The Academy of Music Theatre has announced its 2024-25 season in Northampton. Season highlights include Bomba de Aqui, performing Puerto Rican music and dance on Oct. 12, followed by the political satire troupe the Capitol Fools on Oct. 20 (they’re former members of the Capitol Steps). “Letters Aloud,” a reading of correspondence by influential people, will be there Oct. 26. “Generic Male,” the Off-Broadway comedy, comes to Noho on March 1, followed by the Best of Valley Voices Story Slam, April 23. For details: www.aomtheater.com.
“Three Tall Persian Women,” Awni Abdi-Bahri’s comedic play about generational differences, grief, control and learning to let go, has its world premiere Aug. 30 to Oct. 13 at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox. Dalia Ashurina directs the play, which was first presented as a reading in the Plays in Process series last year. For details: www.shakespeare.org.
Bradley International Airport is the latest location in Connecticut to serve as a canvas for local artists. Bradley, in partnership with RiseUP for Arts, is now displaying five murals inside the main terminal, on the gate side of the security checkpoint. The installation of the murals is part of the BDL Art & Music Program, which features rotating exhibits, permanent displays and musical performances in the airport. RiseUP for Arts, which is based in Hartford, is a community initiative that supports local artists and amplifies their voices through various forms of creative expression. Since 2015, RiseUP for Arts has completed 250 murals throughout Connecticut, with Bradley as the most recent location. For details: www.bradleyairport.com/bdl-art-music
Ballet Hartford has announced its fall season, its first under the direction of former New York City Ballet soloist Claire Kretzschmar. The season opens on Oct. 5, with a performance and cocktail reception in Avon, Connecticut. A lecture and demonstration, “Behind the Ballet: A Ceremony of Carols,” takes place Nov. 16 in Farmington, Connecticut. “The Nutcracker: Short and Suite” comes to Middletown, Connecticut, on Nov. 24, followed by “A Ceremony of Carols” on Nov. 30. For details: www.ballethartford.com.
Steven Schoenberg, the composer and pianist, performs on Sept. 8 at the 1794 Meeting House in New Salem. For details: 1794meetinghouse.org.
Broadway comes to Westfield on Sept. 22, when a quartet of singers, accompanied by pianist Clifton J. Noble Jr. offer an afternoon of musical theater at the Church of the Atonement in Westfield. Soprano Shelley Roberts, mezzo-soprano Justina Golden, tenor Marc Winer and baritone John Thomas present an afternoon of opera and Broadway solos and ensembles. Performing excerpts from “Don Giovanni” to “Hamilton,” “Rusalka” to “The Little Mermaid,” “West Side Story” to “On the Town,” “The Consul” to “The Band’s Visit,” and “She Loves Me” to “Sweeney Todd,” the singers will lead their audience on a sweeping tour of musical theater highlights. For details: atonementwestfield.org.
A Brazilian Day celebration will take place on Sept. 7 on North Street in downtown Pittsfield. This vibrant event will honor Brazilian culture and Brazilian Independence Day. The event kicks off at 2 p.m. at Brazzucas Brazilian Market (75 North St.), with a performance by Marcelo Santos. The main event begins at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Market Street and North Street, featuring the Berkshire Bateria, and Berkshire Brazil. The evening will conclude with a set by Quarteto de Samba, 7-9 p.m. at Espetinho Carioca (48B North St.).
“The Magdalene,” a new play by Mark St. Germain, will have a staged reading directed by Julianne Boyd on Sept. 1 at 3 p.m., at Barrington Stage. The cast includes Brittany Branford and Joe Joseph. For details: www.barringtonstageco.org.
Plan Ahead: Historic Deerfield’s spine-tingling ghost walks uncover the haunted history of the Village at the Deerfield After Dark Ghost Walks Oct. 11-12, 18-19, and 25-26. For details: www.historic-deerfield.org/events/deerfield-after-dark-ghost-walks-ghost-stories-of-old-deerfield.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theater at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He has worked for arts organizations nationwide and reported on the arts for print and broadcast. Mark produces and hosts “ArtsBeat,” “Athenaeum Spotlight” and “On the Mark” for WCPC, Channel 15 in Westfield, and WSKB 89.5 FM. His “Arts Beat” column appears Mondays in The Westfield News. He’s a regular contributor to Pioneer Valley Radio and a member of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association.
