MARK AUERBACH
Swan Lake With A Twist
Choreographer Dada Masilo, the rising star of contemporary dance, brings her reimagined version of Swan Lake to the UMass Fine Arts Center on her first ever North American tour (January 26). Masilo’s Swan Lake preserves the tutus, pointes and music of Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet, while breathing new life into the choreography and story with South African contemporary dance and themes. (Note: The show includes partial nudity and is recommended for ages 14 and up.)
Masilo’s Swan Lake (created in 2010) tackles modern issues like gender, homophobia and the AIDS epidemic, through a South African lens. Choreographer Dada Masilo is renowned for her reworkings of classical ballets, which have toured to high praise. Her company of male and female dancers revive celebrated story ballets like Romeo & Juliet and Carmen, with modern choreography that reflects styles and movements from their native South Africa. Tchaikovsky’s evocative music remains, but mixes with works by Camille Saint-Saëns, and modern minimalist composers Steve Reich and Arvo Pärt. Masilo dances the part of the cursed Odette turned swan
For details: 413- 545-2511, 800-999-UMAS, or online at www.fineartscenter.com.
Road Trip: Broadway’s On Sale
Broadway Week returns from January 19 through February 5. The semi-annual promotion offers theatregoers the chance to purchase two-for-one tickets to a range of Broadway plays and musicals. Depending on availability, you might be able to snag tickets to the recent Tony Award winners like An American in Paris and Fun Home, or some of the newer hits like the acclaimed revivals of Fiddler on The Roof and The Color Purple. The special offer is presented by NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, and the brains behind the ever-popular Restaurant Week. For details: http://www.nycgo.com/broadway-week.
Make Note: Amtrak has replaced many Springfield to New Haven trains with busses, while the tracks are updated for the upcoming enhanced train service from Springfield. Your best bet is to drive to New Haven, park at one of the nearby garages, and take one of the frequent Metro North trains to Grand Central Station. (round-trip off-peak fares are $33; $22 for seniors). For Metro North details: http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/fares.htm
Although the theatre district has some good restaurants, they’re crowded and pricey before and after the theatre. Grand Central has a food court with lots of options, but my new favorite place to grab a bite near Grand Central is the Pershing Square Cafe on 42nd street across from the terminal’s main entrance. For details: http://www.pershingsquare.com/
Eric Hill hits the open road with Hill on Wheels.
Hill on Wheels: The Next Act
Actor/director/playwright/teacher Eric Hill starts the New Year with a new project, called Hill on Wheels. After an acclaimed career at Berkshire Theatre Group, StageWest, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, UConn and Brandeis, Hill will hit the road on a one-year project to blog and video the theatre of real life on a coast-to-coast adventure. He’s got an Arrow River Starcraft AR One hitched to his Toyota Tacoma and a Canon 70D. and his 3-year old black lab, Gaia to keep him company. You can follow along on his blog, http://hillonwheels.org/ or his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Hill-On-Wheels-1652247618395963/?fref=ts
Renée Fleming
(Photo (c) Jonathan Tichler 2011)
Think Summer:
Tanglewood tickets go on sale January 24. The season opens on June 25 with Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion, and Joshua Bell, Renee Fleming, “Carmina Burana”, Keith Lockhart and The Boston Pops, and Seth Macfarlane are on the roster. For details: 888-266-1200 or www.tanglewood.org.
Williamstown Theatre Festival is accepting applications for seasonal staff: interns, apprentices, fellows, and their non-Equity acting company. Application deadline is March 1. For details: http://wtfestival.org/work-learn/
Garrison Keillor brings his “A Ptairie Home Companion” to Tanglewood. He’s set to retire soon.
The Klezmatics will headline the fifth annual Yidstock: The Festival of New Yiddish Music at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts, July 14-17. The Klezmatics, leaders of the revival of interest in klezmer, will perform a special concert celebrating the band’s 30th anniversary on July 16. TheYidstock lineup also includes the Klezmer Conservatory Band, For details: www.yiddishbookcenter.org
Seth Macfarlane appears at Tanglewood this summer.
Keep in Mind…
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is auditioning three conductors for the position of Associate Conductor. The trio (as yet unannounced) get their public audition on January 21-24 at The Bushnell, in a program called Battle of the Batons. They’ll conduct challenging and popular classics, including Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute and Borodin’s Polovatsian Dances from Prince Igor. Audience feedback will be solicited.
Whether the lucky winner takes to the podium down the road is the big question. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra musicians and their management (The Bushnell) haven’t been able to come to terms on a new contract, and some board and staff suggested that the HSO may shut down as early as Janunary. Public sentiment seems to favor the musicians over management, but whether the board can raise the money to keep the ensemble afloat, and whether the labor dispute is settled, remain to be answered.
For tickets: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org.
An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley’s 1945 drama about a well-to-do British family interrogated by the police about the death of a young woman, is next at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater through February 14. . The play was adapted into a film; and recently for BBC TV. Zoya Kachadurian directs the Majestic production. For details: 413-747-7797 orwww.majestictheater.com.
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.
