by Mark G. Auerbach
Peter Dinklage
Goodspeed Musicalizes Cyrano de Bergerac
A new take on Edmond Rostand’s classic Cyrano de Bergerac premieres at Goodspeed Musicals’ Terris Theatre in Chester, CT August 3-September 9. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Peter Dinklage will play Cyrano alongside film actress Haley Bennett as Roxanne in this bold new musical. Blake Jenner play Christian in this production, adapted by Erica Schmidt in collaboration with members of the Grammy Award-winning indie alternative band The National.
The cast will be led by Peter Dinklage, whose breakout role came in 2003, when he redefined the concept of a leading man in the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award–winner The Station Agent. Since then, Peter has been a constant force in the acting world, best-known for his role as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, for which he has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
Haley Bennett
Haley Bennett most recently appeared in Jason Hall’s Thank You For Your Service opposite Miles Teller. Previously, Bennett starred in the film adaptation of The Girl on the Train opposite Emily Blunt, in Antoine Fuqua’s The Magnificent Seven opposite Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt and in Warren Beatty’s Rules Don’t Apply.
For details: 860-873-8668 or www.goodspeed.org
“Tarzan” Swings Into Pittsfield
The Broadway musical Tarzan swings and sings onto The Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre stage in Pittsfield, through August 16. Directed by Travis Daly with music direction by Mark Gionfriddo, both of whom helmed previous BTG community productions of The Music Man, Beauty and the Beast, and Mary Poppins, Tarzan, with choreography by Avital Asuleen features over 100 talented Berkshire youth.
Based on the animated Disney movie, Tarzan opened on Broadway in 2006, with a book by David Henry Hwang, author of M. Butterfly, and a score by Phil Collins. It’s based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ story Tarzan of The Apes.
A magical and memorable theatrical experience for the whole family, Tarzan follows the story of an orphaned boy, raised by gorillas in the jungle. Struggling to find balance between his human instinct and animalistic education, Tarzan’s life is altered forever when he encounters his first human, the curious and wonderful, Jane.
For details: 413-997-4444 or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
Of Note
Connecticut Repertory Theatre has announced its 2018-19 season, under the direction of Michael Bradford. Mainstage shows include the adaptation of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath by Frank Galati and directed by Gary English; a return engagement of A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration by Paula Vogel; the hit Broadway unsolved, unfinished, musical murder-mystery The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes; and Shakespeare’s Henry IV. In the Studio Workshop Series, CRT welcomes new playwright Tracy Thorne with the regional premiere of Good Children directed by Michael Bradford, and If We Were Birds by Erin Shields. For details: 860-486-2113 or www.crt.uconn.edu
Keep in Mind
Arts Beat Radio airs every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB. On August 3, at a special time–7AM, Mark G. Auerbach and Jay Pagliuca head to Cranwell in Lenox for a two-hour special with The Capitol Steps, the musical political satire group that has been putting the “mock” in democracy for 35+years. Start your weekend with ArtsBeat Radio. Tune in live on the airwaves, on Comcast ch. 15, or www.wskb.org
The Chinese Lady by Lloyd Suh, directed by Ralph B. Peña will be performed at Barrington Stage’s St. Germain Stage, through August 11, in Pittsfield, MA. in a co-Production with Ma-Yi Theater Company. In 1834, Afong Moy is brought to the United States from Beijing and put on display for the American public as the “Chinese Lady.” Over the next 45 years, she performs in a side show that both defines and challenges her own view of herself. Inspired by the true story of America’s first female Chinese immigrant, playwright Lloyd Suh spins a tale of dark poetic whimsy in this piercing portrait of America as seen through the eyes of a young Chinese woman. For details: 413-236-8888 or www.barringtonstageco.org.
Peking Acrobats
Sevenars presents The Piazzola Trio on July 29. Gjilberta Lucaj, Anat Almani, and Lynelle James, present a feast of Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and of course Piazzolla, of tango fame! For details: www.sevenars.org.
The Peking Acrobats perform at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA on July 27-28. They perform daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs and display their technical prowess at such arts as trick-cycling, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting, and gymnastics. For details: 413-528-0100 or www.mahaiwe.org.
Dave Sporny
The Dave Sporny Swingtet will bring big band sounds to the Historic North Hall Arts Festival in Huntington, Mass. on August 5.Dave Sporny on trombone and members of the Amherst Jazz Orchestra bring Big Band swing sounds, smooth jazz and favorite ballads to the North Hall stage. For details: 413-667-5543 or www.northhallhuntington.org
Mama D’s
Mama D’s Gay Nineties Romp evokes the days of Gypsy Rose Lee and Ann Corio, when burlesque was a world of sexy song and dance, and comedy with double entendres. Directed and choreographed by Playhouse on Park’s co-founder and co-artistic director Darlene Zoller, Mama D’s Gay Nineties Romp plays the West Hartford theatre August 16-25. Colin Britt is music director. Make note: this is not family fare. For details: 860-523-5900 x10 or www.playhouseonpark.org
Bel Canto Opera at The White Church. Eve Queler, Music Director Emerita of Opera Orchestra of New York and part-time Blandford resident, brings spectacular up-and-coming opera talent to the White Church in Blandford, MA on July 28. Artists include sopranos April Martin and Jessica Sandidge, tenor Matthew White and baritone John Viscardi. For details: 508-380-8845 or http://www.thewhitechurch.org/events/24th-annual-bel-canto-opera/
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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.
