by Mark G. Auerbach
Jayne Atkinson
Jayne Atkinson stars as Texas Governor Ann Richards in WAM’s “Ann”
Holland Taylor, the award-winning actor best known for her role on TV’s Two and A Half Men, wrote a solo performance piece about the outspoken, feisty late Texas governor Ann Richards. Ann had a critically acclaimed run, with Taylor, on Broadway, and a performance was streamed on Broadway HD.
Jayne Atkinson as TX Governor Ann Richards in Ann. Photo by Joey Moro.
WAM Theatre, in association with Vermont’s Dorset Theatre, where the production ran last summer, brings Ann to WAM , October 19-28 at Shakespeare and Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse in Lenox, MA. Kristen Van Ginhoven directs Jayne Atkinson from TV’s House of Cards is Ann Richards.
For details: www.wamtheatre.org.
Shakespeare in The Round: “Henry V” at Hartford Stage
Stephen Louis Grush
Henry V, Shakespeare’s powerful history play, plays Hartford Stage October 11-November 11. Elizabeth Williamson directs the drama, which will be staged in the round, a format Hartford Stage has done only once before. Henry V dates back to possibly 1599, and tells the story of King Henry V of England, focusing on events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt (1415) during the Hundred Years’ War. The play is the final part of a tetralogy, preceded by Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, and Henry IV, Part 2.
Stephen Louis Grush plays the title role. has numerous Chicago theatre credits. Miles Anderson from Hartford Stage’s Heartbreak House and Kate Forbes, who appeared in Hamlet at Hartford Stage are also in the cast. Nick Vaughan, who designed Seder and Cloud 9 at Hartford Stage, turns Hartford Stage into an arena for Henry V.
For details: 860-527-5151 or www.hartfordstage.org.
Of Note
TheaterWorks announced that the theater will perform two full productions this season at the Wadsworth Atheneum, while its home theatre space on Pearl Street is undergoing renovations. Actually by Anna Zeigler (May 23 – June 23, 2019) and Fully Committed by Becky Mode (August 1- September 1) will both be performed in the Wadsworth’s theater. All productions and performances through late February will be performed on Pearl Street. A late March production will be presented at a site to be announced. For details: 860-527-7838 or www.theaterworkshartford.org
Standing Room Only is a 24/7 show tune streaming station, made possible by Emerson College’s 88.9fm/WERS. They play the blockbusters and the unknown gems from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and occasionally Hollywood adaptations. On Saturdays from 10AM-2PM, they offer live commentary, reviews, and more. https://standingroom.org/
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra announces the concerts in its 12th anniversary Sunday Serenades Chamber Music Series season at the Wadsworth Atheneum. The programs combine chamber music with gallery talks about relevant art. Monster & Myths combines music by Poulenc and Hindemith on November 11. Music of Mozart and Spohr are featured in Land, Sea, Sky on February 24. The Spanish Golden Age on May 19, pairs Mahler and Schubert. For details: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org
Keep in Mind
Arts Beat Radio airs every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB. On October 12, Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative’s Diane Pearlman previews the upcoming Exchange, and actor an casting director Jeffrey Dreisbach talks about his new podcast series.. Start your weekend with ArtsBeat Radio. Tune in live on the airwaves, on Comcast ch. 15, or www.wskb.org
Max Richter: Photo by Virginia Rodriguez
Max Richter, international composer and performer, joined ‘ joined by the American Contemporary Music Ensemble, perform at the UMass Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on October10. With Richter on keyboards and electronics and ACME in quintet form, the ensemble will perform his work Infra, originally inspired by T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, and selections from the enhanced reissue of his 2004 masterpiece album, The Blue Notebooks. For details: 413-545-2511, 800-999-UMAS, or www.fineartscenter.com/Richter.
Christian McBride
The Pittsfield City Jazz Festival, 14th annual edition, welcomes Christian McBride’s New Jawn, with special guests The Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble, at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfiueld on October 13 at 7:30pm. Six-time Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist, Christian McBride, is a force of nature, fusing the fire and fury of a virtuoso with the depth and grounding of a seasoned journeyman. For details: 413-997-4444, or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
Life in the 413: A Celebration of (413) Life!, the sixth annual evening of original short plays presented as live radio theatre, and created by locals, will be presented by New Century Theatre on October 7 at the Academy of Music in Northampton. For details: www.newcenturytheatre.org
Young@Heart Chorus performs Mash-Up VI with Jésus Pagán y su Orquesta October 21, at Northampton’s Academy of Music. The Young@Heart will do an opening set of music from the iconic Woodstock album, but in a very different context from hippies in the Catskills.And for the first time ever, Young@Heart is honored to share the stage with Jesus Pagan Y Su Orquesta, a fabulous 12-piece salsa band of the finest Latin musicians from Puerto Rico, New York, and New England, who will perform a second set of all original material. Jesus and some of his musicians will join in on Young@Heart’s take of Woodstock while Young@Heart will accompany Jesus and his orchestra on a few of their tunes in the second set. For details: 413-584-9032 x105 or https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/selectSeats?id=1736018
Best of Valley Voices Story Slam, the third co-venture of The Academy of Music Theatre and New England Public Radio, plays The Academy of Music on October 13. These top stories by local storytellers will be shared on the Academy stage to compete for the top prize – Best of Valley Voices! For details: 413-584-9032 ext.105 or www.aomtheatre.com
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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.
