Happy Cartoonists Day

Happy Cartoonists Day!  

Have a look at one happy cartoonist here (my twin brother, John).

Ogunquit Playhouse 2015 Season - Ogunquit, Maine

This year's lineup of plays at Ogunquit's fabulous OGUNQUIT PLAYHOUSE...

For more, or to order tickets, here's their website.

Dan Gabel's High Society Orchestra - Massachusetts

Jazz, Big Band, swing -- these are American musical art forms that are neither dead nor diminished, certainly not among devoted fans and not among a younger generation which appreciates them.  Dan Gabel is a young man who not only appreciates this music, but perpetuates it.  He is a musician, arranger, and the leader of a splendid variety of musical groups that are a tribute not only to his musical talent and appreciation, but his entrepreneurial spirit.  One of his idols is Vaughn Monroe, and that's good enough for me.  I hope in future to write more on Dan Gabel's the Abeltones and his High Society Orchestra, but for now, have a look at his Facebook page, his website, and start marking your calendars for his upcoming events.

New book on Springfield, Mass. Founder William Pynchon

Coming up in Springfield, Mass. - a free talk by author David Powers on a new book about the founder of Springfield:

BOOK SIGNING & TALK

DAVID M. POWERS, Author

“DAMNABLE HERESY:

 WILLIAM PYNCHON, THE INDIANS, AND THE FIRST BOOK BANNED (AND BURNED) IN BOSTON”                                                                 Wipf & Stock, Eugene, OR, 2015

                                               

Springfield was founded on May 14, 1636 by William Pynchon.

Let’s celebrate this important event with a talk by author David M. Powers.

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015  ~  2:00PM

CLASSICAL HIGH CONDOMINIUMS

235 STATE STREET, SPRINGFIELD

FREE PROGRAM

hosted by Historic Classical, Inc., a non-profit agency

SUGGESTED DONATIONS IN ANY AMOUNT ARE APPRECIATED

Parking available in lot to right of building. Site is wheelchair accessible.

Berkshire Theatre Group - Stockbridge, Massachusetts - Summer 2015 Schedule

          

WORLD PREMIERE

Thoreau or, Return to Walden

at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge

The Larry Vaber Stage

Thursday, June 18-Saturday, July 11

New England Transcendentalist, poet, and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, built his life around the idea of simplicity and love. The enlightened thinker's reflections come to life in the world premiere of David Adkins' one-man play, Thoreau or, Return to Walden. With 22 seasons at Berkshire Theatre Group under his belt, Adkins has been in BTG productions including: Poe, Benefactors, Same Time, Next Year; Homestead Crossing; Sylvia and Faith Healer. Long-time BTG Artist, Eric Hill, who most recently wrote and directed Adkins in the wildly well-received Poe, will direct this production. Hill has directed numerous shows at BTG, including: The Who's Tommy, A Chorus Line, Oklahoma! and the annual classic, A Christmas Carol.

WORLD PREMIERE

I Saw My Neighbor On the Train and I Didn't Even Smile

a Co-Production with New Neighborhood

 at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge

The Larry Vaber Stage

Wednesday, July 15-Saturday, August 15

After yet another incident at school, Sadie, a clever teenager with a hard exterior, is sent to stay with her estranged father, Jamie, a struggling music producer. Already weighed down with personal matters, Jamie guilts his neurotic, naïve sister, Rebecca, played by Keira Naughton (Birthday Boy, Macbeth, Faith Healer, The Book Club Play) into watching Sadie. Plagued by her overwhelming, cynical mother, Daphne, played by Linda Gehringer (The Crowd You're With, How to Write a New Book for the Bible), Rebecca reluctantly invites Sadie into her secluded life. As each character's carefully constructed layers unfurl, they are forced to step out of their comfort zone, and embrace life's blemishes.

TONY AWARD-WINNING CLASSIC

The Homecoming

at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge

The Larry Vaber Stage

Thursday, October 1-Sunday, October 25

Philosophy teacher, Teddy, brings his wife of six years, Ruth, played by Tara Franklin (Lion in Winter, Equus, The Einstein Project), to his childhood home in North London to meet his family after a long estrangement. Without warning of their visit, Teddy and Ruth are greeted by Teddy's domineering family; Teddy's aggressive father, Max, played by Rocco Sisto (Quills, Seminar, Amadeaus) Max's younger, incompetent brother, Sam; and Teddy's two brothers—Joey, an aspiring boxer and Lenny, an amateur hustler. Teddy and Ruth's homecoming instigates a power struggle for the ages, and family ties begin to unravel. 

Masha's Seagull

at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge

The Larry Vaber Stage

Friday, May 22 through

Sunday, May 24

Inspired by incomparable dramatist Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, Justin Scheuer, Artistic Director of The Classical Edge Theatre, explores new territory in, Masha's Seagull. Directed by BTG artist Eric Hill, this production takes on Chekhov's classic work, and examines a minor, yet intriguing, character in the original story, Masha, played by Virginia Scheuer. 

Searching For The Moon:

A Heroine's Journey

 at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge

The Larry Vaber Stage

Thursday, August 27 through Saturday, August 29

Searching For The Moon: A Heroine's Journey is a one woman show written and performed by Amber Chand. This powerful show depicts acts and tales of love, despair, faith and forgiveness. Director Jayne Atkinson and Amber Chand promise to create an unforgettable evening of one woman's global journey of heroism.

Join us to see musicals at the Colonial in Pittsfield and/or theatre at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage and The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge. Passholders are not locked into a specific day of the week or a specific theatre: you choose what you see and when you see it!

Each pass includes special benefits: preferred seating, VIP Parking at the Main Stage, pre-show dramaturgical packets and invites to special events throughout the year.

For more on the Berkshire Theatre Group, have a look at their website here.

Ivoryton Playhouse 2015 Season - Ivoryton, Connecticut

Here is the 2015 season of shows for the Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, Connecticut.  Please visit their website here.

Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. - cover reveal

My forthcoming book on the career of actress Ann Blyth will bear this lovely cover, for which I'd like to thank most sincerely and congratulate most heartily the graphic artist. She is Constance Metzinger, one half of the Metzinger Sisters who author the classic film blog Silver Scenes.  Please have a look at their blog and you'll be regular customers.

The cover above will be on both the eBook and the print version, but the print book will also have another photo gracing the back. This one:

And in between, many photos from her film and stage appearances, some of which you will have never seen.

The book will be published June 18th.  I'll be posting with updates from time to time here, and most especially on my Another Old Movie Blog.

**************

Just a reminder that I'll be at the Indian Orchard Branch Library (Springfield, Massachusetts) at a book signing with a varied selection of my books, fiction and nonfiction, for sale -- this coming Saturday, March 28th, from noon to 2:00 p.m.  The address is 44 Oak Street.  If you have the time to stop by, I'd love to meet you and have a chat.