ArtsBeat TV/Radio 4/28/23

PROGRAM NOTE: NEW ArtsBeat TV/Radio tomorrow 8AM from WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. Holyoke Civic Symphony Maestro David Kidwell and Majestic Theater founder Danny Eaton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRtZZKmQqkw

ArtsBeat on Pioneer Valley Radio 4/25/23

NEW ArtsBeat from Pioneer Valley Radio. Gypsy opens Goodspeed’s season. Rent at UConn, STOMP at UMass, Hailey Brinnel and all that jazz and arts news in WMass and No.CT. Segment starts at: 4:47 https://pioneervalleyradio.podbean.com/e/brad-shepard-today-april-25-2023/

Westfield News/MassLive ArtsBeat 4/24/23

Westfield News/MassLive ArtsBeat 4/24/23. WAM Fresh Takes Seriesm "Rent" in Storrs, Brian Stokes Mitchell at the Mahaiwe, Jennifer Holliday at Goodspeed and arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/04/arts-beat-irish-in-holyoke-scottish-folk-in-blandford-powwow-in-amherst.html

ArtsBeat TV/Radio 4/21/23

PROGRAM NOTE: NEW ArtsBeat TV/Radio tomorrow from WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. Kate Maguire previews Berkshire Theatre Group’s season, and Lesléa Newman considers Matthew Shepard. Stream after 8AM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X7de5kRIFI

Pioneer Valley Radio ArtsBeat 4/19/23

NEW ArtsBeat on Pioneer Valley Radio. The Rembrandt comes to TheaterWorks. Harmonia V plays Westfield. Lesléa Newman remembers Matthew Shepard, Julianne Boyd is honored, and arts news for WMass and No.CT. Segment begins at: 3:51 https://pioneervalleyradio.podbean.com/e/brad-shepard-today-april-19-2023/

April Column: Succeeding in Small Busness

My April column for Succeeding in Small Business. Putting my theatre skills to work in the workplace. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/all-the-work-worlds-a-stage/

Athenaeum Spotlight 4/19/23

PROGRAM NOTE: NEW Athenaeum Spotlight tomorrow from WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. Guy McLain and Mark Auerbach chat with Robert Hoyle and Jennifer Berman from Harmonia V about their April in Paris concert in Westfield. Stream after 8AM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teTvBkXwsVI

Media Release: Considering Matthew Shepard

DATELINE: April 18, 2023FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContacts:  Da Camera Singers, Sheila Heffernon, Artistic Director. heffernon@gmail.comMark G. Auerbach Public Relations. 413-427-7352 or mgauerbach@gmail.com DA CAMERA SINGERS PRESENTS CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON’S ORATORIO “CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD” ON MAY 21 IN GREENFIELD Da Camera Singers, the adult chamber choir located in the Pioneer Valley, will present the Western Massachusetts premiere of Craig Hella Johnson’s oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard on May 21 at 4 PM in the auditorium at Greenfield High School, 21 Barr Ave, Greenfield, MA. Considering Matthew Shepard tells the story of a gay college student, who was kidnapped, robbed, beaten, and brutally murdered in 1998, in Laramie, Wyoming, where he attended the University of Wyoming. His murder and the ensuing trial was captured by Moises Kaufmann and the Tectonic Theatre Company in The Laramie Project, and its sequel.  Considering Matthew Shepard is a three-part fusion oratorio. Johnson set the piece to wide range of poetic and soulful texts by poets including Hildegard of Bingen; Lesléa Newman, the internationally renowned author who is based in Western Massachusetts, Michael Dennis Browne, Craig Hella Johnson, William Blake and Rumi, as well as passages from Matt’s personal journal, interviews and writings from his parents Judy and Dennis Shepard, and newspaper reports. The oratorio is set for choir, an eight piece orchestra and soloists, directed by Sheila Heffernon.  Considering Matthew Shepard debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Traditional Classical Chart after Harmonia Mundi released the 2-CD Set recording in mid-September, 2016. According to Heffernon, “Through the music, the poetry and the narration, Johnson takes the listener on a journey of anger and despair to forgiveness, hope and love. In this twenty-fifth year anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard, Da Camera Singers presents this performance in order  to keep telling his story, to remind us all that love can prevail”. Assisting Da Camera in telling Matthew Shepard’s story will be guest narrators Mark Auerbach, Metta Dael, Jill Kaufman, Bill Newman and Stan Rosenberg, and soloists Isabella DerHerdt and Lachlan Miller.  Lesléa Newman will introduce the program. No tickets are required, but donations will be accepted at the performance, to benefit DaCamera and the Matthew Shepard Foundation. For further details on Da Camera visit: dacamerasingers.org or on Facebook at Da Camera Singers.  This program has been supported by a generous grant from the Mass Cultural Council. -30- Photos available upon request.

Westfield News/MassLive ArtsBeat 4/17/23

Westfield News/MassLive ArtsBeat 4/17/23. Stomp and Into The Woods at UMass. Hartford Symphony's Talcott mountain Music Festival, and arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/04/arts-beat-stomp-bach-festival-into-the-woods-on-stage-at-umass-amherst.html

Pioneer Valley Radio Review: Tina: the Tina Turner Musical

Tina: the Tina Turner Musical sizzles at The Bushnell. My Pioneer Valley Radio review. Segment begins at: 3:31 https://pioneervalleyradio.podbean.com/e/brad-shepard-today-april-14-2023/

ArtsBeat TV/Radio 4/14/23

PROGRAM NOTE: NEW ArtsBeat TV/Radio tomorrow from WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. Melia Bensussen previews Hartford Stage’s “The Winter’s Tale”, and Jeff Provost introduces The Legacy Theatre. Stream after 8AM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=micW511-ZP4

Pioneer Valley Radio ArtsBeat 4/11/23

New ArtsBeat on Pioneer Valley Radio. The Winter’s Tale at Hartford Stsge, Buddy at the Majestic, Madness and Mystery at the Springfield Symphony, and Mark H. Dold an Elliot Norton nom. Segment begins at: 6:41 https://pioneervalleyradio.podbean.com/e/brad-shepard-today-april-11-2023/

On The Mark TV/Radio 4/12/23

PROGRAM NOTE: NEW On The Mark TVRadio tomorrow from WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. “What Young People Think” with students from Westfield State University. Stream after 8AM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPU8S7kD4rM

Westfield News/MassLive ArtsBeat 4/10/23

Westfield News/MassLive ArtsBeat 4/10/23. The Bushnell and Hartford Stage announce their 2023-24 seasons, Goodspeed adds Chester performances, Lesléa Newman on Matthew Shepard, The Rembrandt at TheaterWorks, and arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/04/arts-beat-bushnell-bringing-7-big-name-musicals-to-hartford-this-season.html

ArtsBeat TV/Radio 4/07/23

PROGRAM NOTE: NEW ArtsBeat TV/Radio tomorrow from WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. Chester Theatre’s James Barry and Tara Franklin. Watch! Listen! Stream after 8AM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZqUj5RCvC8

ArtsBeat on Pioneer Valley Radio 4/04/23

New ArtsBeat on Pioneer Valley Radio. Hartford Stage and The Bushnell announce their 2023-24 season. Max Creek at Berkshire Theatre Group, Tina-The Tina Turner Musical at The Bushnell, and arts news for WMass and No.CT. segment begins at:.5:45 https://pioneervalleyradio.podbean.com/e/brad-shepard-today-april-4-2023/

On The Mark TV.Radio 4/05/23

PROGRAM NOTE: NEW On The Mark tomorrow from WCPC15 and 89l5fm/WSKB. Meet John Bidwell from Way Finders, and Dan Sheehan’s family turns tragedy into triumph. Stream after 8AM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WFCZFNU-zU

Westfield News/MassLive ArtsBeat 4/03/23

Westfield News/MassLive ArtsBeat 4/03/23. Shakespeare's "Winter's Tale" at Hartford Stage; "Gypsy" at Goodspeed, "1776" in Westfield and arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://www.masslive.com/westfieldnews/2023/04/arts-beat-musical-classics-classical-music-on-local-stages-this-month.html