by Mark G. Auerbach
Playwright T.D. Mitchell
Hartford Stage Opens Season With a World Premiere: “Queens For A Year”
Hartford Stage opens its 2016-17 Season with the world premiere of T.D. Mitchell’s Queens For A Year, a compelling story about the lives of women serving in the military. Lucy Tiberghien, whose recent Off-Broadway credits include Don’t Go Gentle and Blind, directs the play which stars Hartford actress Vanessa R. Butler, who has appeared in Gross Domestic Product and Jimmy and Lorraine at HartBeat Ensemble; Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at Capitol Classics; and Freedom: In 3 Acts at Bated Breath Theatre Company. Mitchell is best known as a writer on the popular Lifetime series Army Wives.
In Queens for a Year, Molly Solinas, a young Marine Corps Officer, unexpectedly returns to her family home in Virginia, bringing with her an even younger female Private. Four generations of women who’ve served their country in the Marines clash during what at first appears to be a post-deployment vacation – but is revealed to be much more.
Queens For a Year runs through October 2. For details: 860-527-5151 or www.hartfordstage.org.
Kevin Rhodes (Photo by John Robert Williams)
Spotlight: Kevin Rhodes: Have Baton. Will Travel.
The Springfield Symphony opens its season on September 24, with Maestro Kevin Rhodes on the podium, and an all-Tchaikovsky program with guest pianist Fabio Bidini performing Festival Coronation March, Symphony No. 6, Op. 74, B minor (Pathétique), and the Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23, B-flat minor.
The internationally known conductor, who calls Westfield, MA home, has programmed, and will conduct a diverse classical line-up at Springfield Symphony Hall this season.
On November 19, the Orchestra performs Brahms Double Concerto for violin and cello alongside Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7., and the New Year (January 21) brings a bill of Mozart ‘s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music) and Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto.
Fabio Bidini is guest artist for the Springfield Symphony’s Gala Opening. Photo by SV Hoepcker
Rhodes, who is globally known for his opera work, celebrates the life of the great American soprano Leontyne Price on February 18. Othalie Graham, who performed in last season’s Porgy and Bess, will sing some of the works made famous by Price, including Verdi’s Aida, Strauss’ Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome, Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Tosca, and Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra. Don’t miss this February 18 event.
Rhodes celebrates Scotland with works by Bruch and Mendelssohn on March 11; a night in the Gardens of Spain on April 8 with music by Liszt, Saint-Saens, De Falla, and Rimsky-Korsakov. The season ends with the Springfield Symphony Chorus and soloists performing Beethoven’s 9th (April 29).
In between his commitments in Springfield and Michigan, Maestro Rhodes has a very busy international season, where he is prized for his work in opera and ballet. From Octpber 22-November 15, Rhodes conducts an All-Balanchine program with the Paris Opera Ballet at the famous Palais Garnier, which inspired The Phantom of The Opera.
Rhodes heads back to the Vienna State Opera to conduct Galzunov’s Raymonda, staged by the late great Rudolf Nureyev on December 22-January 8. Rhodes conducted the last revival in Vienna some 19 years ago, which was one of Rhodes’ first productions in Vienna. Rhodes has a second engagement in Vienna on June 26, conducting the Annual Nureyev Birthday Gala, where top soloists from around the world in combination with the soloists and company from Vienna as the season finale.
Rhodes makes his Norwegian debut conducting Minkus’ Don Quixote in Rudolf Nureyev’s production with the Norwegian National Ballet in Oslo and the Oslo Opera House on May 19-June 1..According to Rhodes, “This is my first time to work with this company, and I’m looking very forward to getting to know new colleagues and make new friends there!”
On June 13-17, Rhodes returns to Stuttgart Ballet to conduct the late John Cranko’s production of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, a signature piece for the German ballet company. Rhodes says “This production is the same one I first did in Vienna during my initial debut year with that company, and my first experience conducting before a sold-out house with no reheasal–exciting memories.”
Richard Michelson and Leonard Nimoy
For details on the Springfield Symphony Orchestra classical and pops season: www.springfieldsymphony.org. For details on Kevin Rhodes’ schedule: kevinrhodesconductor.com
Star Trek at 50
Unseen, Fifty Never Before Exhibited Photographs by Leonard Nimoy, will be on display at R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton through October 25. Michelson, who had a long-time professional and personal relationship with Nimoy, curated this exhibit as part of the official 50th anniversary of the first ever episode of the Original Star Trek series aired on NBC. Michelson’s new picture book biography of Nimoy, Fascinating: The Life of Leonard Nimoy, is also due for release.
For exhibit details: http://www.rmichelson.com/artists/leonard-nimoy/
For information on Michelson’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Fascinating-Leonard-Nimoy-Richard-Michelson/dp/1101933305
For the Love of Spock, the new film about the late actor Leonard Nimoy and his most beloved character, Star Trek’s Mr. Spock. It’s written and directed by Nimoy’s son, Adam Nimoy, and narrated by Zachary Quinto. Screening September 18 at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. For details: 413-256-4900 or www.yiddishbookcenter.org/events.
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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.
