by Mark G. Auerbach
The Broadway production of An American in Paris. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Two Americans in Paris
An American in Paris, the new Gershwin musical based on the beloved movie, plays The Bushnell in Hartford on November 15-20. Director Christopher Wheeldon picked up a Tony Award for his choreography, and the musical, which ended its long Broadway run earlier this month, will star Garen Scribner and Sara Esty. It’s full of some great Gershwin gems like “I Got Rhythm”, “’S Wonderful”, “Stairway to Paradise”, and of course, “An American in Paris. I saw this on Broadway last year, and it’s incredibly opulent, lavishly-staged, and full of great
Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope in the Broadway production of An American in Paris. Photo by Angela Sterling.
music. Don’t miss it ! For details: 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org
Kevin Rhodes, the Springfield Symphony Maestro is an American in Paris through November 15, conducting the Paris Opera Ballet’s all-Balanchine program at the Palais Garnier. The program, an homage to the late ballerina Violette Verdy, features four works:The Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet with decor by Karl Lagerfeld; Sonatine, with music by Ravel; Mozartiana with music by Tchaikovsky, and Violin Concerto with music by Stravinsky. For details: https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/season-16-17/ballet/george-balanchine
Antonio Sanchez Recreates The Award-Winning “Birdman” Score
The visually stunning 2015 Oscar winner for Best Picture by maverick director Alejandro Iñárritu stars Michael Keaton as a washed-up action star trying to reinvent his career as a
Birdman
credible actor and director on the Broadway stage. For this special performance, the film will be accompanied live by renowned jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez, re-creating his explosive, Grammy Award–winning score that provides the heartbeat of the film. Birdman Live will be held in the UMASS Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on November 15.
Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a kinetic film experience that plays like a single, continuous sequence of events, with Sanchez’s drums supplying the energy and drive that underlines the emotional weight of the story and perfectly expresses the restless, desperate intensity of the characters.
One of the most accomplished and in-demand drummers in jazz, Antonio Sanchez performs regularly with a jaw-dropping list of greats that includes Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Danilo Perez, David Sanchez, Miguel Zenon, Donny McCaslin, and Michael Brecker. Since 2000, he has been the drummer of choice for 20-time Grammy-winning guitarist Pat Metheny, touring the world and appearing on eight recordings with him. Sanchez has released four albums as a leader, including the new recording with his Migration band, The Meridian Suite.
For details: 413- 545-2511, 800-999-UMAS) or www.fineartscenter.com.
Berkshire Theatre Awards Winners
The winners of the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards have been announced. Seventeen arts journalists voted on 120 nominees in 25 categories chosen from artists in the 75 live theatre productions mounted in Berkshire County and adjacent areas between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.
“If these awards indicate who is doing the best work in the Berkshires, then Barrington Stage and Shakespeare & Company have to be at the top of anyone’s list,” said awards organizer Larry Murray of BerkshireOnStage.com. “Those two companies received the majority of wins, with WAM Theatre and Berkshire Theatre Group also receiving recognition of their work. That the Williamstown Theatre Festival came close in many categories without securing its own place in the awards will undoubtedly be cause for speculation. It seems the critics have spoken.”
The awards will be presented at Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, MA on November 13.
For a list of the winners: https://berkshireonstage.com/2016/10/17/barrington-stage-pirates-of-penzance-sweep-the-berkshire-theatre-awards/
And a note of transparency. I was among the nominators for these awards, an honor indeed.
Peter and Abby Thomsen provide music at Longmeadow Cultural Council.
Keep in Mind…
The Longmeadow Cultural Council hosts the 3rd annual ‘Local Artist Spotlight’ event on November 3, at Storrs Library. The Cultural Council has chosen Longmeadow artist Beryl Salinger Schmitt as this year’s ‘Spotlight’ artist. Beryl has generously donated an original oil painting: “Flooded Meadow” as the evening’s prize. Peter and Abby Thomsen provide the music. The event is free and open to the public. The Westfield News Group is one of the event sponsors. For details: http://www.longmeadow.org/320/Cultural-Council
Nuevo California opens the Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Studio Works Series. Staged by Richard Ruiz, the play by Bernardo Solano and Allan Havis results from over 200 residents of Southern California border towns who are asked “Would we better off or not with a wall between the USA and Mexico?” The result is this prescient futuristic fantasy. It’s 2028, an earthquake has wiped out L.A. and Orange County. A Mexican-American pope comes to the region to bless the demolition of the border wall inspiring murder; mystery and a budding bicultural romance Performances run through November 6. For details: 860-486-2113 orwww.crt.uconn.edu.
Cho-Liang Lin
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra performs an all-Brahms program at The Bushnell in Hartford on November 11-13. Carolyn Kuan conducts, violinist Cho-Liang Lin performs and the program includes Brahms’ Hungarian Dances No. 5 in G minor & No. 7 in A Major; his Concerto for Violin in D Major, Op. 77 and the Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98. For details:860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org
Seven Things I’ve Learned: An Evening with Ira Glass comes to The Bushnell in Hartford, presented by the Mark Twain House and Museum, on November 12. Glass is the Peabody Award-winning host of NPR’s This American Life. For years, it was the most popular podcast on iTunes, until the staff created the program Serial, which has over 8 million people downloading each episode.Glass went on to host the Emmy-winning version of This American Life on Showtime for two seasons. For details: 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org
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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.
