Comedy and Tragedy on the Mountain - 70 Years of Summer Theatre - Mt. Tom, Holyoke, Mass.

This is to announce the publication of my latest book:

Comedy and Tragedy on the Mountain:

70 years of Summer Theatre on Mt. Tom, Holyoke, Massachusetts

It is non-fiction, about a once vibrant summer theatre playhouse in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts, how it reflected its eras and its location - in an amusement park, on a mountain, on the edge of a New England factory town.  It was unique, and its story is fascinating.

I'll be giving a talk on the book at the Holyoke (Massachusetts) Public Library, Monday, January 23^rd at 6 p.m.  Springfield Republican columnist Barbara Bernard, who wrote the foreword for the book and was interviewed for the project, will introduce the event and will take part in the discussion.

The book covers the history of live theatre on Mt. Tom from 1895 to 1965.  For some seventy years live theatre created magic on the mountain above the city, from vaudeville, operetta, WPA-sponsored shows in the Great Depression, and its heyday from 1941 to 1962 with a resident repertory company called The Valley Players.  In the early 1960s, two new incarnations: The Casino-in-the-Park, and finally, the Mt. Tom Playhouse with touring packaged shows featuring well-known stars from television and movies.  Many stars of stage and screen, and many newcomers who would one day become stars, performed over several decades on Mt. Tom.  Through interviews, newspaper reviews, and nearly 250 photographs, relive their performances, and go backstage for personal experiences that were both comic and tragic, and enjoy again the excitement of opening night.

The book is currently available in paperback from the printer, CreateSpace here, and from Amazon in paperback and eBook.  You can also contact me by email or my website to obtain a paperback copy. 

Reading from Whitewash in the Berkshires - Springfield, Massachusetts

I'll be reading from one of my Double V Mysteries this coming Sunday at the Springfield City Library, Springfield, Massachusetts as part of the Literary Spotlight: Creative Writings by Local Authors event. From 1 to 3 p.m., come down to the main branch at 220 State Street. Here's more:


Literary Spotlight: Creative Readings by Local Writers
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
...

Enjoy the readings of local writers in this showcase of active area writers. Featured writers include poets, novelists, and children's book writers, all of whom will offer a sample from their creative writing.

Participating readers are Jane Schneeloch, Springfield poet; Don Fisher, Chicopee poet; Price Van Ray, South Hadley poet and novelist; Jacqueline Lynch, Chicopee novelist; Peter Cianciolo, Springfield author of A Father's Love; Maria Kamoulakou-Marangoudakis, Springfield author of Sky Cloud City; Patrick Shanahan, Holyoke author of The Bird Song, and Betsy Sheehan, East Longmeadow author of Grace O'Malley, the Queen of the Sea. Refreshments compliments of the Friends of the Library, with a free attendance raffle for all who attend.

CONTACT:
Matthew Vasquez Jaquith
413.263.6828 ext 221
mjaquith@springfieldlibrary.org
LOCATION: Central Library Community Room