Friday, September 27, 2019

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 9/27/19: Paul Marte, The Bushnell

ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm/WSKB and TV's WCPC15 for 9/27/19. Mark G Auerbach talks with The Bushnell's Paul Marte about the upcoming Broadway season in Hartford.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKLKlcKqg38&feature=youtu.be

News from Mark G Auerbach Public Relations / October

October, 2019

Dear Clients, Colleagues, and Friends,

We’re proud to share our clients’ activities

The Big Broadcast!, the 15th annual recreation of a live 1940s radio broadcast, created and directed by Mark Gionfriddo, and performed by The Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College, returns to Chapin Auditorium on March 7 at 2PM and 7:30PM. This signature event at Mt. Holyoke College will again star WWLP's Brian Lapis as "Fred Kelly". Tickets go on sale on October 15 at The Odyssey Bookhop in South Hadley, and the UMass Fine Art Center Box-Office. 413-545-2511 or www.fineartscenter.com. We'll have special group rates for senior groups. Message me for details.

The Capitol Steps perform their new show, The Lyin’ Kings every Friday and Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. You can see them perform throughout the year at theatres coast-to-coast, including a return to New York City on November 17. The Capitol Steps will swing through Western New England on their Fall tour, which include stops at The Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton on October 18; The Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT on October 19, and then on to Cambridge for their 20th annual Thanksgiving weekend performances on November 30. Those performances are presented by The Mike Thornton Agency LLC..  http://capsteps.com/  

And, thanks to my alma mater, New England Public Radio, for sponsoring the Northampton performance.
Gaslight Entertainment is a new Westfield, MA venture, which is presenting a year-round concert series in Westfield. The founders, Patrick Berry and Jay Pagluica, friends and colleagues of mine. I hope you'll share their series news with your friends. https://berkshireonstage.wordpress.com/2019/09/26/gaslight-entertainment-presents-the-westfield-concert-series/?fbclid=IwAR00-vc3Dq81SKkv2cG0cGJqXAbq-gP0GVBaaOLV3Ku35EsDF4tiSQGCCeE

More Shameless Self-Promotion

My weekly ArtsBeat column runs online online every Wednesday and in print on Thursdays in The Westfield News. ArtsBeat monthly “Pick Hits runs on the first Thursday of the month in The Longmeadoiw News and The Enfield Press. My theatre reviews generally run online a day or two after I see the performance.
ArtsBeat Radio returned to the airwaves on both 89.5fm/WSKB and on TV on WCPC15.  We’re originating the program from new studios at Westfield Technical Academy . October guest inclue Berkshire Theatre Group Artistic Director Kate Maguire on October 4; TheaterWorks’ Rob Ruggiero and Taneisha Duggan on October 11,; UMass Fine Arts Center’s hawn Farley on October 18, and Gaslight Entertainment’s Patrick Berry and Jay Pagliuca on October 25.

And, I’m now a weekly contributor to the internet-based Pioneer Valley Radio. Find my ArtsBeat on Brad Shepard Today, every Tuesday.  Theatre reviews may run on other ays of the week. http://pioneervalleyradio.com/


And, to those who celebrate Rosh Hashonah, Le Shana Tova or Happy New Year. Although the past year for me was a challenge recovering from a serious accident, and facing ongoing physical therapy, losing my father and losing a close friend to suicide, I've been able to move forward from survive to thrive. Thanks to those who have made it happen.

Best,

Mark

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Changes to ArtsBeat: In Print, Radio, and now TV

Some adjustments in the media landscape and my own slow recuperation back to work have provided some changes and innovations.

1. ArtsBeat in Print. This summer, The Westfield News Group was sold to Reminder Publications, a chain of weeklies in WMass. I'm still, at this point, producing a weekly ArtsBeat column plus reviews in the daily Westfield News. However, ArtsBeat in the weekly editions of Longmeadow News and Enfield Press will run monthly, on the first Thursday of the month. If you have something specific to Westfield and Southwick, include pressreleases@thewestfieldnews.com in your press mailing. If you have something specific to Longmeaow, includepressreleases@thelongmeadownews.com. And, if it's Enfield-related: add pressreleases@theenfieldpress.com.

3. ArtsBeat Radio is now ArtBeat TV and Radio. This summer, 89.5fm/WSKB built a studio at Westfield Technical Academy, and the studio is both radio and TV compatible. My engineer, Peter Cowles design/built the studio, and students from Westfield Technical Academy are learning radio and TV production as we program. I now have the capability to pre-record ArtsBeat Radio, which airs on Fridays at 8AM and its simulcast with Westfield Community TV on Comcast 15. I'll be asking guests to do in-studio interviews, and later this fall, we'll be able to do phone interviews as well, as well as more remote broadcasts, as we have from Berkshire Theatre Group, Cranwell with The Capitol Steps, and TheaterWork. For details on 89.5fm/WSKB:http://www.westfield.ma.edu/wskb/  For details on Westfield Community TV: https://www.cityofwestfield.org/511/Community-Access-TV

3. ArtsBeat on Internet Radio. My mentor in radio, Talkers publisher Michael Harrison, launched Pioneer Valley Radio, an internet radio platform. I'm providing ArtsBeat content for Brad Shepard--Today,.New segments launch on Tuesdays, and reviews should air 2-3 days after I cover the performance. Because of the flexibility of the medium, I'll be contributing short previews of upcoming shows AND reviews. Incidentally, Brad Shepard is a well-known area journalist, radio host, and theatre person, who performs in community theatre productions and in concert around the region. As I get more familiar with Pioneer Valley Radio, I hope to produce and host some interviews. 

And please, make sure I get your press releases and JPEG color photos as far in advance as possible. If you're sending photos, please include photo credits. Many thanks, and appreciation for your ongoing support in helping me too promote our area's many fine arts organizations. Your support is always so much appreciated.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/25/19

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/25/19. "Selected Shorts" comes to the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington; Dominique Morriseau's "Pipeline" at WAM Theatre; "Cry It Out" at Hartford Stage and other arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-288/

Monday, September 23, 2019

ArtsBeat Radio/TV on 89.5fm/WSKB and WCPC15 9/20/19

ArtsBeat Radio/TV on 89.5fm/WSKB and WCPC15 9/20/19. Mark G. Auerbach chats with Springfield actor and playwright Ben Scranton, whose new play is part of a new play festival in Pittsburgh this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnk-57k27nY

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/19/19


Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/19/19. “American Underground” sets world premiere at Barrington Stage; Philip Glass opens the UMass Fine Arts Center season, and arts news for WMass an No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-287/

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Media Release: The Capitol Steps Return to Torrington CT on October 19

HE CAPITOL STEPS RETURN TO TORRINGTON'S WARNER THEATRE ON OCTOBER 19 WITH THEIR NEW PRODUCTION "THE LYIN' KINGS"

The Capitol Steps, America’s political musical satire troupe that has been putting the “mock” in democracy for over nine Presidential elections, returns to Torrington's Warner Theatre with their all new touring showThe Lyin’ Kings for one performance only, October 19 at 8PM. The Torrington appearance of The Capitol Steps is presented by Mike Thornton Agency, LLC.

The Lyin’ Kings, drawing its humor from today’s headlines and twitter feeds, is based on The Capitol Steps’ CD of the same name. The new tour, which opened in Washington, DC and in The Berkshires of Western Massachusetts this summer, is getting rave reviews. 

Fred Baumgarten of Berkshire Onstage says “The Capitol Steps’ latest show, The Lyin’ Kings, was performed by a cast more than up to the challenge, and had the audience roaring with laughter (pun intended). The speed with which the troupe could adapt and create new skits and lyrics – always set to well-known pop tunes – rivaled the speed of the internet.” 

What better time to see the Capitol Steps than now, with the next Presidential election season approaching?  The show will include the latest songs about the Democratic primary candidates (“76 Unknowns”) and the newest late-night thoughts from President Trump (“Tweet It”).  No one knows what 2020 will bring, but whether it’s Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Beto O’Rourke, the Capitol Steps can tell you what rhymes with it!  Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican (or somewhere in-between), if you’ve ever wanted to see Donald Trump sing a rock song, Bernie Sanders sing a show tune, and Vladimir Putin dance shirtless…this is the show for you!

And since the Capitol Steps mine their laughs from materials ripped from today’s and tomorrow’s headlines, you never know whether Nancy Pelosi, William Barr, or Kim Jong-un might appear on stage together in a song!
The Capitol Steps’ upcoming performance of mostly new material and some old favorites “is cheaper than therapy”, says Capitol Step co-founder Elaina Newport. “No matter who is making the news, we all need a laugh.  And as fast as a politician can send a tweet, our writers text a new song or joke.  The material comes from both sides of the aisle – sometimes it seems like the politicians are trying to provide us with material!”

Mike Thornton, the Capitol Steps actor who has portrayed Presidents from Reagan to Trump, says “We update our show all the time, so we can’t tell you exactly who will be parodied until we arrive at the Academy of Music.”
The Capitol Steps began in 1981, when a group of Congressional staffers got together to provide entertainment for a holiday office party on Capitol Hill. Since then,the company of professional actors and singers have provided their unique mix of musical and political comedy and satire to audiences coast-to-coast. Each show consists of about 30 songs and skits, with “more costume changes than a Cher concert,” as an audience member once remarked  The Capitol Steps perform in Washington DC every weekend, tour nationally throughout the year, and have appeared on “The Today Show,” “ABC News Nightline,” “CBS Evening News” and on specials for NPR. 
To preview some of the Capitol Steps materials, visit their website, www.capsteps.com, or find the Capitol Steps on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter (@capsteps).

Tickets are now on sale for the Torrington performance. For details:  860-489-7180 or visit warnertheatre.org
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My September Succeeding in Small Business Column

My September Succeeding in Small Business Column. Gone fishing? Away from the Keyboard? Advice on how to stay in touch when you're out of the office. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/away-from-the-keyboard-keeping-in-touch-when-youre-not-around/#.XYIpBSMrJaV

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/11/19

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/11/19. "The Spongebob Musical" comes to Hartford's Bushnell, "The Tuna Goddess" ocks at The Majestic, and "Hold These Truths" encores at Barrington Stage, plu arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-286/

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Media Release: The Capitol Steps Return to Northampton on October 18

THE CAPITOL STEPS RETURN TO NORTHAMPTON’S ACADEMY OF MUSIC ON OCTOBER 18 WITH THEIR NEW PRODUCTION "THE LYIN' KINGS"

The Capitol Steps, America’s political musical satire troupe that has been putting the “mock” in democracy for over nine Presidential elections, returns to Northampton’s Academy of Music Theatre with their all new touring showThe Lyin’ Kings for one performance only, October 18 at 7:30PM. The Northampton appearance of The Capitol Steps is presented by Mike Thornton Agency, LLC and sponsored by New England Public Radio.

The Lyin’ Kings, drawing its humor from today’s headlines and twitter feeds, is based on The Capitol Steps’ CD of the same name. The new tour, which opened in Washington, DC and in The Berkshires of Western Massachusetts this summer, is getting rave reviews. 

Fred Baumgarten of Berkshire Onstage says “The Capitol Steps’ latest show, The Lyin’ Kings, was performed by a cast more than up to the challenge, and had the audience roaring with laughter (pun intended). The speed with which the troupe could adapt and create new skits and lyrics – always set to well-known pop tunes – rivaled the speed of the internet.” 

What better time to see the Capitol Steps than now, with the next Presidential election season approaching?  The show will include the latest songs about the Democratic primary candidates (“76 Unknowns”) and the newest late-night thoughts from President Trump (“Tweet It”).  No one knows what 2020 will bring, but whether it’s Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Beto O’Rourke, the Capitol Steps can tell you what rhymes with it!  Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican (or somewhere in-between), if you’ve ever wanted to see Donald Trump sing a rock song, Bernie Sanders sing a show tune, and Vladimir Putin dance shirtless…this is the show for you!

And since the Capitol Steps mine their laughs from materials ripped from today’s and tomorrow’s headlines, you never know whether Nancy Pelosi, William Barr, or Kim Jong-un might appear on stage together in a song!
The Capitol Steps’ upcoming performance of mostly new material and some old favorites “is cheaper than therapy”, says Capitol Step co-founder Elaina Newport. “No matter who is making the news, we all need a laugh.  And as fast as a politician can send a tweet, our writers text a new song or joke.  The material comes from both sides of the aisle – sometimes it seems like the politicians are trying to provide us with material!”

Mike Thornton, the Capitol Steps actor who has portrayed Presidents from Reagan to Trump, says “We update our show all the time, so we can’t tell you exactly who will be parodied until we arrive at the Academy of Music.”
The Capitol Steps began in 1981, when a group of Congressional staffers got together to provide entertainment for a holiday office party on Capitol Hill. Since then,the company of professional actors and singers have provided their unique mix of musical and political comedy and satire to audiences coast-to-coast. Each show consists of about 30 songs and skits, with “more costume changes than a Cher concert,” as an audience member once remarked  
The Capitol Steps perform in Washington DC every weekend, tour nationally throughout the year, and have appeared on “The Today Show,” “ABC News Nightline,” “CBS Evening News” and on specials for NPR. 
To preview some of the Capitol Steps materials, visit their website, www.capsteps.com, or find the Capitol Steps on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter (@capsteps).

Tickets are now on sale for the Northampton performance. For details: 413-584-9032 ext. 105 and online at www.aomtheatre.com:
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Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/4/19

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 9/4/19. "Quixote Nuevo" opens Hartford Stage season. "Billy Elliot" to dance at Goodspeed, and other arts news for WMass and No.CT.
https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-285/