Previous Events: 2020-2021 Season

A Note from the Lyceum President

To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, nothing can be said to be constant, except death, taxes and the Littleton Lyceum!  In these demanding and uncertain times, we hope you agree that it’s reassuring to have the Lyceum continuing its 190+-year mission of providing cultural enrichment to our community; and this year our 2020-21 season, it isn’t just “affordable” it’s free!

This fall, we offered two online lectures on topical subjects.  And now, in March will have a third-- see below. In order to continue to provide quality programs like the above, combined with the fact that the Lyceum Committee will not be charging for them this year, we ask if you would join us in our mission by making a gift of any amount

Send your donation payable by check to the “Littleton Lyceum”

c/o Andrew Bowers
542 Great Road,
Littleton, MA  01460.

And finally, we want to encourage you to attend one or several of these programs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Thank you!

Andrew Bowers, Pres.,
Littleton Lyceum Committee

 

Michael Tougias: "From the Mayflower to King Philips War" 
Zoomcast on Friday, 5 March 2021
7:30 pm

2020 marks the 400th Anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims and NY Times Bestselling Author Michael Tougias tells the full story of the colonial period with his exciting slide presentation.

 

Eric Jay Dolin
Zoomcast on Friday, 2 October 2020
7:30 pm

Eric Jay Dolin—who will be familiar to Lyceum-goers—will talk about the “500 Years of American Hurricanes.”  Over the centuries, many of these fierce storms have struck at New England including damaging effects in Littleton itself! This is a free event.

Alex Myers 
Zoomcast on Friday, 6 November 2020
7:30 pm

Join author Alex Myers in a fascinating program full of drama and verve; the tale of Deborah Sampson, a Massachusetts native who successfully disguised herself as a man and fought in battles during the American Revolution!  

Previous Events: 2014-2015 Season

Friday 26 September 2015: Five O'Clock Shadow

A mix of Zydeco, funk, and Rhythm and Blues and more presented by the Northeast’s most exciting Cajun/Zydeco band.

Friday 6 November 2015: Mt Washington Observatory

Educator Will Broussard will shared what it is like to live and work at the Mount Washington Observatory.

Friday 18 March 2016: Tanglewood Marionettes: "The Dragon King"

Beautifully hand-crafted marionettes and colorful sets combined with integrated lighting and music that created a fully immersive theatrical experience.

Friday 1 April 2016: Odds Bodkin: "Story Blast"

Odds Bodkin was the consummate storyteller who incorporated original musical accompaniments on a variety of instruments as he related tales that captivated and engaged the audience.

Previous Events: 2013-2014 Season

Friday 25 October, 2013: Beethoven's Wig

Beethoven once said, "If my music had words it'd be a lot more popular." It turns out that Richard Perlmutter has done just that! Perlmutter has added lyrics to Beethoven and to many other works of classic composers!

Friday 22 November, 2013: Atwater and Donnelly

This husband and wife team present a thrilling blend of traditional American and Celtic folk music and dance, along with original songs and poetry.

Friday 28 February, 2014: Shakespeare & Company: Romeo and Juliet

Based in the culturally-rich Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts in Lenox, Shakespeare & Company aspires to create a theatre of unprecedented excellence rooted in the classical ideals of inquiry, balance, and harmony; a company that performs as the Elizabethans did — in love with poetry, physical prowess, and the mysteries of the universe.

Friday 25 April, 2014: Bernadette Stockwell: Littleton Portraits

As Littleton looks forward to its 300th Anniversary, there is an opportunity for reflection as well. Bernadette Stockwell will present the lives of ten long time Littleton residents through photographs and personal interviews.

Previous Events: 2012-2013 Season

Friday 28 October, 2012: Squeezebox Stompers

Come enjoy a rollickin' blend of cajun, zydeco and blues presented by the Squeezebox Stompers! Close your eyes and you will immediately be transported to the New Orleans' French Quarter as the band blends accordion, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bass and drums.

Friday 9 November, 2012: Eric Jay Dolin: "When America First Met China"

Eric Jay Dolin traces our fraught relationship with China back to its roots: the unforgiving nineteenth-century seas that separated a brash, rising naval power from a battered ancient empire. It is a prescient fable for our time, one that surprisingly continues to shed light on our modern relationship with China. Dolin, a best-selling author of numerous books, will talk about his research and writing of the riveting history of the US relationship with China.

Friday 4 January, 2013: Henry Lappen: A Passion for Birds

In A Passion for Birds, Lappen uses masks to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the avian world. You’ll be captivated by the beautiful asks and comic portrayal of birds, and you will learn how animals adapt to their environment, and why they look and act the way they do.

Friday 26 March, 2013: Frost Heaves

From the quintessential, yet fictional New England town of Frost Heaves come the Frost Heaves Players and their wry, Yankee sense of humor. Fred Marple, the unofficial spokesman for the town, relates the town's wacky adventures via music, singalongs and some surprises! The entire family will enjoy this show.

Friday 26 April, 2013: Benjamin Kilham: Bear Man

Kilham’s popular lecture is based on firsthand experience raising cubs and observing black bears. It is illustrated with photos Ben has taken of bears doing what he says they are doing.

Previous Events: 2011-2012 Season

Friday 28 October, 2011: Blackstone Valley Bluegrass - Bluegrass Concert

Great bluegrass music, smooth harmonies, fast but tasteful pickin', and most importantly, a great time! Over the years this seasoned group has built up a solid and ever expanding repertoire to go along with an engaging stage performance; these guys can really mix things up musically and entertain an audience!

Friday 9 November, 2011: Tanglewood Marionettes - An Arabian Adventure

A nationally touring marionette theater based in New England. "An Arabian Adventure" tells the tale of a Persian prince who is thrown into a dungeon because of his love for a beautiful princess. This program features over a dozen beautifully hand-crafted marionettes and exquisite "story-book" style scenery. Read about the Tanglewood Marionettes performance, it was an event that thrilled Lyceum attendees !

Friday 27 January, 2012: Michael Tougias - "Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea"

Tougias captured imaginations as he recounted the tragic fate of two lobster boats caught up in the devastating November 1980 storm off the coast of Cape Cod and the crew's struggle for survival.

Friday 9 March, 2012: Steve Wronker's Comedy Hypnosis Show

A cleverly choreographed show! A true entertainer, Steve put a lot of audience volunteers into his show and orchestrated a program of absolute hilarity.

Previous Events: 2010-2011 Season

Friday 8 October, 2010: Richard Hughes - Silent Movie Shows

Richard Hughes takes you on a 'trip into the past', when films flickered in black and white and people listened to the upright piano play the exciting 'mood music'. Ragtime piano, novelty tunes, Boogie Woogie and "Follow the Bouncing Ball" sing-alongs sets his entertaining musical programs.

Friday 19 November, 2010: Leeny Del Seamonds - Foibles, Folklore and Fun

Award winning storyteller, Leeny Del Seamonds is known for her animated, interactive one-woman performances for all ages and possibilities.

Friday 7 January, 2011: Jennifer Morgan - Universe Stories

Jennifer Morgan deftly and delightfully covers such topics as the Big Bang, element formation, our solar system, the beginning of life on Earth, evolution, and the dawn of the human age.

Friday 29 April, 2011: Shakespeare & Company - Hamlet

The Shakespeare & Company actor/teachers travel to schools and theaters throughout New England, performing a 90-minute production of a Shakespeare play.

Previous Events: 2009-2010 Season

Friday 2 October, 2009: The Granite Statesmen

The Granite Statesmen is a Barbershop Harmony group and was founded in 1955. This style of acappella singing is uniquely American and is best known for four part harmony (tenor, lead, baritone, and bass) and ringing chords.

Friday 13 November, 2009: Jan Turnquist as Harriet Beecher Stowe

Travel back in time for a fascinating opportunity to meet Harriet Beecher Stowe as depicted by Jan Turnquist.

Friday 29 January, 2010: Leland Faulkner's World of Wonder

Leland Faulkner's World of Wonder is like a dream in action! Magic tricks, fantastic tales, light hearted humor, pantomime and stunning shadow play are the ingredients in Faulkner's theatrical feast. The resulting performance is like no other.

Friday March 26, 2010: Rumbafrica

Founded by Tshibangu Kadima in 1992, Rumbafrica, winner of a Boston Music Award, presents Soukous music and dances from Congo sharing in the rich diversity that the African cultures offer the world. Kadima sings in Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba and French.

Previous Events: 2008-2009 Season

Friday October 10, 2008: Odaiko Japanese Drumming

The powerful sound of drumming is combined with the graceful movements of dance to create a dynamic visual performance that is both memorable and inspirational.

Friday Novmember 21, 2008: Quabbin - a History and Explorer's Guide

Author Michael Tougias presents a slide show of Quabbin Reservoir's lost towns, construction and nature, complete with explorer's tips.

Friday January 23, 2009: Leonard Solomon and the Bellowphone Show

Solomon interprets the great musical classics on some of the most bizarre, homemade instruments ever seen or heard. This program was sponsored by the Littleton Rotary.

Friday April 24, 2009: Steve Wronker's Comedy Hypnosis

Seasoned hypnotist Steve Wronker's unique brand of humor makes for a hilarious evening of fun for the whole family.

Previous Events: 2007-2008 Season

Friday September, 28 2007: Inca Son

This group presents traditional music and dance of the Andes Mountains of Peru and Latin America in authentic and colorful Inca attire.

Friday November 16, 2007: Magic by Scott Jameson

Classic magic and juggling routines have been given a fresh new look and are seamlessly interlaced with new, innovative routines written, designed, and crafted by Scott.

Friday February 15, 2008: A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Shakespeare & Company aspires to create a theatre of unprecedented excellence rooted in the classical ideals of inquiry, balance, and harmony.

Friday March 14, 2008: Guy Peartree as Frederick Douglass

Guy Peartree performs historical characterizations of Frederick Douglass, William Brown and George Washington Carver; as well as folktales from around the world.

Previous Events: 2006-2007 Season

Friday October 27, 2006: Victorian Halloween Magic Lantern Show

America's only touring Victorian Halloween Magic-Lantern Show - the combination of projected images, live drama, and live music that led to the movies.

Friday January 12, 2007: Henry David Thoreau

Richard Smith brings the famed 19th Century philosopher alive!

Friday March 2, 2007: Alfred Watson and Second Lyceum Art Show

Alfred Watson is a popular Littleton pianist.
Read about the Art Show!

Friday April 13, 2007: Macbeth

"MacBeth" by the reknowned touring company, Shakespeare & Company from Lenox, MA.

Previous Events: 2005-2006 Season

October 28, 2005: The Granitestatemen

Back by popular demand, this full barbershop chorus featured Broadway show tunes as well as many old favorites.

First Lyceum Art Show:

This showcased the works of local artists Wendy Boston, Margaret Geansis and Marshall Henrichs.

November 18, 2005: The Big Dig

Attendees got the scoop on the Big Dig from historian and former Big Dig spokesperson, David Kruh

February 10, 2006: Eyes on Owls

Marcia Wilson enlightened and enthralled the audience with her collection of live owls, their habits and habitats.

March 31, 2006: Libana

Boston's international touring women's folk ensemble provided rarely heard musical expression from all around the world.