By Mark G. Auerbach
Plan Ahead
Goodspeed Musicals has announced three productions for 2020. The season opens with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific directed by Theaterworks’ Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero, followed by the new folk-rock musical Anne of Green Gables featuring book and lyrics by Matte O’Brien and music by Matt Vinson, directed by Jenn Thompson, who staged The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie for Goodspeed.. Closing the season will be Leonard Bernstein’s Candide directed by former Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak. For details: www.goodspeed.org
Joshua Bell. (Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzucco)
Alessio Bax. (Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzucco)
Joshua Bell and Alessio Bax, violinist and pianist extraordinaire, are Bushnell-bound for a joint recital on January 31, presented by The Bushnell and The Hartford Symphony Orchestra. . With a career spanning more than 30 years as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, conductor and director, Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated violinists of his era. Combining exceptional lyricism and insight with consummate technique, Alessio Bax is, without a doubt, according to Gramaphone, “among the most remarkable young pianists now before the public”. For details: www.hartfordsymphony.org
Keep in Mind…
ArtsBeat is also now on radio and television! Tune in or stream every Friday at 8AM, on 89.5fm/WSKB or Westfield Community Programming Channel 15 .October guests include Berkshire Theatre Group’s Artistic Director Kate Maguire on October 4; TheaterWorks directors Rob Ruggiero and Taneisha Duggan on October 11; UMass Fine Arts Center’s Shawn Farley on October 18, and Gaslight Entertainment’s Patrick Berry and Jay Paguica on October 25. And, if you miss an episode, find it on YouTube at WSKB Community Radio’s page
My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy, Steve Solomon’s autobiographical one-man show, comes to Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre, under the auspices of The Berkshire Theatre Group, on October 12. Inspired by Steve’s hilarious family, this smash hit played for two sold-out years in New York City and has toured internationally in more than 100 cities. In this one-man show, the audience follows Steve on a journey as he recounts growing up, mixed marriages, ex-wives, dogs, cats, dieting, and dozens of other side-splitting relatable situations. One-part lasagna, one-part kreplach, and two parts Prozac, audiences don’t have to be Italian or Jewish to love this show. All you need is to know what it feels like to leave a family dinner with heartburn and a headache! For details: www.berkhiretheatregroup.org.
Lightwire Theater, semi-finalists on NBC’s America’s Got Talent and winners of Tru Tv’s Fake Off, brings their first developed feature-length theatrical production Dino-Light to UMass Fine Arts Center in Amherst on October 20. The performance runs approximately one hour and is appropriate for ages five and up. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Lightwire Theater stemmed from a mutual passion for dance and interest in technology. Co-creators Ian Carney and Corbin Popp were both dancers in Twyla Tharp’s Movin’ Out on Broadway, making an immediate connection. They realized they both had a love for art and theater, and wanted to combine the two in a different way, creating a more modernized and electronic show of puppetry. For details: fineartscenter.com/dinolight
Samantha Choquette is Anne in Silverthorne Theatre’s The Diary of Anne Frank.
The Diary of Anne Frank, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett stage adaptation of the famous diary, which first played on Broadway in 1955, closes Silverthorne theatre’s current season, with performances October 17-26 at The Perch at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield. The Diary of Anne Frank recaps Anne and her family who are Jews in the Netherlands in 1942 during World War II. Persecuted and stripped of their livelihood, they flee to the Annex of the father’s business for survival. In world of the Third Reich, they are the Other. Against the background of impending death, the young Anne Frank wrote daily of her fears, longings and squabbles generated by eight people living in four small rooms over two years. Though she did not survive their discovery and deportation. Keith Langsdale directs, and Longmeadow actor Samantha Choquette plays Anne. For details: https://silverthornetheater.org
The Glenn Miller Orchestra.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform in two area theatres this month, on October 11 at Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre, under the auspices of Berkshire Theatre Group, and on October 24 at The Bushnell in Hartford. The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful and memorable dance bandleaders in the Swing Era of the 1930s and ’40s. A matchless string of hit records, the constant impact of radio broadcasts and the drawing power at theatres, hotels and dance pavilions, built and sustained the momentum of his popularity. Today, the 18-member ensemble continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements from both the civilian band and the AAFB libraries. Additionally, it also plays modern selections arranged and performed in Mr. Miller’s iconic style and sound. Just as it was in Mr. Miller’s day, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is still the most sought-after big band in the world today. For details on the Pittsfield performance: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org. For details on the Hartford performance: www.bushnell.org
Black Violin.
Black Violin, the innovative classical and hip-hop duo, comes to The Bushnell for one performance on October 11. Led by classically trained string players Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin), along with DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes, the band uses their unique blend of classical and hip-hop music, often described as “classical boom,”” to overcome stereotypes and encourage people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds to join together to break down cultural barriers. Black Violin is currently writing and recording their next studio album expected to be released late 2019. Their last record, Stereotypes, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and #4 on the Billboard R&B Chart. NPR praised the album and band, saying “their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.” Some of their creative collaborations include Kanye West, Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean, Lil Wayne, and Alicia Keys. For details: www.bushnell.org
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, and is a contributor to Pioneer Valley Radio.
