Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/27/17

My Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/27/17. "The Wolves" opens TheaterWorks season. "The Last Wife" at WAM, "Gaslight" at Barrington Stage and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-192

Take Magazine: Harriet Scott Chessman

My Take Magazine profile of author Harriet Scott Chessman, who has transitioned from page to stage. https://thetakemagazine.com/harriet-scott-chessman/

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/20/17

My Westfield News Group ArtsBeat for 9/20 /17. Rags revisal at Goodspeed, Midtown Men in Springfield, Moonfish Theatre in Amherst, and Mike Thornton and Gruppo Mondo jazz in Egremont. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-191

Media Release: Kevin Rhodes 17-18 Season

AMERICAN CONDUCTOR KEVIN RHODES ANNOUNCES 2017-2018 SEASON

Massachusetts-based American conductor Kevin Rhodes will be performing extensively on both sides of the Atlantic during the 2017-2018 season. He begins his 17th seasons as Music Director of the Traverse Symphony in Michigan and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts, and his 8th season as Principal Conductor of Boston’s Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra. He also returns to the opera houses of Stuttgart, Germany, and Vienna, Austria to conduct their highly acclaimed ballet companies.

Maestro Rhodes will conduct two concerts at The Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, which celebrates its 40th anniversary season. He opens their season with a performance of Schwantner’s New Morning For The World, and closes their season with performances of Daughtery’s Sunset Strip and Copland’s Clarinet Concerto. 

The Traverse Symphony in Michigan, celebrating its 65th season, has Maestro Rhodes conducting a half-dozen classical concerts, which include a program with violinist Yevgeny Kutik and a choral program showcasing Vivaldi’s Gloria.

In Springfield, MA, Maestro Rhodes conducts 8 programs for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, which begins its 74th season. The season includes an all-Rachmaninoff program, a performance of the Verdi Requiem with orchestra and choruses; a Viva America concert celebrating Gershwin and Bernstein, and The Star Wars and Star Trek Sci-Fi Spectacular.

For The Vienna State Opera Ballet, Maestro Rhodes makes his annual appearance conducting the Rudolf Nureyev Gala, celebrating the dancer and choreographer, who would have turned 80 this year. He also conducts Nureyev’s production of Raymonda, to the music of Glazunov. a mixed repertory program of works choreographed by George Balanchine, John Neumeier, and Jerome Robbins; and a mixed bill featuring Frederick Ashton’s ballet Marguerite and Armand, originally created for Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn.

Maestro Rhodes also returns to The Stuttgart Ballet to conduct a revival of the John Cranko production of Swan Lake.

For The Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra in Boston schedule:  http://www.proarte.org/

For The Traverse Symphony in Michigan schedule: http://traversesymphony.org/

For The Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts schedule:http://www.springfieldsymphony.org/

For The Stuttgart Ballet schedule: https://www.stuttgart-ballet.de/

For The Vienna State Opera Ballet schedule: https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/

For Kevin Rhodes’ website: http://kevinrhodesconductor.com/

For Kevin Rhodes biography: http://www.parkerartists.com/Kevin-Rhodes.html

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Take Magazine Profile: Rob Ruggiero of TheaterWorks

My profile of TheaterWorks Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero for Take Magazine. https://thetakemagazine.com/rob-ruggiero-theaterworks/

Westfield News Group Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream at Hartford Stage

My Westfield News Group review of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Hartford Stage. An incredibly beautiful production that is hysterically funny. http://thewestfieldnews.com/review-midsummer-nights-dream-hartford-stage

Media Release: Mike Thornton and Gruppo Mondo at Egremont Barn on September 28

CAPITOL STEPS ACTOR MIKE THORNTON AND BERKSHIRES BAND GRUPPO MONDO TO RECORD JAZZ ALBUM BEFORE A LIVE AUDIENCE SEPTEMBER 28 AT THE EGREMONT BARN

Mike Thornton, the actor/singer who plays Presidents from Bush to Trump with The Capitol Steps, and the Berkshires-based jazz quartet Gruppo Mondo, will record an album of jazz standards before a live audience on Thursday, September 28 at 7PM at the Egremont Barn, 17 Main Street, South Egremont, MA. 

Thornton, a member of the political satire group The Capitol Steps for over twenty years, met the musicians of Gruppo Mondo two summers ago, when The Capitol Steps was doing a summer residency at Cranwell in Lenox. “I discovered Gruppo Mondo at a Pittsfield jazz club, and we began to do occasional sets together, after I’d finished playing singing and dancing politicians” 

Thornton decided that he wanted to record material for his upcoming jazz standards album Top Standards on the MTA label with Gruppo Mondo from a venue located in The Berkshires. “I grew up north of Hartford, and spent time in The Berkshires. I’ve performed annually in Lenox with The Capitol Steps, and I’ve gotten to know the artists in the Berkshires.”

Thornton, now based in Washington, DC, attended Hartt School, University of Hartford, where he studied voice and theater and had the opportunity to study with the great Jackie McLean.  At the age of 19, he sang with Uptown Sound– a “Manhattan Transfer” style group featuring intricate harmonies and sophisticated arrangements by the former Glenn Miller Band arranger, Ed Cerveney. Before joining The Capitol Steps in 1995, Mike appeared in several  Off-Broadway productions, the American premiere of Blood Brothers., and the Kennedy Center production of Shear Madness in Washington, DC. His Jazz Quartet performed in many of New York City’s major venues and his Jazz Collective performs regularly in Washington, DC. His most recent CD of standards isStep Back. on the MTA label. For information on Mike Thornton:http://www.mikethorntonjazz.com/. 

 

Gruppo Mondo is a Premiere Live Jazz/Funk Group based in The Berkshires & Hudson Valley, NY. Gruppo Mondo featuring Peter Primamore on keyboards, Aaron Dean on tenor sax,, Tom Major on drums, and Fran Tokarz on bass is a powerhouse Jazz & Rock band with a unique take on a wide variety of music. From straight ahead Swing and Latin Music to one of a kind re-imaginings of classic rock and unique originals, Gruppo Mondo delivers intense performances with unpredictable improvisations. For information on Gruppo Mondo: www.facebook.com/GruppoMondo/ 

For information: 413-528-9580 or http://www.theegremontbarn.com/

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Westfield NewsGroup ArtsBeat 9/13/17

My Westfield News Group ArtsBeat for 9/13/17. "Lost Lake" next at Berkshire Theatre Group, "Fab Faux" opens UMass Fine Arts Center season an more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-190

ArtsBeat Radio 89.5fm/WSKB 9/13/17

My ArtsBeat Radio 89.5gm/WSKB on 9/13/17 with Alexander Dodge, scenic designer; Eric Ort, TheaterWorks director, and Capitol Steps actor Mike Thornton. https://vimeo.com/233665143

My September Succeeding in Small Business Column

My September column for Succeeding in Small Business. Content Is Essential in Social Media. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/want-more-audience-engagement-improve-your-content/#.WbaZXiMrJaU

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/6/17

My Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/6/17. Five College New Music Festival, Northampton's Academy of Music Season, Company extended at Barrington Stage. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-189

Calendar Listings: Mike Thornton and Gruppo Mondo

DATELINE: September 6, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Mark G. Auerbach

Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations

413-427-7352

mgauerbach@gmail.com

CALENDAR LISTINGS

The Mike Thornton Agency presents

MIKE THORNTON and GRUPPO MONDO

Mike Thornton, Vocals

Gruppo Mono

Peter Primamore, Keyboard

Aaron Dean, Tenor Sax 

Tom Major, Drums

Fran Tokarz, Bass

Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 7PM

The Egremont Barn

17 Main Street

South Egremont, MA 01258

No one trumps Torme! Night after night, The Capitol Steps actor Mike Thornton heats up the political comedy circuit, playing presidents from Bush to Trump. Then he cools down with jazz standards in area clubs. Be part of an extraordinary live recording, as The Capitol Steps actor and jazz vocalist Mike Thornton, backed by area quartet, Gruppo Mondo, record their unique stylings of jazz standards for Mike Thornton’s upcoming album Top Standards for MTA Records.

Mike Thornton, a native of Windsor, CT  attended Hartt School, University of Hartford, where he studied voice and theater and had the opportunity to study with the great Jackie McLean.  At the age of 19, he sang with Uptown Sound– a “Manhattan Transfer” style group featuring intricate harmonies and sophisticated arrangements by the former Glenn Miller Band arranger, Ed Cerveney. Before joining The Capitol Steps in 1995, Mike appeared in Off-Broadway productions of The Zoo Story, The Madwoman of Chaillot, the American premiere of Blood Brothers., and the Kennedy Center production of Shear Madness in Washington, DC. His Jazz Quartet performed in many of New York City’s major venues and his Jazz Collective performs regularly in Washington, DC. His most recent CD of standards is Step Back. on the MTA label. For information on Mike Thornton: http://www.mikethorntonjazz.com/. 

Gruppo Mondo is a Premiere Live Jazz/Funk Group based in The Berkshires & Hudson Valley, NY. Gruppo Mondo featuring Peter Primamore, Aaron Dean, Tom Major and Fran Tokarz is a powerhouse Jazz & Rock band with a unique take on a wide variety of music. From straight ahead Swing and Latin Music to one of a kind re-imaginings of classic rock and unique originals, Gruppo Mondo delivers intense performances with unpredictable improvisations. For information on Gruppo Mondo: www.facebook.com/GruppoMondo/ 

Mike Thornton and Gruppo Mono first performed together two summers ago in Pittsfield, MA, while Thornton was appearing with The Capitol Steps at Cranwell in nearby Lenox, MA.

For information: 413-528-9580 or http://www.theegremontbarn.com/

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Calendar Listings: The Capitol Steps / Cambridge, MA / November 25

DATELINE: September 8, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Mark G. Auerbach

Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations

413-427-7352

mgauerbach@gmail.com

CALENDAR LISTINGS

The Mike Thornton Agency presents

THE CAPITOL STEPS

Orange Is The New Barack Tour

Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 3PM

Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 7PM

Sanders Theatre

Memorial Hall, Harvard University

45 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA.

Tickets are on sale at the Harvard Box-Office. For details:  617-496-2222 or https://www.boxoffice.harvard.edu

The Capitol Steps have been a national institution for over 35 years, providing a unique blend of musical and political comedy and satire to audiences coast-to-coast.. Each show consists of tasteful lampooning guaranteed to leave both sides of the political spectrum laughing. The troupe started in 1981. Since then, they have appeared on “The Today Show,” “Nightline,” “CBS Evening News” and for many years in specials for NPR. 

The Washington Post calls The Capitol Steps: “An oasis of good-natured ribbing in a fiercely partisan world”. 

Larry King of CNN said of The Capitol Steps: "They're the best. There's no one like them, no one in their league." 

Former President George H. W. Bush said of The Capitol Steps “"The Capitol Steps make it easier to leave public life." : 

In less than a year since The Capitol Steps’ Post Election Therapy Show came to Cambridge, the political musical comedy troupe works overtime to capture the new administrations’ antics in satire and song. And since The Capitol Steps find their laughs in materials ripped from today’s and tomorrow’s headlines you never know whether Steve Bannon, Jeff Sessions, or Kim Jong-un might appear from Mar-A-Lago or The White House.

To preview some of the Capitol Steps materials, visit their website, www.capsteps.com, or find The Capitol Steps on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (@capsteps)

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ArtsBeat Radio 9/1/17 on 89.5fm/WSKB

My ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm/WSKB 9/1/17 with Elisa Hale of Goodspeed Musicals. https://vimeo.com/232029567