MARK AUERBACH
The Big Broadcast! Swings Into South Hadley and Pittsfield
The Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College presents the 10th edition of The Big Broadcast! on March 8 at Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, and on March 13 at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. “The Big Broadcast”, directed by Mark Gionfriddo (onstage as “Matt Morgan”), is a recreation of a live 1940’s radio show, and features WWLP-TV meteorologist Brian Lapis as emcee “Fred Kelley”. The Mount Holyoke Big Band, Vocal Jazz, and Chamber Jazz Ensembles perform well-known tunes from the swing era and the American songbook.
“This year’s The Big Broadcast! features a lot of new material, plus audience favorites from the last nine years,” says Gionfriddo. “We’ve got authentic radio commercials from the 1940s, radio drama with sound effects, and music by George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, and The Andrews Sisters. Some of the musical numbers include “Our Love Is Here To Stay”, “The American Patrol”, “One Bass Hit”, “Coins for My Country” and “Bounce Me Brother With A Solid Four”.
Lewis Black, author of “One Slight Hitch” at The Majestic.
For tickets (South Hadley performances): 413-545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMASS.or https://fac.umass.edu/Online/MHC . For tickets (Pittsfield performance): 413-997-4444 or http://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/
Comedian Lewis Black’s “One Slight Hitch” Majestic-Bound
Lewis Black, the comedian, author, and satirist, best known for his appearances on “The Daily Show”, is also a playwright, and his comedy “One Slight Hitch” plays West Springfield’s Majestic Theatre from February 26 through April 4. Rand Foerster, who ran New York’s West Bank Theatre with Black in the 1980s, directs the play, and Black plans to attend the opening night performance.
Audra McDonald stars opposite husband Will Swenson at Williamstowen this summer.
Longmeadow actor Ryan McCarthy is in the ensemble cast, which includes: Sandra Blaney, Emery Henderson, Brennan Lowery, Ashley Malloy, Andy Matthews, and Rebecca Nelson.
“One Slight Hitch” follows the comedic hubbub – and unexpected difficulties – surrounding the Coleman family’s preparations for daughter Courtney’s wedding.
The Theater Project is a non-profit company that Danny Eaton founded in 1991. Since March 1997 it has been in residence in West Springfield’s historic Majestic Theater, a century-old venue that was recently named “Best Place to See Theater” and “Best Live Theatre Company” in newspaper polls. In addition, Eaton’s work at the Majestic as producing director was honored with a Regional Award for Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre by the New England Theatre Conference.
For tickets: 413-747-7797 or www.majestictheater.com.
Kyra Sedgwick stars in a world premiere at Williamstown this summer.
Summer’s Coming
***Williamstown Theatre Festial has announced some blockbusters for the summer. Kyra Sedgwick will star in the world premiere of William Inge’s Of The Main Road”; Audra McDonald and husband Will Swenson lead the cast of Eugene O’Neill’s “A Moon for the Misbegotten”; and there’s a new musical premiere, “Unknown Soldier”, plus Cynthia Nixon starring in “Kinship”. For tickets: www.wtfestival.org.
***Berkshire Theatre Group plans productions of the musicals “Bells Are Ringing” and “Mary Poppins”, the thriller “Deathtrap”, and the Terrence McNally “Frankie and Johnny in the Claire De Lune” on the summer season. Robert Klein will do stand-up. Kate Baldwin and Karen Allen will be part of the season. For details: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
Kate Baldwin stars in “Bells Are Ringing” at Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre this summer.
Keep in Mind…
***Follies, the legendary Sondheim musical about a reunion of showgirls, is net at the Theatre Guilde of Hampden. Some local theatre folk, including Anna Giza, Pat Haynes, Brad Shepard, and Connie Lind star. Performances through March 22 at Wilbraham Monson Academy. http://theatreguildofhampden.org/follies/
***Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, ten-time Grammy winner, brings salsa and Latin Jazz to the UMASS Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on February 28. For tickets: 413-545-2511 or www.fineartscenter.com.
***Estela Olevsky, the pianist, celebrates the 40th anniversary of her solo debut in Amherst with a recital on March 1 at Bezanson Recital Hall on the UMass campus in Amherst. She will perform Charles Bestor’s “Thirteen MORE Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” plus works by Schubert, Rachmaninoff, and Beethoven. For tickets: 413-545-2511 or fac.umass.edu/musicanddance.
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.
