Arts for the MASSes

New England Folk Festival 2026

Every April, a hotel in Marlborough, Massachusetts transforms into something magical. We went inside the New England Folk Festival — one of America's longest-running folk festivals — to find out what keeps thousands of people coming back for over 80 years.From Bulgarian folk singing to Celtic Morris dancing, contra dancing to handmade crafts, NEFA is unlike any festival you've ever seen. No paid performers. No year-round staff. Just 1,000 performers, 1,000 attendees, and 300 volunteers who show up every year to keep a tradition alive.In this mini-documentary, we sit down with festival president Jonathan Young and program chair Lynn Noel to explore the history, heart, and future of the New England Folk Festival — and why this all-volunteer event might just be a model for how communities can come together.🎶 What you'll see in this video:The 82-year history of NEFA and why it startedContra dancing, Bulgarian folk music, Morris dance & moreThe all-volunteer model that keeps it runningThe artisans and makers of the festival marketplaceWhy the next generation is the key to its survival📍 New England Folk Festival | Marlborough, MA | Last weekend of April every year🌐 Learn more & join the mailing list: neffa.org🔔 Subscribe for more stories about community, culture, and the people who keep traditions alive.#NewEnglandFolkFestival #NEFA #FolkMusic #FolkDance #ContraDance #MorrisDance #FolkFestival #NewEngland #Massachusetts #LiveMusic #FolkCulture #CommunityEvents #Documentary #MarlboroughMA #TraditionalMusic #WorldMusic #BulgarianFolk #HandmadeCrafts #VolunteerOrganization #MiniDocumentary

🎭 Dreaming of a BFA in Musical Theater or Acting? This Episode is for YOU! 🎬

🎭 Dreaming of a BFA in Musical Theater or Acting? This Episode is for YOU! 🎬 Are you a high school student (or parent!) navigating the overwhelming world of college auditions for theater programs? You're not alone! In this episode of Arts for the MASSes, host Ryan Malyar sits down with Gigi Watson and Sarah Muirhead, directors of My College Audition, to break down everything you need to know about auditioning for competitive BFA programs. What You'll Learn: ✨ Why students are applying to 18-25 schools (yes, really!) ✨ The complete A-Z timeline from junior year through acceptance ✨ What colleges are ACTUALLY looking for (hint: it's not perfection!) ✨ How to handle video pre-screens, Shakespeare monologues, and interview prep ✨ The importance of authenticity over being "cookie-cutter perfect" ✨ Why rejection is redirection (and how to stay positive) ✨ Expert tips for selecting the right material that showcases YOUR strengths Did you know: * Some programs have a 1% acceptance rate (harder than Harvard!) * MCA has a 100% success rate placing students in competitive programs over 16 years * An arts degree teaches invaluable skills: empathy, collaboration, communication, and confidence Whether you're just starting to explore theater programs or deep in the audition process, this conversation is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and practical advice. Watch now and take the first step toward your theater education journey! 🔗 Learn more about My College Audition: www.mycollegeaudition.com Remember: You are enough. If you want to go for this, you absolutely should. 💫 #ArtsForTheMASSes #CollegeAuditions #MusicalTheater #BFAPrograms #TheaterEducation #MyCollegeAudition #CollegePrep #PerformingArts #ActingPrograms #TheaterKids

Creating Characters, Finding Truth: A Conversation with Paul Melendy: Arts for the MASSes

Join host Ryan Malyar for a heartfelt conversation with Paul Melendy, one of Boston's most beloved actors and an Elliot Norton Award winner. In this episode, Paul shares his journey from a pivotal Boy Scout sketch at age 10 to becoming a powerhouse on Massachusetts stages.Paul opens up about his impressive career, including his award-winning solo performance in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Greater Boston Stage Company—a role he calls both terrifying and transformative. He discusses the challenges of memorizing and embodying multiple characters in a one-person show, and how that experience changed his approach to acting forever.The conversation takes delightful detours through Paul's memorable roles, from the physical comedy of Boeing Boeing at Barnstormers Theater to the post-apocalyptic world of Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play. Paul and Ryan reminisce about their collaborative summers in stock theater, sharing hilarious backstage stories and discussing the art of finding truth in comedy.

Arts for the MASSes: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

🎭 Arts for the MASSes - How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Join host Ryan Malyar for an exciting conversation about The Savoyard Light Opera Company's upcoming production of the beloved musical comedy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying! In this episode, Ryan sits down with director Kendra Thyne and actor Christopher Govang, who plays the ambitious window-washer-turned-executive J. Pierrepont Finch. They discuss bringing this classic Broadway satire of corporate culture to the stage, featuring memorable characters, timeless musical numbers, and a hilariously relevant story about ambition and power dynamics—set in 1961 but still resonating today. This talented production features music direction by Barry Singer, choreography by Amy Nosowitz, and special guest Dave Robichaud (former news correspondent and host of Phantom Gourmet) as the Voice of the Book. Since 1988, The Savoyard Light Opera Company has been delivering quality musicals with live orchestras in Carlisle, MA. Performance Dates: * Friday, November 14 at 7:30 PM * Saturday, November 15 at 7:30 PM * Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 PM * Friday, November 21 at 7:30 PM * Saturday, November 22 at 4:00 PM 📍 Corey Auditorium, Church Street, Carlisle, MA 🎟️ Tickets: $28 adults | $22 seniors & students 🌐 www.savoyardlightopera.org Do things "by the book" and order your tickets today! This program is supported in part by a grant from the Carlisle Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. #ArtsForTheMASSes #HowToSucceed #MusicalTheater #SavoyardLightOpera #CarlisleMA #LiveTheater #BroadwayMusical

Yorick Ensemble presents HAMLET on Arts for the MASSES

BOSTON, MA – Local theatre company Yorick Ensemble honors its namesake by taking on one of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays – Hamlet. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a gripping tale of mystery, ambition, and the fragile line between reality and illusion. Set against the backdrop of a royal court shrouded in secrets, this timeless tragedy follows a young prince whose world is upended by a sudden loss and an unsettling discovery. As he navigates a maze of loyalty, betrayal, and inner turmoil, the boundaries between duty and desire begin to blur. With rich language, unforgettable characters, and an atmosphere thick with suspense, Hamlet invites audiences into a world where nothing is as it seems.   “Hamlet is one of the most famous pieces of literature in the world, and it has been read and performed for millions since its inception, says Director Colton Chaney. “It falls to new artists to both indulge in hindsight and forge new works. For us, this means finding the hidden truth and empathy behind Hamlet's story and highlighting its extremes as well as its subtleties. We wanted every character in this production to be a completely realized person, and that means acknowledging Hamlet as the epicenter of the world and its conflict. Exploring both the tragic prince as well as the destruction, both physical and emotional, which he leaves in his wake is imperative to communicating this epic text as a deeply human story as well as an unimaginable tragedy.” Hamlet will be performed for free on the Needham Town Common from September 5-13 and feature a wide array of talent local to the Greater Boston Area. For more information about the show, please visit yorickensemble.com [http://yorickensemble.com/].   CREATIVE TEAM: Colton Chaney (Director), Demi DiCarlo (Asst. Director), Ben Cantor-Adams (Stage Manager), Josh Telepman (Props & Costume Design), Tom Marsh (Producer), Michael Jay (Producer), Matthew Tse (Sound Design & Dramaturgy), and Amanda Tafeen (Dramaturgy). CAST: Michael Jay (Hamlet), Nico Miller (Ophelia), T. Perry (Horatio), Jackson Rainey (Laertes), Maura Smith (Polonius), Laura Lee Bahr (Gertrude), Alex Deroo (Claudius), Landon Butler (Guildenstern/Ensemble, U/S Hamlet), Benedict Dawn-Cross (Rosencrantz/Ensemble, U/S Horatio, Laertes), Josh Telepman (First Clown/Ensemble, U/S Claudius, Polonius), Ryn Harter (Osric, Second Clown, Ensemble), Sydney T. Grant (Ensemble Swing, U/S Gertrude), and Amanda Tafeen (U/S Ophelia).   ABOUT YORICK ENSEMBLE Yorick Ensemble is a young company founded by Josh Telepman in 2019. Yorick is a place for local theatre artists to work on thoughtful pieces that may be too weird for other non-professional theatres, and for young artists to develop their talents from writing to acting, directing, and beyond. Yorick promotes, produces, and provides platforms for early-career artists while reimagining established works, nurturing new artists and the next generation of audience members.