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Review by Andy Hoffman

In Joy and Pandemic, a world premiere at the Calderwood Pavilion of the Huntington Theater, playwright Taylor Mac locates the conflict between belief and reality in a children’s art school in 1918 Philadelphia. Joy, the founder of the school, believes devoutly in Christian Science, which will run head first into the bursting Spanish Flu pandemic, which will kill over 50 million people as troops returned home from the last battles of World War I. This apocalyptic moment tried whole nations’ faith in social hierarchies, in political solutions, and in moral values, but it fails to shake Joy’s belief in the religion founded by Boston’s own Mary Baker Eddy.

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Nina Rubinstein Alonso’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, Ploughshares, Nixes Mate, Sumac, New Boston Review, Broadkill Review, Writing in a Woman’s Voice, etc. Her book This Body was published by David Godine Press, her chapbook Riot Wake by Cervena Barva Press, and her story collection Distractions En Route is being published by Ibbetson Street.

On May 18, at their new location at 81 Highland Ave. Full Circle and Next Wave School will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary with an open house from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Started by concerned students, parents, and educators to meet the needs of students who left traditional schools, Full Circle and Next Wave faced many challenges in the early years. From gaining certification, to securing operating costs through non-profits and the contributions of individuals, to finding a place to call home, students, parents, educators, community groups and members, school committee members  and mayors all played a role in getting the school to where it is today.

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The City of Somerville and the Somerville Arts Council hosted another year of PorchFest on Saturday, May 13.  People of all ages took to the streets to enjoy a day of beautiful weather, dancing and listening to all genres of music throughout the streets of Somerville.  — Photos by Devon Moos

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Celebrate Jane Jacobs, a world-renowned urban activist on a walk exploring “Boynton’s Changing Yards,” presented by the City of Somerville’s Historic Preservation Commission.

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Shop the Square Saturdays at a Market with a $15 SNAP Match

Union Square Main Streets celebrates the opening of the 19th season of the Union Square Farmers Market in Somerville Saturday, May 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza, and will be open rain or shine each Saturday through October 28.