MARK AUERBACH
The First Ever Twain On Stage Festival
Mark Twain, the famous American author and humorist, best known for his books “Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn” will be featured in a festival of performances of his works, curated by The Mark Twain House and Museun. Twain lived in Hartford; his house is a museum with some outstanding programming from readings and booksignings with important contemporary writers and humorists to all-things-Twain.
You’ll want to plan ahead for some of these events, particularly the one night only performance of Hal Holbrook in his landmark one-man show, “Mark Twain Tonight”, on February 17 at The Bushnell in Hartford. Call it “One American legend salutes another!” Having first donned Samuel Clemens’ infamous white suit in 1954, Hal Holbrook’s humorous and affecting portrayal of Mark Twain has charmed audiences for six decades. The Tony and Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee returns to the city that Twain called home for twenty years to mark an unforgettable occasion — Mr. Holbrook’s 90th birthday! For tickets: 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org. This performance benefits the programs and services of The Mark Twain House and Museum.
Harold Rowe “Hal” Holbrook, Jr. (born February 17, 1925) is an American film and stage actor. Holbrook initially gained notoriety for a one-man stage show he developed while in college in 1954, performing as Mark Twain, and made his film debut in Sidney Lumet’s ”The Group”. He later gained international notoriety for his performance as Deep Throat in the 1976 film “All the President’s Men”, followed by roles in “Julia”, “The Fog”, and “Creepshow”. Holbrook’s later career has included roles in “Into the Wild”, for which he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Academy Award, as well as a recurring role on the television series “Sons of Anarchy”, and as Francis Preston Blair in Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” Holbrook performed at Holyoke’s Mountain Park with the Valley Players in a 1953 production of “Bell Book and Candle”.
For tickets: 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org.
A group of area theatres will perform works by Twain or based on Twain from late January into February, including “The Diary of Adam and Eve”, “R-Rated Twain”, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: The Musical”, “The Prince and the Pauper” and “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”. The theatre companies include: The Acting Company, The Little Theatre of Manchester, The National Theatre of The Deaf”, New Britain Youth Theatre, Sea Tea Improv and Shakespeerience Productions.
For festival details. https://www.marktwainhouse.org/.
Kim Stauffer i.e. Emilie at WAM
WAM Tours A Hit
The Berkshires’ innovative WAM Theatre will present a staged reading of their critically acclaimed 2013 production of Lauren Gunderson’s “Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight “ at three locales in Berkshire County and the Capital Region of NY. On February 10, WAM performs at Williams College; on Thursday, February 12, they at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. The final reading will occur at the Berkshire Museum on February 13 as part of Pittsfield’s 10×10 Festival.
In the drama, Emilie, best known for her fifteen-year liaison with Voltaire, defends her life by tallying her achievements in Love and Philosophy. Directed by WAM Theatre Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven, most of the acclaimed original cast returns, headed by Kim Stauffer in the title role.
Based in Berkshire County, WAM Theatre was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian director, actor, educator, and producer Kristen van Ginhoven. WAM Theatre’s philanthropic mission is two-fold: first, to create theatrical events for everyone, with a focus on women theatre artists and/or stories of women and girls; and second, to donate a portion of the proceeds from those events to organizations that benefit women and girls.
For information: www.WAMTheatre.com
Of Note
Audrey J. Szychulski, Springfield Symphony Orchestra Executive Director, has resigned to take a job with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. When she leaves at the beginning of March, she will have been with the Springfield Symphony less than 18 months into her three-year contract.
Michael Kusek, public relations and marketing guru is launching a new New England arts and culture magazine this March. Called Take, the magazine will showcase the people in New England who are making culture happen in the fields of visual art, music, design, literature, dance, food, fashion, and theater. For a preview: http://www.thetakemagazine.com/
Brian Lapis stars in “The Big Broadcast”
Plan Ahead
***Jacob’s Pillow has announced its new season, which includes visits by “This American Life” host Ira Glass in “Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host”, The Martha Graham Dance Company, New York Theatre Ballet’s “Cinderella” Dorrance Dance with Toshi Reagon, Malpaso Dance Company with the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble and more. For details: www.jacobspillow.org
***The Big Broadcast, that Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College recreation of a live 1940s radio show with swing sounds of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and more, celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a new show. Created and directed by Mark Gionfriddo, and starring WWLP-TV22 weatherman Brian Lapis, it plays Chapin Auditorium in South Hadley on March 8 with two performances. For tickets: https://fac.umass.edu/Online/MHC Plus! The show tours to Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre on March 13. For tickets there: http://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/
Damian Buzzerio in “Proof” at Playhouse on Park
Keep in Mind…
***Proof, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner by David Auburn, gets a Playhouse on Park production in West Hartford through February 8. You may remember the movie starring starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Hope Davis. It’s the story of a young woman, whose genius father is dying; she meets one of the students he mentored. For tickets: 860-523-5900, ext 10 or www.playhouseonpark.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.
