by Mark G. Auerbach
The MGM Casino Opens
Downtown Springfield has a new attraction with the MGM Casino opening, and MGM has promised to bring entertainment to Mass Mutual Center, Springfield Symphony Hall, and CityStage. It was announced that the opening event would be a concert by Stevie Wonder, and frankly, it’s been a long time since an entertainer of this caliber came to town. Kudos to MGM.
MGM also promised to help the local arts and attractions. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra will be featured in 4U: A Symphonic Celebration of Prince. Created by Live Nation Urban and TCG Entertainment. It is the only approved Prince symphonic show in the world officially endorsed by the Prince Estate. The show focuses on the legendary artist’s music as well as incorporates state-of-the-art production and video provided by the estate, and is curated by Questlove. For details on the September 18 event: https://www.4uprince.com/ .
On November 9, the Comedy Get Down comes to Springfield with Cedric ‘The Entertainer,’ Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, and George Lopez
To learn more about the MGM Springfield Casino: https://www.mgmspringfield.com/en.html
Christian McBride. Photo by R. Andrew Lepley
Of Note
Berkshire Theatre Group has announced additions to the 2018 fall and winter seasons. Jazz virtuoso Christian McBride plays The Colonial in Pittsfield on October 13, as part of the Pittsfield City Jazz Festival. BTG PLAYS! will launch a school tour of Showtime with Shakespeare: A Magic Tree House Adventure, a new hip-hop musical directed by Travis Daly, based on Magic Tree House: Stage Fright on a Summer Night by Mary Pope Osborne. And, Berkshire Theatre Group’s 13th Annual A Christmas Carol will be presented at The Colonial Theatre December 8 through December 22. A special community and sensory-friendly performance of A Christmas Carol will be held on Wednesday, December 12 at 6pm. For details on these, comedy, and music events: 413-997-4444 or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares begins its 7th season with a performance by DECADES, featuring Jason Robinson, reeds, David Goodrich, guitar and Bob Weiner, drums, on September 8 at the brand new Arts Trust Building, 33 Hawley St., Northampton, MA. Long-time friends with deep roots in various overlapping and divergent music worlds, Austin-based guitarist David Goodrich teams up with Pioneer Valley stalwarts Jason Robinson and Bob Weiner to present an evening of imaginative sonic explorations full of joy, intrigue, and celebration. For details: www.jazzshares.org
Elizabeth Williamson
Keep in Mind
Arts Beat Radio airs every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB. On August 31, we preview the new Hartford Stage season with Associate Artistic Director, Elizabeth Williamson. Then, we meet director Jackson Gay, who is helming the world premiere of Bess Wohl’s Make Believe. Start your weekend with ArtsBeat Radio. Tune in live on the airwaves, on Comcast ch. 15, or www.wskb.org
Harriet Harris
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You and The Actor’s Nightmare, Christopher Durang’s absurdly hilarious double bill, play Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge through August 31. Harriet Harris, Tony Award winner for Thoroughly Modern Millie, seen last summer in Arsenic and Old Lace at BTG, and earlier this season in Barrington Stage’s The Royal Family of Broadway, stars. Noted director Matthew Penn directs. Penn grew up around Berkshire Theatre Group, because his father, legendary director and Tony Award winner Arthur Penn of Bonnie and Clyde fame, was Artistic Director of Berkshire Theatre Festival at one point. Sister Mary first appeared on a bill of one acts in 1979, before being presented in 1981, with The Actor’s Nightmare. Diane Keaton starred in a movie version for Showtime. For details: 413-997-4444 or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
Well Intentioned White People by Rachel Lynett, directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, has its world premiere at Barrington Stage through September 8. After a racial incident she would rather forget, Cass is forced into “making an example of it” by her well intentioned roommate and the dean of her “hip” and liberal university. Looking to make tenure and not wanting to ruffle any feathers, Cass is pushed by her community to lead a diversity day on her own behalf and is asked to be the face of her race. This world premiere play is a poignant and surprisingly funny look at race, friendship, and how in the pursuit of real change, “well intentions” are not always enough. For details: 413-236-8888 or www.barringtonstageco.org
Danny Eaton
Johnny Guitar, a musicalization of the movie classic starring Joan Crawford, opens The Majestic Theatre season in West Springfield, September 6-October 21. Nicholas Van Hoogstraten, Martin Silvestri, and Joel Higgins wrote the show. Johnny Guitar tells the story of a sultry saloon keeper and her jealous nemesis. And, when a handsome stranger rides into town, well, the stage is set for a hilarious show unlike anything the Old West has ever seen. Danny Eaton directs. For details: http://www.majestictheater.com/2018-2019.html
Madelyn Gardner
Finally…
Thank you and good luck to Berkshire Theatre Group’s Press and Communications Manager Madelyn Gardner, who’s moving on to New York City to pursue her dreams. Madelyn, a recent winner of Berkshires’ Got Talent, was always helpful to those of us at Westfield News Group and 89.5fm/WSKB. We’ll miss her.
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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.
