learn it, and I knew I was going to like it,” Mason said.
“Sometimes you just get in the room and play the stuff, and it just sounds the way you want it to.”
Maiuri kept the sound straightforward, mostly employing a Wurlitzer-type electric piano sound.
“I always loved those Wurlitzer electric pianos. They’re just great sounding keyboards,” Mason said. Mason then reflected on
great people I’ve gotten to play with over the years.”
The new album features 10 tracks — nine with vocals and one instrumental track, “That’s My Plan, What’s Yours?” that ends the record.
his good fortune of being surrounded by so much talent.
“I’ve known Ken for a long time, and he just knows so much. He’s like a walking encyclopedia,” he said. “And Keith worked all these intricate drum parts out for the songs, and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I just feel like I’m such a lucky guy because of all these
“I actually considered putting some guitar on the instrumental track, but then once I heard how well the trio did it, I said, ‘Oh no, there’s not going be any guitar on that!’” he said.
Mason noted that he already has the songs written for his next solo album.
“So maybe the next album will just be really loud guitars,” he said with a laugh.
“Glaze” is available on Mason’s Bandcamp page.
Ray Mason performs at the Bing Arts Center in Springfield in 2018. (THE REPUBLICAN FILE PHOTO)
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
Oscars will bring back last year’s acting winners to present
LOS ANGELES — The Oscars are reuniting last year’s acting winners for next month’s ceremony.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced last week that best actor winners Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison and supporting actor winners Kieran Culkin and Zoe
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Saldaña will present trophies at the 98th annual Academy Awards.
The actors are the first presenters announced for the March 15 ceremony, which will be hosted by Conan O’Brien. The show will air live on ABC beginning at 7 p.m.
Last year’s show saw Saldaña, Madison and Culkin
Rediscovered
‘Sherlock Holmes’ film to be screened
The first-ever movie adaptation of ‘Sherlock Holmes,’ a silent film released in 1916 and recently rediscovered, will screen next weekend at the West Springfield Public Library.
The original “Sherlock Holmes” will be shown with live music on Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. at the West Springfield Public Library, 200 Main St.
The screening will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films.
The program is free and open to the public.
Like many films from the silent era, the “Sherlock Holmes” movie was long considered lost until a nearly complete copy was discovered in 2014 at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris.
The film has since been restored, allowing movie-goers to again see the only screen appearance of stage actor
William Gillette.
Gillette originated the role of Sherlock Holmes in a popular stage adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales of the legendary British detective.
Gillette performed as the brilliant Holmes more than 1,300 times over three decades, touring the nation and popularizing Conan Doyle’s sleuth.
A popular stage actor, Gillette made no other known movie appearances. But his interpretation of the Holmes character laid the groundwork for all actors who would later play the role, including Basil Rathbone and Benedict Cumberbatch. Running about 90 minutes, it features all major characters of the Holmes stories, including companion Dr. Watson and nemesis and rival Professor Moriarty. It was filmed in 1915 in the Chicago studios of the Essanay Film Co., with exterior shots of the Windy City
become first-time Oscar winners. Brody won his second best actor trophy, for his role in “The Brutalist.”
“Sinners” is this year’s leading nominee, breaking the record for most nominations by a single film with 16.
The Oscars frequently have the previous year’s winners present Oscar trophies in the acting categories.
Who’s nominated for an Oscar this year?
This year’s nominees for best actress are Jessie Buckley for “Hamnet,” Rose Byrne
for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” Renate Reinsve for “Sentimental Value,” Emma Stone for “Bugonia”
Stage actor William Gillette in a scene from the original silent film adaptation of “Sherlock Holmes” (1916), to be shown with live music by Jeff Rapsis on Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. at the West Springfield Public Library. The program is free and open to the public.
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
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
Above, from left, actors Mikey Madison and Adrien Brody, who won awards in last year’s Oscars ceremony, will return to present awards during the 98th annual ceremony on March 15.
‘Hope’
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D4
Sweet Honey in the Rock, formed in 1973, is a threetime Grammy Award-nominated troupe who express their history as Black women through song, dance and sign language.
“Kyle Homstead, who is our technical director at Hope Center, has worked closely with Sweet Honey in the Rock for decades as their sound engineer. He still tours regularly with them and was the one who brought the current group along with Yasmeen to be on the program after mentioning to them that we were planning a concert to celebrate Evelyn’s life,” explained Isaac Eddy, artistic director at the Hope Center, where Sweet Honey in the Rock was the first concert staged in the venue in September 2025.
Williams, a longtime
member of Sweet Honey in the Rock, performed with them from 1976 to 1986. She grew up during the gospel explosion in Washington, D.C. After meeting in Sweet Honey in the 1970s, Williams remained Harris’ most cherished friend for the remainder of her life.
“I auditioned for Sweet Honey in the Rock in 1976 when Evelyn was already a member. I auditioned in front of her and a few other members. What I remember is that she was the first person to speak out after I sang and said, ‘I’m going to like singing with her.’ And we clicked right then and there. I was so enamored with her presentation and voice,” Williams said.
“She had such a positive attitude toward our working together and we harmonized very well together. Each of us had our own forte, mine was gospel and Evelyn brought jazz and R&B to the mix,” she added.
“What I remember is that she was the first person to speak out after I sang and said, ’I’m going to like singing with her.’ And we clicked right then and there. I was so enamored with her presentation and voice.”
Yasmeen Betty Williams, former member, Sweet Honey in the Rock
Williams said it is an honor to be part of Saturday’s tribute to Harris and that it is “an extension of what we had together.”
“We had a very special relationship, and Evelyn never said an unkind word to me. She was always very attentive to me, and we would always stand next to one another when singing with the group. We always kept in touch with one another outside of Sweet Honey in the Rock.
It was Evelyn who took a train to see me when I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It meant the world to me,” she said, noting doctors gave her three months to live and now, 13 years later, she is alive and still in active treatment.
Tickets to Saturday’s concert range from $30 to $55 in advance and are available online at hopecenterforthe arts.org.
For more information on the Young@Heart Chorus, visit youngatheartchorus. com.
The late Evelyn Harris performs with the Young@Heart Chorus in this file photo. The group will honor Harris, who died in December 2025, in a concert at the Hope Center for the Arts on Saturday. (JULIAN PARKER-BURNS PHOTOS)
NOW STREAMING
Blackpink and Bruno,
Paul
McCartney
doc, ‘Survivor’ at 50, and ‘Scrubs’ is back
By The Associated Press
Both the K-pop girl group Blackpink and the funky pop star Bruno Mars returning with new music and a documentary about Paul McCartney after the Beatles are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: “Paradise” starring Sterling K. Brown returns for its second season, the freshly rebranded Actors Awards will be handed out live and there are bloodthirsty zombies to fight in Resident Evil Requiem.
New movies to stream
• Andrew Stanton has directed some very memorable Pixar movies (“WALL-E,” “Finding Nemo”), but his live-action track record is more checkered. Following 2012’s poorly received “John Carter,” Stanton is back with “In the Blink of an Eye,” a film that brings together a handful of interconnected stories that explore the history of the world. Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones and Daveed Diggs co-star. After a rocky reception at the Sundance Film Festival last month, “In the Blink of an Eye” debuts Friday on Hulu.
• The Actor Awards, formerly the SAG Awards, will be handed out March 1 in a Netflix-livestreamed ceremony. Dished out by SAG-AFTRA, the actors
wife got left behind. In Season 2, he sets out to find her. Shailene Woodley joins the cast and Julianne Nicholson and Marsden return.
• The 50th, yes 50th, season of “Survivor” streams live on Paramount+ this week as it airs on CBS. Make sure to have your whole night free though because the first episode is three hours long. Season 50 features all returning “Survivor” contestants including “The White Lotus” creator, Mike White.
guild, the awards are one of the most closely watched Oscar predictors. This year, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” comes in the lead nominee.
— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
New music to stream
• For the Paul McCartney superfan comes a new documentary series from director Morgan Neville, who also helmed “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” and “Piece by Piece.” Not on the Beatles, but what came after. “Paul McCartney: Man on the Run,” which hits Amazon Prime Video on Friday, chronicles the music man’s life in the 1970s — Wings and then some. It’s an intimate portrait worth spending time with.
• Also on Friday: The return of Bruno Mars! “The Romantic” is Mars’ fourth full-length project and first solo album since 2016’s hit-making “24K Magic.”
(That’s of course excluding his mega-popular collaborative project with Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, and their 2021 release “An Evening
with Silk Sonic.”) Retro-pop is the name of the game and Mars remains one of the great, spirited nostalgists. That’s evident from the jump: “I Just Might” is feel-good disco-pop-soul; it’s clear Mars is making his return just when the world wants him most.
• All four members of K-pop girl group Blackpink have found incredible success as soloists, with ubiquitous pop hits like “APT.” and starring roles on “The White Lotus” among them. But now is the time for a comeback. On Friday, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa will release “Deadline,” their latest EP. Details surrounding the five-track release have been scant but the bilingual “Jump” is bouncy europop
that flirts with hardstyle, the ideal soundtrack to a Las Vegas day club. Clearly, they just want their listeners to have fun.
— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman
New series to stream
• Season 2 of “Paradise” starring Sterling K. Brown returns to Hulu this week. Brown plays Xavier, a Secret Service agent assigned to protect the president of the United States, played by James Marsden. In Season 1, we learned that Marsden’s character and a small number of privileged people escaped to an underground bunker just as an apocalypse was about to destroy everything. Xavier and his kids also made it to safety, but his
• Sixteen years after it aired its series finale, Zach Braff’s “Scrubs,” has been resuscitated. The irreverent hospital begins streaming on Hulu on Thursday, with a returning cast Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke and Judy Reyes.
• Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman first worked together on the film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” They’ve got a new collab as executive producers of a new Civil War series for Prime Video called “The Gray House.” Mary Louise Parker stars alongside Ben Vereen, Robert Knepper (“Prison Break”) and Paul Anderson of “Peaky Blinders.” All 8-episodes drop Thursday.
• A washed-up Broadway actor (played by Kevin Kline) returns to his hometown and ends up directing a local production of “Our Town” in the new series “American Classic.” He also butts heads with his former girlfriend-turned-mayor played by Laura Linney. MGM+ kicks off the series by releasing the first two episodes on Sunday, March 1.
— Alicia Rancilio
Above, a combination of images shows promotional art for the series “Paradise,” from left, the comedy series “Scrubs,” and the documentary “Paul McCartney: Man on the Run.” At right is the K-pop girl group Blackpink. (HULU / HULU / PRIME VIA AP)
T HURSDAY
Comedy Project Workshop: Thu, 6-8 p.m. LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield.
Hallucinations — Artist Talk by Lisa Iglesias: Thu., 5 p.m. Amherst College-Fayerweather Hall. Join the Department of Art and the History of Art as Lisa Iglesias discusses her artistic practice. Free and open to all. College Street, Amherst.
“When a Loved One is Dying”: Thu, 5:30 p.m. Edwards Public Library, Conversations about care, connection and coping with registered nurse Maureen Groden. Snow date is March 3. To register, call 413-527-9480, 30 East St., Southampton. 413-527-9480.
FRIDAY
The Suffield Players presents “Holidazed”: Fri.-Sat., Mapleton Hall, Fri., Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Admission is $22 adults, $19 seniors (62+) and students. 1305 Mapleton Ave., Suffield. 860-6680837 or www.suffieldplayers.org.
SATURDAY
Comedy Night Fundraiser: Sat., Westfield-West Springfield Elks Lodge of Elks, with Charlie Nadler, Paul Nardizzi and Kristy Kielbasinski. Hosted by Jim Ruberti. Doors open 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Featuring raffles, cash bar, and limited menu available. Tickets available at the lodge, $25. 56 Franklin St., Westfield. Conn. River Working Group Association Dog Show: Sat.Sun., 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Eastern States Exposition, Mallary Complex, $5-$10. 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-737-2443 or www. thebige.com.
First Company Governor’s Foot Guard Dog Show: Sat.-Sun., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern States Exposition, Mallary Complex, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-737-2443 or www.thebige. com.
Frederick Douglass —Reading and Responding Together in Greenfield: Sat., 2 p.m. LAVA Center, featuring Marlon Carey, Nina Gross and Nate Woodard. Free, donations greatly appreciated. 324 Main St., Greenfield.
The Suffield Players presents “Holidazed”: See Friday listing.
Whammer Jammer — A J. Giles Band Tribute from Boston: Sat., 7-10 p.m. 52 Sumner. For tickets visit 52sumner.com/events-andtickets/, $17-$35. 52 Sumner Ave., Springfield.
Young@ Heart Concert: Sat., 4
CALENDAR
Homecoming concert
Master Chief Musician Christopher Sala of the U.S. Navy, a Wilbraham native, will perform with the U.S. Navy Band in a free concert at Springfield Symphony Hall on Sunday, March 1. “I am always thrilled to come back to my hometown to perform with the Navy Band and represent the United States Navy,” said Sala, a 1990 Minnechaug Regional High School graduate, in a recent interview with The Republican. “I am thankful for all of the opportunities that I had growing up in this area, which is rich in musical tradition.” Admission to the concert, which starts at 2 p.m., is free and open to the public. (PHOTO COURTESY U.S. NAVY)
p.m. Hope Center for the Arts, For tickets, visit hopecenterforthe arts.org, $30-$55 in advance. 150 Bridge St., Springfield.
SUNDAY
Bombyx Brass presents “Musical Flurries” Concert: Sun., 3 p.m., at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity. The Bombyx Brass Collective, a 35-piece semi-professional brass choir led by Music Director Juli Sansoucy, will present its second program of the season, “Musical Flurries.” A donation of $15 is suggested for the concert. 130 Pine St., Florence.
Conn. River Working Group Association Dog Show: See Saturday listing.
First Company Governor’s Foot Guard Dog Show: See Saturday listing.
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: 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: “One Foot in Two Places” by Olwen O’Herlihy Dowling, through Oct. 4. “Markets, Foodways, and the Essence of Place: Works from the Museo de Arte de Ponce,” through Sept. 6.
First Floor Alpert Gallery. Museum a la Carte. Feb. 26, 12:15 p.m.
“The Creative Bridge from Surrealism to Art Therapy.” Cost: $4, free for members. Presented by Simone Alter-Muri, Ed.D, founder/director and professor of art therapy/counseling, Springfield College; and Debra Sarlin, Ph.D, makerspace educator and creative technologist.
“Please Touch! A Tactile Exploration of Sante Graziani’s Mural,” through July 26.
Springfield Science Museum: “Math Alive! Exhibition,” through
May 3. 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.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First-floor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in acctivities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. For more information, go online to springfieldmuseums.org.
SPRINGFIELD
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, and weekday activities. Visit ameliaparkmuseum.org for information. Hours: Tue.-Tue, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open for groups Wed. Admission is $8 adults; $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); and free for members and infants. Military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission. 29 S. Broad St., Westfield or www.ameliapark museum.org.
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “Cooking with Eric Carle,” through Aug. 23. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or www.carle museum.org.
Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibits: 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. Online exhibit: “Imagining Freedom.” The exhibition 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. “Puttin’ on the Ritz Figure Drawing Workshop,” Feb. 28, 1 p.m. Join artist Warren Prindle for a drawing workshop with a professional model dressed as a Jazz Age flapper. Guided exercises will unlock solid proportions, expressive gestures, and the rhythmic flow of the human form. No drawing experience is necessary; all materials provided. Limited capacity, RSVP required. $20 in addition to Museum admission. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or
STURBRIDGE Mmm, mmm, maple!
Old Sturbridge Village is hosting “Maple Days” Wednesday through Sunday through March 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Maple Days” programming offers demonstrations that share the history of sugaring season in New England. Above are a variety of maple products offered in the Old Sturbridge Village gift shop as part of “Maple Days.” (PHOTO COURTESY OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE)
www.nrm.org.
Old Sturbridge Village: “Maple Days,” Wed.-Sun. through March 15, 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Included with general admission. Route 20, Sturbridge or www.osv.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. “Don’t Mind if I Do Exhibit,” through June 28. Artists include: Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo, Pelenakeke Brown, Sky Cubacub, Emilie L. Gossiaux, Felicia Griffin, Joselia Rebekah Hughes, Jeff Kasper, and Finnegan Shannon. Curator: Lauren Leving. SCMA Exhibition “A City in Flux: Reflecting on Venice,” through March 22. All exhibits at SCMA are free and open to the public. 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 Sat-
urday, 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. For more information, visit NEVAmuseum.org or call 413-5884337. There is a $10 suggested admission asked day-of at the door. 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. “Victorian Tea & Talk,” March 1, 3:30 p.m. Jay Craven, American film director, screenwriter, and former film professor at Marlboro College, will present his talk “New England Movies: How and Why.” Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. Tickets are $45. Members receive $5 off with their discount code. 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. Admission is $8 adults; $5
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. 1021 West St., Amherst or www.yiddishbookcenter.org.
Galleries
A.P.E. Gallery: “Light Being” by Elizabeth stone, Rosalyn Driscoll, & Tori Lawrence, through Feb. 28. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sun. 12-5 p.m., Fri. 12-8 p.m. Closed Mon. & Tues. 126 Main St., Northampton or www.apearts.org
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 Palisado Ave., Windsor or www. windsorhistoricalsociety.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 www.wistariahurst.org. Standard admission is $7 Holyoke residents; $5 seniors; $5 youth (under 18); and free for 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
Amherst College-Fayerweather Hall: “Hallucinations — Work by Lisa Iglesias,” through March 20. “Hallucinations” brings together three new, interrelated series by Iglesias that frame perception as layered, contingent, and in motion. Free and open to all. College Street, Amherst Center for the Arts Trust Building: “Listen to My Photographs,” featuring the work of artists from the Care Center Art Exhibition, through Feb. 28. Split Arts Gallery. Gallery Hours: Wed.-Fri, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat, 12-7 p.m. closed Mon. & Tues. “Mutating Origins,” through Feb. 28, in the Split Level Gallery. 33 Hawley St., Northampton Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Winter Garden,” through Feb. 28. 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, 413-543-3321. LAVA Center: “Trees,” through Feb. 28 “Geoff Bluh Photography Exhibit,” through Feb. 27. 324 Main St., Greenfield
Old Town Hall: “N.S.F. Work,” through Feb. 28. 43 Main St., Easthampton
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 or 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. Exhibit by Nicole Baker, Lynette Varnon, Lorrin Baker. March 1 - 31. Nicole Baker, mixed media; Lynette Varnon, poetry; Lorrin Baker, photography. Hours: Mon.Fri, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield 413-737-5311.
Oscars
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and Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue.”
The best actor nominees are Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke for “Blue Moon,” Michael B. Jordan for “Sinners” and Wagner Moura for “The Secret Agent.”
In the supporting actor categories, the nominees are
‘Holmes’
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doubling for Victorian London.
Rapsis improvises live scores for silent films using a digital synthesizer to recreate the texture of the full orchestra.
“It’s kind of a high wire
Outdoors
Great Falls Discovery Center: “Great Hall Exhibit: Maps of River History by Joe Kopera,” through March 28. Indoor StoryWalk“Rabbit’s Snow Dance” by James Bruchac’s, through Feb. 28. Free. Nice & Easy Walks. Feb. 26, 1-2 p.m. Easy-paced, 1- to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for older adults, but open to all. Enjoy natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance. Free. Kidleidoscope Story Hour. Feb. 27, “When Will It Be Spring?” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. 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. Locations vary, call for information, 1-3 p.m. For ages 8 and older. Explore seasonal changes in the forest and look for signs of wildlife and
Jacob Elordi for “Frankenstein,” Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro for “One Battle After Another,” Stellan Skarsgård for “Sentimental Value” and Delroy Lindo for “Sinners.”
The supporting actress nominees are Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for “Sentimental Value,” Amy Madigan for “Weapons,” Wunmi Mosaku for “Sinners” and Teyana Taylor for “One Battle After Another.”
For more information on this year’s awards show and nominees, visit oscars.org
act,” Rapsis said. “But for me, the energy of live performance is an essential part of the silent film experience.”
The March 7 program is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.wspl.org call the library at 413-736-4561.
For more info on the music, visit www.jeffrapsis.com.
unique features along an easy to moderate trail. Dress appropriately for winter weather. Trails may be snowy or icy. Hiking poles and traction devices (or snowshoes) recommended. Bring water and a snack. 413-499-4262. Nature
Scavenger Hunt: Ongoing, Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For children and families. Self-guided quests invite you to search for natural treasures along part trails and inside the Visitor Center. There are several seek and find scavenger hunts for different age and skill levels. Scavenger hunts are available at the Visitor Center. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough
Quabbin Visitors Center: Friends of Quabbin Presents: “Respect What You Find: DCR’s Office of Cultural Resources Stewardship Mission.” March 1, 2 p.m.-3p.m. All programs are scheduled for 2 p.m. and in-person seating is limited to 45 people. In case of bad weather the program will convert to be 100% virtual. Free. 485 Ware Road, Belchertown
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
