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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

LIVING ARTS

Blood On The Silver Screen cover art.

SASAMI comes back swinging with “Blood On The Silver Screen”

By Sam Shipman, Living Arts Editor / June 27, 2025

SASAMI’s identity is anything but subtle. Whether it's her lavish outfits or eye-catching all-caps moniker, the Bronxville-born artist has made a point...

Big Body Kweeng performs at Outloud Boston 2025.

Queer voices share the stage at Boston’s inaugural Outloud Music Festival.

By Sam Lawrence, Video Editor / June 27, 2025

Muscular go-go dancers lined the stage as drag queen Trixie Mattel performed a DJ set well-suited towards her LA barbie doll persona. This performance...

Frank Grande in the "Boys" music video.

Frankie Grande’s new album is a bold reclamation of his identity, on his terms.

By Sam Lawrence, Video Editor / June 27, 2025

Frankie Grande is no stranger to performing. Spending his early days in the theater, the 42-year-old singer, actor, and dancer has played roles in Broadway...

Peach Pit

Peach Pit’s “microculture” of fans appears around the world

By Sam Shipman, Living Arts Editor / June 24, 2025

Peach Pit is what every indie pop band dreams of being: a success story. Their humble beginnings in 2016, based in Vancouver, were met with a burst of...

Thee Sacred Souls leader singer Josh Lane performing in the crowd at Boston Calling 2025. (Nick Peace / Beacon Staff)

Rain doesn’t dampen spirits or stars at Boston Calling 2025

By Sam Shipman, Living Arts Editor / June 12, 2025

Boston Calling 2025 had plenty of holes in its biggest crowds. The empty spaces weren’t from the days that didn’t sell out, or the start of a mosh–it...

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...

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...

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 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...

Tommy Richman performs at the Paradise Rock Club (Courtesy Grahame White)

Review: Tommy Richman runs it back with electric Boston show

By Charlie Desjardins, Dept. Opinion Editor / March 26, 2025

Just as quickly as he was embraced, he was forgotten.  Virginia singer-rapper Tommy Richman, who mere months ago had the musical world in a headlock...