by Mark G. Auerbach
Bess Wohl author of Make Believe at Hartford Stage
Megan Byrne in Make Believe at Hartford Stage
Make Believe Premieres at Hartford Stage
Hartford Stage opens its 55th season with the world premiere of Bess Wohl’s Make Believe, staged by Jackson Gay, September 6-30. Bess Wohl’s uncanny, gently funny and touching play, set in the 1980’s, follows four young siblings as their childhood is upended by the mysterious problems of the adults in their lives and tracks how moments from our childhood resonate with us forever. The cast features four adult and four youth actors. Among the adult actors are Megan Bryne, seen last season in TheaterWorks’ production of The Wolves, and Chris Ghaffari, seen as “Romeo” in Hartford Stage’s Romeo and Juliet.
Chris Ghaffari in Make Believe at Hartford Stage
Wohl’s most recent work, Small Mouth Sounds, was hailed as a critic’s pick by The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Time Out New York. Wohl was also honored with the 2017 Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award for American plays by new playwrights for Small Mouth Sounds, which completed a national tour last April. She received the 2015 Drama Desk Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award for establishing herself as an important voice in New York theatre. Wohl’s other plays include American Hero, Barcelona (Ovation award nominee), and the original musical Pretty Filthy (2015 Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Musical). Wohl also writes for film and television. Her film, Irreplaceable You, premiered on Netflix last February. Wohl has also developed film and television projects for HBO, ABC, USA, Disney and Paramount.
For details: 860-527-5151 or www.hartfordstage.org
Thomas Bergeron
The Thomas Bergeron Quartet Performs at Huntington’s North Hall.
The Thomas Bergeron Quartet will be appearing at the Historic North Hall Arts Festival in Huntington, MA. on September 9. The Quartet will be performing a blend of classical and jazz that explores the space between classical music and jazz. The Quartet features Springfield Symphony principal Trumpeter Thomas Bergeron on trumpet with other artists in the quartet on piano/accordion, bass and guitar. They will be performing a classical/jazz blend of music that explores the space between classical music and jazz.
The program will mostly feature music from a new recording project that will be released soon including new arrangements inspired by Liszt, Scriabin, Takemitsu, Rachmaninoff, as well as original compositions by Bergeron. A trumpeter, composer, bandleader, producer, and educator known for excelling in both the jazz and classical realms, Thomas Bergeron exemplifies a new breed of 21st century artists.
In addition to composing and performing with his own ensemble, Bergeron is a member of the Atlantic Brass Quintet, a frequent Broadway orchestra musician, and an in- demand classical and jazz freelancer. As an educator, he is currently the Director of Chamber Music and Orchestra at Deerfield Academy.
For details: 413 667-5543 or http://northhallhuntington.org/
Of Note
Ma-Yi Theater Company has teamed up with Barrington Stage Company to co-present Lloyd Suh’s The Chinese Lady. The play wrapped up its world-premiere engagement at BSC August 11 before transferring Off-Broadway this fall. The Chinese Lady will run in repertory at Theatre Row with Ma-Yi’s production of Sesar, by Orlando Pabotoy. For details on the Barrington Stage production: https://barringtonstageco.org/
Goodspeed Musicals was forced to shutter its hit musical Cyrano early, because star Blake Jenner, who plays Christian, will be leaving the company to star in an upcoming television project. Goodspeed’s efforts to find a replacement have been unsuccessful. All ticket holders for the cancelled performances will be contacted by the Goodspeed Box Office and will receive a full refund. Cyrano closes September 2. For details on other Goodspeed offerings: www.goodspeed.org.
The Berkshire Theatre Group’s cast and crew of Tarzan collected donations after the August 5th performance at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. This fund is dedicated to the conservation, protection and study of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. The company also adopted mountain gorillas named, Mother Taraja and Infant Ishimwe, from Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Proceeds from adoptions directly support wild gorilla protection in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Dave Brinnel
Keep in Mind
Arts Beat Radio airs every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB. On September 7, Mark G. Auerbach chats with Chester Theatre Artistic Director Daniel Elihu Kramer about the theatre’s travel programs to Toronto and London, and Longmeadow musician Dave Brinnel previews his new CD. Start your weekend with ArtsBeat Radio. Tune in live on the airwaves, on Comcast ch. 15, or www.wskb.org
The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler’s landmark play has given voice to a deeper consciousness in the conversation around ending violence against women. Based on V-Day Founder/playwright Eve Ensler’s interviews with more than 200 women, this play and the liberation of this one word, Vagina, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives. Monica Bliss directs a production at Pittsfield’s Whitney Center for the Arts, September 14-16. For details: 413-443-0289 or www.thewhit.org
Joe Iconis and his tribe of musical theater misfits return to Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, September 2 for a special one-night-only concert Joe Iconis and Family, Take Over The Mainstage! Back by popular demand, the composer of Barrington Stage’s Broadway Bounty Hunter, brings his family of supremely talented singers and musicians. Iconis created the current Off-Broadway musical hit Be More Chill. For details: 413-236-8888 or www.barringtonstageco.org.
Fall Springs, a new musical with music and lyrics by Niko Tsakalakos and book and lyrics by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, gets readings on 30-31 at Barrington Stage’s St. Germain Stage in Pittsfield, MA. It’s a project of Barrington Stage’s Musical Theatre Lab, which promotes new musicals.. For details: 413-236-8888 or www.barringtonstageco.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.
