MARK AUERBACH
Berkshire Theatre Group’s 86th Summer Season
The upcoming Berkshire Theatre Group’s season is chock full of gems, from Sondheim’s very wise “A Little Night Music” (starring Stockbridge native and Metropolitan Opera star Maureen O’Flynn singing “Send in the Clowns”) to the absurdly funny “The Mystery of Irma Vep” with Broadway’s Tom Hewitt. Add in Noel Coward’s witty “Design for Living”, “A Hatful of Rain” (a play which propelled Ben Gazarra to fame), and “Seussical” for the kids, and you’ll want to move to Stockbridge for the summer.
“For our 86th Summer Season, we are producing a full schedule of musicals, plays, and special theatrical performances for another wonderful summer in the Berkshires with a splendid cast and crew of talented artists from across the nation,” said Kate Maguire, CEO of the BTG., who sums up the menu. “Six extraordinary plays: “The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful”, “Benefactors”, “Design for Living”, A Hatful of Rain, and two world premieres: ”Cedars” and ”POE” plus two wonderful musicals: “A Little Night Music” and “Seussical” highlight our schedule and make for an enjoyable mix of masterful and provocative classics and contemporary works”.
Maureen O’Flynn headlines “A Little Night Music” at Berkshire Theatre Group. (Photo by Michael Cinquino)
Some of the names at Berkshire Theatre Group this summer include: Eric Hill (former director of StageWest in Springfield), James Naughton from Broadway’s “Chicago”, Tom Story, who staged BTG’s hit, “The Cat and The Canary” last summer; Mark Gionfriddo from Mount Holyoke’s “The Big Broadcast”; and David Adkins.
For tickets and information: 413-997-4444 or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
The Big Broadcast!
The Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College present the 9th edition of “The Big Broadcast !” on Sunday, March 9 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) at Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College. “The Big Broadcast”, directed by Mark Gionfriddo (onstage as “Matt Morgan”), is a recreation of a live 1940’s radio show, and features WWLP-TV meteorologist Brian Lapis as emcee “Fred Kelley”. The Mount Holyoke Big Band, Vocal Jazz, and Chamber Jazz Ensembles perform well-known tunes from the swing era and the American songbook.
Brian Lapis stars as “Fred Kelley” in “The Big Broadcast !”
“This year’s The Big Broadcast ! is bigger and better than ever,” says Gionfriddo, “with six major bands represented in swinging arrangements by Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. We also will feature the Vocal and Chamber Jazz Ensemble in a novelty hit from 1939, “Lydia The Tattooed Lady” written especially for Groucho Marx. On the program is: George Gershwin’s “Do It Again”, Tommy Dorsey’s arrangement of Franz Liszt’s “Liebestraum”, “Taking A Chance On Love” by Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw’s theme song “Nightmare”, Stan Kenton’s “It’s Been A Long, Long Time”, and Glenn Miller’s “Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree,” added Gionfriddo.
For tickets: 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS or: https://fac.umass.edu/Online/
Keep in Mind…
***“Heroes,” Gerald Sibleyras’ comedy, as translated by Tom Stoppard, plays West Springfield’s Majestic Theatre through April 6. The comedy follows the story of three French World War I veterans, who pass their monotony-filled days in a military hospital engaging in verbal battles of long ago and military campaigns, all the while grumbling about the staff. Actors J.T. Waite, J.C. Hoyt as Henri, and Walter Mantani play the vets. Keith Lngsdale directs. For tickets: 413-747-7797 or www.majestictheater.com.
***Danú, the five-member ensemble that plays both traditional Celtic music and more modern Irish selections with irresistible charisma, is touring the United States, and will perform at UMass’s Bowker Auditorium on March 12. Danú has been performing since 1995, beginning with two highly-acclaimed performances at a renowned Celtic music festival in France, the Lorient Inter-Celtic Festival. Danú now has 7 critically acclaimed CDs in total, one live show released on DVD, and dozens of awards for their recordings and performances. For tickets: 413-545-2511, 800-999-UMAS, or www.fineartscenter.com.
***Tony Bennett, the music legend, will perform at The Bushnell in Hartford on May 30 (one performance only). On Thursday, March 6, “The Ten Tenors on Broadway” visit The Bushnell as part of an international tour. For tickets: 860-987-5900 or 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.
