by Mark G. Auerbach
Alan Campbell
Two Musicals Have Premieres This Month
George Wendt
Rock and Roll Man: The Alan Freed Story in Pittsfield
Rock and Roll Man: The Alan Freed Story has its eyes set on Broadway, and has chosen Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, for its world premiere tryout, June 27-July 31. It’s based on the true story of disc jockey Alan Freed, who rose to fame in 1954, playing a new sound of “rock and roll” which changed the sound of music on the airwaves. He discovered black artists—and got them record deals. He traveled the country—and got them heard from coast to coast. He spoke to the younger generation—and brought them to their feet. By the dawn of the ’60s, he was the biggest name in music—until scandal made him the biggest target in America.
Tony Award-nominated Alan Campbell (Sunset Boulevard) stars as Alan Freed and multiple-Emmy Award-nominated George Wendt (Norm from Cheers) co-stars as J. Edgar Hoover. Rock and Roll Man: The Alan Freed Story features a book by Gary Kupper, Larry Marshak and Rose Caiola; original music and lyrics by Gary Kupper, direction by Randal Myler, music direction by Dave Keyes, and choreography by Brian Reeder. For details: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
Bill Berloni and Bowdie. Photo by Diane Sobolewki
Because of Winn Dixie at Goodspeed
People expect new musicals at Goodspeed, which rose to national attention when Man of La Mancha premiered there before moving to Broadway. Then, four decades ago, Annie premiered in East Haddam, before becoming an international sensation. Millions of people saw Annie around the world, and the endearing story of a stray dog and a young girl became legend.
Flash forward. Goodspeed Musicals will produce the heartwarming new musical Because of Winn Dixie, based on the award-winning novel by Kate DiCamillo, running June 28– September 1. In a Southern town filled with lost souls, a new leash on life is just around the corner when a preacher and his daughter take in a mutt named Winn Dixie. The beloved, award-winning novel about a quirky community learning to get along now sings for the first time in this uplifting new musical. Grammy and Tony winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) and Tony nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls) created the musical.
Bill Berloni, who trained the shelter dogs who played Sandy in Annie, returns to Goodspeed in a similar capacity. Winn Dixie will be played by Bowdie. Bill Berloni found Bowdie in 2014 when his family could no longer keep this smart, energetic dog. Bowdie made his acting debut when he was cast as the first dog to ever play Nana in Peter Pan Live on NBC.
For details: www.goodspeed.org.
Of Note:
Kevin Rhodes, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Maestro, is conducting The Korea Symphony Orchestra for the Korean National Ballet production of Mata Hari, Renato Zanella’s staging of a ballet based on the story of the glamorous spy. Mata Hari, set to music of Shostakovich, is being performed June 18-19 at the Seoul Arts Center/Opera Theater as part of the 9th Ballet Festival Korea.
Varla Jean Merman
Keep in Mind…
Varla Jean Merman, drag sensation and star of the musical Chicago performs her comedy cabaret hit Under A Big Top, June 23, at The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, a co-production of TheaterWorks and The Wadsworth Atheneum. The performance is co-written by Hartford-area playwright Jacques Lamarre and directed by Michael Schiralli. The Varla Jean Merman performance is presented in conjunction with the Wadsworth’s upcoming exhibition, Be Seen: Portrait Photography Since Stonewall, which features photographic works from over 25 artists including Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Patti Smith. The exhibition is on view June 22 through September 15, 2019.
For details: theaterworkshartford.org
Karen Allen
Outside Mullingar, John Patrick Shanley’s play directed by stage and screen’s Karen Allen, a Berkshires resident, is next at Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre through July 13. Shanley has won the Pulitzer, Tony, and Oscar for Doubt and Moonstruck. Allen is best known for Raiders of The Lost Ark, and Animal House, and she directed Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Moonchildren, Extremities at BTG. For details: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Edward Albee’s American classic, comes to Gateway City Arts in Holyoke through June 23, courtesy of New Century Theatre. You may remember the movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, which was filmed on the Smith College campus in Northampton. .For details: www.newcenturytheatre.org.
Into The Woods, the beloved musical by Stephen Sondheim, with book by James Lapine, gets a major revival at Barrington Stage, through July 13. “Anything can happen in the woods.” This is the promise, and premise, of the much-loved Tony-Award winning musical. A childless baker and his wife endeavor to lift their family curse by journeying into the woods where they encounter Rapunzel and her mother, Cinderella, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Little Red Riding Hood and other classic fairy tale characters. Their stories become entangled in unexpected ways – revealing what happens after “happily ever after.” The wickedly witty score weaves a magical spell, warning “be careful what you wish for.” For details: https://barringtonstageco.org/
Steven Schoenberg returns to the stage for a special performance of improvisational piano, June 23 at the 1794 Meeting House in New Salem. Schoenberg, a Longmeadow native, is a dynamic, award-winning composer/pianist whose talents cross into musical theater, classical compositions, film scoring, children’s music, and solo improvisational piano performances. For details: https://1794meetinghouse.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.
