January Client Newsletter

Dear Clients, Colleagues, and Friends,

We’re proud to share our clients’ activities

The Big Broadcast! The 15^th edition of a live1940s radio broadcast, created and directed by Mark Gionfriddo, and performed by the Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College, returns to South Hadley’s Chapin Auditorium on March 7 at 2PM and 7:30PM. This signature event at Mount Holyoke College again ataras WWLP’s Brian Lapis as emcee “Fred Kelley”. Tickets are now on sale at The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, and the Umass Fine Arts Center Box-Office at 314-545-2511, 800-999-UMASS, or www.fineartscenter.com. We’re thrilled to have asponsor commitments from Mount Holyoke College, Loomis Communitiews, PRIME Magazine, The Republican, MassLLive and El Pueblo Latino; WWLP-22News and the CW Springfield. I’ve attached Gabrielle Perlman’s beautiful poster design for this season’s event.

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 (Tickets at Ticketmaster) and across the country. Their Politics Takes A Holiday New Year's Eve Special was taped on December 13-14 in Washington, DC, and airs on many NPR stations coast-to-coast. For a list of stations carrying the broadcast: http://www.capsteps.com/radio/. For details. http://capsteps.com/   

The Westfield Concerts Series, powered by Gaslight Entertainment, is a new venture, co-founded by two of my WSKB colleagues, Patrick Berry and Jay Pagluica. They’ll be presenting a monthly music festival weekend from January through May, at the Westfield Woman’s Club in downtown Westfield, so there’s a regular performance season there. The music menu varies, from pop to rock to jazz, folk, and blues. The headliners are often nationally-known musicians and groups, and the openers are talented regional and local artists. The season klicked off last November. The next weekend is January 10-12. Porter Carroll, Jr. plays the Sunday afternoon performance. Founder of Atlantic Starr and currently a member of the number one selling duo in the history of music, Hall of Famers, Daryl Hall and John Oates. Porter is also performing in two breakout projects of his own.  The Evolution of Cabaret, a “bold and daring nightclub act for the modern world” and Symphony Rhythm & Blues, “the ultimate crossover”.For details: www.westfieldconcerts.com  And for the January concerts Press Release: http://mgauerbach.blogspot.com/2019/12/media-release-westfield-concerts.html

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 is now on both radio and TV every Friday at 8AM. Tune in or stream on 89.5fm/WSKB or www.wskb.org OR WCPC15 or www.westfieldtv.org. The program originates from Studio 120 at Westfield Technical Academy. I’ve become a contributor to The Brad Shepard Today program on Pioneer Valley Radio, which generally streams on Tuesdays at www.pioneervalleyradio.com.

I’m really proud of two specials we taped from Hartford Stage during their run of A Christmas Carol. Thanks to Hartford Stage’s Theresa MacNaughton, our engineer and producer Peter Cowles, and my co-host Patrick Berry for making them happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed3_Q3rwPmo&t=2495s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjBmaQXZDZM&t=1798s

I recapped the Arts Year here. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-the-arts-year-2019-in-review/ 

And here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En2SI3Ajxxk

I recapped my personal year here: http://mgauerbach.blogspot.com/2019/12/my-2019-holiday-letter.html

Happy New Year!

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 12/27/19

ArtsBeat Radio/TV. 12/27/19. A year-end wrap-up of the 2019 theatre scene with arts reporters Mark G. Auerbach of Westfield News and ArtsBeat Radio/TV; Chris Rohmann of The Valley Advocate; and J. Peter Bergman of Berkshire Edge and Berkshire Bright Focus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En2SI3Ajxxk

Westfgield News ArtsBeat 12/25/19

Westfield News ArtsBeat 12/25/19. 2019 in Review: The plays, productions, and performances that made an impact on me this year in WMass and No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-the-arts-year-2019-in-review/

My 2019 Holiday Letter

I had actually thought about sending holiday cards this year, but the idea of handwriting greetings and signing my name was too much, because the injuries to my left hand have not fully recovered. So, I sent this instead.

Forgive the typed and emailed greetings. I really wanted to do some holiday cards, but frankly, I still can’t write by hand.

Season’s Greetings. This year, as I’ve done previously, I’ve chosen to support several local non-profits who work for the greater good. The funds I could have used for holiday cards, gifts, and more will help the non-profits make life better for others. To me, that’s what the spirit of the season is about. But, I did wantr to get a message out, accompanied by a photo of my favorite place: The Connecticut River at Northfield Mount Hermon from Christmas 2014.

It’s been a year of major peaks and valleys. Things were on a roll until April 14, when I slipped and fell down a flight of stairs in the condo, broke my right femur and my left (dominant) hand and wrist. After extensive surgery to treat the fractures and subsequent complications—enough to provide plot for a full season of Grey’s Anatomy. I spent 12 weeks in rehab, 2 weeks of being housebound with physical therapy coming to the condo, and after I progressed from wheelchair to walker to cane, to outpatient PT, which continues. My colleagues, friends, and neighbors helped me through the process. I’m now at the 85% recovery level. I still can’t climb stairs, roll over, or write. I believe I will. One more surgery looms in the New Year...that on my hand, so I can hold a pen and write again. To add drama to drama, Marc Newman, one of my best friends died a couple of days after I got home, my 100 year old father died a few days later, and my aunt died later in the year. That generation of Auerbachs are now a memory.

But out of bad times comes good times. My work flourished, handling clients like The Capitol Steos, Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, The Jazz Ensembles at Mount Holyoke College, and Gaslight Entertainment’s Westfield Concerts series. When 89.5fm/WSKB and Westfield TV WCPC15 built a joint studio, My ArtsBeat program added a TV component. I have continued to provide content for Westfield News, Longmeadow News, and Enfield Press, after their sale to another newspaper group. I became a content contributor to Pioneer Valley Radio, and I write a monthly public relations column for Succeeding in Small Business. 

I learned how important friends are this year. Yes, I’m appreciative of the support of my clients and colleagues, and the theatres I cover as a reporter. Yes, I’m also grateful to my neighbors and pool pals, who walked me to/from the pool, took me grocery shopping, picked up my mail, and got me to doctor’s appointments. My Northfield Mount Hermon classmates from near and far paid visits on a regular basis. Friends from all over called, texted, and messaged me. Thanks to them! One friend from Berlin, accompanied by our dancer friend Kathy,  paid a visit, and brought New York deli food. My pal Mark Gionfriddo broke away from rehearsals at Berkshire Theatre Group to perform excerpts from Fiddler on The Roof at my dad's funeral. Five friends and colleagues went above and beyond to get me back on my feet. Thank you Rob, Patrick, Chris, Ben, and the late Marc.

I took my health and my life for granted. I’ve been granted a second chance. That’s good come from bad.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year. And, as you wake up New Year’s morning, may the words of Barbara Walters roll through your head. “This is...2020”.

Mark

Pioneer Valley Radio ArtsBeat 12/24/19

Pioneer Valley Radio ArtsBeat segment 12/24/19. "Anastasia" rings in the New Year at The Bushnell. "Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical" comes to Playhouse on Park. Kudos to Springfield Symphony's Maestro  Kevin Rhodes and Mt. Holyoke composer David Sanford. Segment starts at 2:12. http://pioneervalleyradio.com/2019/12/24/brad-shepard-today-tuesday-december-24-2019/

Media Release: The Big Broadcast

DATELINE: December 20, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:: Mark G. Auerbach, 413-427-7352 or mgauerbach@gmail.com

CALENDAR LISTINGS

The Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College

present the 15^th edition of

The Big Broadcast!

Saturday, March 7, 2020

2:00PM and 7:30PM

Chapin Auditorium

Route 116, South Hadley, MA

The Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College present the 15th edition of The Big Broadcast! on Saturday, March 7 at 2PM & 7:30PM at Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, MA. Snow date is Sunday, March 8.

Created and directed by Mark Gionfriddo, who is also onstage as “Matt Morgan”, The Big Broadcast!  is a re-creation of a live 1940's radio show featuring the Mount Holyoke College Big Band, Vocal Jazz, and Chamber Jazz Ensembles performing well-known tunes from the swing era and the American songbook. WWLP-TV meteorologist Brian Lapis is emcee “Fred Kelley” for his 13th consecutive season. Mount Holyoke College music faculty member Mark Gionfriddo originally created The Big Broadcast! for a small cabaret group he directed, and incorporated it into the concert season at Mount Holyoke College. It has since been designated as a Signature Event at the college.

Performance sponsors of The Big Broadcast! are: Mount Holyoke College, New England Public Media, a partnership of New England Public Radio and WGBY; PRIME Magazine; WWLP-22News & The CW Springfield, The Republican powering MassLive and El Pueblo Latino, and Loomis Communities. 

Tickets (general admission): $25.00 premium front and center seating.$20.00 regular seating. Senior Discounts: $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. Students: $10.00. Tickets are on sale at The Odyssey Book Shop, Village Commons, South Hadley; the UMass Fine Arts Center Box Office; and at the door (subject to availability). For advance phone orders, call 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS. For online tickets, visit www.fineartscenter.com. Doors open one hour prior to each performance.

For information on The Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College: 

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/music/jazz

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ArtsBeat Radio/TV 12/20/19: Hartford Stage

ArtsBeat Radio TV 12/20/19. Part Two of our visit to Hartford Stage. Mark G. Auerbach and Patrick Berry chat with new Artistic Director Melia Bensussen and Managing Director Cynthia Rider. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjBmaQXZDZM

Westfield News ArtsBeat 12/18/19

Westfield News ArtsBeat 12/18/19. "Tenderly: the Rosemary Clooney Musical" is headed to Playhouse on Pasrk; Abany Berkshire Ballet's "The Nutcracker" in Springfield, and other arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-300/

Westfield News Rev iew: Home For The Holidays"

Westfield News review of The Majestic Theatre's "Home For The Holidays".
 https://thewestfieldnews.com/review-home-for-the-holidays-returns-to-the-majestic/

Pioneer Valley Radio Arts Segment 12/17/19

I stopped by Pioneer Valley Radio's Brad Shepard Today to talk about Albany Berkshire Ballet's Nutcracker in Springfield, and the beautiful Mahaiwe Theatre in Great Barrington. Also a mention of Hartford Symphony's Holiday Cirque Spectacular. Segment xstarts at 2:19. http://pioneervalleyradio.com/2019/12/17/brad-shepard-today-tuesday-december-17-2019/

ArtsBeat Radio TV at Hartford Stage, Part 1

ArtsBeat Radio/TV travels to Hartford Stage to chat with members of "A Christmas Carol". Co-hosts Mark G. Auerbach and Patrick Berry meet director Rachel Alderman, John-Andrew Morrison, who plays Mr. Marvel, and dance captain Sarah Killough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed3_Q3rwPmo

Media Release: Westfield Concerts January Music Weekend

DATELINE: December 16, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALENDAR LISTINGS

WESTFIELD CONCERTS MONTHLY MUSIC WEEKEND: JANUARY, 2020

Produced by Gaslight Entertainment

January 10-12, 2020

Westfield Woman’s Club

28 Court Street, Westfield, MA 01085

Tickets and Information: https://westfieldconcerts.com/

Friday, January 10, 2020

Jhn Berman 7PM

KICK - The INXS Experience 8PM

KICK - The INXS Experience is the USA's most captivating salute and tribute to the internationally acclaimed rock band, INXS. Formed in 2014, two years after INXS stopped touring, KICK - The INXS Experience has beautifully managed to capture the spirit of INXS in both its sound and live performance, bringing the highest level of musicianship to the audience while showing a true passion for the music of INXS. Vocalist, guitarist, and singer-songwriter Cory Massi is the founding frontman of KICK, and has long held a respect and admiration for the late great Michael Hutchence. Massi even auditioned for the reality TV show, Rockstar: INXS, in 2004, where contestants competed to become the new lead vocalist for INXS. For details: www.get-kicked.com

Jon Berman, after hitting the road with countless bands as a sideman, songwriter Jon Berman picked up a guitar and brought his own music to life. With influences ranging from the coastal music of Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney, touching upon the country of Dierks Bentley and Willie Nelson, and reaching to the songwriting of Stephen Kellogg and Will Hoge, Jon’s music covers many genres that appeal to a wide listening audience. Jon has performed with acts such as Changes In Latitudes, Barefoot Truth, Hard Rock Café Ambassador of Rock winners Jackson Wetherbee Band, The Sweet Remains, Stephen Kellogg, Rick Monroe and T.I.P. In his touring career, Jon has opened for many acts including country stars Granger Smith and Clare Dunn, O.A.R., Matt Nathanson, Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Gin Blossoms, Collective Soul, Guster, Shinedown, Staind and Aaron Lewis. For details: http://jonbermanmusic.com/

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Tyshaun Davis and Heather Dale 7PM

James Montgomery Band 8PM

When blues legend James Montgomery plays the harmonica, he "brings it on home". Whether it's recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority. While growing up in Detroit he learned first-hand from the masters - James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells - at the legendary "Chessmate." Over the years, he's carried on in the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in Blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene. Montgomery has toured with many major artists, including Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers, Steve Miller and others. He has jammed on stage with B.B.King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Laverne Baker, Patti LaBelle, and Peter Wolf among others, including an impromptu session with Mick Jagger at New York's "Trax". For details: https://www.jamesmontgomery.com/

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Opening Act TBD 4PM

Porter Carroll Jr 5PM

Porter Carroll Jr, as a songwriter for Sony Music Publishing from the mid-1980s through early 1990s, plumbed the heart of R&B and pop with thought-provoking lyrics, catchy melodies and great hooks. Top names lined up for Porter Carroll compositions including Luther Vandross, The Temptations and Grover Washington. He wrote for Will Downing, Bob James, former Atlantic Starr lead vocalist Sharon Bryant, Marion Meadows, Bob Baldwin, Dana Dawson from Broadway’s Rent, England’s Jaki Graham, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jane Fonda among others. He co-wrote and co-produced Taj Mahal and also co-wrote music for the animated cable TV movie “People,” performed by Peabo Bryson. He’s written theme songs for Video Vibrations and Midnight Love on the BET cable TV network. Porter’s also an in-demand backup vocalist for recording artists including Shania Twain, Spyro Gyra, Melba Moore, Donnie Osmond, Michael Bolton, Howard Hewitt and Bob Baldwin. For details: https://www.portercarrolljr.com/

The inaugural Westfield Concerts series are produced by Gaslight Entertainment, co-founded by Patrick Berry and Jay Pagluica, to present monthly music weekends with national touring music acts and regional up-and-coming artists in downtown Westfield, MA.The music program s include all kinds of music genres from pop to rock, jazz, blues, and folk. Westfield Concerts are held at The Westfield Woman’s Club in downtown Westfield, MA. For details on Gaslight Entertainment and Westfield Concerts: 413) 579-8540‬ or www.westfieldconcerts.com, and on Facebook as Gaslight Entertainment.

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Pioneer Valley Radio Review: Home For The Holidays

Pioneer Valley Radio review of The Majestic Theater's annual "Home For The Holidays". Starts at 2:28. http://pioneervalleyradio.com/2019/12/13/brad-shepard-today-friday-december-13-2019/

Westfiueld News ArtsBeat 12/11/19

Westfield News ArtsBeat 12/11/19. Reviews of "Christmas on The Rocks" at TheaterWorks and "Santaland Diaries" at Playhouse on Park. Plus "Anyone Can Whistle" at Hartt, and arts news from WMass and No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-299/

Two Theatre Reviews for Pioneer Valley Radio

Two theatre reviews on Pioneer Valley Radio. "Christmas on The Rocks" at TheaterWorks and "Santaland Diaries" at Playhouse on Park. Segment starts at 2:57. http://pioneervalleyradio.com/2019/12/10/brad-shepard-today-tuesday-december-10-2019/

My December Succeeding in Small Business Article

My December column for Succeeding in Small Business. I survived message bombardment. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/lessons-from-the-world-of-message-bombardment/#.Xe5xm5NKiqR

December News from Mark G Auerbach Public Relations

December, 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 are on sale at The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, and the UMass Fine Art Center Box-Office. 413-545-2511, 800-999-UMAS or www.fineartscenter.com.  We're thrilled to have sponsorship commitments from Mount Holyoke College, Loomis Communities, PRIME Magazine,  The Republican, MassLive and All Pueblo Latino; WWLP-22News & The CW Springfield and others to be announced.  We'll also 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. They're taping their annual Politics Takes A Holiday New Year's Eve Special on December 13-14 in Washington, DC. Tickets at Ticketmaster. You can see them perform throughout the year at theatres coast-to-coast, including a return to Cambridge, MA for their 21st annual Thanksgiving weekend performances on November 30. Some tickets are still available at the Harvard Box-Office. https://www.boxoffice.harvard.edu The Cambridge performances are presented by The Mike Thornton Agency LLC.. http://capsteps.com/   

Gaslight Entertainment is a new venture co-founded by two of my 89.5fm/WSKB colleagues, Patrick Berry and Jay Pagluica, to bring live music entertainment in a variety of genres from pop to rock to blues to jazz to folk, from nationally touring tribute bands and local artists. They kicked off their series in November, and one weekend per month, they present three days of music at the Westfield Women's Club in downtown Westfield, MA. Their next monthly music weekend is January 10-12. For details: www.westfieldconcerts.com 

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 is now on the airwaves on both 89.5fm/WSKB and on TV on WCPC15.  We’re originating the program from new studios at Westfield Technical Academy . November guests include: members of The Albany Berkshire Ballet on November 29. In December, guests include Eric Hill and Travis Daly from Berkshire Theatre Grooup's A Christmas Carol on December 6, and a two-part special from Hartford Stage on December 13-20. On December 27, arts reporters Chris Rohmann, J. Peter Bergman and I wrap up the "Best of 2019". Thanks to Patrick Berry for co-hosting our December shows. Here's a program featuring musician David Kidwell, composer, Hoilyoke Civic Symnphony Maestro, and keyboard player at Goodspeed Musicals' Billy Elliot: The Musical. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XCabJBFf_c

And, I’m now a weekly contributor to the web-based Pioneer Valley Radio. Find my ArtsBeat on Brad Shepard Today, every Tuesday.  Theatre reviews may run on other days of the week. http://pioneervalleyradio.com/category/programs/brad-shepard-today/  Here's my review of Hello, Dolly! at The Bushnell, which starts at 1:58  :http://pioneervalleyradio.com/2019/11/14/brad-shepard-today-thursday-november-14-2019/?fbclid=IwAR2z3ZElDmkL_Xy1P-rqtRLTKmP4wRmGuw9KEshFJqpiyN-KGaPdMWjUWeU

ArtsBeat columns and ArtsBeat Radio/TV often appear on BroadwayStars.com.

Our offices will be closed on December 24-27 and December 31 and January 1. Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season and a great year ahead. Instead of sending holiday cards and client gifts, I'm donating those funds to several local non-profits who strive to make our communities better. I hope that in the spirit of the season, you'll support non-profit organizations. 

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 12/6/19: "A Chriustmas Carol"

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 12/6/19. Mark G. Auerbach and Patrick Berry chat with Berkshire Theatre Group's Eric Hill, adapter and "Scrooge" in "A Christmas Carol" and the production's director, Travis Daly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP6VApXt18c

Westfield News ArtsBeat 12/4/19

Westfield News ArtsBeat 12/4/19. Holiday theatre and music events in WMass and No.CT, plus B roadway Week comes in January. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-297/