Free Soil celebrates Juneteenth in Lowell
Lowell’s Free Soil Arts Collective hosts Lowell’s second annual Juneteenth Celebration this weekend. It takes place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday on Market Street.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the enslaved.
But it wasn’t until more than two years later, June 19, 1865, that slaves in Texas were notified by Union Civil War soldiers about slavery’s abolition.
The Lowell celebration will highlight Lowell’s Black history and artists. The main stage will feature a lineup of musicians and other performers. Also planned are poetry readings at local businesses, walking Black history tours, Black artisan vendors and food.
Visit facebook.com/ events/768275544071500/ for information.
In the wings
‘FRED AND EMILE’ ON PBS » Lowellians Emile Dufour and his late husband Fred Riley share their life story in “Fred and Emile,” a 24-minute documentary, produced six years ago by Image Theater of Lowell and directed by Christian de Rezendes of Break
ing Branches Pictures. It airs on Gbh-channel 2 at 9 p.m. June 23, as part of the Boston PBS station’s Pride coverage. PBS stations in Rhode Island, Vermont and elsewhere will also show it. With an original score by Stephen Gilbane, the film is a heartfelt, honest look at two
older gay men who found love and had the guts to express it on the front page of The Sun when gay marriage was first made legal in Massachusetts, and they were among the first to be married. “Christian created a film that spans gay rights, the AIDS epidemic and the trials and challenges many older gay men encounter,” said Image’s co-founder Jerry Bisantz. He, his partner Ann Garvin, who is Riley’s niece, and derezendes are interviewed in the June issue of “Explore GBH,” the station’s monthly magazine.
ANNUAL MEETING » All are invited to Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s 2022 Annual Meeting at 6:15 p.m., June 22, at the Umass Lowell Inn and Conference Center, 50 Warren
St., Lowell. The MRT will look back on the 202122 season, honor retiring board members and welcome new ones. Life or over Zoom. To register for in person attendance, go to https://tickets.mrt.org/ Online/seatselect.asp. For Zoom registration, visit https:// bit.ly/3hvwsvh.
A CANNON SEASON » Cannon Theatre has announced its 2022-23 season, its first full season since going dark two years ago and relocating from Littleton to Devens. The line-up includes “Boeing Boeing” Oct. 18Nov. 13; “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a radio show, Dec. 9-11; “Seussical the Musical,” the annual kids/ teen show, Jan. 27-Feb.
5; “The Real Inspector Hound,” March 17-April 2; “Phantom,” May 12-28; and “The Ten-minute Play Festival,” June 9-11. Visit thecannontheatre.org for info.
‘MOONGLOW’ RETURNS »
Jack Neary’s “Moonglow” has its second outing in October at the Firehouse Center in Newburyport. It will feature the same fabulous cast that performed the play in its world premiere in April-may at the Players Ring in Portsmouth, N.H. More details TBA after the summer.