MARK AUERBACH
World Premiere at Hartford Stage
Aya Cash (“You’re the Worst” on FX), Carl Lundstedt (“Freaks”), and Luke Macfarlane (“Brothers and Sisters” on ABC) will star in the world premiere of “Reverberation” by Matthew Lopez (February 19 tthrough March 15) at Hartford Stage. Associate Artistic Director Maxwell Williams, who staged last season’s comedy hit, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”, directs.
In “Reverberation”, a personal tragedy has caused Jonathan to withdraw from the world, with little social life beyond the men he meets online. When charming, flighty Claire moves into the apartment upstairs, she tries to coax him out of his shell. They forge a tenuous connection, but the past reverberates into the present, threatening what happiness they’ve found.
Matthew Lopez, author of “Reverberation” at Hartford Stage.
A longtime Hartford Stage collaborator, Lopez previously participated in the Brand:NEW series and served as the 2013-14 Aetna New Voices Fellow. His play, “The Whipping Man”, earned rave reviews here in 2012, and his saga of a star struck immigrant family in New York City, “Somewhere”, wowed local audiences earlier this year. A former staff writer for HBO’s “The Newsroom,” he is currently adapting Javier Marías’ trilogy, “Your Face Tomorrow”, for the big screen.
Maxwell Williams has staged “The 39 Steps”, “Dying City”, “Boeing Boeing” and “A Christmas Carol” at Hartford Stage. After this production opens, he assumes the artistic leadership of New Orleans’ Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré.
For tickets: 860-527-5151 or www.hartfordstage.org.
Luke Macfarlane, star of “Reverberation” at Hartford Stage.
The Sounds of a Latin Guitar
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Kevin Rhodes, showcases music for the guitar on February 21. Denis Azabagic, guitarist, is guest soloist, as the orchestra performs Respighi’s Botticelli Triptych, Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto, RV 93, D major; Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto Arunjuez, and De Falla’s No. 1 “The Three Cornered Hat”
Denis Azabagic is the Bosnian classical guitarist. He performs as a soloist, in chamber settings, with orchestras, and with his wife, the Spanish flutist Eugenia Moliner, as the Cavatina Duo, which is one of the foremost flute and guitar duos today. In 1993, at the age of 20, he became the youngest winner of one of the most prestigious international guitar competitions “Jacinto e Inocencio Guerrero”, in Madrid, Spain. Between 1992 and 1999, Azabagic won twenty-four prizes in international competitions, of which eleven were first prizes. He wrote a book, “On Competitions”, published by Mel Bay, based on his experience during these years. He has recorded seven CDs for international labels such as Naxos, Cedille, Opera Tres and Orobroy as well as two DVDs for Mel Bay. As a guest instrumentalist and soloist ,Azabagic has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, among others.
For tickets: 413-733-2291 or www.springfieldsymphony.org.
Plan Ahead…
Goodspeed Musicals has already announced its mainstage season: “Guys and Dolls”, “La Cage aux Folles” and a new musical based on the TV series “The Honeymooners”. Now, they’ve announced three more new musicals for their Norma Terris Theatre in Chester. They include: “The Theory of Relativity”, “My Paris”, and “Indian Joe”. Developing new works is at the heart of the Goodspeed Musicals mission and the cornerstone of this effort is The Norma Terris Theatre. Established over 30 years ago, this intimate theatre is dedicated exclusively to the creation of new musicals. Here Goodspeed provides the resources, guidance, time and support to artists –established and emerging – as they develop original musicals. Audiences at The Norma Terris are often the very first to see their work on the stage. For details: 860-873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.
Keep in Mind…
***The Diaries of Adam & Eve, Mark Twain’s humourous portrait of creation’s first couple, will be performed by The National Theatre of The Deaf on February 14 at the Mark Twain House . The performance will be presented in American Sign Language and spoken English. A chocolate and wine reception will follow the performance. For tickets: 860-280-3130 or www.marktwainhouse.org.
***“Felix Lembersky: Soviet Form, Jewish Context,” a travelling exhibit of the Soviet era artist’s paintings are on display at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst through March 31. Lembersky (1913-70) was regarded within the Russian art world as one of the best artists of his generation. But for most of his career, much of his art was suppressed because of his refusal to adhere to the ideology promoted by the Soviet state at the time. For information: www.yiddishbookcenter.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.
