MARK AUERBACH
World Premiere: My Paris at Goodspeed Musicals
A bevy of Broadway creatives are presenting the world premiere of a new musical, My Paris, which explores the life and art of Toulouse Lautrec (July 23-August 16) at Goodspeed Musical’s Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT.
My Paris showcases Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the artist who captured the gaiety, color and heartbreak of Montmartre, Le Can-Can and the world of Le Moulin Rouge. Inhabited by the colorful people he painted, it’s the story of a great artist who loved a world that never quite loved him back. Music and lyrics are by legendary French performer Charles Aznavour. The book is by Oscar, Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winner Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy) with English lyrics and musical adaptation by three-time Tony-winner Jason Robert Brown. Tony-winning director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall brings it all to whirling, spinning and sassy life. C’est magnifique!
Tony Award winner John Glover co-stars in My Paris at Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre in Chester CT.
The cast includes Bobby Steggert as Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. His Broadway credits include: Ragtime (Tony nomination), Big Fish, and 110 in The Shade; Mara Davi from Broadway’s A Chorus Line and Barrington Stage’s Kiss Me Kate; and John Glover, Tony winner for Love ! Valour! Compassion!
Director and Choreographer Kathleen Marshall won Tony Awards for her choreography for Anything Goes, The Pajama Game and Wonderful Town. Some of her other Broadway credits include Living on Love, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Little Shop of Horrors, Follies, Kiss Me Kate and Swinging on a Star, which she also choreographed at Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre before the production transferred to Broadway.
For details: 860-873-8668 or www.goodspeed.org.
Elizabeth Orndorff, author of Aidan’s Gift at Silverthorne Theatre Company
World Premiere: Aidan’s Gift at Silverthorne Theatre Company
Greenfield’s Silverthorne Theater Company presents the world premiere of Elizabeth Orndorff ‘s Aidan’s Gift, (through July 19). This thought-provoking drama tells the story of two men – one close to the end of his career and one just beginning – each torn apart by their inner demons, a situation complicated by the fact that both are Benedictine monks.
Kentuckian Elizabeth Orndorff ‘s work was selected as the winner of Silverthorne’s 2014 New Play Competition which drew over 425 entries from around the world. Orndorff has won awards for her short fiction and mysteries as well as plays. Veteran Pioneer Valley actors Steve Henderson (from Westfield), Daniel Popovich, and Julian Findlay co-star. Carmela Lanza-Weil directs.
Silverthorne performs at The Sloan Theatre on the campus of Greenfield Community College. For details: www.silverthornetheater.org.
Jill Tanner heads the cast of Halcyon Days at The Chester Theatre.
New England Premiere: Halcyon Days at Chester (MA) Theatre Company
Chester Theatre Company presents the New England Premiere of Halcyon Days, by acclaimed Irish playwright Deirdre Kinahan (through July 19) in Chester, MA. .The play, by one of Ireland’s most celebrated contemporary playwrights, was discovered by Chester Theatre Artistic Director Byam Stevens, who sought out the award-winner.
“I was immediately taken with the warmth of Deirdre’s vision, her gift for lively dialogue, and the great opportunity the play presents for actors”, says Stevens.. “I knew right off that I wanted James Warwick to direct and Jill Tanner and Andy Matthews to star. It took a while to get the American rights, but now we can share this lovely play with our audience.”
For tickets: 413-354-7770 or www.chestertheatre.org
Lynn Cohen plays the stern grandmother in Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers at Barrington Stage.
Keep in Mind…
Lost in Yonkers, Neil Simon’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning coming-of-age drama, plays Barrington Stage in Pittsfield through August 1. Like many of Simon’s plays, Lost in Yonkers is drawn from his experiences growing up in New York City. Set during World War II, two young brothers, Arty and Jay, are sent to live with their formidable German Jewish immigrant grandmother, the sweet but mentally challenged Aunt Bella, and Uncle Louie, a small-time hoodlum running away from gangsters. Jenn Thompson directs, and Lynn Cohen (Mags in The Hunger Games, Judge Mizener on TV’s Law & Order, Magda in Sex and the City) stars as Grandma Kurnitz. For details: 413-236-8888 or visit www.barringtonstageco.org.
Pierce, Jacques Lamarre’s new historical about former First Lady Jane Pierce, one of the most tragic figures to take up residence in the White House. Herstory Theatre presents a staged reading on July 19 at The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford. CT. For tickets: 860-280-3130 or www.marktwainhouse.org.
Shakespeare and the Language that Shaped a World. Kevin G. Coleman’s fast-paced mashup of scenes, facts, sword-play and quotes from Shakespeare’s greatest plays, is a great introduction to the Bard for young people. Performances run outdoors at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, under the Rose Footprint tent through August 15. For details: www.shakespeare.org.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Talcott Mountain Music Festival will travel back to the era of disco, bell-bottoms, big hair and platform shoes with Classical Night Fever on Friday, July 17 (Raindate: July 18).. Led by HSO Music Director Carolyn Kuan, this program will feature groovy favorites as Disco Inferno, Stayin’ Alive, Dancin’ Queen, Car Wash, and more! For details: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.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.
