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Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Arts

John Filo on Blanket Hill, by Beacon photographer Fiona McMahon

The Emerson connection to the 1970 Kent State shootings

By Meg Richards, Editor-in-Chief / May 17, 2025

At the height of the Vietnam War in 1970, America was divided into political camps that went beyond party lines. Students made up the bulk of anti-war...

Courtesy of Alexys Morera

Alexys Morera talks self-care, social media, and playing Janis in ‘Mean Girls’

By Hannah Hughes, Staff Writer / April 28, 2025

Be prepared to put on your pink and meet the plastics, because “Mean Girls” is coming to The Colonial for a week, starting April 29. Adapted from...

Mamalarky (Courtesy Vlonery)

Mamalarky is mobile—musically and literally on ‘Hex Key’

By Sam Shipman, Living Arts Editor / April 23, 2025

Most bands are inspired by where they first came together. Whether it be a college dorm, a flashy record studio, or a local venue, all of these locations...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

An all-trans and nonbinary ‘Peanuts’ musical teaches us to be ‘good men’

By Ryan Yau, Editor-at-Large / April 23, 2025

Though many know “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” as a 1985 animated film based on Charles Schultz’s “Peanuts” characters, the film was adapted...

A still from Mayeni Kpenge's thesis film "Babyface." (Courtesy of Mayeni Kpenge)

Kasteel Well lends its medieval backdrop to ‘Babyface’ BFA

By Annie Sarlin, Dept. Living Arts Editor / April 23, 2025

Content warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault. After spending this summer as a student at Kasteel Well, Mayeni Kpenge, a senior...

(Bryce Heilmann / Beacon Correspondent)

Half Alive reinvigorates Roadrunner on ‘Persona World Tour’

By Bryce Heilmann, Senior Living Arts Reporter / April 23, 2025

With a stage full of billowing smoke, two blue and green personas—Sonny and Cher—greeted the audience. It was easy to forget about the wind chills...

Four Cat Stew play with musical guest, Caroline Ranucci. (Max Ardrey / Beacon Staff)

Emerson and Berklee band brings Tiny Desk from NPR to PR (Piano Row)

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / April 16, 2025

If you live on the lower floors of Piano Row, you might have heard a mellow beat and groove seeping out of a fourth-floor suite last Sunday. These sounds...

A visitor views a self-portrait by Amy Giess, from her project "My Head is Too Heavy." (Isabella Gemma / Beacon Correspondent)

How many Emerson students does it take to curate an exhibition?

By Ryan Yau, Editor-at-Large / April 16, 2025

Movement/s, a student-curated exhibition, will be displayed at the Media Arts Gallery until May 3. The exhibition features photographs and visual art by...

Illustration Ben Putney

Review: ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is not just for miners

By Meg Richards, Editor-in-Chief / April 16, 2025

I got a ticket to see "A Minecraft Movie” last Thursday at the AMC. Despite making me one of millions to have achieved this feat, it is in and of itself...

(Courtesy of Marc J. Franklin)

Review: Dynamic, raw, and real—‘Don’t Eat The Mangos’ tells a flawed story of sisterhood

By Hannah Hughes, Staff Writer / April 13, 2025

Despite the large fruit tree standing tall over their home for nearly all their lives, sisters Ismelda, Yinolle, and Wicha grew up with a longstanding...

Erin Stotts (squatting right) on set. (Courtesy Terry Hou)

Meet Emerson’s intimacy coordinators

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / April 9, 2025

Film sets are stressful, but when the crew is made up of exhausted students, they run the risk of being panic-inducing. Visual media arts students learn...

From left to right: Maria San Filippo, Sarah Secunda, and Cristina Kotz Cornejo. (Ryan Yau / Beacon Staff)

Eight months after Bright Lights, the screening room remains important for discourse

By Ryan Yau, Editor-at-Large / April 9, 2025

On Tuesday, VMA Presents programmed a special advanced screening of three short films by faculty members, which featured women-centric films about issues...

(Courtesy of Michelle Carpenter)

NFTs explained for liberal arts students: Pellas Art Gallery welcomes women in blockchain

By Bryan Liu, Managing Editor / April 9, 2025

NFTs are misunderstood. For most, they’re just money. For others, they’re overrated. But for one night at the Pellas Art Gallery on 73 Newbury Street...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Review: Mumford and Sons shows their restless heart with ‘Rushmere’

By Danielle Bartholet, Asst. Magazine Editor / April 9, 2025

“For years we’ve been secretly dreaming,” the caption read on Mumford and Sons’ January Instagram post, announcing a new and long awaited album...

(Courtesy of Neil Krug)

Review: Djo ascends to the height of his career on ‘The Crux’

By Sam Shipman, Living Arts Editor / April 4, 2025

Following his lead role as Steve Harrington in Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things,” and the TikTok megahit “End of The Beginning,” created under...

(Courtesy of the Huntington Theatre Company)

‘Don’t Eat The Mangos’ arrives at the Huntington

By Hannah Hughes, Staff Writer / April 2, 2025

“Don’t Eat The Mangos,” takes the stage at the Huntington on April 3. It’s a story of dark secrets, wicked humor, and honest truths, all with a...

Annalisa Hansford holding "Romanticization of Ghosts and Grief" at the Grolier Poetry Book Shop. (Courtesy of Annalisa Hansford)

‘Romanticization of Ghosts and Grief’: Finding community through poetry

By Ryan Yau, Editor-at-Large / April 2, 2025

Most people cringe at the musings of their 14-year-old selves. Annalisa Hansford, a senior writing, literature, and publishing student, gains constant...

Lily Monday performing at the 2024 ComEx! (Courtesy of Christopher Griswold-Jenkins)

ComEx! is the funniest thing happening this weekend

By Ryan Yau, Editor-at-Large / April 2, 2025

This Friday and Saturday, the sixth annual Comedy Extravaganza, or ComEx!, will be held in the Greene Theater of the Tufte Performance and Production Center....

(Illustration by Kellyn Taylor)

Looking for a sweet treat? Madeleine’s Candy Shop opens in the South End

By Allison Po, Beacon Correspondent / March 26, 2025

Soft lighting and fish decor peek through the storefront. The ambiance is warm and whimsy.  This is Madeleine's Candy Shop, the perfect place for anyone...

From left to right: Ioana Jucan, Tushar Mathew, and Leonie Bradbury. (Courtesy of Zubin Stillings)

All about Emerson Contemporary’s latest AI exhibition

By Ryan Yau, Editor-at-Large / March 26, 2025

While writers, illustrators, and artists have cowered in fear for the past two years, theatermakers have felt safe from the threat of generative AI. In...