by Mark G. Auerbach
Goodspeed Announces 2019 Season
76 Trombones, a young girl with a dog, and a boy who wants to dance are headed to Goodspeed Musicals.
On September 25, during an exclusive Member event streamed live on Facebook,, Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed’s Executive Director, announced a trio of titles on track for next season at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, CT, along with two new musicals set for The Terris Theatre in nearby Chester, CT.
Spring brings the All-American classic Meredith Willson’s The Music Man which will run April 12-June 16; followed by a heartwarming new musical Because of Winn Dixie featuring book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and music by Duncan Sheik and based on the award-winning novel by Kate DiCamillo which will run from June 28-September 1. Closing the season will be The Goodspeed production of Billy Elliot The Musical featuring book and lyrics by Lee Hall, music by Elton John and originally directed by Stephen Daldry — this 10-time Tony Award-winner will run from September 13–November 24, 2019.
Nearby at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Goospeed plans two new musicals. My Name is Ben, the true story of an ordinary man and his extraordinary life featuring book and lyrics by Scott Gilmour and music by Claire McKenzie will run will run May 17 – June 9; then the inspiring hit musical of Goodspeed’s 2018 Festival of New Musicals, Passing Through featuring music and lyrics by Brett Ryback and book by Eric Ulloa which will run July 26 – August 18, 2019.
Casts, directors, and creative teams will be announced at a later date. Season tickets are now available. Single tickets go on public sale beginning February 17, 2019. For details: 860.873.8668 or www.goodspeed.org.
Pilar Alessandra
Of Note
The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative presents its fifth annual WMass Film and Media Exchange, Pitch Perfect, on Saturday, October 20, at the Springfield Sheraton at Monarch Place in downtown Springfield, MA. This year’s exchange, Perfect Pitch, is designed for screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters who want to learn the best practices for getting a screenplay noticed by the studios. Special guest, renowned Hollywood Screenplay Consultant and Pitch Expert Pilar Alessandra will be conducting two seminars on Screenwriting (Character & Dialogue Development) and “Pitching Your Project.” Fred Fierst from the entertainment law firm of Fierst, Kane & Bloomberg, LLP will also offer a session on the legal aspects of selling your screenplay or project.. There will be an opportunity for participants to pitch their projects to Alessandra. Prices go up on October 15. For details: www.berkshirefilm.org
The UMass/Amherst Department of Music and Dance will host an Open House and Mock Audition for high school students, parents, and teachers who seek to learn more about the collegiate audition experience. The event will take place on October 13 from 10AM-1PM in Bezanson Recital Hall, and is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending are asked to register in advance.Hosted by voice faculty members Jamie-Rose Guarrine, William Hite and Marjorie Melnick along with Director of Choral Studies Tony Thornton, the event will include a panel talk about the collegiate audition process, a mock audition with voice faculty feedback for attending high school students, and a mini-recital by current UMass voice students. For details: www.umass.edu/music or email [email protected].
The Springfield Cultural Partnership, the parent organization for the Springfield Central Cultural District, has named Karen Finn as its new Executive Director. Finn has been an entrepreneur and business owner as well as holding top leadership positions within higher education and government. Before moving to Massachusetts with her family in May,, Finn was program and events manager of the Mamdouha S. Bobst Center for Peace & Justice at Princeton University, For details: http://springfieldculture.org/.
Keep in Mind
Arts Beat Radio airs every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB. On October 19, Matt Longhi talks about the UMass Music and Dance Season while Matt Pugliese previews the Connecticut Repertory Theatre season at UConn/Storrs.. Start your weekend with ArtsBeat Radio. Tune in live on the airwaves, on Comcast ch. 15, or www.wskb.org
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra performs Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique on October 20 at Springfield Symphony Hall on a program that also includes Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with soloist Natasha Paremski, and John Harbison’s Remembering Gatsby: Foxtrot for Orchestra. Maestro Kevin Rhodes conducts. For etails: 413-733-2291 or www.springfieldsymphony.org.
UMass Minutemen Marching Band
The 44th Annual Multiband Pops Concert, featuring the UMass Minuteman Marching Band will take place on October 19 in the UMass Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. Presented by the UMass/Amherst Department of Music and Dance, the event showcases the UMass Amherst Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, University Dancers, Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Choir, along with the Symphony Band, Chapel Jazz and Vocal Jazz Ensembles, Trumpet Ensemble, Sax Quintet, Horn and Trombone Choirs, Percussion Ensemble, and UMass Marimbas. In keeping with tradition, the full UMass Minuteman Marching Band, the “Pride and Class” of New England, will perform portions of their 2018 field show during the second half of the concert. For details: 413-545-2511 or www.fineartscenter.com/musicanddance.
Asking For It. Photo by Sara Brown Photography
Asking for It with Adrienne Truscott plays Northampton’s Academy of Music Theatre on October 27. The play mixes humor, dance, and video while undoing the rules and rhetoric surrounding rape and comedy. With commentary from George Carlin, Louis C. K. and Robert De Niro, Truscott takes on ducks, mini-skirts, rape whistles, Daniel Tosh, and Rick Ross all while drinking enough gin & tonics to get a girl in trouble. For details: 413-584-9032 ext.105 or www.aomtheatre.com.
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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. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio for 89.5fm/WSKB.
