by Mark G. Auerbach
Anastasia
Anastasia, January 14-19, The Bushnell, Hartford
The recent Broadway hit had its world premiere at Hartford Stage, and it’s returning to Hartford as part of its national tour. Inspired by the story of Czar Nicholas’ daughter, who supposedly escaped when her family was murdered, and by an animated film, it has a terrific book by Terrence McNally, a lush score by Ahrens and Flaherty, and sensational staging by former Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak. It’s a beautiful “journey to the past”.
For details: www.bushnell.org.
Porter Carroll Jr. January 12, Westfield Concerts, Westfield, MA
Westfield Concerts January 10-12 music weekend features Porter Carroll, Jr. for its Sunday afternoon performances. Founder of Atlantic Starr and currently a member of the number one selling duo in the history of music, Hall of Famers, Daryl Hall and John Oates. Porter is also performing in two breakout projects of his own. The Evolution of Cabaret, a “bold and daring nightclub act for the modern world” and Symphony Rhythm & Blues, “the ultimate crossover”. For details: www.westfieldconcerts.com.
Annual Festival of New Musicals, January 17-19, Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam, CT
Goodspeed is world renowned for sending major musicals to Broadway, including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah, and Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn. Now in its 15th year, the Festival has launched more than 40 new musicals into the universe, sending them across the country, on Broadway, and around the world! It’s a weekend filled with insider events, seminars,
TASHA LAWRENCE
NICK LaMEDICA
cabarets, and three staged readings of brand-new works as the brightest writers and performers collaborate to create the future of America’s greatest art form. For details: www.goodspeed.org.
Joshua Bell and Allesio Bax. January 31, The Bushnell
The Bushnell and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra present a recital featuring violinist Joshua Bell with pianist Alessio Bax, for one performance only! With a career spanning more than 30 years as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, conductor and director, Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated violinists of his era. Combining exceptional lyricism and insight with consummate technique, Alessio Bax is, without a doubt, “among the most remarkable young pianists now before the public” (Gramophone). For details: www.biushnell.org or www.hartfordsymphony.org.
Deathtrap, January 9-February 16. Majestic Theater, West Springfield
In Ira Levin’s popular comedy thriller, a long-run on Broadway when it first opened, and later a successful film, A once successful playwright has a series of flops. He finds a script from a student, but has to dispose of him to turn it into his next hit. The play was filmed with Christopher Reeves and Michael Caine. Of note: the late actress Marian Seldes, who starred as the playwright’s wife, never missed a performance during the original Broadway’s 1 793 performances. For details: https://majestictheater.com/
The Lifespan of a Fact, January 30-March 8, TheaterWorks
Tracy Brigden returns to TheaterWorks to stage this recent Broadway hit. which co-stars Tasha Lawrence from TW’s A Doll’s House Part 2 and Nick LaMedica from TW’s Hand To God.. A determined young fact checker has been assigned to check on an unorthodox writer, who has chronicled the story of a teen’s suicide. The comedy is by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell, who based this on a true-ish story. For details: www.twhartford.org.
Nilaja Sun in “Pike Street” at Hartford Stage.
Pike Street, January 9-February 2. Hartford Stage.
Nilaja Sun’s solo theatre piece has won rave reviews at theatres coast-to-coast. Directed by Ron Russell, Sun brings to life three generations of a Puerto Rican family on New York’s Lower East Side. Evelyn, a mother struggling to hold her life together with both grace and humor as she cares for her immobilized daughter and supports her womanizing father, relies on money from her brother who is serving abroad in Afghanistan. When he comes home, suffering from PTSD, Evelyn fights for her family’s healing, redemption and survival in the face of a threatening storm – both natural and man-made. For details: www.hartfordstage.org.
MARK RUSSELL SMITH
Springfield Symphony Orchestra All Beethoven Concert with Mark Russell Smith, January 11, Springfield Symphony Hall.
Orchestras worldwide are celebrating the 250th birthday of Beethoven, and The SSO rings in the New Year with an all-Beethoven program, including his Symphony No. 1 and Symphony No. 2, plus his Egmont Overture. Mark Russell Smith, former conductor and music director of the SSO from 1995 to 2000, returns to Symphony Hall for this program. He’s currently based in Minneapolis, and has had a distinguished career since moving on from Springfield. For information on the Maestro: http://markrussellsmith.net/ For concert details: www.springfieldsymphiony.org.
Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical, January 15-February 2, Playhouse on Park
The life and times of Rosemary Clooney, as told through the music she made famous, is a new musical by Janet Yates Voight and Mark Friedma , staged by Kyle Brand, with musical direction by Robert James Tomasulo. MK Lawson choreographs and Susan Haefner plays Clooney. The music includes 20+ Clooney hits, including “Tenderly” and “Come On-A My House”. For details: www.playhouseonpark.org.
And Keep in Mind:
NYC Broadway Week returns to The Big Apple, January 21-February 9, and most Broadway plays and musicals are offering “twofers” or two-for-one tickets. The kids are back in school, and holiday tourists are home, so winter time offers more access to tickets. Tickets go on sale on January 8, so check their website, select your favorites, and then see what’s available. For details: https://www.nycgo.com/broadway-week/ And make note. The nbew CT Rail/MetroNorth trains from Springfield to Grand Central with a change in New Haven, or Amtrak’s Valley Flyer trains from Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, and Springfield are a great way to avoid driving into New York City.
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, and is a contributor to Pioneer Valley Radio.
