ENJOY LIMITED-TIME EARLY BIRD PRICING

Don't forget to grab your season subscription packages at the early bird discounted rate - now through Labor Day! Be a part of this season's memorable performances, featuring Dracula, RENT, Middleton Heights and The Color Purple.

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SPOTLIGHT: THE BOY WHO GREW FLOWERS
The Boy Who Grew Flowers is a stunning visual performance by NYC's Treehouse Shakers for audiences ages 5-10 and their families that will have a limited run from September 22-24, 2022 in our state-of-the-art Main Stage theater.

Adapted from Barefoot Books’ bestselling picture book by Jen Wojtowicz, play adaption by Mara McEwin and choreographed by Emily Bunning, it is the story of a young boy, Rink Bowagon, who lives on top of Lonesome Mountain with his unusual family of rattlesnake tamers and shape-shifters. The townspeople agree that Rink's family are quite strange, but they are unaware of Rink's spectacular gifts. Whenever the moon is full, Rink sprouts beautiful flowers from his head. When a new girl, Angelina, moves to town, Rink's life truly begins to grow.

Incorporating puppetry, original music, and movement, The Boy Who Grew Flowers is a thoughtful and magical story that lends itself to themes of diversity, creating empathy & celebrating individualism.

A concurrent visual arts exhibition, Barefoot Books: 30 Years, 30 Years, will be on display over two floors of The Umbrella Arts Gallery from September 9-25, 2022.

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CLASS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

SPOTLIGHT: NEW INSTRUCTORS!
Join us in welcoming some of our talented new instructors, Nancy Hart, Kelsi Ricks and Becky Bearse!

Nancy will be heading one of our new adult painting classes, Painting Survey: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor. Whether you're looking to get back into painting or you're a first time painter, this class will help you revisit or discover painting in three mediums - oil, acrylic and watercolor.

Kelsi will lead two new adult drawing classes, Drawing with Pen and Ink and Words + Pictures: Creating Illustrated Picture Books.

In Drawing with Pen and Ink, you will explore and experiment in the world of pen and ink in a relaxed, encouraging environment.

In Words + Pictures: Creating Illustrated Picture Books, students will learn to create clarity and harmony between words and images for greatest effect in the medium of their choice!

And we're thrilled to announce that popular dancer/choreographer Becky Bearse is bringing dance back to The Umbrella, with introductory classes for kids 3-6 and an all-new World Rhythms dance fitness class for adults (weekly drop-in option)! Come get fit and have fun in our beautiful, airy new dance studio!

Classes are already filling up fast! Click on 'Register Now' to see all classes currently being offered.

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THE RETURN OF 'GO OUT DOORS'

As you soak up the last weeks of summer, make sure to plan a day to explore some doors!

These gorgeously decorated, "upcycled" doors are crafted by regional artists and have been delighting passersby since 2020. This year, The Umbrella is thrilled to continue Go Out Doors - Neighbors with some fun new twists throughout Concord. In addition to creating an easily walkable installation in Concord Center near The Umbrella, we're inviting local residents and businesses to create and display their own "artdoors" along with us, and our partners at West Concord's Bradford Mill and Minute Man National Historical Park!

Check out our non-exhaustive, interactive Google map of current artdoor installations to start your own door tour!

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NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE - FREE EVENT

BOUTIQUE GUITAR SHOWCASE
Calling all guitar enthusiasts! Join us on September 4, 2022 from 10am - 6pm for the New England premiere of the internationally-acclaimed Boutique Guitar Showcase!

Presented by Minuteman Guitars and hosted by The Umbrella Arts Center, this unique collection of handmade, world-class guitars is a must-see. Don't miss this opportunity to view, play or purchase one of these beautiful instruments.

Pre-register for this FREE event today and receive a free guitar pin at the show!

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COMING SOON TO OUR GALLERY

BAREFOOT BOOKS: 30 YEARS, 30 ARTISTS

Come check out over two floors of free family art activities, a storywalk, author talks and more from September 9-25, 2022.

The Umbrella is thrilled to partner with Concord-based Barefoot Books as the award-winning, global multicultural children's publisher celebrates its 30th anniversary year!

In our Gallery, Barefoot Books: 30 Years, 30 Artists is a FREE family-friendly, interactive art exhibition showcasing 30 artists from around the world and a three-dimensional timeline of Barefoot’s history. Limited edition prints of this brilliant artwork will be available for sale, with proceeds benefiting The Umbrella. Special activities include crafts and storytelling sessions, a discussion with founder Nancy Traversy and Wicked author Gregory Maguire, and special theatrical production of the bestselling The Boy Who Grew Flowers.

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NEW BOOK CLUB!

JOIN OUR 'WORLD OF WONDERS' VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

From beloved, award-winning poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil comes a debut work of nonfiction—a collection of essays about the natural world, and the way its inhabitants can teach, support, and inspire us.

We are reading World of Wonders in preparation for Nezhukumatathil’s visit to The Umbrella on October 18 & 19, 2022 as part of The Concord Festival of Authors, when she'll be delivering a talk and reading, and leading a writing workshop.

Join us for one or both virtual book club sessions to discuss this beautiful, lyrical and joyful piece of writing. To learn more about Aimee Nezhukumatathil, click here.

Copies of World of Wonders are available through the Concord Free Public Library and the Minuteman Library Network, Concord Book Shop, Milkweed Editions, and literary booksellers everywhere.

To learn more about this opportunity, click 'Learn More' below!

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CALL FOR ART

APPLY FOR OUR FALL SHOW!
Our upcoming gallery exhibit, Lost and Found, examines our relationships with familiar, unfamiliar and defamiliarized objects.

The work starts with a found object which must be physically embedded or transformed into the piece itself. Objects may be recognizable or beyond recognition, depending on the story they tell. This show examines these stories.

Please note: This is a Found Objects show. All pieces must include, or be made from, found objects that are themselves the central theme of the piece and the reason it was made. Found objects may be 2D or 3D, but must be physically included in the piece.

For more details about Lost and Found and submission instructions, click on 'Learn More' below!

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STUDIO ARTS

UMBRELLA ARTISTS ON VIEW: HILLARY KANE

Our very own Hillary Kane, The Umbrella Arts Center Artcubator Resident, will be showing her work at Lucy Lacoste Gallery starting August 27! Her show, UNEARTHED: Relics of Memory, will run through September 24.

For more information on other openings, talks and exhibitions from our Umbrella Studio Artists, check out our exhibition round-up blog!

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IN THE COMMUNITY

SAVE THE ARTS!
Join our friends at Dance Prism for an evening of fun and celebration at their annual fundraiser!

'Kaleidoscope XXII' will take place on Saturday, August 27 at 6:30pm at Walden Performing Arts Center in Concord. In lieu of tickets, donations are accepted at the door, online or via Venmo.

Celebrate dance and help Dance Prism make their 40th season possible!

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