by Mark G. Auerbach
Mark H. Dold
Barrington Stage Presents “The Glass Menagerie” October 3-21
Tennessee Williams’ exquisitely beautiful drama The Glass Menagerie, directed by Julianne Boyd, will be Barrington Stage’s fall production, October 3-21 in Pittsfield, MA. Williams’ classic story about the Wingfield family, lost in their dreams and memories, was Williams’ breakthrough Broadway success.
The Glass Menagerie opened at the Playhouse Theatre March 31, 1945 and was awarded Best Play in 1945 by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, marking Williams’ first Broadway success. Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize (A Streetcar Named Desire, 1948 and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1955), Tennessee Williams (1911 – 1983) is considered one of the greatest American playwrights. In addition to his two Pulitzers, Williams was nominated four times for the Tony Award for Best Play, winning in 1951 for The Rose Tattoo. His other major plays include Summer and Smoke, Camino Real, Sweet Bird of Youth, Suddenly Last Summer and The Night of the Iguana.
Boyd’s cast includes Mark H. Dold, Associate Artist for 14+ seasons at Barrington Stage, as Tom; Caitlin O’Connell as the matriarch Amanda, Angela Janas as her painfully shy daughter, Laura, and Tyler Lansing Weaks as the Gentleman Caller. Alexander Sovronsky creates an original score for this production, to be performed by Susan French. Sovronsky composed the score to The Cake, seen at Barrington Stage earlier this season.
For details: 413-236-8888 or https://barringtonstageco.org/.
“The River” Opens TheaterWorks Season
The River, Jez Butterworth’s rama which brought Hugh Jackman back to Broadway several seasons ago, open the TheaterWorks season in Hartford, October 4-November 11. Butterworth is known for his plays Jerusalem, which starred Mark Rylance on Broadway, and his current London hit, The Ferryman, which begins performances on Broadway next week.
Rob Ruggiero stages The River, which takes place on a moonless night in August when the sea trout are ready to run. A man brings his new girlfriend to the remote family cabin where he has come to fly-fish since he was a boy. But she’s not the only woman he has brought here – or indeed the last. Erotic, chilling and poetic, The River asks: when we find each other, are we trying to recapture someone we once lost?
Ruggiero returns to TheaterWorks after having staged acclaimed productions of Oliver! at Goodspeed, Gypsy at the Muny, and Evita in St. Louis.
For details: 860-527-7838 or www.theaterworkshartford.org
Joshua Burrage
Of Note
Josh Burrage, the Westfield native who recently made his Broadway debut in Cats, after having toured nationally in Disney’s Newsies, has been cast in the ensemble of the Broadway musical A Bronx Tale, which launches its national tour this fall. The musical has a book by Chazz Palminteri, music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Glenn Slater. .Tour stops close to Westield include Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady, NY, October 23-28; Boston Opera House April 2-14, and New Haven’s Shubert Theatre, June 26-30.
For details: https://abronxtalethemusical.com/tour/
The Springfield Performing Arts Development Corporation will no longer manage CityStage and Symphony Hall in downtown Springfield, after December 31. According to Springfield Symphony Orchestra officials, this move will not affect their 75th season of classical and pops performances already scheduled in Symphony Hall.
The Other Mozart. Photo by Charlotte Dobre
The Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton announced its 2018–2019 season, which begins with Best of Valley Voices Story Slam (October 13)! Asking for It with Adrienne Truscott follows (October 27), in a performance that will straddle the world of stand-up and performance art; The Other Mozart (November 17) written and created by Sylvia Milo, is the true, forgotten story of Nannerl Mozart, the sister of Amadeus. Playwright and performer Tanya O’Debra brings her new production of Shut UP, Emily Dickinson (January 19), a pseudo-historical, quasi-biographical, about America’s most brilliant and annoying poetess. This year’s National Geographic Live! takes “A Rare Look: North Korea and Cuba” with David Guttenfelder. Academy Youth Productions presents the ultimate show-biz musical, 42nd Street (March 7 & 8),The season closes with (IN)Dependent: The Heroin Project, a drama by Kent Stage University students Emelia Sherin and Zach Manthey, based on interviews with opioid users, counselors, and family members. For details: 413-584-9032 ext.105 or www.aomtheatre.com.
Keep in Mind
Arts Beat Radio airs every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB. On October 5, Mark G. Auerbach chats with Juliana Haubrich, designer of WAM’s upcoming production of Ann. Start your weekend with ArtsBeat Radio. Tune in live on the airwaves, on Comcast ch. 15, or www.wskb.org
Carolyn Kuan. Photo by Chowder Inc.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra opens its 75th season with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, October 5-7 at The Belding Theatre at The Bushnell in Hartford. Carolyn Kuan conducts. For details: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org.
William Hite, the tenor, will perform Schubert’s song cycle, Die schöne Müllerin, a setting of 20 poems by Wilhelm Müller centered on the theme of love unrequited, on September 30 at UMass/Amherst’s Bezanson Recital Hall. Jeewon Park is the pianist in the concert sponsored by UMass’ Department of Music and Dance. The concert is free. For details: www.umass.edu/music/events
Chris Botti
Chris Botti, Grammy Award-winning master trumpeter and composer, performs at Great Barrington’s Mahaiwe Theatre on October 6. For over two decades, Chris Botti has amassed a spectacular variety of honors, including multiple Gold and Platinum albums, to become the nation’s largest-selling instrumental artist. For details: 413-528-0100 or www.mahaiwe.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.
