“The Minutes” @ The Umbrella

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photo credit: Jim Sabitus

“Intensely compelling…one of the best shows this season. [I]ngeniously staged by Edmiston…THE MINUTES is an allegorical masterpiece by Letts and one which would have probably made Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling proud…or jealous that he did not write it himself.” – Kevin T. Baldwin, METRMAG

The Umbrella Arts Center is proud to present the Greater Boston premiere of The Minutes by award-winning playwright Tracy Letts (August: Osage County), called one of the most thrilling on Broadway in recent years. Nominated as Best New Play by the Tony Awards and Outer Critics Circle in 2022, and for the Pulitzer Prize in drama, The Minutes is part biting comedy, part Hitchcockian mystery, and at its dark heart an unflinching allegory about small-town politics and real-world power.

This new production is helmed by Scott Edmiston, three-time Norton-winning director, hailed as “one of Boston’s finest directors” by the Boston Globe, who calls Letts’ play “completely original and outrageous…both funny and dark, located somewhere between The Office and The Twilight Zone. It’s brilliant in the way that it uses comedy to dramatize some serious issues facing our country today. It takes a hard look at the growing movement to deny or rewrite some of the unpleasant truths about America’s past. What are some of the myths about ourselves and our nation that we find hard to admit — and why?”

LIVING CONCORD SPECIAL

  • Thursday, March 14, 2024 Performance Only – Use this Living Concord Link to save 10% on tickets with special code “LIV01742”. This performance will also feature a special post-show talkback with members of the Concord DEI and Concord 250 committees discussing local topics surrounding historical interpretation and how it relates to themes in the play.

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS

  • Sunday, March 10, 2024 3:00PM – Kid-Care Performance* – The Umbrella is pleased to offer a Kid-Care Show Program, giving parents and caregivers an opportunity to attend select performances while their child(ren) engage in art activities inspired by the production. This program aims to provide better access to arts and culture events and create a shared experience opportunity for families. Spaces are limited and can be reserved alongside ticket purchases.
  • #DinnerAndAShow Thursday Night Out Packages! Thursdays in Concord are now a fun and easy entertainment Date Night thanks to optional pre-show dinners here at The Umbrella provided by Nosh restaurant and the Concord Market! Coming straight from work? Park free at The Umbrella, then take a load off and enjoy a delicious catered dinner, pick up beverage at concessions, and explore our free art galleries at your ease until it’s time for curtain! Details on our chef-planned menus for The Minutes coming soon!

 

Music & Invention: A Concert and Lecture with Tod Machover and Friends at Concord Conservatory

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Join us when we welcome internationally acclaimed renowned composer, inventor, and educator Tod Machover of the MIT Media Lab for the MUSIC & INVENTION CONCERT AND LECTURE on Friday, March 8th, 7:30 pm!

Explore how music and invention interact and influence each other.

Concord, MA—February 6, 2024: How does music inspire new ideas and inventions? How do composers use invention to create new sounds and experiences? How does music reflect and transform the world we live in?

These are some of the questions that will be addressed at the Music & Invention Concert and Lecture, presented by the Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM) on Friday, March 8th at 7:30 pm. Join renowned composer, inventor, and educator Tod Machover of the MIT Media Lab to explore the multi-faceted relationship between invention and music. Performed by CCM faculty artist, pianist Yoko Hagino, guest violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones, guest cellist Ariana Falk, and graduate students from the MIT Media Lab, this promises to be a wild ride of music and celebration of bold but beautiful ideas.

Featuring works by J.S. Bach, Frederic Rzewski, Liza Lim, Marianne Amacher, Pauline Oliveros, and three recent compositions by Machover, including the U.S. Premiere of Resolve Remote for violin and electronics. Witness how a musical idea can develop into a full-length composition, how music can mirror and adapt to its environment, and how composers can challenge and expand our listening habits.

From bow-and-string to new interactive interfaces and from AI to singalong, please join us for a very unusual evening of sounds and ideas that will spark imaginations, open minds, and bring delight. Whether you are interested in classical, experimental, or electronic music, you will find something to appreciate and enjoy.

Get your tickets today at ConcordConservatory.org. We thank our Lead Sponsor, Emerson Health, and our Supporting Sponsor, Middlesex Savings Bank, for making the 2023-2024 CCM Concert & Lecture Series possible. The Series is also supported in part by a grant from the Concord Cultural Council and Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council, local agencies that the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, supports. Thanks to our sponsors, we can bring quality and diverse concerts to our community.

About CCM Concord Conservatory of Music: It is a community of people who are passionate about music education. CCM enrolls over 500 students annually and offers programs for all ages and abilities. As a non-profit school, CCM serves Concord, MA, and 17 surrounding communities. Its curriculum includes private instruction, group classes, and performance opportunities. Financial assistance is available.