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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

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, Editor-at-Large / 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, Editor-at-Large / 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, Living Arts Editor / 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, Editor-at-Large / 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...

Come here often? Romance bookstore Lovestruck Books opens in Cambridge

Come here often? Romance bookstore Lovestruck Books opens in Cambridge

By Allison Po and Hannah Woods / January 22, 2025

Decorated with hearts and florals, romance bookstore Lovestruck Books opened to an eager public reception last week, bringing not only books but a safe...

(Courtesy Layla Palmer)

Heart to Hustle: A podcast that highlights unconventional paths to success

By Ryan Yau, Editor-at-Large / January 15, 2025

It seems today that all we see in the podcast sphere is businessmen in suits talking about their startups and degrees. Layla Palmer, a senior business...

Festival Director Summer McCall at a Boston Celtic Music Festival event. (Courtesy of Summer McCall)

Calling all Celtic fans: The Boston Celtic Music Festival returns bigger than ever

By Ryan Yau, Editor-at-Large / January 15, 2025

Celtic music is found everywhere in Boston, flowing from the Irish pubs all over the city to the concert venues year round. But this weekend, the city’s...

Daphne Bryant, founder of Dreamworldgirl Zine, in a photoshoot. (Courtesy of Emma Cahill)

How Daphne Bryant built her dream world

By Bryan Liu and Meg Richards / January 15, 2025

Dreamworldgirl, a Y2K-inspired zine celebrating girlhood’s complexities, puts women of color, queer, and plus-size women in traditionally “girly”...

Students working on a set in a visual and media arts course.

Emerson’s VMA major becomes first ARRI-certified film program in New England

By Max Ardrey, Dept. Living Arts Editor / December 28, 2024

Emerson College earned an accreditation with the ARRI Certified Film School Program, a global leader in the development of film equipment and technologies,...

Courtesy of Rae Diep

Romantasy revealed with Sabaa Tahir hosted by upcoming bookstore Lovestruck

By Danielle Bartholet, Asst. Magazine Editor / December 11, 2024

Complete with pink tablecloths, red bookmarks with the words “Sucker for a Slowburn,” and cursive lettering reading “Lovestruck,” the Kennedy...