Comedian Sue Costello, a Savin Hill native, will appear in her first-ever First Night performance at the new adults-only First Night Lounge at the Hynes Convention Center.
Comedian Sue Costello, organist Heinrich Christensen and other Dot performers will devote prime parts of their New Year’s Eve to the grand tradition of entertaining their fellow Bostonians as part of First Night Boston.
In 2014, the City of Boston became custodian of First Night Boston, the largest and longest-running New Year’s Eve arts festival in the country. Each year from 1 p.m. to midnight on December 31, nearly one million people gather in downtown Boston for a celebration that showcases over 1,000 artists in 200 performances and events at over two-dozen indoor and outdoor venues.
When the city took over from the independent foundation, they slashed the admission button price roughly in half to just $10, but that meant they could pay fewer performers and rent fewer spaces. However, thanks to Figment Boston, the local contingent of a nationwide network of volunteer public artists, a group that runs an interactive family festival in the summer on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, about 20 local artists stepped up with free mind-boggling interactive arts installations. On New Year’s Eve in the northeast corner of the Common, Figment-sponsored artists will jangle the senses of curious revelers with such offerings as Jellyfish Swarm, Celestial Scintillation, Glowfa, and Sing-A-Long-A-Ding-Dong.
“First Night is one of Boston’s signature annual events,” noted Mayor Martin Walsh, “in the same company as the Boston Marathon and Independence Day celebrations. Founded in 1976, by a group of artists and community activists, it’s the oldest and largest New Year’s arts festival in the world. Over the years, it has been replicated by over 250 cities and towns. While maintaining its accessibility and innovative spirit, First Night Boston will be an attraction for residents and visitors, supporting businesses in our local and regional economy.”
Funny-woman Sue Costello confided that her friendship with Walsh influenced her debut in the new adults-only First Night Lounge at the Hynes Convention Center.
She told the Reporter, “I’m beyond excited to perform at First Night as it is the beginning of my relationship with the Mayor’s office to help contribute to what Marty is doing for the Arts in Boston. We were going to do my show ‘I Wasn’t Trying To Be Funny’ that is all about growing up in Dorchester, but decided to save that for The Strand in 2015. So for First Night, I’ll tell a lot of stories about how going from Dorchester to Hollywood was a culture shock and how hilariously embarrassing it was at times. I am so proud of Marty and I’m psyched that we can come together like this. Two kids from Savin Hill who know how much you need your roots to grow!”
Melville Park’s Heinrich Christensen will continue his decade-plus tradition of giving a 9 p.m. “Bach and friends recital” on the C. B. Fisk organ at King’s Chapel, where he is music director. As soon as that gig ends, he will scooted over to the Arlington Street Church for a 10 p.m. concert with fellow organists from Arlington Street and the Christian Science Mother Church.
First Night stalwarts A. Major Dance Company, based in Dorchester Center, will once again present a sampler of lyrical jazz, hip hop and African dance during two shows at Hynes Family Festival.
The Grand Procession down Boylston Street features several Dot schools and Mattapan’s Dynasty productions Caribbean Festival stars. Check out firstnightboston.org for a full picture and schedule of all the First Night festivities.
