MARK AUERBACH
‘Tis The Season
“A Christmas Story: The Musical” had a brief, well-received run on Broadway last season (picking up Tony nominations for “Best Musical”, “Best Score” and “Best Book of a Musical”). It’s going back to New York via Boston and Hartford, where it plays at The Bushnell (November 12-17).
Joseph Robinette adapted the script from the movie about the kid named Ralphie, who wants an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action model air rifle under his Christmas tree. The movie is adapted from stories by the legendary radio humorist, Jean Shepherd. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, a twenty-something duo, wrote the engaging score. Their songs have been showcased on the TV series “Smash”. John Rando, who put the sizzle in “On The Town” at Barrington Stage last summer directs, and Warren Carlyle, who created the dances in the recent Broadway revival of “Follies” provides the choreography.
Dan Lauria, best known for the TV series “The Wonder Years” and his recent portrayal of Vince Lombardi on Broadway in “Lombardi”, stars, along with Caroline O’Connor, the British/Australian musical theatre star seen as “Nini” in Baz Luhrmann’s movie “Moulin Rouge”. John Bolton, and Erin Dilly are also headliners, along with Jake Lucas, who plays Ralphie. Lucas joins the company from “Newsies”.
“A Christmas Story: The Musical”, coming to The Bushnell. (Photo by Carol Rosegg)
To preview “A Christmas Story: The Musical”: http://achristmasstorythemusical.com/
For tickets: 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org.
Reinventing Radio: Ira Glass of “This American Life” Live
Public radio listeners revel in the off-beat quirky stories featured on Ira Glass’ “This American Life”. Glass brings his “behind the scenes” show to the Calvin in Northampton (Saturday, November 9). He tells amusing anecdotes, and mixes stories and narration. Ira has championed the works of David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell, and the late David Rakoff. For tickets: 1-800-THE-TICK or www.iheg.com.
Newsmakers…
***Kevin Rhodes, Maestro of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, played the Pantages in Tacoma, WA, as Guest Conductor of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. The Westfield resident, who also conducts the Traverse (MI) Symphony Orchestra, will condoct performances of “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Center next month. For more information on Maestro Rhodes: http://www.kevinrhodesconductor.com/index.html
On the Marquee. Kevin Rhodes plays the Pantages in Tacoma, WA.
***Todd Rosenthal, the Longmeadow native turned Tony Award winning Broadway set designer (“August: Osage County”), has a new work at Lincoln Center, Bruce Norris’ “Domesticated”. Norris, Pulitzer and Tony-winning author of “Clybourne Park”, deals with two married folk (played by Jeff Goldblum and Laurrie Metcalf), whose marriage is thrust by scandal into the public eye. Official opening night is November, and performances continue through January 5, 2014. For a look at Rosenthal’s artistry: http://www.toddar.com/clients/rosenthalt/nav/splash.shtml.
Keep in Mind…
***Opus One Chamber Orchestra performs on Tuesday, November 5, at Bezanson Recital Hall on the UMass/Amherst campus. A program of the UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance, the program, which features Benjamin Britten’s “Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge”, will be played by Elizabeth Chang, Kathryn Lockwood, Astrid Schween, and Salvatore Macchia. 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.
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