by Mark G. Auerbach
Spotlight: Berkshire Theatre Group’s Travis G. Daly
Travis G. Daly
Meet Travis G. Daly, the Berkshires born and raised Associate Artist of Education at Berkshire Theatre Group. He grew up in Dalton, MA, and did a couple of dance projects before going to high school at Waconah Regional. He recalls getting interested in theatre, after seeing a production of Oliver. A classmate, the now nationally-known actress Tara Franklin, played the lead.
Daly has worked with Berkshire Theatre Group for over ten years as a teacher, director, actor and mentor with BTG PLAYS!, BTG’s year-round education program that serves 13,000 students on an annual basis. During his time with BTG, he has directed over 100 short and full-length plays, including: The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Hansel and Gretel’s Grimm Tale, Peter Han, Oliver!, Seussical, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire and A Christmas Carol. Travis serves as one of the primary mentors for YouthReach participants. Daly is also currently the Artistic Director of Theatre Arts for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District’s Theatre Arts Program for grades K-1
Daly works with kids, teens, and adults, some of whom may pursue theatre in college or professionally. Others will participate in community theatre shows or attend and support theatre. “Theatre develops life skills”, says Daly. “You learn to work in a group, and you learn how to be a part of a group. Theatre requires taking positive risk, especially the audition process”.
Daly was instrumental in the creation of Encore! An Evening to Celebrate High School Musicals. He now annually stages the show which features ten-minute encore performances from this year’s Berkshire County high school musicals, to be held on May 12 at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA. “We provide the participating schools with a pianist; they bring their costumes, and the students get to perform before family and friends and other schools’ students, families and friends on a professional theatre stage.” Daly added that this is not a competition but a showcase.
Rylan Morsbach, far right, and the cast of Fiorello off-Broadway. Photo by Alexander Hill
This year’s participating schools and musicals are: Drury High School, North Adams with Copacabana; Hoosac Valley High School, Cheshire with Anything Goes; Lenox Memorial High School, Lenox, with Seussical; Miss Hall’s School, Pittsfield with The Addams Family; Mt. Everett Regional School, Sheffield with Into The Woods; Mount Greylock Regional High School, Williamstown with The Pajama Game; Pittsfield High School, Pittsfield, with Footloose; Taconic High School, Pitttsfield, with Sister Act and Wahconah Regional High School, Dalton, with 42nd Street
A couple of nights prior, on May 10 at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, young actors and musicians from the schools will perform in the first High School Student Cabaret, which Daly describes as “an evening with songs, poetry, dance, and more…a variety show. The students auditioned; we screened the material, and between 20-25 students will perform.”
Then Daly, music director Mark Gionfriddo, and company begin rehearsals for The Music Man, the Berkshire Theatre Group’s community musical, which opens a month-long run at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on July 6. Rylan Morsbach, a young actor from South Hadley plays Harold Hill, the role originated by Robert Preston. Daly says “The cast includes local adult, teen, and child actors, many of whom have studied at Berkshire Theatre Group, or who have appeared in BTG productions before. There’s a sense of community. The more experienced cast members and the veterans mentor the newer folks in the show”.
For details on The High School Student Cabaret, Encore! An Evening to Celebrate High School Musicals and the Berkshire Theatre Group’s The Music Man: 413-997-4444 or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
Terrance Mann
Newsmakers
Terrence Mann, the award-winning Broadway star and new Artistic Director of Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Nutmeg Summer Series, will bring Terry’s Cabaret Late Nite to Storrs on June 24, following the performance of Noises Off. Terry and friends will perform an intimate evening of song and story. For details: 860-486-2113 or www.crt.uconn.edu
Christopher D’Amboise
Christopher d’Amboise, dancer, choreographer, writer, and teacher, will direct Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s production of Newsies. d’Amboise, son of famed dancers acques d’Amboise and Carolyn George, was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Song and Dance. He was also Artistic Director of Pennsylvania Ballet. His sister, Charlotte d’Amboise is the Broadway star currently in Chicago. She’s married to Terrence Mann. For details: 860-486-2113 or www.crt.uconn.edu
Todd Rosenthal, the Tony Award-winning scenic designer and Longmeadow native, ha designed sets for the Broadway-bound musical Roman Holiday, which is launching its tour in San Francisco.
Graham Rowat
Graham Rowat, seen at Berkshire Theatre Group opposite wife Kate Baldwin in A Little Night Music, Bells Are Ringing, and Constellations, returns to BTG to star in Arsenic and Old Lace. He recently co-starred with Glenn Close on Broadway in Sunset Boulevard. Baldwin is currently starring opposite Bette Midler in Hello Dolly. For details: 413-997-4444, online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
Keep in Mind…
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra presents Russian Intensity on May 12-14 at The Bushnell. Donato Cabrera. is guest conductor, HSO Concertmaster Leonid Sigal is the violin soloist, and the program includes: Borodin’s Prince Igor Overture, Glazunov’s Concerto for Violin in A minor, Op. 82, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36, TH 27. Also, The Hartford Symphony Orchestra concludes its 2016-17 Sunday Serenades series at The Wadsworth Atheneum on May 7 with Amistad @30: Songs and Spirituals. For details:860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org
Really by Jackie Sibblies Drury is the next staged reading at WAM’s Fresh Takes play reading series, May 7 at No. Six Depot Roastery and Café in West Stockbridge, MA. A young woman takes photos of her ex-boyfriend’s mom, as they search to redefine themselves. Alice Reagan directs. For details: http://www.wamtheatre.com/really/
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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.
