MARK AUERBACH
‘Tis the Season
The holidays are coming up, and many people like to include a holiday performance as part of their celebrations.
A Christmas Carol
There are two productions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in area theatres. Hartford Stage’s lavish production, adapted and directed by former Artistic Director Michael Wilson, is staged by Maxwell Williams (November 27-December 27). It has lots of special effects, and a large cast, and the end result is spectacular. The Berkshire Theatre Group presents Eric Hill’s adaptation at Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre (December 12-22). Originally conceived for StageWest, it’s a production, using Berkshires community people, with heart and soul. Hill and Travis Daly co-direct this year’s production. For details: Hartford Stage: www.hartfordstage.org For Berkshire Theatre Group: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky never envisioned that his Nutcracker score would become a holiday staple. The score was composed for a ballet, which concentrated on the E.T.A. Hoffman story. The creme de la creme production is New York City Ballet’s with Balanchine’s wonderful choreography and a lavish production. Boston Ballet’s version (Movember 28-December 31), staged by Mikko Nissinen, is also high on the list. For details: www.bostonballet.org.
The cast of A Christmas Carol, 2014. (Photo by Christina Riley)
Several regional ballet companies traverse the area with their productions. The Albany Berkshire Ballet stops at The Colonial in Pittsfield on December 5-6 (www.berkshiretheatregroup.org) and Springfield Symphony Hall on December 12 (http://www.symphonyhall.com/). while Pioneer Valley Ballet plays Northampton’s Academy of Music on December 11-13.(http://www.academyofmusictheatre.com/) The Nutmeg Ballet brings their version to The Bushnell in Hartford on December 12-13. (www.bushnell.org).
Holiday Pops
Inspired perhaps by the Boston Pops (who began holiday pops concerts in 1973, under the leadership of Arthur Fiedler), area orchestras present their own versions of a holiday pops, combining traditional music of Christmas and Hanukkah,with holiday favorites, and maybe a twist or two.
Albany Berkshire Ballet’s TheNutcracker. (Photo by Kevin Sprague)
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra has collaborated with the Cirque de la Symphonie to present a Holiday Cirque Spectacular on December 19 at The Bushnell). Maestra Carolyn Kuan conducts a traditional holiday program, while the stage is full of acrobats. It’s a feast for the eyes and the ears. (www.hartfordsymphony.org).
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra performs their annual Home for The Follidays, with conductor Bruce Hangen on the podium (December 5 at Springfield Symphony Hall) and the Springfield Symphony Chorus, the Children’s Chorus of Springfield, Cantor Martin Levson, and the Tap Dancing Santas. The latter is the reason to check this concert out. (www.springfieldsymphony.org).
The Boston Pops, with Keith Lockhart conducting, performs in Boston with their Holiday Pops on December 2-24. They’ll also be at UConn’s Jorgensen Auditorium in Storrs on December 5. Get details at www.bostonpops.org.
For Something Different…
Christmas on the Rocks is Hartford’s TheaterWorks new holiday tradition, an off-beat collection of twisted holiday tales. It’s Christmas Eve in a rundown local bar. Expecting a silent night, the bartender finds himself mixing drinks for a parade of surprising guests – children from your favorite Christmas specials and movies – now all grown up! Tiny Tim, Charlie Brown, Cindy Lou Who and a host of others pour out their Christmas woes in this delightful parody. The contributing playwrights include: John Cariani, Jeffrey Hatcher, Jacques Lamarre, Matthew Lombardo, Theresa Rebeck, Edwin Sanchez and Jonathan Tolins. The show is conceived and directed by Rob Ruggiero. November 27-December 23. For details: http://theaterworkshartford.org/
Hartford Symphony’s Cirque de la Symphonie
Not the Nutcracker You Might Expect. At UMass/Amherst, the University Dancers reconstruct The Nutcracker with a score by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and choreography by 11 UMass alums,. Performances are December 4-5 at Bowker Auditorium in Amherst. The program also includes works choreographed by UMass dance faculty. For details: www. fineartscenter.com/musicanddance.
Keep in Mind
Home for the HOLLY Days (not to be confused with the Springfield Symphony’s Follidays Pops) in a musical melange produced by West Springfield’s Majestic Theatre on December 9-20. Director Danny Eaton reunites the lead performers in the Majestic’s previous production of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” when Ben Ashley (Buddy Holly), Aaron Porchelli (Big Bopper) and Frank Manzi (Richie Valens) share the stage with local favorites Ray Guillemette, Jr and Lori Efford. For details: www.majestictheater.com.
Ray Guillemette Jr. at The Majestic
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will be performed by Herstory Theatre, in partnership with the Mark Twain House and Museum for two performances on December 5 at the Museum. The play, written by Jor Landry and directed by Virginia Wolf, is based on the film classic as performed in the style of old-fashioned radio theatre including a special effects artist. For details: www.marktwainhouse.org.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, a stage adaptation of the 1964 animated TV classic, returns to The Bushnell in Hartford on December 11-14. The December 13 performance at 10AM is a sensory-friendly performance, designed to create an arts experience that is welcoming to all families and friends with children or adults who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or other sensitivity issues. For details: www.bushnell.org
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.
