It’s “A Sign of The Times”
Goodspeed Musicals presents the world premiere of A Sign of The Times, the new musical, which weaves music made famous by Petula
Clark into a swinging 60s story about Cindy, a Midwestern girl, who sets her eyes on the Big Apple, and looks to find her place in the world. Funny man Bruce Vilanch, the comedy writer who wrote the Oscars and Tonys, starred on Hollywood Squares, on Broadway in Hairspray, and in a bio documentary Get Bruce, has written the script., which is based on a Richard Robin creation.
Gabriel Barre stages A Sign of The Times at Goodspeed. Photo by Diane Sobolewski
The talented Gabriel Barre, who staged Amazing Grace on Broadway last season (and a landmark production of Sweeney Todd at Goodspeed 20 years ago, which left me at a loss for words) is staging the musical, which runs through September 4 at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre in Chester, CT.
You’ll know the tunes, from Petula Clark’s playbook, “Downtown”, “I Know a Place”, “The Shoop Shoop Song” t some other classics by Elvis, Lesley Gore, Nancy Sinatra, and Fontella Bass.
JoAnn M. Hunter will serve as Choreographer. Ms. Hunter’s Broadway credits for choreography include Associate Chorographer for All Shook Up, The Wedding Singer, Spring Awakening, and Curtains and Choreographer for the recent hits School of Rock—The Musical, and Disaster!
Cindy will be played by Ephie Aardema who appeared in the Broadway production of The Bridges of Madison County.
For details and to forget all your troubles, forget all your cares: 860-873-8668 or www.goodspeed.org.
I like going to Goodspeed’s Chester venue, because you can include a food stop at the Good Elephant Bistro at 59 Main Street in Chester. The cuisine is a mix of French and Vietnamese. If they have the Vietnamese Gazpacho, a mix of pineapple, smoked shrimp, cucumber, avocado and papaya, ask for it ! For details: http://www.goodelephantcafe.com/
The ensemble of Berkshire Theatre Group’s Fiorello. Photo by Emma Rothenberg-Ware
Newsworthy
Fiorello, the award-winning musical about former New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, is sold out for its Berkshire Theatre Group run through July 23. Berkshire Theatre Group is moving the show Off-Broadway with New York performance dates September 2 through October 6. It’s the fourth area theatre production to move to New York this year. Goodspeed’s Holiday Inn and Hartford Stage’s Anastasia have already announced opening dates on Broadway. Last winter, Barrington Stage’s Southern Comfort, had a Big Apple run. For information on Fiorello. www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Pittsfield, MA under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, is is the recipient of a $70,000 grant from The Shubert Foundation. Granted in the category of Theatre, the award will support Barrington Stage Company’s 2016 season. For information on Barrington Stage: www.barringtonstageco.org.
Summer at Shakespeare and Company
Or, Liz Duffy Adams’ playful comedy based on the real life of Britain’s first female playwright Aphra Behn, joins the Shakespeare and Company repertory in Lenox through September 4. Tod Randolph stars as Aphra. Alice Reagan directs.
The Emperor of the Moon, a world premiere of an Aphra Behn adaptation, joins the Shakespeare and Company line-up in Lenox, MA through August 20. The music-filled comedy is family-friendly, and adapted from Restoration comedy, based in Commedia dell’Arte.
Twelfth Night joins the Shakespeare and Company summer repertory through August 20. Jonathan Croy directs the comedy which plays at the Dell-Outdoors at the Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home in Lenox. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.
For details: 413-637-3353 or www.shakespeare.org
Keep in Mind…
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra wraps its Talcott Mountain Music Festival series with Faithfully-A Symphonic Tribute to the Music of Journey on July 29 (Rain date: July 30). Journey is one of the most popular American rock bands of all time with 25 gold and platinum albums and 19 top 40 singles and has performed around the world for four decades. Now for the first time, audiences can hear hits like “Faithfully,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Open Arms,” “Wheel in the Sky,” and many more. For details: 860-987-5900 or
Wild Thyme Band performs at North Hall in Huntington.
Wild Thyme Band brings their folk music to Historic North Hall in Huntington, MA on July 24.The band plays and sings a varied program of folk music from the rich repertoire of traditional Irish and Scottish fare, including several French Celtic numbers. The audience is invited to dance along to the lively Irish tunes of The Road to Lisdoonvarna, The Wild Rover, I’ll Tell Me Ma, and Merrily Kiss the Quaker, among others. For details: 413-667-5543 or www.northhallhuntington.org
Adela Pena plays violin at Sevenars on July 24. Photo by Simone Scozzari.
Severnars presents chamber music from Leipzig to Paris, with piano, oboe, bassoon and violin on July 24 in Worthington, MA. The program includes Bach’s Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C Minor and Poulenc’sTrio for Piano, Oboe, and Bassoon. For details: www.sevenars.org.
The Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music (July 21-25) honors the memory of the Pulitzer Prize winning composer Steven Stucky, who passed away in February, after planning this year’s festival. For details on the programs: www.tanglewood.org.
The late Steven Stucky a force behind Tanglewood’s Contemporary Music Festival.
Time Stands Still, Donald Margulies’ portrait of an Iraq War photojurnalist recovering in Brooklyn who reconnects with a longtime lover. NCT Co-founder Sam Rush co-stars. Through July 23 at New Century Theatre in Northampton, MA. For details: 413-585-3220 or www.newcenturytheatre.org.
