When Jack Neary, the Lowell playwright, actor, and director, was in high school for theater in the late 1970s at Smith College, no less, an acting teacher refused to cast him in a play because he couldn’t endured his speaking voice. .
That didn’t stop Neary from following his passion and making a career out of doing what he loves. This includes writing funny, Neil Simon-like comedies such as the well-received “First Night,” the frequently produced “Jerry Finnegan’s Sister,” the off-Broadway hit “Trick or Treat” (starring Gordon Clapp, the Emmy-winning actor and Close Friend), and Neary’s latest hit “Moonglow,” which gets its first Equity production later this year.
Along the way, Neary’s had quite a few big screen appearances including in The Town and Black Mass and a small one, too, in Spencer for Hire, Brotherhood and numerous Law and Order TV shows. .
His directorial resume is also long and impressive, and includes headlining shows with the likes of Clapp and the late, great Eddie Mekka and Cindy Williams, who co-starred in a production of his hilarious, behind-the-scenes comedy Kong’s Night Out” in a 2009 Michigan Production.
Neary has also written a thriller titled “A Bang Bang Play,” and he will be reading from it and signing copies, too, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5 at lala books, 189 Market St., Lowell.
He would like to see people there. To learn and read more about Neary’s prolific career, visit his website at https://jacknearyonline.com/resumes or check out his regularly updated Facebook page, where he has written a beautiful tribute to Williams who switched live on monday To learn more about the bookstore, visit www.lalabookstore.com.
ON THE WING
HANOVER RECEIVES GRANT: Worcester’s Hanover Theater and Conservatory for the Performing Arts is pleased to announce that it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to receive a $20,000 Grants for Arts Projects award. This grant will support the Adopt-A-School program. This grant is one of 1,251 Arts Project Grants awards totaling nearly $28.8 million that were announced by KTA as part of the first round of grants for fiscal year 2023. Visit www.thehanovertheatre.org for schedule of performances, workshops and more.
YOUTH FESTIVAL: Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham hosts the New Youth Company Winter Festival Feb. 9-18. Performed by students in grades 4-12, the canceled festival brings together budding young artists and their professional teams to present the best narrative. This season, the New Company Winter Festival presents three fully staged productions. Students will spend the day at Disney’s Newsies Jr., take a trip to Bikini Bottom in The SpongeBob Musical and tackle the Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home. For schedule and tickets, visit www.greaterbostonstage.org.
BECOME A HERO: Bring your little boys to “PAW Patrol Live! Heroes Unite,” playing Boston’s Boch Center Wang Theater for five performances February 11-12. The interactive live show on stage features the beloved PAW Patrol pups and lets the audience become the heroes. Performances at 10:00am, 2:00pm and 6:00pm on Saturday, February 11 and 11:00am and 3:00pm on Sunday, February 12. Tickets start at $29 at the box office, online at www.bochcenter.org or call 866-348 -9738.
Nancye Tuttle’s email address is [email protected]
