Jack Neary reads from his thriller Sunday at Lowell’s lala books
Multi-talented local showcases book
When Jack Neary, Lowell’s own playwright, actor, and director, was in grad school for theater in the late ‘70s at Smith College, no less, an acting teacher refused to cast him in any plays because he couldn’t stand his speaking voice.
That didn’t stop Neary from pursuing his passion and making a career of doing what he loves. That includes writing funny, Neil Simon-like comedies like the well-received “First Night,” the oft-produced “Jerry Finnegan’s Sister,” the off-broadway success “Trick or Treat” (starring Gordon Clapp, the Emmy winning actor and Neary friend), and Neary’s latest success “Moonglow,” which gets its first Equity production later this year.
Along the way, Neary’s acted quite a bit including on the big screen in “The Town” and “Black Mass” and small one, too, in “Spenser for Hire,” “Brotherhood,” and numerous “Law and Order” TV shows.
His directing resume is long and impressive, too, and includes helming shows starring the likes of Clapp and the late, great Eddie Mekka and Cindy Williams, who co-starred in a production of his funny, backstage comedy “Kong’s Night Out” in a 2009 Michigan production.
Neary has also written a thriller entitled “A Bang Bang Play,” and he’ll be reading from it and signing copies, too, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5 at lala books, 189 Market St., Lowell.
He’d love to see folks there. To learn and read more about Neary’s prolific career, visit his website at https://jacknearyonline.com/resumes or check his regularly updated Facebook page, where he’s penned a lovely tribute to Williams who passed away on Monday.
To learn more about the bookstore, visit www.lalabookstore.com.
IN THE WINGS
HANOVER GETS GRANT: Worcester’s Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to re
ceive a Grants for Arts Projects award of $20,000. This grant will support the Adopt-a-school program. This grant is one of 1,251 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling nearly $28.8 million that were announced by the NEA as
part of its first round of fiscal year 2023 grants. Visit www.thehanovertheatre. org for schedule of shows, workshops and more.
YOUTH FESTIVAL: Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham stages its Young Company Win
ter Festival Feb. 9-18. Performed by students in grades 4-12, the annul festival brings together budding young artists and their professional teams to present jaw dropping storytelling at its finest. This season, The Young Company Winter Festival pres
ents three fully staged productions. Students will seize the day in “Disney’s Newsies Jr.,” take a trip to Bikini Bottom in “The Spongebob Musical,” and tackle the Tony awardwinning musical “Fun Home.” For schedule and tickets, visit www.greaterbostonstage.org.
BE A HERO: Bring your little guys to “PAW Patrol Live! Heroes Unite,” playing Boston’s Boch Center Wang Theatre for five shows Feb. 11-12. The interactive live stage show features the beloved PAW Patrol pups and lets the audience get to be heroes. Shows at 10 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 11 and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sun., Feb. 12. Tickets start at
$29 at box office, online at www.bochcenter.org or call 866-348-9738.