by Mark G. Auerbach
Ten Shows You Can’t Miss This Fall
Hamilton, the “must see” musical that’s box-office gold on Broadway and around the globe, makes its Hartford premiere at The Bushnell for a limited run, December 11-30. The place for tickets: https://www.bushnell.org/ Beware of hucksters if you try to buy Hamilton tickets anywhere other than The Bushnell.
Fiddler on The Roof also visits The Bushnell on November 6-11. This tour, a recreation of the 2016 Broadway production directed by Bartlett Sher, is great family fare, and a thoughtful recreation of the original Fiddler, which opened in 1964, and was the first Broadway musical to surpass 3,000 performances. For details: https://www.bushnell.org/
The Drowsy Chaperone is Goodspeed’s fall offering, September 21-November 25. The Broadway hit is an hilarious comedy about a showtune buff who describes a vintage Broadway musical, which comes to life in his apartment. It’s book and score won Tony Awards. For details: https://www.goodspeed.org/
Jayne Atkinson
Ann, Holland Taylor’s well-received portrait of late Texas governor Ann Richards, will be produced by WAM this fall, starring Jayne Atkinson, October 19-28 on the Shakespeare & Company campus in Lenox, MA. Kristen Van Ginhoven directs, For details: http://www.wamtheatre.com/
The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams’ classic, will be staged by Julianne Boyd at Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, October 3-21. This masterpiece about a fragile family and a “gentleman caller” is one of the great plays of the 20th century. For details: https://barringtonstageco.org/
Tara Franklin
Naked, Luigi Pirandello’s masterwork, in a new translation by Nicholas Wright, is Berkshire Theatre Group’s fall offering, September 27-October 28. It’s staged by Eric Hill with a fabulous cast including David Adkins, James Barry, Tara Franklin, Barbara Sims, and Rocco Sisto. For details: https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/
The River, Jez Butterworth’s intriguing play, brought Hugh Jackman back to Broadway a couple of seasons ago. Rob Ruggiero directs a TheaterWorks production in Hartford, October 4-November 11. For details: http://www.theaterworkshartford.org/
Bess Wohl
Christmas on The Rocks, TheaterWorks’ annual holiday tradition, returns for the holidays. Dates will be announced soon. It’s a series of zany playlets about our favorite child characters from Christmas movies, who now, grown-up, share their dark and outrageous histories. Date TBA. For details: http://www.theaterworkshartford.org/
Make Believe, Bess Wohl’s gently funny and touching play, opens the Hartford Stage season, September 6-30. It’s the story of four siblings as their childhood is upended. Jackson Gay directs this world premiere. For details: https://www.hartfordstage.org/
Storm Large. Photo by Laura Domela
Storm Large’s Holiday Ordeal brings the Pink Martini singer and songwriter to the UMass Fine Arts Center for a holiday concert on December 5. Storm sings about the trials and tribulations of the holidays in her stylishly naughty show. For details: https://fac.umass.edu/Online/
Of Note
WAM Theatre will donate a percentage of its ticket sales for its October performances of Holland Taylor’s Ann, the story of Texas governor Ann Richards to two non-profits that provide services to women and girls. The Denise Kaley Fund for Berkshire Women with Cancer, administered through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, supports the day-to-day living expenses of those living with cancer and have financial need. The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts has been supporting women and girls in the four counties of western Mass through grant making and leadership programs. Their Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact, or LIPPI, is a non-partisan initiative that provides women with the tools, mentors, and confidence they need to become our region’s community leaders and elected officials. For details: http://www.wamtheatre.com/
Darko Tresnjak
Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director of Hartford Stage through the 2018-19 season,m directed the Atlantic Theater Company’s Off-Broadway musical This Ain’t No Disco, which opened in late July. The new musical is authored by Stephen Trask of Hedwig and The Angry inch, and Peter Yanowitz, founding member of the band The Wallflowers, along with Rick Elice. Next for Tresnjak is the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Saint-Saens Samson and Dalila, which will be broadcast in hi-def in area cinemas.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra will present Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert on April 6, at The Bushnell. The HSO will perform this magical score live from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen. For details: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org.
Keep in Mind
Arts Beat Radio airs every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB. Two music men, composers Steven Schoenberg and Alexander Sovronsky stop by on August 24, and we’ll preview the new Hartford Stage season with Elizabeth Williamson on August 31. In September, we’ll be chatting with Springfield Symphony Orchestra Maestro Kevin Rhodes, composer Adam Schoenberg, and Principal Tuba Steve Perry as the SSO launches its 75th season; Chester Theatre’s Daniel Elihu Kramer about some exciting theatre travel programs; local singer Dave Brinnel, and Barrington Stage Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. ArtsBeat Radio, live on Fridays at 8AM on 89.5fm/WSKB, on Westfield Comcast channel 15, or streamed on www.wskb.org
Mothers and Sons, Terrence McNally’s highly-regarded drama about a mother and her relationship with her gay son and his partner, plays Shakespeare and Company in Lenox through September 9. James Warwick directs, and Elliot Norton Award winner Annette Miller stars. For details: 413-637-3353 or www.shakespeare.org.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s Percussion Ensemble will perform a free concert at The Springfield Armory on August 30. The SSO Percussion trio will feature SSO Principal Percussionist, Nathan Lassell, Principal Timpanist, Marty Kluger and Percussionist, Doug Perry. The trio will present a mixed program featuring snare drumming, marimba music, and captivating multi-percussion pieces with humorous musical commentary thrown in.The performance is free. For details: 413-733-2291 or www.springfieldsymphony.org..
—
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.
