Community Calendar

The 4th Witch is a fantastic new tale, inspired by elements of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in which a girl escapes war and seeks protection from three witches. They agree to take her on as an apprentice with only one condition: she must never use her powers for revenge. Consumed by grief and rage, the girl comes to realize that it was Macbeth who killed her parents. Now she must choose between reconciliation or vengeance.

Told through inventive practical effects executed in plain sight, the troupe brilliantly employs shadow puppetry, live music and actors in silhouette, to create an entire new world in The 4th Witch. Manual Cinema has built a devoted fanbase in Boston over the course of their thrilling past productions at ArtsEmerson including Ada/Ava and Frankenstein. Do not miss their triumphant return this fall!

The 4th Witch is a fantastic new tale, inspired by elements of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in which a girl escapes war and seeks protection from three witches. They agree to take her on as an apprentice with only one condition: she must never use her powers for revenge. Consumed by grief and rage, the girl comes to realize that it was Macbeth who killed her parents. Now she must choose between reconciliation or vengeance.

Told through inventive practical effects executed in plain sight, the troupe brilliantly employs shadow puppetry, live music and actors in silhouette, to create an entire new world in The 4th Witch. Manual Cinema has built a devoted fanbase in Boston over the course of their thrilling past productions at ArtsEmerson including Ada/Ava and Frankenstein. Do not miss their triumphant return this fall!

The 4th Witch is a fantastic new tale, inspired by elements of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in which a girl escapes war and seeks protection from three witches. They agree to take her on as an apprentice with only one condition: she must never use her powers for revenge. Consumed by grief and rage, the girl comes to realize that it was Macbeth who killed her parents. Now she must choose between reconciliation or vengeance.

Told through inventive practical effects executed in plain sight, the troupe brilliantly employs shadow puppetry, live music and actors in silhouette, to create an entire new world in The 4th Witch. Manual Cinema has built a devoted fanbase in Boston over the course of their thrilling past productions at ArtsEmerson including Ada/Ava and Frankenstein. Do not miss their triumphant return this fall!

“Fredella Mae's Daughter Is A Storyteller” explores three powerful, emotionally charged tales woven together with poetry interludes and short personal narratives. Come journey through riveting tales that move people’s souls and make you reflect on your humanness through adaptations of centuries old West African story, Gullah Geechee folklore of South Carolina, and a “John Redding Goes To Sea"— a short story by Zora Neale Hurston.

For ages: 16+ | Photo credit: Paul Bloomfield

Muriel “MONIK” Johnson is a prolific educator, performer, and visual artist. As a child, Muriel would sit in awe as her mother recited nursery rhymes, sang songs, and told stories. This awakening of a storyteller hidden in the mind of a young child ultimately inspired Muriel. She has been storytelling professionally for over 25 years, captivating audiences around the world. Muriel has performed at preschools, elementary schools, museums, colleges, churches, theaters, festivals, and countless other venues across the U.S. She has toured Colombia, Brazil, and Peru, as well as Cape Town, South Africa, and Ghana, West Africa, where she has had the privilege of sharing stories, gathering stories, and making deep human connections along the way. Additionally, Muriel is a published children’s book author, veteran teacher, and creator of stunning artwork depicting ancestors made with butterfly wings. Storytelling Website: forherstories.com Art: artofnaturebymonik.com.

The Pay it Forward program is generously funded by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Greenfield Savings Bank, Tandem Bagels, Applied Mortgage, Boston Rare Maps, Greenfield Cooperative Bank and Northampton Cooperative Bank, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Individual Donors.

“An atmospheric, thrilling turn for kids and adults alike!” – CKUT, Montreal
A living comic book for the whole family! A young artist named Mary discovers the journal of Dr. Victor Frankenstein in the Arctic. As she’s drawn into his uncanny tale of secret experiments, Mary discovers that we all need to face the monsters of our own making…before they face us! This electrifying show blends immersive comic book design and playful theatrical techniques to reanimate the sci-fi classic for a new generation with a family-friendly spin. Recommended for ages 7+.

The 4th Witch is a fantastic new tale, inspired by elements of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in which a girl escapes war and seeks protection from three witches. They agree to take her on as an apprentice with only one condition: she must never use her powers for revenge. Consumed by grief and rage, the girl comes to realize that it was Macbeth who killed her parents. Now she must choose between reconciliation or vengeance.

Told through inventive practical effects executed in plain sight, the troupe brilliantly employs shadow puppetry, live music and actors in silhouette, to create an entire new world in The 4th Witch. Manual Cinema has built a devoted fanbase in Boston over the course of their thrilling past productions at ArtsEmerson including Ada/Ava and Frankenstein. Do not miss their triumphant return this fall!

The 4th Witch is a fantastic new tale, inspired by elements of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in which a girl escapes war and seeks protection from three witches. They agree to take her on as an apprentice with only one condition: she must never use her powers for revenge. Consumed by grief and rage, the girl comes to realize that it was Macbeth who killed her parents. Now she must choose between reconciliation or vengeance.

Told through inventive practical effects executed in plain sight, the troupe brilliantly employs shadow puppetry, live music and actors in silhouette, to create an entire new world in The 4th Witch. Manual Cinema has built a devoted fanbase in Boston over the course of their thrilling past productions at ArtsEmerson including Ada/Ava and Frankenstein. Do not miss their triumphant return this fall!

SpaceBridge brings together Russian refugee children—who fled to the U.S. due to their families’ anti-war stance and now live in NYC shelters—with American peers to build a more welcoming world where their new friendships can thrive and grow.

Created by Irina Kruzhilina, the piece centers children we seldom consider: Russian youth affected by the war in Ukraine. It follows their efforts to integrate into American society, where they often encounter suspicion, bullying, and a lack of empathy.

SpaceBridge draws its inspiration from two significant historical events: the 1983 peace mission to the USSR led by 11-year-old American activist Samantha Smith, who bridged the gap between American and Russian children during the Cold War; and the satellite-mediated “citizens’ debates”, known as “spacebridges” between the US and the USSR, which prompted unfiltered and uncensored conversations between ordinary people from both cultures.

The performance emerged from a series of storytelling workshops with immigrant and non-immigrant youth which used art and performance to spark dialogue about the realities faced by young refugees in the US.

SpaceBridge was originally presented by La MaMa ETC in association with En Garde Arts and Visual Echo, as part of the Under the Radar Festival in NYC.

SpaceBridge brings together Russian refugee children—who fled to the U.S. due to their families’ anti-war stance and now live in NYC shelters—with American peers to build a more welcoming world where their new friendships can thrive and grow.

Created by Irina Kruzhilina, the piece centers children we seldom consider: Russian youth affected by the war in Ukraine. It follows their efforts to integrate into American society, where they often encounter suspicion, bullying, and a lack of empathy.

SpaceBridge draws its inspiration from two significant historical events: the 1983 peace mission to the USSR led by 11-year-old American activist Samantha Smith, who bridged the gap between American and Russian children during the Cold War; and the satellite-mediated “citizens’ debates”, known as “spacebridges” between the US and the USSR, which prompted unfiltered and uncensored conversations between ordinary people from both cultures.

The performance emerged from a series of storytelling workshops with immigrant and non-immigrant youth which used art and performance to spark dialogue about the realities faced by young refugees in the US.

SpaceBridge was originally presented by La MaMa ETC in association with En Garde Arts and Visual Echo, as part of the Under the Radar Festival in NYC.

SpaceBridge brings together Russian refugee children—who fled to the U.S. due to their families’ anti-war stance and now live in NYC shelters—with American peers to build a more welcoming world where their new friendships can thrive and grow.

Created by Irina Kruzhilina, the piece centers children we seldom consider: Russian youth affected by the war in Ukraine. It follows their efforts to integrate into American society, where they often encounter suspicion, bullying, and a lack of empathy.

SpaceBridge draws its inspiration from two significant historical events: the 1983 peace mission to the USSR led by 11-year-old American activist Samantha Smith, who bridged the gap between American and Russian children during the Cold War; and the satellite-mediated “citizens’ debates”, known as “spacebridges” between the US and the USSR, which prompted unfiltered and uncensored conversations between ordinary people from both cultures.

The performance emerged from a series of storytelling workshops with immigrant and non-immigrant youth which used art and performance to spark dialogue about the realities faced by young refugees in the US.

SpaceBridge was originally presented by La MaMa ETC in association with En Garde Arts and Visual Echo, as part of the Under the Radar Festival in NYC.