Observer Department: Arts and Entertainment


Time to de-stress: Cozy viewing might be the ultimate self-care

 As fall stress is around the corner with school deadlines and part-time jobs, many college students are pressing play on their favorite shows.  Rewatching shows or movies seems to be the new go-to strategy in de-stressing. The trend known as “cozy viewing” has become popular amongst young adults, finding relaxation…


An eccentric and funny NECC production

The NECC theatre program had their first performance of the semester, “All in the Timing” by David Ives.  The play was performed from Oct. 2 to Oct. 5 at The Chester H. Hawrylciw Theatre on the third floor of the Spurk Building on the Haverhill campus.  On Friday evening, the…

Two women wearing tutus and a man sitting a stool with a beanie.


Tarot Talk: Demystifying the cards

Tarot talk: What the cards have to say about your semester at NECC Faced with academic pressure and life-defining choices at Northern Essex Community College (NECC) this semester, some students are finding unique insight in the tarot deck—a set of 78 illustrated cards. Long seen as a tool for fortune-telling,…


Inside NECC Theater

The curtain rises, and lights dim and the magic begins at Northern Essex Community College. I had the privilege of sitting down with the marvelous Theater Professor Brianne Beatrice. Not only is she a Professor here at NECC, but her students rave about  her, Kiersten Lowe, a student of Beatrice’s…

Four women stand against a brick wall looking into the camera


First North Koreans set to debut in K-Pop

Defectors will get chance to share their artistry Korean pop music, or K-Pop, has taken the world by storm in the last half decade or so, with South Korean artists, called “idols”, dominating global charts as of late. In 2012, Psy’s “Gangnam Style” became the first K-Pop song to reach…

A man looking at the camera and saluting


NECC Theater excels in acting competition

Q&A with Professor Brianne Beatrice Recently, the NECC Observer had a chance to chat with Theater Program Coordinator Brianne Beatrice. We talked a lot about the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, as well as NECC Theater as a whole. Follow the program on Instagram @necctheater and check out the…


Battle of the Bands returns

“NECC Music’s Battle of the Bands never disappoints,” said Dean of Liberal Arts Amy Callahan. On April 10, at the TC building in Haverhill cam- pus the Battle of the Bands was held, a music competition that gathers NECC community and the love of music. Dean Callahan was one of…

A woman and a man play guitars on stage.


The consequences of compromising on quality

I still remember when I was a child and I could not stop watching Adam Sandle’s movies over and over again, it made me happy and moved me. Nowadays I think that they are not the best movies that can exist, but I still remember them fondly. And this is…


2024, a year in review: Pop culture moments that captivated us

Looking back on 2024, it’s clear that the year was heavily marked by major pop culture moments that fascinated audiences and sparked conversations.  It was a year that we radically changed the way we connect with culture whether it be on or offline. From music feuds to viral memes, these…


Chuang Asia Season 2 kicks off

Chuang Asia’s second season has started with promise, as 60 trainees took the stage to fight for seven spots in a brand new boy band, one that will likely boost the popularity of the T-Pop scene worldwide.  The Thai spinoff of the iconic Produce 101 franchise in South Korea is…