 |
Aunt Jo’s Scrapbook: Events at Orchard House in 2005 |
To see current and future
events, please go to our Events page. |
| January - December 2005 |
|
Orchard House is closed to the public for routine maintenance and inventory from January 1st –15th. Re-opening on Sunday, January 16th at 1:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: Community Newspaper Company: A Herald Media Company Saturday,
January 22 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. February 2005 at Orchard House “ Little Women
Debuts – Images & Recollections from 1912 Broadway” The first theatrical version of Little Women sanctioned
by descendants of the Alcott family was written and produced by
Jessie Bonstelle and Marion deForest in 1912. This play caused
quite a stir -- an entire edition of Little Women was even illustrated
with stills from the play, and it set the standard for other productions
for over three-quarters of a century! Through March 31st, see the
original stills from this Broadway production and reminisce with
favorite quotes from Little Women as you tour Orchard House. An
especially timely treat in light of the Broadway debut on January
23, 2005, of “Little Women – The Musical” starring
Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern! Exhibit included in regular
admission fees. A
Valentine Party With Louisa May Alcott "Curtain
Up!" Youngsters aged 8 - 12 are invited
to participate in this unique interactive experience. After brief
daily theatrical warm-ups, participants will play theatre games,
experiment with mime and improvisation, and act out scenes from
Louisa May Alcott’s stories. Then, just as Louisa and her
sisters did, a skit will be rehearsed during the week and performed
at week’s end. Dress comfortably; imagination and a sense
of fun required!
Saturday,
February 26 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. It's your last chance
to see
Exhibit included in regular admission
fees. Sunday,
March 13 3:00 p.m. This event is free and open
to the public! For further information, contact The
Concord Bookshop at 978.369.2405 or visit www.concordbookshop.com. Tuesday,
March 22 7:00 p.m. In honor of the Library of America publication of the new, single-volume March family trilogy (Little Women, Little Men, and Jo’s Boys), noted Victorian scholar, feminist critic, and trilogy editor Elaine Showalter will discuss and sign copies of this authoritative work, which also includes original illustrations from first editions of these works, including those done by May Alcott.
This event is free and open
to the public, with light refreshments provided. For
further information, please phone 978-369-4118 x103. Saturday,
March 26 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. Throughout the month of April, Orchard House – home of a Concord Minute Man long before it became the "Home of Little Women" -- will celebrate Patriots’ Day and the spirit of independence in Concord by enhancing regular guided tours with special anecdotes and excerpts from journals and letters of the Alcotts relating to the Revolutionary War and 1876 Concord Centennial Celebration. Find out how the messages of freedom and tolerance have been passed down through the ages and are still evoked in this beloved home. Regular admission fees charged; Saturday,
April 2 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Orchard House is Broadway Bound! Don't let us leave without you ...
Our day begins by departing Concord at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast served. After lunch on your own in the Theatre District, settle into the excellent seats we have reserved for the 2:00 matinee, and then go backstage after the show to meet the cast!!! On the return trip, enjoy satisfying hors d'oeuvres, sandwiches, desserts, and beverages, and have fun with a raffle for fantastic prizes! Our return time home is estimated at 9:30 p.m. This truly "astonishing" once-in-a-lifetime
experience is To reserve your place, please phone 978-369-4118 x103, fax the reservation form to 978-369-1367, or mail it with a check/money order (made payable to "Orchard House") to Orchard House, Attn: Broadway Trip, P.O. Box 343, Concord, MA 01742-0343. For further information on the musical, please visit www.littlewomenonbroadway.com Tuesday
- Friday, April 19 - 22 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday,
April 23 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. Saturday,
April 30 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Community Service Credit provided to Concord-Carlisle High School students. Lunch and snacks available; please let us know if you can provide soup, sandwiches, healthy snacks, or beverages. R.S.V.P. to Orchard House at 978-369-4118 by April 28th. "True
Love is Immortal" Friday,
May 6, 2005 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Be astounded and delighted at the authentically restored, beautifully appointed, and inventively decorated private residences throughout Concord available for public viewing for one day only! All proceeds go to benefit preservation efforts and educational programs at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, one of America’s most treasured historic homes. This year, an added attraction will be mystery writer Anna Maclean (aka Jeanne Mackin), who will be signing copies of her latest books, Louisa and the Missing Heiress and Louisa and the Country Bachelor. For further information on Anna Maclean and the “Louisa Mysteries,” visit her web site at: www.historiesmysteries.net. Purchase your tickets in advance and save! Saturday, May 21st
Adults - $10.00; Seniors/College
Students - $9.00; "True
Love is Immortal" Sunday,
June 5 3:00 p.m. Monday,
June 20 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Wednesday,
June 22 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Wednesday,
June 22 7:30 p.m. The Concord School of Philosophy on the grounds of Orchard House will serve as the preferred venue for the only local performance of the acclaimed Oregon Young Women’s Choir and their five-member a cappella ensemble, “Synergy.” The Young Women’s Choir (YWC) is part of the Oregon Children’s Choir, which was formed in 1982 to supplement musical training offered in local schools. The YWC is for high school students who have the commitment and ability to prepare and perform challenging four-part women's music of all styles.
This event is
free and open to the public, Saturday,
June 25 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. Tuesday,
July 5; Wednesday July 20 9:00
- 10:00 a.m. Wednesday,
July 6, 13, 20, 27 7:30 p.m. Thursday,
July 7 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Monday
- Friday, July 11 - 15 Most remembered as the “Father of Little Women,” A. Bronson Alcott is often forgotten as a leader in educational reform, despite the fact that he was not only a teacher and Superintendent of Concord schools, but also the founder of one of the first adult education centers in the United States, The Concord School of Philosophy. The Intensive Workshop will first examine the teaching ideas of Alcott in numerous ways, including through the writings of one of his most famous pupils -- his own daughter, Louisa May. Other educators of the time will also be discussed, as well as some “new” trends of the 19th century, such as the Lyceum Movement. Finally, we will see how the ideas of this time of great reform have impacted our schools to this day. The Teacher Institute is a new component for the 2005 Series. Teachers will first participate in the Intensive Workshop, but will also have extra sessions on those days plus two extra days, during which they will focus on how to practically apply workshop topics in their classrooms, and especially how the Alcotts can fit into their curricula. Each teacher will also receive a number of materials for future classroom use. The Teacher Institute is primarily intended for middle and high school teachers of History and English, but teachers of all subjects and grade levels -- including home educators -- are also most welcome. Click here for complete information and registration forms. Massachusetts Professional
Development Points available. Monday-Friday,
July 18 - 22 Saturday,
July 23 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. Monday-Friday,
July 25 - 29 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturday,
July 30 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday,
August 1 - 5 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
"Time Travelers!" Ever wonder what boys and girls did for fun in Louisa May Alcott’s time? In this new and varied program, youngsters aged 8 - 12 will “time travel” back to Victorian-era Concord! Through activities taken from the beloved books Little Women and Little Men, and exciting outings to such places as Walden Pond, participants will explore the town and meet some of its most famous historical figures. Imagine playing croquet like “Teddy Laurence” and “Jo March,” sketching like “Amy March,” or just having “larks in the woods” like the boys of Plumfield. Nature hikes, hoops and sticks, journal writing, and theatricals will all be part of this trip back in time! $220 per person (10% discount for members) Reservations & pre-payment required; phone 978-369-4118 x106. Thursday,
August 4; Friday, August 12 9:00
- 10:00 a.m. Tuesday,
August 9 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Saturday,
August 27 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. September 2005 at Orchard House Saturday,
September 24 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. Saturday,
October 22 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. November 2005 at Orchard House Saturday,
November 5 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Community Service Credit provided to Concord-Carlisle High School students! Lunch and snacks available; please let us know if you can provide soup, sandwiches, healthy snacks, or beverages. R.S.V.P. to Orchard House at 978-369-4118 by November 3rd New
Exhibit premiering Saturday, November 26th,
10:00 a.m.
Exhibit included in regular
admission fees. Download special Tasha Tudor flyer (pdf file; requires Adobe Acrobat reader.) Order from our special selection of Tasha Tudor books (great Christmas gifts!) Take
a chance on a beautiful handmade
Tasha Tudor replica shawl! Photo above courtesy Richard W. Brown. Saturday, November 26,
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Holiday Weekend Costs
December 2005 at Orchard House
Cover design of Little Women (1968) illustrated by Tasha Tudor. Copyright Tasha Tudor & Family. “Tasha
Tudor’s Spirit of the Holidays at Orchard
House”
Exhibit included in regular
admission fees. Photo courtesy Richard W. Brown. Download special Tasha Tudor flyer (pdf file; requires Adobe Acrobat reader) Order from our special selection of Tasha Tudor books (great Christmas gifts!) Take
a chance on a beautiful handmade
Tasha Tudor replica shawl! Saturdays,
December 3rd, 10th, 17th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30
p.m. Holiday Weekend Costs Please note early closing
times on Saturday, December 24, and Saturday,
December 31. On those days the house will be
open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
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Information | Alcotts&Orchard House | Membership | Museum Shop |
The
first theatrical version of Little Women sanctioned by
descendants of the Alcott family was written and produced by Jessie
Bonstelle and Marion deForest in 1912. This play caused quite a
stir -- an entire edition of Little Women was even illustrated
with stills from the play, and it set the standard for other productions
for over three-quarters of a century! Through March 31st, see the
original stills from this Broadway production and reminisce with
favorite quotes from Little Women as you tour Orchard
House. An especially timely treat in light of the Broadway debut
on January 23, 2005, of Little Women – The Musical starring
Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern! 
Meet
acclaimed author Geraldine Brooks, who will discuss and sign
copies of her new book, March: A Novel. This “fiction
based in fact” book for adults set during the Civil War
deftly re-tells the time period covered in Louisa May Alcott’s
Little Women primarily from the unique perspective of “Mr.
March”! Ms. Brooks takes authoritative research on A. Bronson
Alcott, weaves vivid descriptions of the realities of war and
life in the 19th Century, and crafts a clever work that will
leave readers wanting to find out more about its real-life hero
and his family. Brooks’ previous works include Year
of Wonders and A Penpal’s Journey from Down Under
to All Over. As an added bonus, “Miss Alcott” herself
(in the form of Orchard House Executive Director Jan Turnquist)
will make an appearance to interact with Ms. Brooks and the audience!
Showalter
is Professor Emeritus of English and Avalon Foundation Professor
of the Humanities at Princeton University. She received a B.A.
in English for Bryn Mawr College, an M.A. from Brandeis University,
and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Davis. Her academic
honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Rockefeller Humanities
Fellowship. Showalter is the author of numerous books, including A
Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Brontë to
Lessing and Hystories: Hysterical Epidemics and Modern
Media, and is editor of Alternative Alcott, an
anthology of a broad range of Alcott’s works. She has been
interviewed for National Public Radio, the BBC, CNN, Fox News,
People and Mirabella magazines, and many others. Showalter is
currently on a sabbatical year in southern California.
Louisa
May Alcott's Orchard House is sponsoring a trip to New York City
to see the heartwarming new Broadway show, Little
Women - The Musical! Fans of Little Women are truly "fanatical" about
this new show, and here's what critics are saying:
A
great volunteer opportunity for all ages! Come for all or part
of the day to help keep one of Concord's most famous places looking
great on the outside. Typical seasonal tasks include raking leaves,
collecting downed branches, and weeding. If Mother Nature co-operates,
we may do some planting as well. Your own gloves and gardening
tools or tarps are very helpful! 
Join
Alcott descendants and Orchard House Staff and Volunteers as the
wedding of Anna Alcott and John Pratt is re-created just as it
took place in 1860 and later described in Little Women! The
culmination of each special reserved tour will present a simple
yet heartfelt ceremony in the Parlor -- where the real wedding
took place! -- and will also commemorate the 30th wedding
anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Alcott. After your tour, you
are invited to become a "guest" at an Alcott-style reception,
with wedding cake and lemonade generously provided by Concord's
Colonial Inn. Reservations are required and receive a coupon
for 10% off in the Museum Shop.
Meet
Orchard House staffer Amy Belding Brown, who will discuss and
sign copies of her new book, Mr. Emerson's Wife.
This historical novel about Mrs. Ralph Waldo Emerson beautifully
examines the emotional landscape of love and marriage. As Lidian
lives in the shadow of one of the most famous men of the 19th
century, she struggles to maintain her moral authority and inner
strength. In the course of the book, she deals with overwhelming
social demands and faces devastating personal loss to finally
discover the deepest meaning of love. This
event is free and open to the public! For further information,
contact The Concord Bookshop at 978.369.2405 or visit 
The
YWC has traveled extensively to various parts
of the United States and abroad, including British
Columbia, Canada and Paris, France, where they
were honored guests at the U.S. Embassy in 2002.
Within the YWC is the five-member ensemble, “Synergy,” which
provides opportunities for musical enjoyment
and participation beyond the structured settings
of traditional choral experiences. “Synergy” has
attained a high level of expertise and professionalism,
establishing themselves as an elite group of
singers who are not only vocally talented, but
dynamic to watch! The groups are conducted by
Paul Westlund, who has a Doctor of Musical Arts
in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois.
There’s
something for everyone as we celebrate Orchard
House Staffer Amy Belding Brown’s new book, Mr.
Emerson’s Wife! First, meet the
author and chat informally as you partake of delightful
summertime refreshments. At 2:15, youngsters aged
6 - 17 are welcome to take a very special "Living
History Tour" of Orchard House, while adults
hear Amy speak on “Writing Fiction Set In
History.” Amy will take questions and sign
her book immediately afterward. 19th C. games and
crafts are available throughout the afternoon for
the young and young at heart! Except for the Living
History Tour, this event is free and open
to all. 
A
great volunteer opportunity for all ages! Come
for all or part of the day to help keep one of
Concord's most famous places looking great on
the outside. Typical seasonal tasks include raking
leaves, collecting downed branches, and weeding.
If Mother Nature co-operates, we may do some
planting as well. Your own gloves and gardening
tools or tarps are very helpful!
