The Grumbling Gryphons

Traveling Children's Theatre presents

"Persephone"

Saturday, May 17th at 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM

"A magical weave of storytelling, music, mythology and masks..." - New York Times. 

Saturday's show is based on the Greek myth of Persephone and how Spring came to be.

The Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater company specializes in children's theater.  They combine live music, theater and hand-crafted masks to tell their stories. The show is highly imaginative. Audiences are involved in the action.

The masks for this original production were designed by one of the originators of The Muppets.  While acting, the performers also play the drums, trombone, and keyboard, and the show has wonderful costumes and scenery.

They have been delighting audiences nationally and internationally for nearly twenty-five years. From performances at Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to Stockton Children's Museum in California, as well as workshops and residencies in Greece, Mexico, Israel, Ireland, and Ukraine, the Gryphons have made an impact on children throughout the world.

Unique Workshop Opportunity:  Free workshop on the morning of the show for the first 35 youngsters ages 6 and up buying tickets involves them directly in the performances. The workshop will begin at 9:00 AM. Children must be available to perform in both shows. Details provided when purchasing tickets. 

Tickets:  $10 Adults, $8 Students                              BUY ONLINE NOW

Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves

Friday, May 23rd @ 8:00 PM

"Mr. Reed invokes the stylish R & B of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke with convincing suavity." - New York Times

Winner of the Outstanding Blues/Soul Act of the Year category at the 2007 Boston Music Awards.  Reed brings his pounding rhythm and soul north for his first appearance at the Firehouse. Catch this fast rising star before the rest of the world discovers him! Click on www.elipaperboyreed.com for more details and to hear a sampling of his songs.

Tickets:  $18 Members, $ 20 Non Members                      BUY ONLINE NOW

ISN'T IT GRAND! STYNE'S WAY

Saturday, May 31st @ 8:00 PM

Sylvia Greenberg will "Wow" audiences of all ages with her tribute to Jule Styne, the musical genius of Broadway, movies, and standards. Mr. Styne's hits include Gypsy, Funny Girl, and Peter Pan, just to mention a few. "Three Coins in a Fountain" won an Academy Award for Best Song in 1954. Sylvia's talents have taken her to the television screen in the hit series Spencer for Hire, and the miniseries Kennedy's of Massachusetts. As a much-sought-after entertainer, Sylvia has performed in venues from coast-to-coast. She is a graduate of the Yale University Cabaret Conference and will be making her fourth appearance at the Firehouse with the Doug Hammer Orchestra.  www.sylvia-greenberg.com

.Tickets: $20 All seats reserved                                       BUY ONLINE NOW

JUNE 2008

HOUSE OF GOLD by Gregory Moss

June 5th -14th  - Evenings at 8:00 PM,

Sunday June 8th  Matinee at 3:00 PM

Part Alice in Wonderland, part tabloid headline, House of Gold is the story of a Very Famous Dead Little Girl brought back to life by the desires of a chorus of desperate characters. As she negotiates the dangers of the suburban house that is her entire world, she seeks to reclaim her internal organs, find a snack, and finally divide herself from the dreams of the living. Greg Moss's searing and darkly humorous drama House of Gold debuted in February 2007 as part of Brown University's New Play Festival. After last year's debut of his play The Argument, this year's offering from the Newburyport native promises to be even more charged.  Directed by Stephen Haley  who for the last several years has directed many of the works of playwright Samuel Beckett at the Firehouse (Endgame, Happy Days, .  He is the artistic director for Sirius Theatre who has worked with Harbor Theater Festival and Theater in the Open at Maudsley State Park among others.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the subject matter, this play is recommended for

 Mature Audiences Only.

Tickets: $20 Adults, $18 Seniors/Students, $17 Members    BUY ONLINE NOW

FUNNY MONEY by Ray Cooney

June 19 - 29th Thurs - Sat @ 7:30PM & Sunday Matinees at 3:00 PM

Ray Cooney is Britain's "master of farce". He's had 17 plays performed on the West End, including Run For Your Wife, which ran for nine years and became its longest running comedy. The play centers on an accountant who arrives home and unbeknownst to him, his attaché case is stuffed with ₤750,000 sterling. The event precipitates a chain of lies, misidentities and confusion as our hero pulls neighbors into his deceit and fends off two police inspectors, a killer and an irate taxi driver.  Things are further complicated by the accountant’s wife, who, in desperation, takes to the bottle.

Peter Honegger and Busy Boy/Bad Boy Productions, who brought you Run For Your Wife, Laughter on the 23rd Floor and My Three Angels, brings another classic comedy filled with laughter.

Tickets: $20 Adults, $18 Seniors/Students, $17 Members      On Sale Now

JAKE SHIMABUKURO

Sunday, June 22nd at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM -

"If God played the ukulele, it would sound something like this!" - Electric Guitar Review

Jake is BACK! He wowed audiences at two sold out Firehouse shows last year, and we couldn't wait to get him back.

Though many still have trouble pronouncing his last name and the instrument he plays, Jake Shimabukuro (she-ma-BOO- koo-row) is becoming recognized as one of the world’s top ukulele (oo-koo-LAY-lay) musicians.

Renowned for lightning-fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, Jake views the ukulele as an “untapped source of music with unlimited potential.”

His virtuosity defies label or category. Playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock, Jake’s mission is to show everyone that the ukulele is capable of so much more than only the traditional Hawaiian music many associate it.

Jake has had the opportunity to perform with and/or open for Jimmy Buffett, Diana Krall, Fiona Apple, John Hiatt, Bobby McFerrin, Victor Wooten, Blues Traveler, and many more - but when he takes the stage solo, hold onto your seats. One of the best instrumentalists you will ever hear anywhere - on any instrument.  This is a concert that you do not want to miss!   www.jakeshimabukuro.com

Tickets: $22 Members, $25 Non Members 

                                                                                                              BUY ONLINE NOW

JULY 2008

AN EVENING WITH MARK TWAIN

starring Michael Mauldin

Friday and Saturday, July 18th & 19th @ 8:00 PM

New York actor Michael Mauldin, as Mark Twain in his customary white suit and ever-present cigar, takes us through a fascinating panoply of uproarious comedy, gentle reminiscence, and biting social satire on the human condition. It is all seen through the eyes of a man who was at the top of the literary and social spectrum for most of his life and had reached the age and level of esteem where he felt free to say exactly what was on his mind about politics, religion and just about every other subject and news of the day.

Drawing from a combination of Twain's published and unpublished novels, short stories, journal notes, autobiography and speeches, Mr. Mauldin delivers a powerfully humorous and unforgettable performance - a richly rewarding experience for the Twain aficionado and novice alike.

TICKETS: $28 Members, $32 Adults, $30 Seniors and Students   BUY ONLINE NOW

AUGUST 2008

SPOUSAL DEAFNESS and OTHER BONES OF CONTENTION

By Susan Poulin and Gordon Carlise

Fri-Sat, August 8 & 9, 8PM

"A riotous rumination on married life...funny and interesting because of its intelligent writing...Carlisle's songs are hilarious." - Foster's Daily Democrat

Whose house is this anyway? real life husband and wife Carlisle and Poulin combine original songs, sketch comedy, and painted props to explore the wacky world of relationships. Here's your chance to tackle the really big issues: romance, underwear, vacation, negotiation, and spousal deafness, to name a few. Sound familiar? You'll feel like someone's been eavesdropping on your home! From the team that brought us Woman Who Run With Moose and Ida's Having a Yard Sale. www.poolyle.com

Tickets: $16 Members, $18 Non Members                                      ON SALE NOW

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Before the show, go to dinner at Not Your Average Joe's.

Show your ticket stub for the performance you are about to attend, and you will

receive a 15% discount on your entree!  For more information about Joes,  click on

 their logo. 

Located on the waterfront in historic downtown Newburyport, the Firehouse features an expansive art gallery; the intimate 195 seat Arakelian Theater which presents dance, concerts, drama, musicals, film, new works and children's programming and Not Your Average Joe's restaurant.