MARK AUERBACH
First Nights and Holiday Spectaculars
First Night Northampton
The Northampton Center for the Arts presents the 30th annual First Night Northampton on Wednesday, December 31, to ring in the New Year. Northampton’s signature family-friendly arts festival boasts an array of entertainment for young and old at 20 different venues in downtown Northampton.
The action starts at noon with a supersized kick-off at the Academy of Music where “Circus Wonderland” promises to delight and amaze, and the Expandable Brass Band serenades. A special 1 p.m. show of Paintbox Theatre’s “Tarzan” takes the audience on a swing through the jungle at Theatre 14.
First Night Northampton’s poster designed by Gayle Kabaker with graphics by Alexis Neubert.
The afternoon offers a cornucopia of dance, puppetry, a cappella voice, classical trios, quartets, and duos—not to mention a guitar orchestra and the customary full plate of entertainment designed for young children. Back by popular demand, the Valley Light Opera makes a second First Night appearance with performances of “Zoo” at 4 and 5 p.m.
Fireworks at 6:15 p.m. launch the start of the evening entertainment. After that, the festivities feature an incredible line-up of bands at the Academy, emceed by Monte Belmonte.
Meanwhile, stroll down Conz Street to catch the world beat rhythms of the Pangeans or party out with Trailer Park at the World War II Club. Move to the reggae of Rebelle in First Night’s newest venue, the Arts Trust Building at 33 Hawley Street. The Parlor Room presents the chamber pop of The Winterpills, and the indie-rock quartet Bunk is at TD Bank. Bunk at the Bank!
East Street Ballet performs at First Night Northampton.
As midnight approaches, it’s time to gather at the Hotel Northampton for the iconic raising of the ball. For the 30th anniversary of First Night Northampton, Johnny Memphis broadcasts the best party hits of 1985 on to King Street starting at 11:30 p.m.
For information on programs, schedules, and to purchase buttons: www.firstnightnorthampton.org.
First Night Hartford
First Night Hartford celebrates its 26th anniversary with day-long events in and around downtown Hartford, and two fireworks shows at 6 p.m. and midnight in Bushnell Park. The day is a multicultural, artistically unique, alcohol-free New Year’s experience with countless professional musicians, artists, performance groups and exhibits that inspire thousands of people of all ages to attend each year. It’s also an affordable way for everyone to ring in the New Year.
Venues include the Public Library, City Hall, The Old State House, State House Square, Wadsworth Atheneum, Center Church and Charter Oak Cultural Center, The Bushnell Carousel and more.
For details: http://www.firstnighthartford.org/
Alexander Streltsov and Christine Van Leo perform with the Hartford Symphony Pops.
Hartford Symphony’s Holiday Cirque Spectacular
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra has taken its traditional holiday pops, and added high flying acrobats from Cirque de la Symphonie to the mix. The Holiday Cirque Spectacular, conducted by Carolyn Kuan, shakes up The Bushnell on December 20 with family-friendly performances at 3 and 7:30 p.m. The concert includes such favorites as “Winter Wonderland”, “Ave Maria”, selections from “The Nutcracker”, “Sleigh Ride”, selections from “Frozen”, and more, while Cirque de la Symphonie surrounds the stage with awe-inspiring aerialists, mind-boggling contortionists, and breathtaking juggling acts. Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to attend, and there’s an audience sing-along.
The performers of Cirque de la Symphonie are some of the most accomplished veterans of exceptional cirque programs from across the globe. They include world record holders, gold-medal winners of international competitions, Olympians and some of the most original talent ever seen, including Alexander Streltsov, Christine Van Loo, Vladimir Tsarkov, Elena Tsarkova, and Vitalii Buza.
For tickets: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org.
Keep in Mind…
***The Santa Show, PaintBox Theatre’s all-new holiday show for the kids, with appearances by Santa, Mrs. Claus, a bunch of elves, and Blitzen the reindeer. Tom McCabe, master storyteller, writes and directs, and the cast includes local actors, who perform with PaintBox Theatre during the summer. Performances are December 19-21 at Northampton High School. For tickets: 413-923-7159 or www.paintboxtheatre.com.
***Thetis: Immortal Fire, a dance by Kristin Wold, will be presented by CoyoteWorld for one performance at Shakespeare and Company’s Tina Packer Playhoouse in Lenox on December 20. Wold’s dance theatre performance is inspired by the story of Thetis, the sea nymph of Greek mythology, who tries to immortalize the baby Achilles by burning him in the hall fire by night and anointing him with ambrosia by day. The performance features Susannah Millonzi as the sea- goddess Thetis, and Josh McCabe as Peleus, the mortal father of Achilles. Wold, a former member of Springfield’s StageWest company, starred in “Shakespeare’s Will” last summer at Shakespeare and Company. For tickets: 413-637-3353 or www.shakespeare.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.
