by Mark G. Auerbach
Hamilton is Hartford-bound. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Bushnell’s Upcoming Broadway Series: Hamilton’s Home For The Holidays
Broadway’s huge blockbuster Hamilton, the Lin Manuel Miranda musical that puts Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, the Schuyler Sisters and other historic Americans center-stage, is coming to Hartford for the holidays, December 11-30. The Broadway Series at the Bushnell also includes the current Broadway hits The Play That Goes Wrong, Waitress, and Come From Away. Touring productions of recent revivals Fiddler on The Roof and Rent will stop in Hartford, along with Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Also on the line-up are Disney;s The Lion King, Cats, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, and The Sound of Music.. For details: 860.987.5900 or https://bushnell.org/1819SeasonTickets
Sierra Boggess stars in The Age of Innocence at Hartford Stage
The Age of Innocence: World Premiere at Hartford Stage
Edith Wharton’s masterpiece, The Age of Innocence, as adapted for the stage by Doug McGrath, has its world premiere at Hartford Stage on April 5-May 6. Doug Hughes directs an all-star cast, which includes four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines, Broadway’s Sierra Boggess, Helen Cespedes, and Andrew Veenstra.
The Age of Innocence, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921, is one of Edith Wharton’s most memorable novels. Set during the Gilded Age in New York, McGrath’s powerful and poignant adaptation introduces us to the courtly young gentleman lawyer Newland Archer; his traditional and demure fiancée May; and the free-spirited Countess Ellen Olenska, who has come home from Europe, tainted by scandal. From the moment Newland meets the Countess, he is torn between virtue and desire, and all three are forced to make the agonizing choice, ever old and ever new, between love and honor.
Boyd Gaines stars in The Age of Innocence at Hartford Stage
Playwright and screenwriter Douglas McGrath received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. His first film as a writer and director was his adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow. He co-wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-nominated film Bullets Over Broadway, which transferred to Broadway as a Tony Award-nominated musical. Director Doug Hughes won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for Doubt. He also received a Tony Award nomination for the play Frozen, which performed at Circle in the Square on Broadway.
Many area people have visited Edith Wharton’s house,The Mount, in Lenox, where Wharton and her husband lived from 1902-1911. It’s a must-see, when you’re headed to the Berkshires. For details: https://www.edithwharton.org/
For details on The Age of Innocence: 860-527-5151 or www.hartfordstage.org
Of Note
New Century Theatre will be on hiatus during 2018 and will not be presenting a summer season, according to a message on its website by company co-founder Sam Rush.. At this point the future plans of the company remain unclear. “No one could be more disappointed than I am that we are unable to present a 28th season this year”, says Rush. “However, this is the most responsible course of action at this time”. For details: http://www.newcenturytheatre.org/
Darko Tresnjak, Hartford Stage Artistic Director who steps down after next season, will direct the world premiere of This Ain’t No Disco for Atlantic Theatre. a new musical from Stephen Trask (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and Peter Yanowitz (The Wallflowers). Trip Cullman, who was previously announced to direct, has left the production because of scheduling conflicts. The musical opens in June. For details: https://atlantictheater.org/playevents/this-aint-no-disco/
New Worlds: Bill Murray, Jan Vogler and Friends
Keep in Mind
New Worlds: Bill Murray, Jan Vogler and Friends. Bill Murray and Jan Vogler met during their travels and became friends in New York. Curious about each others artistic world and interests, the actor and cellist soon had the idea to work together on a project. New Worlds has a performance at The Bushnell in Hartford on April 10. For details: 860.987.5900 or https://bushnell.org/
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra Masterworks Series showcases works by Aaron Copland and George Gershwin, April 6-8 at The Bushnell. Laura Jackson conducts; Alessio Bax is guest pianist, performing Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F. The Symphony performs Copland’s Suite from Billy The Kid. For details: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org
The Revisionist, the Off-Broadway hit by Jesse Eisenberg, comes to West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park in its New England premiere April 11-29.Eisenberg is star of The Social Network and frequent contributor to The New Yorker. In this comedic drama, a young science fiction writer named David journeys to Poland to stay with his 75-year-old second cousin, Maria, a widowed Holocaust survivor.. As their bond grows, David learns a profound secret about Maria’s past that challenges their relationship and teaches them both about the meaning of being a family. For details: 860-523-5900 x10 or www.playhouseonpark.org
Chris Potter. Photo by Tama Talaber
Chris Potter, Grammy Award winning saxophonist, and composer, performs at the UMass Fine Arts Center on April 7. Potter’s quartet features Adam Rogers on guitar, Fima Ephron on bass, and Marcus Gilmore on drums. For details: 413-545-2511, 800-999-UMAS or www.fineartscenter.com.
Berkshire Theatre Group is partnering with the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives to present a free exhibit. showcasing the 90-year history of Berkshire Theatre Festival.with photographs, letters, posters, props, and costume pieces. The exhibit runs April 2 through June 30 in Stockbridge Library’s exhibit space just outside of the Procter Museum & Archives of Stockbridge History, which is housed in the lower level of the Library. For details: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
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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. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio for 89.5fm/WSKB.
