Princeton Nassoons returning after long absence

The Princeton Nassoons, Princeton University’s oldest all-male a cappella group, will spend their Spring break performing at various venues here between Saturday and March 25. One of America’s premier performance ensembles, the singers will be staying at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and performing at venues throughout the Island.

Founded in 1941, The Nassoons’ repertoire spans more than six decades of hits, and runs the gamut from up-beat pop tunes to harmonically-complex barbershop melodies and jazz standards. The group performs many of their own arrangements, several of which date back to the founding of the group. Thirteen men-strong, they require no microphones, sound equipment, or stage, combining tight harmony with entertaining skits and playful comedy designed to please audiences of all ages.

It has been many years since The Nassoons visited the Island, but group president Michael Scharff said they were very much looking forward to rekindling what they hoped would become a yearly tradition of sharing their music with Bermuda residents. Already, they have received a great deal of support from Princeton alumni and people here, and are eagerly looking forward to returning. The Nassoons have performed across the US and internationally for heads of state and other dignitaries, and in December performed at the White House.

[bul] Anyone wishing to book the Nassoons during their Bermuda visit should contact tour manager Frederick Hall via e-mail at: fhall[AT]princeton.edu or 513-404-4787.

Hasty Pudding Theatricals rising again

Laughs, excruciating puns and the infamous all-male kickline are just some of the ingredients in this year’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals production, ‘The Tent Commandments’, which opens here later this month.

Written by students Joshua Clay Phillips and Warland (Trey) Kollmer, the story unfolds around a circus and a sideshow in 1890s Europe. After a decree is passed that only one group can continue to perform, the two attractions are thrown into upheaval. As the circus and sideshow square off, a Japanese sword-swallower from the sideshow and the circus’ prized Austrian acrobat fall desperately in love. Yet their relationship is forbidden under the most sacred grails, followed by circus and freak show alike: ‘The Tent Commandments’.

All the while, a newcomer to the circus, a French human cannonball, plots to steal the show away from the show’s star elephant, Ella Fintzgerald. As the circus falls into disarray amid forbidden love and deception, the French cannonball, along with his hunchback henchman, Ivan Ump, work to bring down the proud pachyderm. Fresh from its successful Woman and Man of the Year awards ceremonies, which honoured actors Scarlett Johansson and Ben Stiller with some good-natured ribbing and a Hasty Pudding Pot, the show arrives in Bermuda ripe with love, intrigue, and dangerous aerial manoeuvres after a four-week run in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a weekend of shows in New York City. Performances of ‘The Tent Commandments’ are from March 28 to 31 at City Hall theatre beginning at 8 p.m. For the third consecutive year, Hasty Pudding Theatricals will donate a portion of the proceeds from its four Bermuda shows to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda. Tickets can be purchased online at www.boxoffice.bm New-look BSoA opening March 23After months of preparation and weeks of sawdust, paint fumes and clutter, the Bermuda Society of Arts will reopen its doors on Friday, March 23 with the Spring Members Show. The official opening celebration, however, will take place during the opening of the Summer Members Show on Friday, June 8.

Gallery improvements include two additional galleries, festive interior paint, signage and upgraded office equipment, communications and security systems.

In recognition of budding artists, a new, innovative and flexible concept has been created within the overall gallery space offering two unique and completely portable, boutique-sized mini galleries. Known as Studio A and Studio B, each offers an impressive 300 square feet of hanging wall space. Together with the existing Onions and Edinburgh galleries, the new studios will give local and international audiences a visual montage of new ideas from emerging and acclaimed artists, including painters, sculptors and photographers.

The Bermuda Society of Arts (BSoA) is Bermuda’s longest operating, non-profit visual arts organisation, and serves as the first art gallery dedicated to emerging artists. Thanks to the generosity of two philanthropic organisations and several business giants, it continues to fulfil its commitment of providing a professional venue for all artists, regardless of skill level or economic means.‘Arts for All’ returns to MasterworksThe popular ‘Arts for All’ biannual workshops hosted by the Masterworks Foundation and taught by Londoners Caroline Barlow and Richard Tait, who run an eponymous art centre in London, are being planned from April 3-5 and April 10-13.

This celebration of the arts offers free art workshops for all ages and abilities, with creativity, fun and community interaction being the by-words. Adult classes will include advanced drawing and felt jewellery instruction, while numerous two-hour workshops for children will include hands-on art sessions in painting, clock-making, puppet theatres, racing cars, and more. A special opportunity is also being provided on April 13 for people with diverse special needs. Two classes for ages six through adult will be held at WindReach Recreational Village during which a felt mural with an equestrian theme will be made. Both Ms Barlow and Mr. Tait are experienced in teaching art to students with special needs at their London centre. Registration for all workshops and classes is by telephone on March 19, with applications being taken on a first come, first served basis. Since space is limited, interested persons are urged not to delay registering.