The Scene In and Around Boston . . . More than 350 guests and supporters of the Boston Public Library recently attended the "22nd Literary Lights Dinner," which was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. The annual celebration recognizes authors, playwrights, poets and other significant contributors to literature. The elegant, black-tie benefit featured Nantucket author Nathaniel Philbrick as the evening's keynote speaker. Other noted authors received awards including poet Dan Chiasson; novelist Stona Fitch; historian Jill Lepore; novelist and essayist Jonathan Lethem; non-fiction author Ben Mezrich; author and diplomat Rory Stewart; and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Elizabeth Strout. All proceeds from the Literary Lights event will benefit the David McCullough Conservation Fund for the BPL's Special Collections and special programs at the Library. For information about upcoming Associates' events, call 617-536-3886 or visit www.theassociates.org.
"The Dream Lives On" to be performed on various dates by Boston Pops and BSO Acclaimed actors Robert De Niro, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman give life to the words of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy, respectively, when they join conductor Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus for the world premiere performance of "The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers" - the centerpiece of the Boston Pops 125th anniversary season celebration - on May 18, at 8 p.m. (to be repeated on May 19), at Symphony Hall in Boston. Celebrating the legacies of these three Massachusetts native sons, "The Dream Lives On" - composed by Peter Boyer with Tony Award-winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens - was commissioned by Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops. This new multi-media work combines quotes from speeches by the Kennedy brothers with original text and video, accompanied by an orchestral and choral score. The title of the work was taken from the closing lines of Ted Kennedy's speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Emmy Award-winner Alec Baldwin will join the Pops to narrate "The Dream Lives On" at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO is parent organization of the Boston Pops), in Lenox, MA on July 18, at 2:30 p.m. Academy Award-winner Chris Cooper will serve as narrator for a special performance of the new work on the Hyannis Village Green in Hyannis, home to generations of Kennedys, on August 1, at 5 p.m. The work was written with more than one performance adaptation in mind: it can be performed with four narrators, chorus, and orchestra or it can be performed with a single narrator and orchestra (optional chorus). In addition to the repeat performance of the work at "Presidents at Pops" on May 19, "The Dream Lives On" will receive additional performances on May 20, 21, and 22, and on July 3 and 4 at the Charles River Esplanade as part of the annual Pops Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular concert (narrator/narrators for these performances to be announced at a later date). Commissioning of "The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers" was made possible by support provided by Paul and Catherine Braverman and Robert and Evelyn Doran. Regularly priced tickets for the 2010 Boston Pops season, May 4-June 20, at Symphony Hall, may be purchased online at www.bostonpops.org or by phone through SymphonyCharge at 617-266-1200 or 888-266-1200, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with a handling fee for each ticket ordered online or by phone). For group sales of 25 or more, please call 617-638-9345 or 800-933-4255. Enjoy! |
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In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, "The Scene..."
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Pictured at the "22nd Literary Lights Dinner," in the Grand Ballroom of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, are: left to right, "Literary Light" Stona Fitch; BPL Associates chair Vivian Spiro; and award presenter, author and dinner sponsor Gregory Maguire. (Photo by Roger Farrington)