MARK AUERBACH
“American Idiot” Rocks the UMass Fine Arts Center
The national tour of the Broadway hit “American Idiot” visits the UMass Fine Arts Center for one performance on Tuesday, February 4. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and director Michael Mayer adapted the rock opera from Green Day’s album of the same name, adding some material from other sources, including “21st Century Breakdown”. After a production at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California, “American Idiot” opened on Broadway 2010, where it won two Tony Awards. The original cast album won a Grammy in 2011. “Broadway Idiot”, a documentary about Billie Joe Armstrong’s journey to Broadway with “American Idiot”, premiered at the SXSW Festival last year, and is available on video by demand. For tickets: 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS or www.fineartscenter.com.
American Idiot. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel.)
On Display: StageCraft: 50 Years of Design at Hartford Stage
A new exhibition, “Stagecraft: 50 Years of Design at Hartford Stage” tours Connecticut this Spring, as part of the theatre’s 50th Anniversary. The exhibition showcases some of the theatre’s scenic and costiume designs from award-winning designers, many of whom got their start in Hartford. All of the set pieces, costumes, and props were built in Hartford. Project Curator for the exhibit is Jessica Palmer and Art Director is Taylor Benedum.
Many of the designers represented were unknowns, before designing for Hartford Stage, but their work is now seen at regional theatres nationwide, on Broadway and London, and on TV and movies.
The exhibition is on display through March 5 at the Mark Twain House, Hartford; it will be on diisplay March 6-May 14 at the New England Carousel Museum, New Britain; and then May 15-August 10 at the William Benton Museum of Art, University of Connecticut at Storrs, Conn. For information: http://50.hartfordstage.com/gallery/
Photos from Hartford Stage’s STAGECRAFT Exhibit. (All photos by The Defining Photo)
Remembering Mandela
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Grammy-winning world music ensemble who found fame on Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album, performs a tribute to the late Nelson Mandela on Saturday, February 1, at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. They’re Grammy-nominated, and if they win at this year’s ceremony, they’ll take home (via Storrs) their fourth Grammy. Their newest album, “Always With Us”, was released this month. For tickets: 860.486.4226 or jorgensen.uconn.edu.
Winter Galas
***The Main Event. The UMass Fine Arts Center holds its annual gala, one of the most festive gatherings in the Pioneer Valley, on Saturday, February 1, at the Student Union Ballroom on the UMass Amherst campus. The evening includes cocktails, dinner, silent auction (with some live auction items), entertainment and dancing. Proceeds provide support the UMass Fine Arts Center’s mission to expose generations to the wonders of the arts. The event provides support to FAC programs such as Angel Tickets, Tickets for Kids, Scholarships, and Artist Residencies. For information: 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS.
***Stand Up & Sing. Springfield’s City Stage and Symphony Hall are holding a Karaoke fundraiser with guest performers Maxxtone on Friday, January 31, at City Stage in downtown Springfield. Folks can compete with the talents of local politicians, celebrities, and community leaders, including fearless performer Springfield mayor Dominic Sarno. To compete or attend: 413-788-7033.
Todd Rosenthal
Keep in Mind…
***Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival has announced its 2014 season. The Hong Kong Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Mark Morris Dance Group, and more will be appearing between June 14-August 24. For a summer dance schedule: http://www.jacobspillow.org/
***Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director at Hartford Stage, and director of the new Broadway hit “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”, will stage the new Los Angeles Opera production of John Corigliano’s “The Ghosts of Versailles”. Divas Patricia Racette and Patti LuPone will star in the production due in Los Angeles next year.
***Todd Rosenthal, the Longmeadow native and Tony Award winning set designer (“August: Osage County”), will be back on Broadway this Spring, designing scenery for a new production of “Of Mice and Men”, starring screen stars James Franco and Chris O’Dowd. Franco and O’Dowd are making their Broaway debut in the play, which runs for a limited engagement March 19-July 27.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
