Skip to Main Content
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

LIVING ARTS

Charles Yu signs local author Cynthia Yee's copy of "Interior Chinatown" at the Boston Asian American Film Festival. Yee writes her own column called the Hudson Street Chronicles, a collection of personal essays about growing up in Boston's Chinatown during the '60s. She says the book saved her life. (Bryan Liu/ Beacon Staff)

‘Interior Chinatown’ responds to model minority myth

By Bryan Liu, Living Arts Editor / November 20, 2024

Taiwanese American author Charles Yu’s National Book Award-winning novel, “Interior Chinatown,” lept off the page, literally—he adapted it...

From Boston to Nashville and back: Meg Elsier returns eight years and an album later

From Boston to Nashville and back: Meg Elsier returns eight years and an album later

By Ryan Yau, Living Arts Editor / November 20, 2024

Most indie artists would try to hide their suburban roots. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Meg Elsier, who grew up in Westborough, Mass., a town 40 minutes...

(Courtesy of Danielle Cohen)

EDC explodes with talent in ‘Wanderlust’ showcase

By Danielle Bartholet, Assistant Living Arts Editor / November 20, 2024
Emerson Dance Company presented “Wanderlust” as their Fall 2024 showcase.
Left to right: Asha Basha Duniani, Abigail C. Onwunali, Nomè SiDone, and Joshua Olumide
Photo by Nile Hawver.

The Ufot Family Cycle unites Boston through theater

By Danielle Bartholet, Assistant Living Arts Editor / November 13, 2024

The audience rose to its feet in a standing ovation, but the play had not yet even begun. They cheered as Nigerian playwright Mfoniso Udofia arrived...

'Here': Three generations from a single perspective

‘Here’: Three generations from a single perspective

By Max Ardrey, Beacon Correspondent / November 13, 2024

Time seems to happen all at once in director Robert Zemeckis’ latest film “Here,” which chronicles the generations of people that have lived in...

An attende browses the Commonwealth Books booth at the International Antiquarian Book Fair on Friday, Nov. 8. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)

Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to Hynes Convention Center

By Allison Po, Beacon Correspondent / November 13, 2024

At the 46th annual Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair, readers, collectors, and sellers gathered at the Hynes Convention Center in Back Bay to...

Courtesy of The Emerson Colonial Theatre

Character of Mystery: Louise Penny releases 19th novel

By Danielle Bartholet, Assistant Living Arts Editor / November 7, 2024

“Three Pines was not on any map and was only ever found by people who had lost their way.”    This was how Louise Penny described the fictional...

Kyle Klein Photo

Princess Polly opens new store on Newbury

By Hannah Woods / November 6, 2024

The fashion brand Princess Polly opened its newest store in Boston on Oct. 27 with customers lining up and down Newbury Street for the in-person shopping...

Album art for “Mad Rap Verses.” See a hidden message? Here’s a hint: the album title is hidden in the illustrations. Image credit to Nick Shea.

$1 portrait artist Nick Shea talks ‘Mad Rap Verses’ album release and Boston DIY scene

By Fiona McMahon, Beacon Correspondent / November 6, 2024
Nick Shea's new album "Mad Rap Verses," featuring tracks like "Jumbalaya" and "Sing a Song," will release on Nov. 16.
Creative Commons

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ celebrates 49 years with special guests at The Colonial.

By Nicole Seitz, Beacon Correspondent / October 30, 2024
As dozens of Rocky Horror fans excitedly made their way down a freezing Boylston Street, nobody seemed to mind the temperature.
Courtesy of Nile Hawver

‘Urinetown’: A tragedy to laugh about the fall of Rome in our times

By Jesse Lipschutz, Staff Writer / October 30, 2024
Musical comedy “Urinetown” is playing at Lyric Stage Company of Boston from Sept. 20 through Oct. 20.
Courtesy of Arts at the Armory

Halloween comes alive with ‘Cirque Of The Dead’

By Hannah Hughes, Staff Writer / October 30, 2024
With the Halloween season finally here, Boston Circus Guild’s annual “Cirque Of The Dead” is back at Arts at the Armory in Somerville.
‘Hitpig!’ crew members talk creating new animated feature film

‘Hitpig!’ crew members talk creating new animated feature film

By Annie Sarlin, Assistant Living Arts Editor / October 30, 2024
Directors David Feiss and Cinzia Angelini and composer Isabella Summers discussed their upcoming animated feature, “Hitpig!,” starring Jason Sudeikis and Lily Singh.
Courtesy of NEON

‘Anora’: A dream is a wish your heart breaks

By Bryan Hecht and Max Ardrey / October 30, 2024
We have been led to believe that if a woman’s garments are turned into a gown, a pumpkin into a carriage, and her raggedy shoes into glass slippers, she may be seen as royalty.
Courtesy of Emerson Stage

In light of a sound crash, Emerson’s actors and crew shine in a powerhouse performance.

By Jesse Lipschutz, Beacon Correspondent / October 23, 2024
“Imogen Says Nothing” ran from Oct. 16 through Oct. 19 at the Robert J. Orchard Stage at the Paramount Theater.
Handcrafted lanterns for sale at the parade. (Fiona McMahon / Beacon Staff)

Celebrating 41 years of Jamaica Plain history with The Lantern Parade

By Fiona McMahon, Beacon Correspondent / October 23, 2024
Winter is looming, and one Boston neighborhood in particular has a special way of celebrating this impending season of cold and darkness.
Illustration by Rachel Choi

Sally Rooney returns with ‘Intermezzo’

By Danielle Bartholet, Assistant Living Arts Editor / October 23, 2024
For a writer with limited press engagements and a staunch refusal of air travel, Irish novelist Sally Rooney seems to pop up everywhere in the book space.
The Blue Man group onstage during a performance at the Charles Playhouse in downtown Boston, where they have had a residency since 1995, on Oct. 17, 2024 (Nick Peace / For the Beacon).

The Blue Man Group become unlikely arbiters of AI, mass surveillance, and today’s internet age

By Bryan Hecht and Sam Shipman / October 23, 2024
The mute men in blue have been performing their act in Boston since 1995, combining comedy and musical sketches with percussion instruments and neon oceans at the Charles Playhouse.
Courtesy Atlantic Records

Coldplay’s ‘Moon Music’ demonstrates disconnection and chaos in the pop music sphere

By Kaitlyn Smitten, Beacon Correspondent / October 16, 2024
Coldplay's new album “Moon Music,” released on Oct. 4, marked the band's 10th album since their debut in 1998.
Oh He Dead guitarist Alex Salser, and lead singer CJ Johnson performing live.

Oh He Dead’s new project explores a range of ‘Ugly’ moments

By Sam Shipman, Assistant News Editor / October 16, 2024
Today’s indie music scene follows a lot of the same patterns: a hot new artist discovered on social media throws out a couple of singles followed by an album and struggles to break out of the sound that threw them in the spotlight.