Dennis Arts & Cultural Council |
Most of the information below has been taken from Insidecapecod.com; click on this link for more information regarding Cape-wide activities. Click here for Information on Arts & Culture Grants. MUSIC Upper Cape Heritage Plantation
Pine and Grove Sts., Sandwich• (508) 888-3300• www.heritageplantation.org When summer heats up, so does the rockin' and rollin' at the Plantation's annual Rock & Roll Ramble, usually held in the end of June. It's an all-day event from 10 AM to 4 PM, and features Freddy and the Maybellines, as well as an auto show. Through Labor Day, the Plantation also hosts dozens of other concerts, from Scottish pipe bands to the New Black Eagle's Jazz Band and Big Band dance music. Opera New England of Cape Cod
Cape Cod Community College, 2240 Inaough Road
West Barnstable, MA 02668 508/771-3600 http://www.theatermania.com/content/theater.cfm/int_show_id/106744 Opera New England of Cape Cod has two or three performances a year, in spring and fall, by the Hartford-based National Lyric Opera. College Light Opera Company
Highfield Theater, off Depot Ave., Falmouth• (508) 548-0668; winter number (216) 774-8485 http://www.collegelightopera.com/ The College Light Opera Company is an independent nonprofit educational theatre founded in 1969 and currently produced by Robert A. and Ursula R. Haslun. The Company seeks to provide fine Broadway stock musicals to summer audiences on Cape Cod, while at the same time giving young talent a chance to begin a career in music theatre. The group consists of 32 talented singers, a fine 17 piece orchestra, and 12 dedicated technicians. The Company is selected annually from applicants in colleges and universities all across the country. The members of the Company are dedicated to learning the various techniques of music theatre under the guidance of a trained professional staff. The Cape Cod Opera Company Chorus, P.O. Box 582, N. Chatham, MA 02650 508/398-1068 508/3945-9274 http://www.capecodopera.org/ The Cape Cod Opera Company Chorus was introduced to Cape audiences in August 2000 under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Thomas Vasil. The chorus, with singers from all parts of Cape Cod, debuted with An Evening with Sigmund Romberg and have since accompanied principals in Cape Cod Opera's productions of La Traviata, Madama Butterfly and Die Fledermaus and have sung at all summer concerts. Members of the Cape Cod Opera Company Chorus also sing comprimario roles in productions. We are always looking for new members. Woods Hole Folk Music Society
Woods Hole Community Hall, Water St., Woods Hole (Falmouth)• (508) 540-0320 http://www.arts-cape.com/whfolkmusic/ Here's something to liven up those quiet winter months. From October to May, the Woods Hole Folk Music Society stages concerts on the first and third Sundays of the month. The programs often attract nationally known performers such as Northern Lights, Peggy Seeger, Roy Bookbinder, Oscar Brand, David Mallett, and Kim and Reggie Harris. The Society marks its 29th season in 2000. Admission runs about $7, with discounts for members, seniors, and children. Boch Center for the Performing Arts Various venues around Mashpee• (508) 477-2580• www.capecodtravel.com/boch Now in its seventh year holding concerts in various venues, this organization has ambitious plans for a 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheater (1,000 seats will be under a tent canopy and another 1,000 will be lawn seats) and for an 850-seat indoor theater. As yet, no date has been set for breaking ground on the center, which will be on Great Neck Road in Mashpee, because construction depends on fundraising progress. Boch has already raised about a third of the $16 million cost of the total project. Meanwhile, the center has already added richness to the cultural mix on Cape Cod, with such treats as concerts by the Vienna Boys Choir, who return year after year to delight the local audiences. In 2000, special guest artists Susan Powell and Richard White joined the Boch Center Orchestra for an evening of Overtures, Arias, Scenes, and Songs. Also, internationally recognized violinist Gil Shaham performed Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, and Tales & Scales ignited the imaginations of children and their families as the uniquely talented ensemble spun theatre, music, dance, and story into an unforgettable performance. Tickets vary with performance, but a classical performance ticket price is $35 for adults, $32 for seniors, and $15 for youth 18 and under. New England Jazz Festival
Mashpee Commons,Mass. Rts. 28 and 151, Mashpee• (508) 477-2580• www.capecodtravel.com/boch The festival is a three-day celebration headlined by such icons as Thelonious Monk, Jr., Gary Burton, and Dorothy Donegan. The highly acclaimed British artist Cleo Laine returns to open Boch Center for the Performing Arts' New England Jazz Festival 2000. She will be joined by her husband, the distinguished jazz artist John Dankworth. Held under the Mashpee Commons Concert Tent, shows are at 8 PM on Friday and Saturday nights. An elegant champagne brunch concert is held Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Willowbend Country Club; tickets, which include both the brunch and the performance, are $50 per person. Jazz Festival individual show tickets are $30, $28 for seniors, and $15 for youth 18 years of age and under. Mid-Cape Benefit Coffeehouse Liberty Hall, Main St., Marstons Mills• (508) 775-5165, (508) 428-1053 http://www.mssm.edu/students/groups/sinaiarts/benefit.html Since 1990, New Age acoustic and folk-rock music have filled Liberty Hall. The concerts given here are held as benefits for a number of causes, including area families in need, children suffering from cancer, and conservatory groups. Tickets range from $8 to $12. Cape Cod Melody Tent
West Main St. and West End Rotary, Hyannis• (508) 775-9100• www.melodytent.com The Cape's premier summer showcase, the Cape Cod Melody Tent is one of only 10 outdoor performance tents in the country. Many big names in show business have appeared here, including Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, and Tony Bennett, to name a few. The big tent is pitched at the end of May and is taken down mid-September. Shows sell out fast; check the box office for last-minute seat cancellations. Ticket prices vary from $25 to $50. The Melody Tent also features popular children's theater and musical productions every Wednesday morning during the season; tickets are $6, plus a $1 handling fee at the box office ($1.75 by mail). Cape Symphony Orchestra
BHS Performing Arts Center, Hyannis, and other venues• (508) 362-1111• www.capesymphony.org The award-winning, 90-member Cape Symphony Orchestra performs classical, pops, and educational concerts at the new Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center in Hyannis from September through May. Two hugely successful outdoor summer pops concerts are performed at the Mashpee Commons at the end of July and at Eldredge Park in Orleans in mid-August. Music Director Royston Nash celebrates his 20th anniversary season at the helm of the Cape's only symphonic orchestra. Ticket prices range from $6 to $50. Fleet Pops By the Sea
Village Green, Main St., Hyannis• (508) 362-0066• www.artsfoundationcapecod.org Fleet Pops By the Sea is a first-class evening of fun put on by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. In 2000, Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart and Associate Conductor Laureate Harry Ellis Dickson co-conducted the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with internationally acclaimed literary artist and performer Dr. Maya Angelou as the event's Celebrity Guest Conductor. Because it's a fundraiser, tickets can run high (it's $2500 for patron tables of 10 individuals). But don't worry: You can still afford to come. It's only $15 if you bring your own blanket or folding chair and $50 for open seating in chairs on the lawn. The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, an arts agency in Barnstable County, serves to support, promote and celebrate art and culture on the Cape. Jazz By the Sea
Village Green, Main St., Hyannis• (508) 790-ARTS Presented by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, Jazz By the Sea is an annual explosion of the best sounds this side of New Orleans. Locals Marie Marcus, John Salerno, and Carol Sloane often drop by. The event takes place in early August. VIP table seating runs about $25; lawn seats are $5. Chatham Chorale
PO Box 1111, West Dennis, MA 02670
Telephone: 888.556.2707 (Toll free in MA) http://www.chathamchorale.org/index.htm Now in its 34th continuous concert season, the Chatham Chorale serves Cape Cod, Massachusetts with performances of great choral masterworks. Under the direction of Margaret T. Bossi, the Chorale has established itself as one of the region's finest choral groups. The Chatham Chorale, founded in 1970 by Marjorie Bennett Morley and Dr. E. Robert Harned, draws its one hundred auditioned singers from almost every Cape Cod town. For its first seventeen years of membership, repertoire and reputation grew under the inspired and dedicated leadership of Ms. Morley. In 1987 Margaret T. Bossi became Music Director. Her musical vision, unflagging energy, and infectious humor have created a remarkable synergy between director and performer. Lower Cape Monomoy Chamber Ensemble 776 Rte. 28 Chatham MA USA
Various venues• (508) 945-1589 Based in Chatham, the Monomoy Chamber Ensemble has been presenting the finest in chamber and classical music for more than 30 years. Concerts, performed by an ensemble of eight musicians, feature works by such composers as Bartok, Mozart, Brahms, Dvorak, and Martinu and are held at various locations. MCE also features a free children's concert once a summer. Community of Jesus Orchestra
Rock Harbor, Orleans• (508) 240-2400 http://www.communityofjesus.org/arts/default.htm The Community's concert band and orchestra perform several events during the year, including an annual Fourth of July star-spangled concert celebration with a fireworks display launched over the water as its grand finale. Tickets cost about $25 ($15 for ages 10 and younger) and include a fried-chicken dinner. The Community of Jesus also is home to Gloriae Dei Cantores, a 40-member choral group that was founded in 1976. The group travels and performs internationally. Cape and Islands Chamber Music Festival Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival Office
216B Orleans RoadNorth Chatham, MA 02650 Phone: (508) 945-8060
http://www.capecodchambermusic.org/ The Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, founded by the late Samuel Sanders, presents the finest classical and contemporary chamber music by world-class ensembles and exceptional young artists in various locations from Wellfleet to Woods Hole. Concerts and other special events take place during the Festival’s three-week Summer Series each August and throughout the year on the Cape, in Boston and New York Pops in the Park-Cape Symphony Orchestra
Eldredge Park, Orleans• (508) 255-1386, (800) 865-1386• www.capesymphony.org This annual outdoor concert is a popular summertime tradition featuring the Cape Symphony Orchestra. The concert is sponsored by the Orleans Chamber of Commerce and benefits the Pops in the Park Scholarship Fund, which supports Nauset Regional High School students. Over $10,000 is raised annually through this event, which usually takes place in late August. First Encounter Coffeehouse
Samoset Rd., Eastham• (508) 255-5438 http://www.firstencounter.org/ The coffeehouse, also home to an 1899 Unitarian Universalist church, boasts some of the biggest names in acoustic and folk music, including Wellfleet's own Patty Larkin, and James Taylor's brother, Livingston. Admission is about $10 and seating is limited. Performances are on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, with open mike night on the first Saturday of the month. The Beachcomber
Cahoon Hollow Rd., Wellfleet• (508) 349-6055• www.thebeachcomber.com Once an 1897 lifesaving station, The Beachcomber is the place to go on the Lower Cape for the best in roots, rock, and reggae. Admission varies per performance; expect to pay between $4 for regional bands on up to $20 for nationally acclaimed bands like Toots and the Maytals and Marcia Ball. Shows are staged throughout the summer with performances Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, as well as both Saturday and Sunday evenings. The Beachcomber is open weekends only from the end of May until the end of June, and then seven days a week 11:30 AM to 1 PM from June through Labor Day. The Great Music Series at the Meeting House
Universalist Meeting House, 236 Commercial St., Provincetown• (508) 487-2400 or (800) 648-0364 http://www.ptownmusic.com/ Entering its third year, this series is organized by the Meeting House Instrument Trust, a group working toward restoring the historic Universalist Meeting House organ. Concerts are varied
programs of classical music from all periods and feature high-caliber vocalists and instrumentalists. Concerts are held in May (a Memorial Day weekend kicks off the series), June, July, September, October and November. Tickets are $15; the group also welcomes donations. Lighthouse Chamber Players 1-877-464-9040 http://www.lighthousechamberplayers.org/lcp/boxoffice.htm Lighthouse Chamber Players present a summer chamber music festival and an off-season recital series in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Our 1995 inaugural concert was a benefit for the Nauset Light Preservation Society, which was working to save the Nauset Lighthouse from erosion. Since then we have presented 39 full-fledged concerts as well as many children-oriented events, amateur workshops and outreach concerts on Cape Cod. Our mission is to introduce classical music to new audiences in the Cape Cod community by means of outreach efforts and to provide activities that stimulate the musical life of Cape Cod by means of family concerts, amateur workshops, lectures and symposia and concerts in non-traditional venues as well as traditional chamber music concerts. Meeting House Chamber Music Festival 172 Tower Hill Circle Brewster, MA 508/896-3334 The Meeting House Chamber Music Festival is a series of five chamber music programs, each presented on two evenings (Sundays & Mondays in June & July) with an additional pre-season preview concert in the spring. The Festival involves approximately twenty professional musicians from Cape Cod, greater New England, and New York City. DANCE Mid-Cape Cape Cod Ballet Company 49 John Maki Road, West Barnstable, MA• (508) 362-3111 http://www.capecodballet.com/descriptions.cfm This company produces a Nutcracker gala each December; recently, the production was a joint venture with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra at the new performing arts center at Barnstable High School in Hyannis. A second major performance of each year is staged in the spring. Alice in Wonderland was performed during the 2000 season. Tickets range from $10 and up. A ballet school is also associated with the company and gives lessons to students ages 2 to adult. Art Galleries Upper Cape Sandwich Art Gallery
153 Main St., Sandwich• (508) 833-2098 Housed in an antique building in the heart of Sandwich village, this gallery displays original oils, pastels, and watercolors, as well as signed, limited-edition lithographs. The gallery represents a wide variety of artists, and works include an in-depth exhibit of American Impressionism and folk art. The gallery offers a variety of sizes and prices. It's open daily March through December, and by appointment in January and February. Gallery 333
333 Old Main Rd., North Falmouth• (508) 564-4467, (617) 332-5459 (off-season)• www.gallery333.com Housed in an 1800 home, this gallery has three rooms of paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and photography, representing a range of styles from about 40 artists. The gallery, which celebrates its 13th anniversary in 2000, focuses on distinguished local and New England artists. Open Wednesday through Sunday from June to late September and by appointment in the off-season by calling the number above, Gallery 333 offers four or five shows each summer, with Saturday evening receptions opening each show. Jan Collins Selman Fine Art
317 Main St., Falmouth• (508) 457-5533• www.jancollinsselman.com Jan Collins Selman is an award-winning artist best known for her pastels and oils of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Here you can purchase her work in oil, pastel, monotype, woodcuts, etchings, and computer prints, as well as the work of 20 other award-winning artists. The gallery also displays lovely works in ceramics and sculpture. The gallery is open year-round. Woods Hole Gallery
14 School St., Woods Hole (Falmouth)• (508) 548-7594• www.arts-cape/whgallery Since 1963 Edith Bruce, owner of the Woods Hole Gallery, has been cultivating the newest and freshest talent in the world of art. The collections here are superb, representing only New England artists in a range of media including pastels, watercolors, oils, and acrylics. Bruce, an artist herself, also restores paintings and teaches art. The gallery is open during July, August, and September. Hours are Thursday through Saturday and Monday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Sunday the gallery is open from 2 to 5 PM. Woodruff Gallery
Mashpee Commons, Mass. Rts. 28 and 151, Mashpee• (508) 477-5767 Here you'll find watercolors, acrylics, oils, and pastels by John Richardson Woodruff and his wife, Amy Rice Woodruff, along with aerial photographs by two photographers. The Woodruffs also offer custom framing and a wide range of art supplies. The gallery is open daily year-round. Mid-Cape Cotuit Center for the Arts
737 Main St., Cotuit• (508) 428-0669 http://www.cotuitcenterforthearts.org/index.htm As stated previously in this chapter, the Cotuit Center for the Arts had a devastating fire early in 2000 that consumed the entire center. Look for them to resurface shortly. They were and may once again be located behind Cotuit Grocery. This center did feature rotating exhibits of artwork by students, teachers, and others year-round; it offers classes in visual arts, drama, and music. Birdsey Gallery
12 Wianno Ave., Osterville• (508) 428-4969 This friendly gallery, housed in an old building with lots of character, represents more than 40 artists. You can pick up a framed print here for a mere $35, or you could spend as much as $3,500 for an original painting. Some of the popular artists whose work graces Birdsey's three rooms include Martha Cahoon, Jane Shelley Pierce, Vern Broe, Susie McLean, and Neil McAulliffe. This is a gallery that actually welcomes children, and while you browse, your little ones can pet Olivia, the friendly English cocker spaniel. The gallery is open daily except Sundays May through December, and Saturdays by appointment in winter. Cape Cod Art Association
3480 Mass. Rt. 6A, Barnstable• (508) 362-2909 http://www.capecodartassoc.org/ The nonprofit Cape Cod Art Association was established in 1948 and offers year-round art exhibitions, five for members only, and four open to area residents. Exhibitions change every three weeks. Some shows are juried, and artists are always present at openings. The CCAA also hosts two levels of art classes for children ages 6 to 10 and 11 to 14. Higgins Art Gallery
Cape Cod Community CollegeMass. Rt. 132, West Barnstable• (508) 362-2131 Housed in the Tilden Arts Center of Cape Cape Cod Community College, the Higgins Art Gallery features a variety of works. It is open to the public daily September through May, with several special shows a year. Guyer Barn
250 South St., Hyannis• (508) 790-6370 This restored 1865 barn, owned by the town of Barnstable and adjacent to the town hall complex and the library, shows the work of local artists, both recognized and new. Here you can see both rotating and permanent displays of art in a variety of media from May through October. The nonprofit gallery, sponsored by the Barnstable Cultural Council, also offers fall classes and in November and December hosts two special holiday craft shows fairs. The Gallery at C3TV
307 Whites Path, South Yarmouth• (508) 394-2388• www.capecod.net/c3tv The Gallery at C3TV, housed within the offices of the Cape's community-access TV station, mounts 10 exhibits a year, each running about a month and featuring Cape artists. Admission is free, and the gallery is open daily. Worden Hall
1841 Mass. Rt. 6A, East Dennis• (508) 385-9289 http://www.devitaart.com/ Behind the majestic door of Worden Hall lies artwork that since 1965 has awed its audiences. The works of owner Donn DeVita and his late wife, Nancy--landscapes and seascapes, mostly in oils--compete for attention. Donn also creates what he calls "unusual art," for example, drawing with a knife instead of a pencil, then filling the broken surface with color. The gallery is open seven days a week, year-round. Lower Cape Art House Gallery
Thad Ellis Rd., Brewster• (508) 896-5557 http://www.arthousecapecod.com/ Visiting this new gallery, on a little street off Mass. Rt. 6A (right near the entrance to Ocean Edge), is an especially nice experience because the gallery is so homey. There's a couch in the main room, where you can sit and view featured works by some 15 artists from the Cape and beyond, including some from Europe. In fact, the Art House recently established an association with a gallery in Cornwall, England, and the two will be trading exhibits across the Atlantic. Cape artists featured here include print maker Liz Perry, watercolorist Lucy Welsh, and pastel artist Joan Ledwith. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from April through December and by appointment in winter by calling the number listed above. Maddocks Gallery
1283 Mass. Rt. 6A, Brewster• (508) 896-6223 Working primarily in oils, Jim Maddocks creates beautiful Cape Cod scenes, often offering a glimpse of old Cape Cod. Filled with flowers, sandy lanes, and views of the bay, his paintings have a dreamy quality that lulls and charms the viewer. A bonus: very often you can catch the artist at work in his studio/gallery located in a carriage house adjacent to his historic home. It's open most days in season, and by chance or appointment in the off-season. Ruddeforth Gallery
3753 Mass. Rt. 6A, Brewster• (508) 255-1056 Debra Ruddeforth's oils and watercolors are soft, lush, and inviting; they include many Cape landscapes as well as florals and still lifes. She has also begun offering handpainted platters and bowls. Open daily year-round 10 AM to 5 PM, the gallery also displays photographs by Tom Ruddeforth. Struna Galleries
3873 Mass. Rt. 6A, Brewster• (508) 255-6618 Timothy Struna's pen-and-ink renderings are so distinctive you'll know them anywhere. They feature Cape landscapes and old houses and perfectly capture the essence of the Cape. He also works in watercolors and acrylics, and we highly recommend a visit to his cozy gallery, near the Orleans line. It's open daily all year. There is also a new location of Struna Galleries on Main Street in Chatham. Underground Gallery
673 Satucket Rd., Brewster• (508) 896-6850 The Underground Gallery is an architectural wonder supported by tree trunks and nestled under tons of earth. But the real attractions are the vivid, distinctive watercolors by Karen North Wells. The works of her husband, architect and artist Malcolm Wells (who designed the gallery), are also on display, as are a sampling of books and a collection of greeting cards reproduced from Ms. Wells' paintings. It's open year-round, daily in season. Winstanley-Roark Fine Arts
2759 Mass. Rt. 6A, Brewster• (508) 896-1948, (800) 828-1948• www.masterfulart.com This gallery features the luminous oils and pastels--nudes, landscapes and still lifes--by Robert K. Roark and fine art photography by Anita Winstanley Roark. They also sell antique etchings and offer framing services. Open daily in summer, the gallery is open Monday through Saturday in spring and fall, and by chance or appointment in the winter months. Private Collection Gallery
515 Mass. Rt. 28, Harwichport• (508) 430-0303 Next door to Wild Oats Natural Foods, this gallery represents about 18 local and New England fine artists with both traditional and contemporary works in all mediums. Open year-round (daily in season, closed Wednesdays in winter) the gallery's roster of artists includes Georgia Dearborn, Mary Napoletano Johnson, and Zoltan Szabo. Creative Arts Center
154 Crowell Rd., Chatham• (508) 945-3583 The nonprofit Creative Arts Center has two galleries hosting several members-only shows a year. The center, open daily year-round, also offers a wide range of classes. Addison Holmes Gallery
43 Mass. Rt. 28, Orleans• (508) 255-6200• www.addisonart.com The Addison Holmes Gallery represents a number of acclaimed fine artists, including Lois Griffel, Peter Quidley, and Gerry Gilmartin. The two-level gallery, in a former home on Town Cove, is bright and inviting. It's open year-round, with shorter hours in winter. Hogan Art Gallery
39 Main St., Orleans• (508) 240-3655 This studio/gallery features oils, pastels, and whiteline woodblock prints by Ruth Hogan and the delightful trompe l'oeil painted furniture of Suzanne Thibault. It's open year-round, Monday through Saturday in season, and Wednesday through Saturday in fall and winter. Left Bank Gallery
8 Cove Rd., Orleans• (508) 247-9172• www.leftbankgallery.com For many years an institution in Wellfleet, the Left Bank's opening of an Orleans location was welcomed by local art-lovers. The gallery lives up to Left Bank's consistently high standards, offering works in a variety of media. In addition to paintings, sculpture, textiles, and ceramics by local, regional, and nationally known artists, you'll find gorgeous hand-crafted jewelry. The gallery also has a third room, which is filled with the works of a new slate of artists. During the summer months the gallery is open seven days a week from 1 to 6 PM. Spring and fall hours are Thursday through Monday from 10 AM to5 PM; in the winter (January, February and March), the gallery is open only on the weekends between 10 and 5 PM. Rock Harbor Art Gallery
104 Rock Harbor Rd., Orleans• (508) 255-3747 This beautiful barn, just a few doors down from Rock Harbor, houses the works of talented husband-and-wife artists Kely and David Knowles. Kely Knowles exhibits her luminous, shimmering watercolors along with pen-and-ink renderings and greeting cards. Her husband carves unique wood sculptures, including unusual fish wall hangings. The gallery is open most of the time in summer and often in spring and fall--if the barn doors are open, stop in--or by appointment any time of year. Star Gallery
76 Mass. Rt. 6A, Orleans• (508) 240-7827 This gallery has a contemporary flair, displaying a mix of abstract and impressionist works along with some more traditional work. Owner Doug Johnson, whose paintings and "surrealographs" are on display here, likes to show exciting, adventurous works such as the bold, colorful, abstract impressionist paintings of local artist Peter Leonard, one of several resident artists worth checking out. You'll also find antique African sculpture. The gallery is open daily May through October, with a full schedule of shows in summer, and on weekends or by appointment the rest of the year. Tree's Place
Mass. Rt. 6A and Mass. Rt. 28, Orleans• (508) 255-1330• www.treesplace.com One of America's leading regional galleries, Tree's Place has for over 35 years attracted the modern masters. In addition to recognized master artists, Julian Baird and his knowledgeable assistants identify and represent emerging artists of extraordinary talent whom they believe will be museum figures for the next generation. The collection of paintings in the gallery space at Tree's Place couldn't have been better coordinated. Several rooms house pieces of art, many oversized, and all beautifully hung; the effect is a museumlike ambiance. Featured artists include Sam Barber, Robert Vickrey, Robert Douglas Hunter, and Sam Vokey. You'll also find the delightful, rich, folk art of Elizabeth Mumford; the soft, graceful realism of Betsy Bennett; the vibrant, powerful compositions of Pamela Pindell; and American luminist works by Joseph McGurl. Tree's Place presents weekly exhibitions throughout July and August, including exhibitions at the end of June and during the first few weeks of September. Opening nights, usually Saturday evening from 5 to 7 PM, are a highlight in the Cape Cod art scene and very well attended. Don't forget to go upstairs, where a beautiful assortment of gifts awaits, and stop in at the Tilery, which has an array of tile works from around the world. Tree's Place is open daily year-round except in the quietest winter months, when it is closed on Sundays. ART MUSEUMS Mid-Cape Cahoon Museum of American Art
4676 Mass. Rt. 28, Cotuit• (508) 428-7581• www.cahoonmuseum.org Housed in a 1775 Georgian Colonial farmhouse, the Cahoon Museum is best-known for its collection of fanciful primitive paintings by the late Ralph and Martha Cahoon. The building, worth a visit in itself, was actually the Cahoons' home and studio for 37 years. In addition to the Cahoon paintings, the permanent collection features 19th and early 20th-century American marine paintings, landscapes and still lifes. Founded in 1984, the museum also hold six special exhibits each year and houses a shop where you can purchase Cahoon prints, custom Cahoon items and mermaid gifts of every description. Talks, demonstrations, and classes are held throughout the year. Admission is a donation. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from February through December. Cape Cod Museum of Art - CCMA
Mass. Rt. 6A, on the grounds of the Cape Playhouse, Dennis• (508) 385-4477• www.ccmoa.org The Cape Museum of Fine Arts conveys the important role that Cape Cod and the islands have played in American art. Founded in 1981 by a group of artists, educators, and community activists, CMFA focuses on the works of artists who have ben influenced by the Cape environment, its people, and the interactive exchange of artistic ideas. The museum houses a collection that ranges from the late 1800s to the modern era, with more than 800 works by such icons as Charles Hawthorne, Paul Resika, Martha Cahoon, and Chaim Gross. The museum sponsors frequent classes, trips, a winter lecture series, and a film series (see the listing for ReelArt! in the Cinemas section later in this chapter). Admission is $5 for adults, free for those 16 and younger. The museum is closed Mondays and holidays year-round. 1736 Josiah Dennis Manse Museum 77 Nobscussett Road, Dennis• (508) 385-2232• www.dennishistsoc.org Visit a saltbox home of the first minister and man for whom the town was named. Contains artifacts of early Dennis life, children’s room, spinning and weaving exhibit, raised-bed gardens and Dennis maritime Wing; 1745 one-room school house on grounds. Listed on National Register of Historic Places. 1801 Jericho Historical Center Old Main Street, West Dennis• (508) 394-0206• www.dennishistsoc.org Historic house built in 1801 by Capt. Theophulius Baker. Exhibits include antiques, glassware, costumes, tools, driftwood zoo. West Dennis Graded School House School Street, West Dennis• www.dennishistsoc.org Lower Cape Provincetown Art Associationand Museum
460 Commercial St., Provincetown• (508) 487-1750• www.paam.org Regarded as one of the most important art institutions in the world, PAAM was established in 1914 to "promote education of the public in the arts and social intercourse between artists and laymen." Since then, its collection has grown to more than 1,500 works, all by artists associated in some way with Provincetown. The four exhibition spaces are wonderfully lit, perfect for the numerous shows and various juried shows that happen here. One highlight: A show is curated each year by students from Provincetown's Veterans Elementary School. PAAM also hosts an Adopt-a-Painting program in which patrons can underwrite the restoration of a favorite work. The museum has an excellent gift shop with an abundance of artwork, books, posters, clothing, note cards, and other items. It also sponsors lectures, courses, craft fairs, and readings, such as those given at Stephen Murphy's annual summer "O'Neill-By-the-Sea" festival. Admission is $3. The museum is open daily in summer; off-season hours fluctuate, so call ahead. CINEMA Mid-Cape Cape Cinema
Cape Playhouse grounds, Mass. Rt. 6A, Dennis• (508) 385-2503 Insiders know that the Cape Cinema, built in 1930, is the place for serious movie watching. The theater shows the finest in foreign, independent, and art films from April through October. Getting there early will not only guarantee you a seat but also give you time to bask in the cinema's beauty. The exterior was designed in the style of the Congregational Church in Centerville, and the interior ceiling is covered with a 6,400-square-foot mural of heavenly skies designed by Rockwell Kent and executed by Jo Mielziner. (Kent also designed the stage's golden sunburst curtain.) ReelArt!
Cinema at the Cape Museum of Fine Arts,Cape Playhouse grounds, Mass. Rt. 6A, Dennis• (508) 385-4477 ReelArt! offers first-run, independent, and foreign films in the museum's 92-seat downstairs auditorium. Screenings run Thursday through Sunday year-round. THEATER Upper Cape The Cape Cod Theatre Project
Various venues• (508) 457-4242 Since the introduction of Jeff Daniels' play The Vast Difference in 1995, this professional group has staged readings of new plays in July only, usually at the Woods Hole Community Hall or Falmouth Academy. Some of the works originally read here have gone on to Broadway. Highfield Theater
Off Depot Ave., Falmouth• (508) 548-0668 The Falmouth Theater Guild puts on three shows a year at Highfield Theater. Favored as one of the best local theater companies they perform two stage-productions in the spring and usually a drama in the winter. During the summer, the College Light Opera Company moves in and stages nine musicals, each running a week. The shows begin the last week of June and run through the last week of August. Expect some Gilbert and Sullivan and plenty of Broadway classics. Woods Hole Theater Company
68 Water St., Woods Hole (Falmouth)• (508) 540-6525 Established in 1974, this company presents six or seven shows a year at the Woods Hole Community Hall and sponsors occasional productions by other theatrical troupes. The company aims to provide a wide variety of theater for the community. Included in each season are comedy, drama, and musicals. Examples of the company's productions include Arthur Miller's The Price performed in the spring of 2000 and and one-act plays such as Thornton Wilder's Infancy. Ticket prices vary from $8 to $10 per show. Oversoul Theater Collective
Mashpee High School, Mashpee• (508) 477-3210 The Cape's only multicultural theatrical troupe/arts and educational organization, Oversoul began as a self-proclaimed "guerrilla improv comedy troupe." It now leads a double life with regular performances and an ongoing educational program called the Living Arts Institute. Shows and classes are held at Mashpee High School, and the group also gives regular Talking Drum presentations (a combination of jazz, funk, American Indian and African music, along with poetry) at the Progidal Son coffeehouse in Hyannis. Oversoul also produces plays and presentations at First Parish Unitarian-Universalist Church in Brewster. Mid-Cape Cotuit Center for the Arts
737 Main St., Cotuit• (508) 428-0669 This young arts center, launched eight years ago, had a terrible fire in early 2000 that destroyed the entire building. This is only a setback for this organization, which began with a focus on visual arts but has branched into theater as well, with considerable success. In fact, several of its productions won awards after being featured at a California theater festival. We are sure the Cotuit Center for the Arts will resurface shortly, we just can't tell you at what venue. In addition to performances, the center offers drama classes for children, teens, and adults and we have been told that as soon as they find an alternative location, these too will continue. Productions include works such as Hamlet, and Tragic Secrets and Wandering Christmas, both Edward Gorey productions. The Janus Players of Cape Cod Community College
Mass. Rt. 132, West Barnstable• (508) 375-4044 The group includes drama students and area residents. It stages one show every spring. Performances are held at either of the college's two performing spaces. Barnstable Comedy Club
3171 Mass. Rt. 6A, Barnstable• (508) 362-6333 The nation's third-oldest continuously operated theater, the Barnstable Comedy Club has been offering audiences the best in comedy, drama, and music since 1922. The group stages four major productions every year, with 10 performances of each show, beginning in September and running through Memorial Day. The club's motto is "Let's produce good plays and remain amateurs," and that's a formula that works well here. And though the performers are all volunteers and nonprofessionals, remember their names: past "nobodies" have included Geena Davis and Kurt Vonnegut. Cape Playhouse
820 Mass. Rt. 6A, Dennis• (508) 385-3911, • www.capeplayhouse.com For more than seventy years, the legendary Cape Playhouse has been bringing Broadway actors to Cape Cod. The Cape Playhouse has attracted so many stars since it opened in 1927 that it is often referred to as the "Birthplace of the Stars". The list of actors who appeared here reads like a Who's Who? of stage and screen. Young unknown Bette Davis first worked as an usher before returning the following summer to act. Humphrey Bogart, Shirley Booth, Robert Montgomery, and Gregory Peck made their early appearances at the Cape Playhouse before going on the win Academy Awards.
As a student, young Jane Fonda even appeared one summer with her father, Henry! America's oldest professional Summer Theatre, the Cape Playhouse offers first-rate theatre each summer. Evening performances are offered Monday through Saturday, and matinees are on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. On Friday mornings, the Cape Playhouse Children's Theatre is a terrific way to introduce young people to the wonder and magic of live theatre designed especially for them. Tickets are sold via subscription, though good-location single seats are usually available. Ticket prices range from $15 to $35 depending on seating. The season begins in June and runs to September, with two-week runs of six plays, ranging from musicals and comedies to mysteries. The Raymond Moore Foundation now oversees the Cape Playhouse Center for the
Arts. In addition to the Cape Playhouse, this 26 acre complex is home to the Cape Cinema (see the section on cinemas later in this chapter), the Cape Museum of Fine Arts (see the Art Museums section at the end of this chapter), and the Playhouse Bistro. Behind-the-scenes backstage tours are offered during the summer, call for dates and times. Lower Cape Cape Cod Repertory Theater Company
3379 Mass. Rt. 6A, Brewster• (508) 896-1888 Cape Rep, which celebrates its 13th anniversary in 2000, operates the Cape's only outdoor theater, a beautiful venue among the pines across from Nickerson State Park in East Brewster, just off Mass. Rt. 6A. The group now has an indoor theater at the same site, and there's usually something going on at both venues from late spring to early fall. In the off-season, Cape Rep presents shows at the Old Sea Pines Inn, 2553 Mass. 6A, Brewster, (503) 896-6114. The group's offerings include musicals, original plays and, at the outdoor theater, family-oriented productions. The company stages children's theater on Tuesday and Friday mornings in July and August; reservations are a must, as these shows sell out fast. Tickets for the children's theater are $6 for both adults and children. The price for a play performance is $14 for adults and $7 for those 21 and under. Musical performance tickets are $18 for those older than 21 and $8 for those ages 21 and under. Harwich Junior Theatre
Corner of Division and Willow Sts., West Harwich• (508) 432-2002• Founded in 1952, this year-round company stages delightful family shows including dramas, musicals, comedies--even Shakespeare. Although the plays staged here are always great for children--The Masque of Beauty and the Beast, Tom Sawyer, the rock 'n' roll musical, Leader of the Pack--they can also be enjoyed by people of all ages. Besides producing about a dozen show a season, Performances are held Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 PM and on Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets are $10. The Harwich Junior Theatre also offers a full curriculum of inspiring and fun classes taught by theatre professionals (see our Kidstuff Chapter). Chatham Drama Guild
134 Crowell Rd., Chatham• (508) 945-0510 In its 70th season, the Guild does four major shows a year in fall, winter and spring. Productions range from musicals to comedy and mystery. Secrets Every Good Traveler Should Know was staged in 2000 and the ticket price was $12.50. Over the years, the Guild has staged productions in conjunction with Chatham High School, making an educational experience for the students as well as a grand experience for the general audience. The organization also does children's plays as matinees during the summer. Monomoy Theatre
776 Main St., Chatham• (508) 945-1589• www.ohiou.edu/theater/news/monomoy.htm Monomoy Theatre's annual season kicks off in June with a delightful mix of musicals, comedies, dramas, and thrillers, and closes, as it traditionally does, with a Shakespeare play. Since 1957 the theatre, operated by the Ohio University School of Theater Arts, has combined talented students with visiting professors, faculty, and professional guest artists. Many Monomoy graduates continue on to become successful actors, set or costume designers, directors, and stage managers. The season usually begins with a two-week musical followed by seven one-week plays. For one week in the middle of the summer, the theatre is given over to the Monomoy Chamber Ensemble, a professional ensemble from New York City. Season subscriptions are available for $130. Theatre tickets are $17, except for Thursday matinees, which cost $12; tickets for musicals are $24, with Thursday and Saturday matinees costing $17. Academy of Performing Arts
120 Main St., Orleans• (508) 255-1963• www.apa1.org Founded in 1975, the Academy stages between 10 and 12 productions throughout the year--musicals, dramas, comedies, and everything in between--many of them works by local and regional playwrights. The quality of performances is high. The building itself dates to 1873 and once served as the Orleans Town Hall; the Academy is still raising funds to continue renovations and upgrades to the building. General admission tickets for a main performance are $14 for balcony seating and $16 for center-stage seating. A children's theater show is presented Saturdays from July through Labor Day at 10 AM and 11 AM. General admission to the children's show is $5. The Academy also offers a plethora of courses in dance, music, and acting at its teaching facility on Giddiah Hill Road (see our Education and Childcare and Kidstuff chapters). The Stages Theater Company
Community of Jesus, Rock Harbor, Orleans• (508) 240-2400 The Stages Theater Company, known until 1995 as the CJ Players, produces between four and six shows year-round, three of them beneath a huge tent outdoors. With a troupe of 30 actors ranging in age from 8 to 65, the company stages dinner theater performances in the off-season and occasional dessert theater evenings in summer. Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (W.H.A.T.)
Town Pier, Wellfleet• (508) 349-6835• www.what.org W.H.A.T. co-founders and directors Gip Hoppe and Jeff Zinn bring something different to the theater experience on Cape Cod, providing an alternative to more traditional theaters. Among the most daring companies around, W.H.A.T. is worth checking out for its quality, off-the-beaten-path productions. The theater only seats 90 people, so reserve your tickets early. The group stages six shows a year from May through October. There's a box office on Main Street in Wellfleet. Provincetown Repertory Theatre
Pilgrim Monument and Museum, Provincetown• (508) 487-0600 This group stages performances in July, August, and September and holds a Producers Series of lectures, premieres, and readings that usually begins in June. The company, founded in 1995, is raising money to build a new theater to be its permanent home right here on the grounds of the monument and museum. Productions include a mix of classics from playwrights such as Eugene O'Neill, along with new works. | 
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