by Mark G. Auerbach
The Trocks
The Hilarious Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo Skew the Classics at the UMass Fine Arts Center on April 2.
This zany all-male dance company pokes fun of dance classic from Swan Lake to Martha Graham at the UMass Fine Arts Center on April 2. Meticulously trained in ballet an modern genres, dressed in costumes every ballerina dreams about, and dubbed with “authentic” ballerina names like Ludmilla Redrovakomova and Dame Margot Lowinoctane, they bring high kicks and low comedy to ballet.
Founded in 1974 on the heels of New York’s Stonewall riots by a group of ballet enthusiasts, the Trocks have established a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form and en travesti – as a gender different from that of the performer. An all-male company, The Trocks revel in playing with gender roles and identity. The comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents, and underlying incongruities of serious dance. The fact that men dance all the parts – heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, sylphs, water sprites, romantic princesses, angst-ridden Victorian ladies – enhances rather than mocks the spirit of dance as an art form.
Dancing the fine line between high art and high camp, The Trocks simultaneously honor the traditions of ballet with high-level performance while also poking fun at its definitive conventions. The New York Times says, “The amalgam of ballerina finesse and daft diva antics is brilliant, unsettling, riveting: the epitome of Trocks style.” The Trocks illustrate how decades of exploring and challenging a genre can still be fun and celebratory at the same time.
For details: 413-545-2511, 800-999-UMAS, or fineartscenter.com/Trockadero.
Edward Watts
Edward Watts is “The Music Man” at Goodspeed.
Edward Watts, who played Trevor Graydon in Goodspeed’s Thoroughly Modern Millie, takes on the iconic role of Professor Harold Hill, the charming con man who wins the hearts of a small Iowa town in the classic musical, The Music Man. There’s trouble in River City, when Hill charms the town into purchasing musical instruments for a boys’ band, in Meredith Willson’s beloved musical, which opens April 12, and now runs with extra performances through June 20.
Meredith Willson wrote book, music, and lyrics for The Music Man, which features standards like “76 Trombones”, “Til There Was You”, “Marian The Librarian” and “You Got Trouble”. Willson and Franklin Lacey wrote the story. Jenn Thompson, who staged Goodspeed’s Bye, Bye, Birdie and Oklahoma, directs and Patricia Wilcox, her collaborator on Bye, Bye, Birdie choreographs.
Ellie Fishman
Edward Watts appeared on Broadway in Scandalous and Finian’s Rainbow, and played the title role in New York City Center’s Encores production of It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Superman. Joining him at Goodspeed will be. Ellie Fishman, who appeared in Goospeed’s production of Rags, and veteran Broadway actress Stephanie Pope
For details: 860-873-8668 or www.goodspeed.org
George Bowerman. Photo by Morgan Myers.
Sevenars Concerts Launches 51st Season
The hills are alive with the sound of music, every Sunday afternoon, beginning July 14, when Sevenars Concerts presents a series of summer chamber music performances in Worthington, MA. Sevenars opens with a Bastille Day celebration and Saint-Saen’s Carnival of The Animals. The Revere Piano Quartet celebrates British music on July 21; and The Greenwood Chamber Players perform on July 28. George Bowerman, the Springfield pianist dubbed “young artist to watch” returns to Sevenars in a solo recital on August 4, and pianist David James performs in recital on August 11. The Bob Sparkman Trio, which includes Jerry Noble and Kara Noble, bring a mix of classics and jazz to end the season on August 18. For details: www.sevenars.org.. .
Keep in Mind
Arts Beat Radio airs every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB. On March 29, we’ll chat with director Jenn Thompson, who’s staging The Music Man at Goodspeed, and CJ Pawlikowski., who is co-starring in Girlfriend, the new musical at TheaterWorks. . ArtsBeat Radio, live on Fridays at 8AM on 89.5fm/WSKB, on Westfield Comcast channel 15, or streamed on www.wskb.org. And, if you miss an episode, find it on YouTube at WSKB Community Radio’s page
Chick Corea heads to The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington on April 14. The Grammy-winning pianist’s newest trio features a stellar rhythm tandem: bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade. Keyboardist, composer, and bandleader Chick Corea is a DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, as well as the fourth-most nominated artist in Grammy Awards history with 63 nominations—and 22 wins, in addition to a number of Latin Grammys. For details: 413-528-0100 or www.mahaiwe.org
Max Creek
Max Creek comes to Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre, under the auspices of Berkshire Theatre Group on April 5, as part of their 48th anniversary celebration. For the first time in 19 years, Max Creek has released a new album, 45 and Live. For details: 413-997-4444, or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
Hartford Symphony Orchestra presents an evening of Vaughan-Williams an Mendelssohn, April 12-14 at The Bushnell. Carolyn Kuan conducts, accompanied by The Hartford Chorale and soprano Jamilyn Manning White. For details: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.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.
