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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

Jules Grace (center) and Berklee Valencia students jam out on a Spanish beach. (Courtesy Birdie Nelson)

Jules Grace bids farewell to adolescence with debut album ‘Diaries & Daydreams’

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / 19 hours ago

Before hitting the record button, there are a couple things Jules Grace has to do first.  “We have to turn the heater and the furnace off, so it’s...

Courtesy of Danny Kennedy

Meet the brothers behind award-winning wedding videography company Crystal Lake Creatives

By Rylie Burns, Operations Managing Editor, Layout Editor & Newsletter Editor / 20 hours ago

With awards from “The Knot” and “WeddingWire” and a newly signed deal with a four-time Emmy award–winning composer, brothers Zander and Nate...

Courtesy of Skylar Watkins.

The Revivalists frontman and new dad David Shaw reflects on his solo career

By Sam Shipman, Kasteel Well Staff Writer / 21 hours ago

As frontman for The Revivalists, David Shaw has been crushing live shows for over fifteen years, selling out large venues with their unforgettable indie...

Daniel Kish and Anna Stoianova perform Swan Lake at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. (Courtesy of Grand Kyiv Ballet)

Grand Kyiv Ballet dazzles the stage with Swan Lake

By Allison Po and Hannah Woods / 22 hours ago

The elegant and rhythmic performance of Swan Lake graced the stage of the Emerson Colonial Theatre with dancers of The Grand Kyiv Ballet, a Ukranian ballet...

Brighton brings creativity and fun with weekly ‘Drinking and Drawing’ event

Brighton brings creativity and fun with weekly ‘Drinking and Drawing’ event

By Hannah Hughes, Staff Writer / February 19, 2025

Inside from the cold, tables full of art supplies fill the wide, open space of Zone 3’s large studio space. Warm from the music, laughter, and people,...

A portrait of Paul Willis by Saoire Duffy. (Courtesy of Paul Willis)

Paul Willis brings hip hop to education, and education to hip hop

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / February 19, 2025

Jamaica Plain native Paul Willis was told to pick one career path—a hip hop artist or an educator: “‘Get your degree, but keep the two worlds separate,’”...

A vendor serves soup to customers. (McKenzie Cooper/ Beacon Staff)

Soup Fest is good for the soul, and small businesses too

By McKenzie Cooper, Beacon Staff / February 19, 2025

The Bow Market, a two-story outdoor marketplace in Somerville, is usually filled with small businesses and food vendors who sell homemade trinkets, used...

Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the BSO at Symphony Hall. (Courtesy Robert Torres/BSO)

Nathalie Stutzmann has her Boston Symphony Orchestra conducting debut with ‘The Firebird’

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / February 12, 2025

Pristine classical music seeped into the brisk air through the window creases of Symphony Hall last weekend, as the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed...

Mark Adamo photographed by Daniel Welch. (Courtesy of April Thilbeault)

This 2,400-year-old Ancient Greek comedy might be perfect for Valentine’s Day

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / February 12, 2025

When Aristophanes dropped “Lysistrata” in 411 BC, Ancient Greece didn’t know how to react. The play follows Lysistrata, a woman who comes up with...

Søren Lind (left) and Larissa Sansour (middle) discuss “Entire Nations Are Built on Fairy Tales” with Dr. Leonie Bradbury (right). (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff)

‘Entire Nations Are Built on Fairy Tales’: Emerson Contemporary’s newest exhibition gives a voice to Palestine

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / February 5, 2025

On Feb. 4, Emerson’s Media Art Gallery opened a new multi-media exhibition: “Entire Nations are Built on Fairy Tales.” The exhibition features two...

Playwright Kate Hamill and Director Shana Cooper hug during a workshop of "The Odyssey." (Bryan Liu/ For The Beacon)

After 2000 years, Odysseus finally makes it to Boston

By Bryan Liu, Managing Editor / February 5, 2025

Actor and Playwright Kate Hamill’s latest production, “The Odyssey,” will have its world premiere on Feb. 9 at the American Repertory Theater in...

Max Kondziolka at a special screening of "The Brutalist" in L.A. (Courtesy of Max Kondziolka)

Max Kondziolka, ‘The Brutalist’ producer and archaeology student, seeks stories that break new ground

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / February 5, 2025

Max Kondziolka ‘16 has been working in international film production for almost a decade, and even co-founded a production company, Pierce Capital Entertainment....

David Methven, piper for the 15th annual Burns supper at The Haven last Thursday night. (Bryan Liu/ Beacon Staff)

‘Everybody gets to be Scottish tonight’: In Jamaica Plain Burns supper honors Scotland’s national poet

By Bryan Liu, Managing Editor / January 30, 2025

Hundreds of locals celebrated the life and legacy of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, at the 15th annual Burns supper hosted by Scottish restaurant...

Candace Persuasian lip syncs "Defying Gravity," as Elphaba. (Bryan Liu/ Beacon Staff)

A birthday and a name change for drag artist Candace Persuasian

By Bryan Liu, Managing Editor / January 30, 2025

Candace Persuasian’s birthday show, Candyland, celebrated her official name change while performing a lip sync of "Defying Gravity" at Jacque’s Cabaret last...

Left to right: bassist Joey Sorkin, drummer Luke Tan, lead guitarist Charlie Silver, frontman Jack Silver, guitarist Kevin Mortenson. (Courtesy Ava Nagy)

Brothers to bandmates: ‘Cut The Kids In Half’ drops debut album

By Sam Shipman, Kasteel Well Staff Writer / January 29, 2025

Between their respective rooms, brothers Jack and Charlie Silver have been crafting and refining songs for years. Jack paces back and forth between Charlie’s...

(Courtesy Danny Lane)

Amanda Kramer talks Sundance, graduating from Emerson, and the woman-to-chair pipeline

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / January 29, 2025

Picture this: a woman, Camille, enters a furniture store and sees a chair she really wants, but cannot afford. Overcome by inexplicable feelings of desire...

‘Cat Kid Comic Club’ promotes paw-sitivity and i-meow-gination on the stage

‘Cat Kid Comic Club’ promotes paw-sitivity and i-meow-gination on the stage

By Hannah Hughes, Staff Writer / January 29, 2025

Emerson’s Colonial Theatre buzzed with little voices raised in excitement last Saturday as families were seated for “Cat Kid Comic Club: the Musical.” “Cat...

‘Haunted’ exposes the comedy and the horror of Indigenous land rights

‘Haunted’ exposes the comedy and the horror of Indigenous land rights

By Rosa Morales-Simmons, Beacon Correspondent / January 22, 2025

In “Haunted,” a comical horror stage play, residents are haunted by their home’s previously living, Indigenous American ghosts, who pass their time...

Dray Drinks sells beer, wine, and spirits—sans alcohol

Dray Drinks sells beer, wine, and spirits—sans alcohol

By Hannah Hughes, Staff Writer / January 22, 2025

Dray Drinks offers evergreen beer, wine, and spirit selections, alcohol-free. In the South End, the store’s large windows, painted mural, and open floor...

A woman on the Public Garden Foot Bridge records people skating on the frozen Swan Pond below. (Nick Peace/ Beacon Staff)

Frozen over: Bostonians skate and scrimmage in the Public Garden

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / January 22, 2025

As the sky eases into perpetual gray and temperatures drop, Bostonians reclaim their favorite winter pastime: grabbing their skates and hitting the ice. While...