Westfield News Arts Beat 4/30/15

My Westfield News Arts Beat for 4/3015. Borscht Belt Flory Days, Varla Jean Merman, and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-75

Media Release: Alan Alda to be 2015 Suffield Academy Commencement Speaker

Dateline: April 27, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Ali Vigneau

Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications

Suffield Academy

860-386-4424

avigneau@suffieldacademy.org

Mark G. Auerbach

Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations

413-427-7352

mgauerbach@gmail.com

ACTOR ALAN ALDA TO DELIVER SUFFIELD ACADEMY’S 182nd COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS ON FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015

Suffield, Connecticut: Actor, author, director, and screenwriter Alan Alda will offer the keynote Commencement Address at Suffield Academy’s 182nd Commencement on the Suffield Academy campus on Friday, May 22, 2015. The Academy’s 126 seniors, including one of Alda’s granddaughters, will receive their diplomas during Commencement 2015.  

Alan Alda has dozens of credits on stage, screen, and television. He’s best-known for his long-running portrayal of Hawkeye Pierce in the hit television series “M*A*S*H”, and his portrayal of Arnold Vinick on “The West Wing”. His Broadway credits include starring roles in “The Owl and The Pussycat”, “Jake’s Women”, “The Apple Tree” and “Glengarry Glen Ross”. He’s received 31 Emmy Award nominations, 2 Tony Award nominations, and an Oscar and BAFTA nomination for his role in “The Aviator”. His memoirs, “Never Have Your Dog Stuffed, and Other Things I’ve Learned” and “Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself” have been New York Times bestsellers.

Alda has a passion for science and education. He hosted the award winning series “Scientific American Frontiers” on PBS for eleven years For over 20 years, Alda has worked to help broaden the public’s understanding of science. He helped found the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University where he is a Visiting Professor, helping to develop innovative programs that enable scientists to communicate more effectively with the public. He originated The Flame Challenge, a yearly international competition for scientists in which they compete to explain complex scientific concepts so that 11-year-olds can understand them. Since 2008, he has worked with physicist Brian Greene in presenting the annual World Science Festival in New York City, attended since its inception by over a million people. He’s the author of a play, “Radiance: the Passion of Marie Curie,” which had its world premiere  in Los Angeles in 2011. 

Suffield Headmaster Charles Cahn III will preside over Commencement ceremonies. Daniel Tisch, President of the Suffield Academy Board of Trustees, and Headmaster Cahn will present diplomas and prizes to graduating seniors, who will head to more than 80 different colleges and universities next fall.

In reference to this graduating class Headmaster Cahn comments: “This strong group of students has shown great commitment to each other and to the school. The young men and women in the graduating class have truly supported one another on their journey while at Suffield and I know they will continue to do so after they graduate. They have been at Suffield during a special period in our history and we are proud of their accomplishments."

Suffield Academy, founded in 1833, is an independent, co-educational college preparatory school for boarding and day students in Suffield, CT.  Suffield Academy has a tradition of academic excellence combined with an encouraging environment and formal leadership training programs. For information on Suffield Academy’s programs and services: www.suffieldacademy.org.

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Westfield News Review: "Camelot" at The Bushnell

My Westfield News review of "Camelot", playing at The Bushnell through Sunday. http://thewestfieldnews.com/review-camelot-at-the-bushnell

Westfield News Arts Beat 4/23/15

My Westfield News Arts Beat column for 4/23/15. Four new books for arts fans, upcoming seasons at Hartford and Springfield Symphony and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-74

Westfield News Arts Beat 4/16/15

My Westfield News Arts Beat column for 4/16/15. "Camelot" at the Bushnell, Spencer Myer and The Springfield Symphony and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-73

Media Release: Kurn Hattin Finalist in WGBY "Together In Song"

DATELINE: April 14, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Jaimie Scanlon,

jaimie.scanlon@gmail.com, 802-579-8545

Mark Auerbach,

mgauerbach@gmail.com, 413-733-7095

Kurn Hattin Singers Win Spot on WGBY TV's Regional Choral Awards; Live Broadcast April 26th at 7PM

WESTMINSTER, VT.—The children of the Kurn Hattin Homes Select Choir have again won a top spot on WGBY Public Television's choral competition series, Together in Song. The forty-member choir from the Vermont school for children in need will be of only eight groups selected from 25 choruses from throughout New England to appear in the live televised finale on WGBY Springfield Sunday, April 26 at 7PM. Now in its fifth season, Together in Song highlights non-professional children’s and adults' choirs from around Western New England in various musical genres.

Finalists were chosen based on a combination of judges' scores and the viewers' online and phoned-in votes. The ensemble from Kurn Hattin was named a "Voter Favorite," the third time they have received in honor in as many years of participation. This year they were again  the only group from Vermont.

For their competition performance, which aired March 7, the children performed “Already Home” by Webber/Rice  and “America, The Beautiful/The Star-Spangled Banner” by Ward/Key, both songs arranged by Kurn Hattin's Grammy-nominated music director, Lisa Bianconi.

For further information on Together in Song and broadcast venues, visittogetherinsong.wgby.org.

For over 120 years, Kurn Hattin Homes for Children has provided a safe home and quality education for boys and girls, ages 5-15, whose families are experiencing a time of personal or financial need. Kurn Hattin Homes transforms the lives of children and their families forever. For more information, visit www.kurnhattin.org.

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My April Article for "Succeeding in Small Business"

My April Article for the award-winning "Succeeding in Small Business" about keeping on message. http://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/how-to-keep-your-public-affairs-messages-from-going-awry/#.VSbWis2kVaV

Westfield News Arts Beat 4/09/15

My Westfield News Arts Beat column for 4/09/15. Bach Birthday Bash in Amherst, Berkshire Theatre Unicorn Season, and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-72

Westfield News Arts Beat 4/02/15

My Westfield News Arts Beat column for 4/02/15. Guys and Dolls at Goodspeed, Springfield Symphony's Vienna Choral Spectacular. Newsies plays The Bushnell next season and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-71