by Mark G. Auerbach
10x10New Play Festival, February 13-March 8, Barrington Stage Company
This unique festival of 10 new plays, each 10 minutes long, will be co-directed by BSC’s Aertistic Director Julianne Boyd and Matthew Penn, award-winning director and head of the Berkshire Playwrights Lab. This is the ninth edition of the Festival, which coincides with Pittsfield’s 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival. Some of the titles, which run the gamut from comedy to drama, are intriguing: Digital Detox by Cynthia Arsenault probes whether a couple’s relationship can be saved by going unplugged. Rachel Bublitz’s My Body profiles men no longer trusted to make decisions about their own bodies, because women hold all of the cards. Mark Harvey Levine’s Oy Vey Maria is described as “it was supposed to be a silent night”. For details: www.barringtonstageco.org
ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON
Jane Eyre, Hartford Stage February 13-March 14, Hartford Stage
Charlotte Brontë’s classic is adapted and directed by Elizabeth Williamson. Orphaned as a child, Jane takes a position working as governess at Thornfield Hall for the brooding Edward Rochester. The strong-willed Jane falls in love with her mysterious employer, but the discovery of a dark secret and its devastating aftermath forces the young governess to make a heart-wrenching decision that changes their lives forever. Helen Sadler plays Jane. For details: www.hartfordsstage.org.
Jesus Christ Superstar, February 25-March 1, The Bushnell
A decade after its last major revival, Jesus Christ Superstar returns to the stage, in a production staged by Timothy Sheader, and winner of London’s prestigious Olivier Award for “Best Revival”. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s breakthrough musical about the last days of Jesus Christ, has a legendary musical score, including ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’, ‘Heaven on their Minds’ and ‘Superstar’. For details: www.bushnell.org.
JANE RHODES
Love on Broadway, February 22, Springfield Symphony Hall
Maestro Kevin Rhodes, joined by The Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and soloists (including a rare appearance by Jane Rhodes), take on some of Broadway’s most famous love songs. Some are the pop standards designed to make you swoon. Others will surprise you from the lush “Say It Somehow” from The Light In The Piazza to the tongue-twisting “(Not) Getting Married Today” from Sondheim’s Company. Plus music from Shrek!, Spamalot, Carousel, Sweeney Todd, On The Town! And more. For details: www.springfieldsymphony.org.
Pride and Prejudice, February 19-March 8, Playhouse on Park, West Hartford, CT.
Kate Hamill’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s acclaimed 1813 romantic novel, directed by Jason O’Connell, isn’t your grandmother’s Austen! This play for a new era explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life. The outspoken Lizzy Bennet is determined to never marry, despite mounting pressure from society. But can she resist love, especially when that vaguely handsome, mildly amusing, and impossibly aggravating Mr. Darcy keeps popping up at every turn? Literature’s greatest tale of latent love has never felt so theatrical, or so full of life than it does in this effervescent adaptation. For details: www.playhouseonpark.org.
Romeo and Juliet, February 14-16, The Bushnell
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra performs Prokofiev’s distinctive ballet score for one of the world’s most beloved love stories. Also on the program: contemporary composer Hannah Kendall’s imaginative The Spark Catchers, inspired by the poem of the same name by Lemn Sissay; plus Tomasi’s playful Trumpet Concerto and Kreisler’s emotive Liebesleid, featuring HSO’s principal trumpet, Scott McIntosh. Adam Boyles conducts. For details: www.hartfordsymphony.org.
STARMAN: DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE
Starman: The Bowie Tribute. February 7, Westfield Woman’s Club
Gaslight Entertainment’s Westfield Concerts series brings Starman: The Bowie Tribute to town. Starman presents the entire dynamic David Bowie Experience, covering all stages of his career. This includes mid-set costume changes -executed flawlessly- to represent his ever evolving stage personas and musical styles. Performed with much humor and a deep love of his music, the concert is authentically presented by an ensemble of 7 dedicated musicians who perform David Bowie’s catalog with care, humorous reverence, and impeccable attention to detail. For details: www.westfieldconcerts.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; Nick LaMedica from TW’s Hand To God, and Rufus Collins. 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.
PS. ArtsBeat Radio/TV did a two-part special from TheaterWorks with the cast. Check ArtsBeat for January 17 and 24 on 89.5fm/WSKB’s YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzPcoGhNs723gdf2cFc1pQ
The Pitch, February 27-April 5, Majestic Theater, West Springfield.
A world premiere by noted area reporter and journalist Stan Freeman, The Pitch is a play about baseball, best friends, and betrayal. A retired sportswriter reluctantly agrees to collaborate with a young reporter, on the biography of a boyhood friend of his—a pitcher whose on-the-rise career abruptly ends. Area actors John Haag, Julian Findley and Steve Pierce star. For details: https://majestictheater.com/2019-2020.html
THE TAP PACK
The Tap Pack, February 15, Uconn Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
The Tap Pack, the sensational troupe of tap dancers who showcase their art against the music of The Rat Pack, play Jorgensen Center for The Per4forming Arts, at Uconn in Storrs, CT on February 15. The Tap Pack is an entertaining and elegant nod to the Rat Pack era. Complete with live swing music, lots of tap dancing and witty banter, get ready for some high-energy fun. This five-member troupe from Australia wins the audience from the first downbeat and the pace never slows. They sing. They dance. They joke. They bring a new, invigorating energy to a timeless style. Old School Cool from the new Kings of Swing. For details: https://jorgensen.uconn.edu/
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.
