In The Spotlight, Inc.

Other People's Money

2009-07-03T21:54:00.005-04:00

New Century Theatre, Northampton, MAwww.newcenturytheatre.orgthrough July 11, 2009by K.J. RogowskiIn an age of hostile take-overs, rampant bankruptcies, and a cornucopia of corporate bail-outs, New Century Theatre's production of "Other People's Money" is timely, relevant, and a good evening's entertainment investment. It's an all too common tale of a sleepy, yet money rich, little company, New

Ballet Maribor

2009-07-02T12:37:00.012-04:00

Jacob's Pillow, Becket, MAwww.jacobspillow.orgthrough July 5, 2009by Amy MeekJacob's Pillow Dance Festival's Ballet Maribor's Radio and Juliet demonstrates the Pillow's dedication to promoting international cultural exchange of talented companies. Ballet Maribor, a prominent European performance company from Slovenia, mixes both classical and contemporary ballet styles. Choreographer Edward Clug,

Summer Groove

2009-06-28T21:49:00.016-04:00

Talcott Mountain Music Festival, Simsbury Meadows, CTwww.simsburymeadows.comVarious events through July 17, 2009by Eric SutterSummer Groove at the Performing Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows was a rainbow full of sound. Under Edward Cumming's inspired direction, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra backed David Foster and the Mohegan Sun All Stars for a sizzling but soothing night of rhythm, blues and

Haydn & Bach Concert

2009-06-28T21:47:00.006-04:00

Aston Magna, Great Barrington, MAwww.astonmagna.orgthrough July 11, 2009by Debra TinkhamDaniel Stepner, Artistic Director, stepped out with fellow performers, Nancy Wilson (violin), David Miller (viola) and Loretta O'Sullivan (cello), to begin Aston Magna's season opening performance with Franz Josef Haydn's entertaining and fun String Quartet in D Major, Op 20, No. 4. As is usual with this

Hamlet

2009-06-28T21:45:00.013-04:00

Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA www.shakespeare.org through August 28, 2009by Karolina Sadowicz "To be or not to be" is the question first asked by Hamlet as the play opens with flashes of light and thundering electricity. Director Eleanor Holdridge's stark staging opens with Hamlet facing his mortality; the play performed is the last days of the prince's

Carousel

2009-06-22T22:01:00.038-04:00

Barrington Stage, Pittsfield, MAwww.barringtonstageco.orgthrough July 11, 2009by Shera CohenTheatre audiences of today expect musicals that meld the lyrics with the music so that there is little doubt that the two easily become one. This was not the case in 1945 when Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Carousel" hit New York. Rolling in and off the stages were songs, dance, dialogue, and sometimes plot.

Last of the Red Hot Lovers

2009-06-22T17:08:00.012-04:00

New Century Theatre, Northampton, MAwww.newcenturytheatre.orgthrough June 27, 2009by Meghan Lynn Allen New Century Theatre's opening is red hot! "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" follows the bumbling antics of fish restaurant owner Barney Cashman, a married middle-aged man whose clumsy, comical, and pathetic attempts at having an affair entertains audiences in three acts. Buzz

Speech & Debate

2009-06-22T16:58:00.023-04:00

TheatreWorks, Hartford, CTwww.theaterworkshartford.orgthrough July 26, 2009by Meghan Lynn Allen Stephen Karam's contemporary comedy follows three Oregon high school misfits and their timeless dilemma of how to be comfortable in their own skin. From coming out of the closet to how to find love to how to just plain fit in, Karam flawlessly articulates the dialogue of today's

Mandy Patinkin: "Dress Casual"

2009-06-17T09:17:00.023-04:00

Colonial Theatre, Pittsfieldwww.thecolonialtheatre.orgby Karolina Sadowicz When Mandy Patinkin says "Dress Casual," he means it. The set for his show befits this atmosphere. Dressed in a black shirt, black slacks, and sneakers, he appears on a stage that seems more

The Color Purple

2009-06-11T21:23:00.018-04:00

The Bushnell, Hartford, CTwww.bushnell.orgthrough June14, 2009by Bernadette Johnson For those who have read the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker or seen the film version with Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, that's a step ahead of the game, because this fast-paced musical panorama of Southern U.S. life in the 1930s is a whirlwind of color and sound demanding the full

Dividing the Estate

2009-06-09T16:28:00.025-04:00

Hartford Stage, Hartford, CTwww.hartfordstage.orgthrough July 5, 2009by Shera Cohen Broadway comes to Hartford in the package "Dividing the Estate." This tragicomedy was nominated as one of Tony Awards best plays of the year and The New York Times pick among the10 Best Plays of 07/08. The entire play and nearly the full cast was lifted up and placed at Hartford Stage

How I Spent My Summer Vacation in 2008...

2009-05-31T21:57:00.042-04:00

Yes, last year, and I'll do pretty much the same this year.by Shera Cohen Eleven women, all over age 50, attended 38 performing arts events, toured 10 museums and historic homes, walked hundreds of miles, spent lots on gas (remember the days of $4 per gallon), ate at 5 restaurants (we're frugal and bring our own food) in 21 days. And, I was told there would be no math! The

Greater Tuna

2009-05-27T22:21:00.015-04:00

The Bushnell, Hartford, CTthrough May 31, 2009by R.E. Smith "Greater Tuna" is a show built for actors and those who appreciate the craft. The action takes place in the third smallest town in Texas where various life stories play out and intertwine. Brian Mathis and Neal Mayer did yeoman's work portraying 21 citizens of Tuna, Texas. Each brought distinctive voice and body

Faith Healer

2009-05-25T13:24:00.002-04:00

Berkshire Theatre, Stockbridgethrough July 4, 2009By Barbara Stroup Berkshire Theatre Festival starts its season of "theatre that matters" with "Faith Healer." This three-character play revolves around Francis Hardy who offers the Welsh and Scottish locals one night only performances. Waited on and accompanied by his wife Grace and manager Teddy, Francis uses a spoken incantation of Welsh village

42nd Street

2009-05-14T20:32:00.002-04:00

Goodspeed, East Haddam, CTthrough July 4, 2009by Shera Cohen "The show must go on!" This cliché is the entire plot of the sparkling, toe-tapping "42nd Street" at Goodspeed Opera House. The story is the backstage life of a new musical - the audition, rehearsal, and tour of "Pretty Ladies" (the play within the play). The era is the Great Depression. Why "great" was ever linked with the economic

Springfield Symphony Orchestra

2009-05-10T19:53:00.003-04:00

65th Anniversary ConcertSymphony Hall, Springfieldby Shera Cohen In the distant future, it is possible that audiences will recall the SSO's 2008/09 season as one of its best in decades. In particular, the Grande Finale, will be marked in the symphony program books as a banner concert. Apparently, it wasn't enough to just schedule "Carmina Burana" – which is oftentimes the sole selection on many

Falsettos

2009-05-05T20:36:00.002-04:00

PACE, Academy of Music, Northamptonthrough May 10, 2009by Meghan Allen P.A.C.E. undertakes "Falsettos" at the Academy of Music this month. "Falsettos" is a musical by William Finn that ran on Broadway in 1992 and 1993. The play is the second and third parts of a trilogy. The first show is called "In Trousers", the second is "March of the Falsettos", and the third is "Falsettoland." "Falsettos"

George M!

2009-05-05T16:56:00.000-04:00

Exit 7 Players, Ludlow MAthrough May 17, 2009By Donna Bailey-Thompson Some may speculate that George M. Cohan's obsessive determination to make it big on Broadway began while he was still in the womb. He was born into a vaudevillian family - father, mother, sister; while just a kid, he wrote routines for the family act. There were setbacks during his climb to the Great White Way, but his goal

Noises Off

2009-05-04T05:11:00.000-04:00

Hartford Stage, Hartford, CTthrough May 17, 2009by Shera Cohen "Noises Off" is either a director's dream or nightmare, depending if the fun of working such a production outweighs the torture of creating a play-within-a-play, three times. From the end result, it seems as if director Malcolm Morrison had a wonderful time, and took the audience along for the fast and furious joy ride. It is

What the Butler Saw

2009-05-02T10:10:00.004-04:00

Suffield Players, CTthrough May 16, 2009April 30, 2009By Donna Bailey-ThompsonAs it turns out, the butler didn't see anything; however, the audience gets an eyeful. How's that? According to a Wikipedia quote included in the program, "'What the Butler Saw' was a mutoscope reel, and an early example of softcore pornographic films. It depicted a scene of a woman partially undressing, as if 'the

The Year of Magical Thinking

2009-05-02T10:04:00.002-04:00

TheaterWorks, Hartfordthrough May 24By Karolina Sadowicz"Do you think it will be sad?" a woman in the audience asks her companion. The subject of "The Year of Magical Thinking" makes the audience uneasy. The play, and the book on which it's based, was written by Joan Didion about the loss of her husband and daughter, and the mental game of avoidance and denial--or magical thinking--that

Summer Lecture Series

2009-05-01T18:04:00.003-04:00

17 Years at The Mount, LenoxJuly 6 - August 24, 2009 Sunday may be the traditional day of rest, but in the Berkshires it's Monday. So, what's an arts-loving tourist to do? Get thee to Edith Wharton's home, The Mount, for eight consecutive Mondays at 4pm. Noted authors (primarily biographers) read from their works, discuss their subject, and answer questions from the audience. After researching

Phantom of the Opera

2009-04-27T16:07:00.003-04:00

The Bushnell, Hartfordthrough May 10, 2009April 24, 2009by Donna Bailey-ThompsonThere are big shows and then there is "Phantom of the Opera," an extravaganza. Before the first note is played, billowing yards (tons!) of fabric enhance the proscenium pulling the audience into its dark interior that reeks with mystery. At center stage is a large lump covered with an aging canvas on which is

Springfield Symphony Orchestra Opera Gala

2009-04-26T12:55:00.001-04:00

Symphony Hall, Springfield April 25, 2009by Shera Cohen Within the past few months both the Connecticut Opera and the Berkshire Opera closed their curtains forever. Were these statements about today's economy? Have dollars spent on the arts in general, and opera in particular, been far less than in the past? Probably and sadly so. Yet, the Springfield Symphony's Opera Gala saw a near-capacity

Vitek Kruta, International Artist from Holyoke

2009-04-26T11:58:00.002-04:00

Paradise City Fair, NorthamptonMay 23 - 25, 2009"Doing art is a basic human right. It's my way of life, a force and purpose for being here," says Vitek Kruta. One of the hundreds of professionals showing and selling art at this spring's Paradise City, Kruta is also one of the many talented individuals who does not need a "day job." In Prague, Germany, and now in Holyoke, Kruta has perfected his