Dave Read

Barrington Stage names casts for Carosel and A Streetcar Named Desire

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Producing Director Richard M. Parison, Jr., has announced casting for its summer productions of Carousel and A Streetcar Named Desire, as part of the theater’s 15th Anniversary Season.

Carosel at BSC

The Mainstage season kicks off with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical masterpiece, Carousel, from June 17-July 11. Directed by Julianne Boyd, with choreography by Joshua Bergasse and music direction by Darren R. Cohen, the cast features Aaron Ramey (Paper Mill’s 1776, Westchester Broadway Theatre’s Phantom, B’way’s Young Frankenstein, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Billy Bigelow, Patricia Noonan (the world premiere of Little House on the Prairie, WPPAC’s How To Succeed…and Ragtime) as Julie Jordan, Christopher Innvar (BSC’s Private Lives and Cyrano, B’way’s 110 in the Shade, Threepenny Opera) as Jigger, Sarah Jean Ford (Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, the world premiere of Little House on the Prairie) as Carrie Pipperidge, Todd Buonopane (NBC’s 30 Rock, B’way’s Grease, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Mr. Snow, and Teri Ralston (the original casts of Company, A Little Night Music and The Baker’s Wife) as Nettie Fowler.

Also in the cast are Jeff Brooks (Broadway’s Lend Me A Tenor, Beauty and the Beast) as the Starkeeper, Leslie Becker (Roundabout’s Nine and Wicked tour) as Mrs. Mullins, Edmund Bagnell, Al Blackstone, Daniel Kermidas, Kaitlynn Kleinman, Christy Morton, Ronnie Nelson, Neal O’Brien, Sarah O’Gleby, Kristen Paulicelli and Peggy Pharr Wilson.

A Streetcar Named Desire at BSC

Three-time Tony nominee Marin Mazzie (Kiss Me, Kate, Ragtime and Passion) will star as Blanche DuBois opposite Christopher Innvar (see credits above) as Stanley, with Sara Surrey (Arena Stage’s Anna Christie; Old Globe’s Antony and Cleopatra) as Stella, and Kevin Carolan as Mitch (The Ritz and Dirty Blonde) in Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire, scheduled to run August 6-29. Also in the cast are Emily Boyd, Miles Jacoby, John Juback, Chavez Ravine, Thom Rivera and Elizabeth Rouse. Julianne Boyd directs.

Complete casting for BSC’s 15th Anniversary Season, which includes the Mainstage production of Sleuth and the Stage 2 world premiere of Mark St. Germain’s Freud’s Last Session, Glen Berger’s Underneath the Lintel and Rob Broadhurst and Brent Black’s new musical I’ll Be Damned in BSC’s Musical Theatre Lab, will be announced in the coming weeks.

For FlexPass subscriptions and single tickets visit www.barringtonstageco.org or call the BSC Box office at 413-236-8888.

Berkshire Theatre Festival auditions for Peter Pan

Berkshire Theatre Festival will be holding auditions for it’s fourth annual Community Production, Peter Pan, on Monday, May 4th from 5pm to 9pm, Tuesday, May 5th from 5pm to 9pm and Wednesday, May 6th from 6pm to 9pm at BTF’s Main Stage Theatre located on Route 102 in Stockbridge, MA.

Student auditions will be held during the first three hours of each session and the last hour will be for adults. Adults should be prepared to sing 16 bars of a song and bring the accompanying sheet music that is in the key in which they prefer to sing. Students will learn a song at the audition. Callbacks will take place the following week as needed. Appointments are necessary to audition. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the BTF Peter Pan hotline at (413) 298-5536 ext. 23.

BTF is seeking both child and adult actors, backstage crew, technical support, and usher staff to participate in Peter Pan. These roles and positions are open to members of the Berkshire community, third grade through adults. Rehearsals will begin in late July, with performances on September 4-6 and September 11-13, 2009 at the BTF Main Stage.

Peter Pan is a musical adaptation based on the play by James M. Barrie, featuring Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Music by Mark Charlap, Additional Music by Jules Styne, and Additional Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The production will be directed by E. Gray Simons III and Travis Daly. Proceeds from the production will benefit BTF PLAYS!, Berkshire Theatre Festival’s Year-Round Education Program. Funding provided by BTF sponsors will cover the theatre’s direct production costs.

Principal Singing Roles:

Peter Pan (boy or girl – 10 to 17 yrs)

The Darlings
Wendy (girl – about 14 yrs)
John (boy – about 12 yrs)
Michael (boy – about 8 yrs)
Mrs. Darling (woman – 25 to 45 yrs)
Mr. Darling (man – 30 to 50 yrs)
Liza (woman)
Nana (male or female)
Jane (girl – about 8 yrs)

The Lost Boys (boys or girls – 10 to 17 yrs)
Slightly
Tootles
Curly
Nibs
1st Twin
2nd Twin

The Pirates (men or women)
Captain Hook
Smee
Starkey
Cecco
Noodler
Jukes

The Indians (children 8 – 12 yrs)
Tiger Lily

Ensemble
Crocodile
Lion
Kangaroo
Ostrich

*In addition, there will be a chorus of 20+ adults and 60+ children.

Shakespeare and Co. schedules birthday party for the Bard

Shakespeare & Company is throwing a birthday party to mark the 445th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare. The Will 445 Bash will rock the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, along with its lobby and terrace, on April 23 from 7pm to midnight. Tickets are $20 ($12 for 18 and under) and available at the door or in advance by contacting the Box Office at (413) 637-3353, boxoffice@shakespeare.org, or www.shakespeare.org.

Popular favorites Berkshire Bateria will provide the soundtrack for much dancing and merriment. There will be delicious food and birthday cake for all, plus a cash bar. Music is also provided by cast members of last year’s lively production of All’s Well That Ends Well, and partygoers are welcome to bring their own instruments for an end-of-night jam. Lots of surprises await, including tastes of Shakespeare and an advance preview of some of the exciting new plays coming in the 2009-2010 season.

A roster of tremendous raffle prizes includes tickets to see U2 perform at Giants Stadium followed by a stay at the Four Seasons in New York City, two days of rest and regeneration at Kripalu, an in-Berkshire getaway including tickets to Shakespeare & Company’s fall production of Hound of the Baskervilles or winter production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and more! Raffle tickets are $10 each or three for $25, and available at the Will 445 Bash or in advance from the Box Office. The raffle drawing will happen at 10pm. You must be present at the raffle drawing to claim and receive your prize.

Berkshire Theatre Festival hosts 4th annual Richie DuPont Award Benefit

BTF PLAYS!, the year-round educational program for Berkshire Theatre Festival, will be hosting the 4th annual Richie DuPont Award Benefit on May 9th at 8 p.m. at Firefly in Lenox, MA. The benefit will feature live entertainment by Berkshire favorites, the Tony Lee Thomas Band, light hors d’ouevres, door prizes and a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit the Richie duPont Award, which provides tuition assistance for children to attend BTF PLAYS! Summer acting camps on the BTF campus.

This year’s silent auction features a “A Night at the Theatre” package including overnight accommodations for two and a complimentary breakfast at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA along with tickets to a BTF Main Stage Production; tickets to see The Roundabout Theatre Company’s current production of Waiting for Godot on Broadway, starring Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin; gift certificates to IS183, Plaine’s BikeSkiSnowboard, Route 7 Grill, and Berkshire Bike and Blade; Kayak rental from the Arcadian Shop; and many, many more items donated by local businesses.

Jacob’s Pillow offers $20 Student Rush Tickets

Jacob’s Pillow will offer $20 Student Rush Tickets for both the Ted Shawn Theatre and Doris Duke Theatre performances, based on availability. The program is open to college students worldwide and will go into effect for the 2009 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival season, beginning the week of June 22. Registration for the Student Rush email list is open now; students must register to receive weekly email notifications.

The Student Rush Ticket program is available to all students with a valid and current college ID. Students will opt-in to receive an email notification every Monday during the Festival alerting them to the availability of discounted student tickets for performances that week. Students will have the option to purchase two $20 Student Rush tickets over the phone at 413.243.0745 or in person at Jacob’s Pillow.

Tickets will be offered based on availability and students will be encouraged to purchase as soon as they receive email notification. In order to receive the $20 price, students MUST show a valid and current college ID either at the time of purchase or when picking up tickets. A $1.50 Preservation Fee to support maintaining the Pillow’s National Historic Landmark site and will be applied to each ticket; however the Pillow’s usual $5 handling fee will be waived.

To sign up for the Student Rush Ticket program, college students should email info@jacobspillow.org with “STUDENT RUSH PROGRAM” in the subject line and include their name, address, phone number, email address and the name of their college. All interested parties will receive a confirmation email with program details.

During the Festival, Jacob’s Pillow presents performances every week from June 24 to August 30. Tickets for Ted Shawn Theatre artists are regularly $58 and tickets for the Doris Duke Theatre are regularly $33. Jacob’s Pillow is approximately 10 minutes from Lee, 15 minutes from Lenox and Stockbridge, 30 minutes from Great Barrington and Pittsfield, and 60 minutes from Springfield and Albany (NY).

The Festival also presents 200 free events, including performances, moderated interviews with artists, talks by experts, film showings, exhibits, observations of dancers training at The School at Jacob’s Pillow, and tours; plus over 75 dance classes for the community (small fee). A complete schedule of free events will be announced in April.

More info: details of the 2009 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival schedule.

SAMPLE PILLOW DAY ON A BUDGET

(Please note – free programs and events are open to the entire community, not exclusively to students)

Sample Saturday

10am – Observe world renowned faculty as they work with the pre-professional dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow (free)

Noon – Enjoy a picnic lunch, brought from home, in the historic Tea Garden or on The Great Lawn (free)

1pm – Visit the Archives and explore dance history with Pillow Interactive, a touch-screen computer kiosk with video clips and information spanning the Pillow’s 77 year history (free)

2pm – View the art and photography exhibits in Blake’s Barn (free)

3pm – Go for a walk on the Pillow’s nature trails

4pm – Attend a PillowTalk, a moderated talk, film screening, or book signing with dance experts, scholars, and celebrities (free – schedule announced in April)

5pm – Grab a bite to eat at the Pillow Pub (average sandwich cost $7 – 15)

5:30pm – Take a guided tour of this National Historic Landmark (free)

6:30pm – Attend a performance on Inside/Out, the Pillow’s outdoor performance space (free)

7:30pm – Take in a pre-performance talk with a Scholar-in-Residence (free)

8pm – See a performance in the Ted Shawn Theatre ($20 Student Rush, $58 regular)

10pm – Enjoy a nightcap at the Pillow Pub, with proper I.D. (average cost $5-7)

James Taylor One Man Band at Tanglewood

Friday, August 24, 2007 performance reviewed by Ronald K. Baker

The unseasonably cool weather lurking in the Berkshires for a week or so gave way to the warmth of a typical summer day as the overflow crowd gathered for Lenox’s favorite son, James Taylor and his keyboardist accompanist, Larry Goldings. As concert time neared many on the lawn and near the shed were seen covering themselves with insect repellent. Indeed there was a hatch of tiny flies with clear wings falling like rain out of the early evening sky. Their numbers seemed endless. They were more of a nuisance than a threat. They didn’t bite. Happily they seemed to go away as the music started.

Taylor received a warm welcome which tapered off rapidly as he took to the stage. He donned his familiar acoustic guitar from which every note emanated in sparkling clarity. “Something In the Way She Moves” was fairly close to the original version, both pensive and passionate, as the artist’s signature sound of fluid finger picking joined with seemingly effortless vocals. Taylor described the concert as “the rare blessing of a ‘home game.’”

Goldings joined in on the second selection, “Never Die Young,” and made quick use of the string bass synthe attached to the grand piano with an evocative pedal point sustenuto which swelled voluminously toward the end of the piece. Then he accompanied Taylor on a jazz composition, “I Was an Old Man,” wherein Goldings got to stretch out with a groovy solo played masterfully. The two proceeded to read each other’s mail for the rest of the concert. They were indeed as close as one could imagine to the concert’s “One Man Band” title belying the relative newness of this approach on both their parts.

With lengthy introductions in conversational manner, James Taylor showed his consummate ease and grace on stage. But he was put on notice early that Tanglewood, with its legions on the lawn, perhaps lacked some of the intimacy he’d presumed. Some in the crowd boisterously hollered that they couldn’t hear him. He seemed quite taken aback and vowed immediate action. He began to enunciate more clearly as sound technicians doubtless scrambled to ratchet up the system. As the first set came to a close it seemed curious that there had only been six musical selections. There were too many stories, anecdotes, and accompanying photos projected up on the big video screens. This had some patrons shifting nervously on blankets and in chairs as they waited anxiously for the next song.

Seeing and hearing Taylor’s much touted drum machine elicited a new sympathy for the Luddites of old. This infernal machine was almost eerie to behold with its mechanized arms hitting actual drums while huge wooden barrels rolled along in place. But that was not the technical coup de grace of the evening. After 16 members of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus appeared on screen singing background parts along with the live music, Taylor’s entire band joined in, courtesy of audio and video recording, for the immensely popular “Mexico” piece. The artist himself described this synergy as an elaborate “Karaoke” exercise. And they pulled it off flawlessly. No mean feat given the vicissitudes of live performance and the constraints of canned stuff.

As far as memorable moments, there were regrettably too few. Certainly one can understand his need to vary his presentation to some degree to keep it fresh. But shouldn’t the songs go pretty much the way we’ve come to love them? It’s unfortunate to hear the classic favorites sound more like someone doing a tribute to James Taylor than his own world class versions. In his effort at variation he comes perilously close to becoming a caricature of himself on over stylized occasions.

To quote lines from his song, “That’s Why I’m Here,” we “pay good money to hear Fire and Rain again and again and again.” Hey James, please don’t forget that’s why we’re here too. Dance with the gal that brung ya.

Somewhere in the process of six plus encores JT found a way to let it all hang out. Before all was said and done, gimmicks and all notwithstanding, we got what we came for. I may have missed Haight Ashbury ’68, and Woodstock, but I saw James Taylor at Tanglewood the summer of ’07. Sweet Baby James.