I happened upon a production last year of Romeo & Juliette done by the RSC which was quite entertaining and different from most Shakespeare I had seen in the past. The young actors a preform in contemporary attire with a very “now” feel. If you are looking for Shakespeare with short pants and floppy hats you are in the wrong place.

From their email:

Our high school aged actors, known as the Teen Intensive Program, are traveling all over the North Shore and Boston, with 4 appearances in Salem. Mia Rossi and Frazier Jones, both of Marblehead (Mia is a senior at Phillips Andover, Frazier is a senior  at Marblehead High School) are sharing duties of Hamlet, taking turns playing the lead during the tour.

All the shows are free to the public, and they suggest you bring a blanket or folding chair.

July 17, 1pm: Salem Senior Center 5 Broad Street, Salem MA (Indoors — no chair
or blanket needed).

July 17, 5pm: Salem Athenaeum  337 Essex Street, Salem MA
http://www.salemathenaeum.net/

July 22, 11am  Mary Jane Lee Park,  Prince & Prospect Streets, (off Congress
Street Near Shetland Properties) Salem MA… Featuring a theatre workshop for
neighborhood kids before the show.

July 22, 3pm  Salem Common

In addition to the four Salem Shows, they have a few performances scheduled in other towns around the north shore (if you really have a desire to leave Salem for a few hours).

Trails & Sails - The Essex National Heritage Area is hosting a ton of things to do this weekend in Essex County (guess they didn’t plan on rain all weekend) many Salem locations are participating.

Music

Friday September 26th

• Steve Wark (6-9pm jazz) Speakeasys (10pm rock)  @ Bangkok Paradise
• Jason Bennet & the Resistance, Swaggering Growlers, Have Nots (rock) @ Dodge Street
• Los Sugar Kings (mambo-salsa dance party 9:30pm) @ Edgewater Cafe
• Machine 475 (electronica, pop, rock 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Lost Daze (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Wildfire (dance, rock, pop, 80′s) @ Rockafellas
• Matt Tentindo (singer / guitar) @ Spirit’s at 300 Derby
• Hot Like Fire @ (8-11:30pm) Strombergs

Saturday September 27th

• Suzanne Perel (6-9pm jazz) DARQ (10pm goth, industrial) @ Bangkok Paradise
• Beast over Boston (Iron Maiden cover band) Faith in Distortion (rock) @ Dodge Street
• DJ Zati (10pm) @ Fresh Taste of Asia
• Saturday Acoustic  Jam (2-5pm)  The Milling Gowns (indie, rock 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• TBD @ The Lobster Shanty
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Cee Block (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Hangovers (dance, rock, pop, 80’s) @ Rockafellas
• Mystafine @ (8-11:30pm) Strombergs

Movies

Cinema Salem will be showing:

Eagle Eye (PG-13)
Friday at 4:30, 7:15 and 9:50
Saturday at 11:30AM, 2:00, 4:30, 7:15 and 9:50
Sunday at 11:30AM, 2:00, 4:30 and 7:15

Burn After Reading (R)
Friday at 4:30, 7:40 and 10:00
Saturday at 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:40 and 10:00
Sunday at 12:30, 2:45, 5:00 and 7:40

The Women (PG-13)
Friday at 4:00, and 9:15
Saturday at 11:15 AM, 4:00  and 9:15
Sunday at 11:15 AM and 4:00

Vicky Christina Barcelona (PG-13)
Friday at 7:00
Saturday & Sunday at 1:45 and 7:00

Theater

Salem Theatre Company
Griffen Theatre, 7 Lynde Street
Saturday, September 27 at 4 pm and Sunday, September 28 at 7 pm
Staged Reading of Robert Reich’s Political Farce, Public Exposure
$10 with a $2 discount for students and seniors.

More info about the reading and tickets are available for purchase online at www.salemtheatre.com

Insider Picks

The weather looks like a total downer this weekend but don’t let that stop you from getting out and having fun. Friday night looks like a trip to Rockafellas is in order with Wildfire burning down the house.  Since Saturday is supposed to be hosting a monsoon keeping it in doors at either the CinemaSalem or Salem Theatre Company looks to be the best bet.  Saturday night there is no question where to be.  All the insiders go to DARQ, get there early as this is turning out to be the montly event to be seen at!

Special Events / Festivals

None listed

Music

Friday March 21st

• Dennis James (jazz 6:30-9:30pm) Barflyz (rock, covers 10pm) @ Bangkok Paradise
• The Force (rock) @ Dodge Street
• Radio Scotvoid Productions aka RSVP (alternative, experimental, electronica 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• Kevin Kennedy (solo piano & vocals 9pm) @ The Lyceum
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Lost Daze (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Lisa Love Experience (dance, rock, pop, soul) @ Rockafellas
• Unknown @ Spirit’s at 300 Derby (formerly Roosevelt’s)

Saturday March 22nd

• Matt Dorko and Larry Kukers (jazz 6:30-9:30pm) Dana Z: Elvis Impersonator (Elvis! 10pm) @ Bangkok Paradise
• Zullo (hip-hop) @ Dodge Street
• Drift Session (rock, blues, psychedelic 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• Kevin Kennedy (solo piano & vocals 9pm) @ The Lyceum
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Cee Block (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• The Hangovers (dance, rock, pop, 80′s) @ Rockafellas
• Unknown@ Spirit’s at 300 Derby (formerly Roosevelt’s)

Movies

Cinema Salem will be showing:

Horton Hears a Who (G)
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11:30am, 1:45, 4:10 and 7:00

10,000 BC (PG-13)
Friday & Saturday: 12 noon, 2:30, 5:20, 8:00

The Bank Job (R)
Friday and Saturday: 11:15 AM, 2:00, 4:30, 7:15, 9:40
Sunday: 11:50 AM, 2:00, 4:30 and 7:15

Theatre

Salem Theatre Co. presents Seneca’s “Oedipus” Friday & Saturday 8pm @ The Griffen Theatre

Art

Body Politics — Visions in blood and ink: the return of Maori tattoo @ PEM
This exhibit is a joy for photography fans and those interested in an insight to other cultures. Remember Salem residents get in for FREE.

Insider Picks

I love the great choices we have this weekend. Friday night I’d love to see the Barflyz, they were great when we last saw them but RSVP at Gulu Gulu is just too much to miss. Saturday we are hitting it high brow style by checking out Oedipus at the Griffen then heading over to the ‘Kok to get our Elvis on with Dana Z. Looks like we will be sleeping in Sunday, sorry Mom no Easter dinner here.

Salem Theatre Co. presents Seneca’s “Oedipus”

March 21-April 6
Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 5pm
Griffen Theatre, 7 Lynde St., Salem
Tickets: $18 adults/$15 seniors & students
(978) 790-8546 or http://www.salemtheatre.com

“Ignorance cures nothing. This whole nation is sick…”

STC presents Ted Hughes masterful, poetic adaptation of Seneca’s rarely performed epic “Oedipus”. Discover a new and shocking twist on the famous tale of the doomed king and the relentless power of fate. The world of Thebes, sickened and infected, and the story of Oedipus are evoked dramatically through Seneca’s command of mood and Hughes’ stark poetry. Not to be missed!