Framingham's Cultural Organizations Present Activities for All Ages from April through June

FRAMINGHAM, MA -- Arts and cultural events flourish as part of the Spring Into Arts celebration from April 26-June 15, 2008. Find highlighted events and activities by participating organizations in the START Framingham Partnership’s Spring Into Arts brochure available at participating organizations throughout Framingham, or see a full list of events and activities by visiting www.framingham.com. (See link below.) Kick-off weekend events begin on Friday, April 25th.

Find it in Framingham! -- Spring Into Arts participants include:

• Amazing Things Art Center
• Danforth Museum of Art
• Fountain Street Studios
• Framingham Civic League
• Framingham Historical Society and Museum
• Framingham Public Library
• Framingham State College
• Friends of Saxonville
• New England Wild Flower Society at Garden in the Woods
• Performing Arts Center of Metrowest
• Saxonville Studios
• Town of Framingham
• Tripp Street Studio

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OPENING WEEKEND

Friday, April 25th

Framingham State College - The UnPossessed (Friday, April 25th, 7:30pm) - Begin the weekend with the four-time Best of Boston Double Edge Theatre Company as they present The UnPossessed, the retelling of the Don Quixote Story at Framingham State College, (Friday, April 25th, 7:30pm). (Tickets $5)

Saturday, April 26th

New England Wild Flower Society at Garden in the Woods - Earth Day Celebration (Saturday, April 26, 10-5pm) - Start the day with a fresh breath of spring at New England Wild Flower Society at Garden in the Woods during their free Earth Day Celebration (Saturday, April 26, 10-5pm). Take a guided tour of the garden, join in on a Signs of Spring scavenger hunt and visit the newly created “Green Way” and learn how to be GREEN with recycling games for all ages. Purchase native plants, gifts and books and have your face painted and say “hello” to costumed creatures such as Ant Mini, Dani the Monarch Butterfly, and Dottie the Ladybug, who welcome everyone to a day of exciting family activities. Other activities (10am: Learn to Juggle with MOTHER NATURE; 11am: Live Animal Show from Jungle Encounters; 1pm: Meet a giant anaconda and a 6-foot long monitor lizard during Animal Adventures; 3pm: Rain Forest Reptile Show)
Visit http://www.newfs.org/calendar/earth-day-celebration.html for complete schedule

Framingham Historical Society and Museum - Family Day on the Common (Saturday, April 26, 1-4pm) - Next take your family back in time! Head to Family Day on the Common (Saturday, April 26, 1-4pm) sponsored by the Framingham Historical Society and Museum, from 1-4pm. Learn how to play old fashioned games like rounders, graces, hoops, and more. Tour one of Framingham’s first school houses (the Old Academy) and the Village Hall while enjoying a treasure hunt, and hands-on activities. All events free. Find refreshments antiques for sale, gifts and more! For information call: 508.872.3780 or visit www.framinghamhistory.org

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Sunday, April 27th

Fountain Street Studios - Open Studio Weekend (Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, 11-5pm) - Visit with and see the work of 50 artists, during the Fountain Street Studios Open Studio Weekend (Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, 11-5pm). Visit the website for a list of participating artists http://www.fountainstreetstudios.com/2008.pdf

Amazing Things Art Center - The Cemetery Club (Apr 25-26 & May 2-3, Friday & Saturday, 8pm; Apr 27 & May 4, Sunday, 2pm) - Finish the weekend by seeing a 2pm performance of The Cemetery Club presented by the Amazing Theatre Company at The Amazing Things Art Center, 55 Nicholas Road, Framingham. This lively and poignant comedy about love and survival illuminates the relationships, humor, and feelings of three close friends who meet at the cemetery each month to pay their respects to their late husbands. (Apr 25-26 & May 2-3, Friday & Saturday, 8pm; Apr 27 & May 4, Sunday, 2pm) $18 (Students / Seniors $17, Members $15) Visit the website for details www.amazingthings.org

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Continue your exploration of art and culture in Framingham all month long with events and activities at Amazing Things Art Center, Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham Civic League, Framingham Historical Society and Museum, Framingham Public Library, Framingham State College, New England Wild Flower Society at Garden in the Woods, and the Performing Arts Center of Metrowest.

SELECT SPRING INTO ARTS HIGHLIGHTS

Framingham Public Library - Saturday, May 3, 2008 - Spend the day with the whole family at the Framingham Public Library on Saturday, May 3rd. At 10:30am Deraldo Ferreira and the Afro-Brazilian Ensemble presents a high-energy, all-ages Capoeira program that combines Brazilian martial arts, dance, and music. Maestro Ferreira is joined by two other capoeiristas in this dynamic and culturally rich performance. Then at 2pm, International storyteller Valerie Tutson brings stories to life with her energetic and captivating performance of myths and folktales indigenous to Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. Both programs are sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Framingham Cultural Council. Visit the website for a complete list of spring events. www.framinghamlibrary.org

Performing Arts Center of MetroWest - Saturday, May 16-17, 2008 - See the hilarious family musical, Once Upon a Mattress, a "true" version of the folktale, The Princess and the Pea, on May 16 and 17 at 7:00 pm at the Framingham Civic League Theater. The cast consists of 37 children in grades 3-8. This production is sponsored in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as administered by the Framingham Cultural Council. Advance tickets are $12 for adults; $10 for children, students (through age 18), and seniors. All tickets are $2 more at the door. Please call the Performing Arts Center at (508) 875-5554 for tickets. Visit website for details and complete list of spring events www.pacmetrowest.org

Danforth Museum of Art - Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Celebrate the Danforth Museum of Art’s thriving artistic community during two exciting events on Saturday, May 31st. Meet the artists, bid on exciting items and receive a 100atron’s discount on the very best regional contemporary art from the 2008 Members’ Exhibition & Sale at the Off the Wall Patrons’ Preview and Benefit Auction from 5:30-7pm ($50 per person). Stay for the Annual Juried Members’ Show Opening Reception from 7-9pm! (Free and open to the public) Visit website for details and complete list of spring events www.danforthmuseum.org

Framingham Civic League - June 5-7, Thursday- Saturday, 7:30pm and June 8, Sunday, 2:30pm - Satisfy your creative appetite at the Framingham Civic League, as Framingham Community Theater presents Just Desserts, an original musical mystery show for the whole family, featuring favorite Broadway tunes. It’s the annual Bake Off. With a love potion on the loose and the stolen Dennison Diamonds turning up in the desserts, will a winner ever emerge? For whom was the potion originally intended? And who stole the jewelry? The audience will solve the mystery! (June 5-7, Thursday- Saturday, 7:30pm and June 8, Sunday, 2:30pm) Members $20 adult/ $10 child, Non-members $22.50 adult/ $12.50 child. Dessert buffet included! Visit www.civicleague.net for more information.

About the START Framingham Partnership - The mission of the START Framingham Partnership is to strengthen community life in Framingham and to contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of the town by broadening, deepening and diversifying participation in arts and cultural activities.

Related Link: <http://www.framingham.com/org/start/spring_into_arts/2008/index.htm>

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