Thursday, July 23, 1998

Take your date to a ragtime concert Wednesday night

By Sue Robinson

There's nothing like tapping your feet to get those romantic juices flowing.

In a rare opportunity, couples old and young can hear some good ragtime and boogie-woogie piano music at The Firehouse Theatre in Newburyport. The concert will take place on Wednesday, July 29 at 8 p.m.

The Firehouse will host Bob Milne on piano, and his main objective will be to keep bodies moving and heads a-bobbing during the concert.

"It's that old New Orleans style of jazz, which is a cross between Scott Joplin and Boogie Woogie Fats Waller," said Michael Wainstein, executive director of the Firehouse Theatre.

The style that Bob Milne will be grooving to was made popular by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which is a group of old jazz players.

According to Wainstein, "It's a jump-up-and-dance type of music."

The Firehouse Theatre is located in downtown Newburyport, right on Market Square. The theater offers an Italian restaurant on the bottom floor to start things off with some fine dining.

Tickets are $12 per person; $10 for senior citizens and students, and are available at the box office in advance. Call 978-462-7336 for more information.