Image Theater on a roll with musical reading and other projects
Lowell’s Image Theater is alive and well and on a roll with new projects in development. And its founding co-producer Jerry Bisantz is mighty proud of theater’s recent accomplishments.
Image had a “super successful” staged reading/sing through several weeks ago of the new musical “Lost Cellphone Weekend” at the Whistler House Museum of Art.
“There was a huge audience watching the birth of this new musical,” said Bisantz. “It has an original script and music by the talented Stephen Gilbane, who did the music for my films ‘Fred and Emile’ and ‘Memories for Sale.’ It was all done in a film noir dialogue and the response was phenomenal.”
Developing new work is important for Bisantz and his Image partner Ann Garvin.
To that end, Bisantz is directing a new show entitled “Children of the Streets” at the Regent Theatre in Arlington at 7 p.m., Fri., March 3, and 2 p.m., Sat., March 4.
The show is a “really courageous piece” about human trafficking by Richard Stavros. Based on his books, it follows the stories of two young women who “get caught up in the terrible world of trafficking, being taken advantage of by people who only worship the almighty dollar,” Bisantz explains.
“It’s powerful stuff,” he said.
His publicity poster calls “Children of the Streets” an unflinching look at runaway youth, the people who desperately reach out to help, and the people who take advantage of them. Each young person has their own story to share.”
The production will be filmed with four cameras and edited down to pitch for a possible mini-series. To that end, Bisantz and others involved in the project are working in tandem with Bridge Over Trou
bled Waters, a Bostonbased agency serving troubled, homeless, and at-risk youth and have reached out to the National Council on Missing and Ex
ploited Children.
The cast of 16 features a couple of Equity actors, talented Lowell-area actors David Sullivan and Hulda Suazo and Barbara Guertin,
who appeared with Bisantz and the late Ed Asner four years ago in “God Help Us.”
Tickets $23 general; $18, under 18 and over 62. Visit www.regentheatre. com or call 781- 646- 4849.
IN THE WINGS
SPRING AT MECHANICS HALL: The spring season of Club 321, a joint live music production between Mechanics Hall and 90.5 WICN Public Radio, begins at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Feb. 23, with jazz singer Mafalda Minnozzi. Accompanied by guitarist Paul Ricci, she’ll review scenes and songs from her life through the
composers who’ve accompanied and inspired her. Upcoming Club 321 spring performances include Session Americana on March 16 and Will Dailey on April 6. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are
$18 purchased in advance; $20 at the door. Ticketholders must be at least 21 years old. Seating is cabaret-style tables in Mechanics Hall’s elegant Washburn Hall, with cash bar and light refreshments available for purchase. Mechanics Hall is located at 321 Main Street in Worcester. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit mechanicshall.org/club321.
SOUL ON A SATURDAY: Join the Chelmsford Center for the Arts and Chelmsford’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for a Black History Month jazz brunch at 2 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 25. It features live jazz music, an art show, soul food, a guest speaker, a special cocktail, and cash bar. Tickets, including food, are $30, adult; $20, senior; $15, student at https:// happsnow.com/event/thechelmsford- center-for-thearts/soul- on-a-saturdayjazz-brunch-i3vmaw.