Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 12/27/17

The Westfield News Group ArtsBeat or 12/27/17. Tanglewood celebrates a Leonard Bernstein Centennial, and Goodspeed presents a Festival of New Musicals and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-205/

My Holiday Letter 2017

This year, as in previous ones, I’ve chosen to honor the spirit of giving, by making contributions to some worthy non-profit organizations in my community that mare making efforts to better life for many. The money I could have spent on cards, postage, and client gifts, can go to make someone’s world better.

It’s been a great year for me workwise with some interesting projects and events to keep me busy from The Jazz Ensembles at Mount Holyoke College’s The Big Broadcast to the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative’s Day2Play Expo. I did my annual stint with The Capitol Steps in Cambridge, and the groundwork for two upcoming shows in Torrington, CT and Northampton, MA. Their tour producer Mike Thornton had me help him promote a jazz concert he was doing in The Berkshires, in conjunction to his recording an album. I also did the promotion for Harriet Scott Chessman’s book tour to launch The Lost Sketchbook of Edgar Degas, and some public relations for the American conductor Kevin Rhodes and Zasco Productions.

The journalism side of my life picked up. In addition to writing the weekly ArtsBeat column and providing theatre reviews for The Westfield News Group, I wrote for the blog Succeeding in Small Business and Take, a regional arts magazine. 89.5fm/WSKB, where I was a frequent arts contributor, offered me the opportunity to produce and host a weekly show, ArtsBeat Radio, which aired for a 13-week run over the summer. I’m doing monthly ArtsBeat programs now, and hope to go back to a weekly stint in May. My columns, reviews, and radio programs live on my blog Mark.My.Words. http://wordsbymarka.blogspot.com/

There were some once-in-a-lifetime moments in my reporter world. Patrick Berry, President of Westfield News Group and I co-produced and co-hosted a two hour radio feature backstage at Berkshire Theatre Group. https://vimeo.com/225433309

I mentored a high school student,  Ben Jacek, who works as our condo lifeguard, and whose mom is a colleague of my friend Rob’s. I worked with Ben in writing, and he co-reviewed several theatre performances with me, the most fun being a trip to Connecticut Repertory Theatre with a stop at the famous UConn Dairy Bar for some ice-cream tastings.  http://thewestfieldnews.com/double-bill-disneys-newsies-ice-cream

The mentoring experience impacted me more than I might have imagined. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/a-mentoring-experience-that-changed-my-way-of-thinking/#.Wi7I_iMrJaU

There was plenty of pool time this summer, and time spent with my 98 year old father. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my Northfield Mount Hermon classmates planning a big reunion for June. 

Here’s hoping that your holidays are terrific, and hopes for peace, health, and happiness in the coming year.

Mark

Take Magazine Profile: WAM Theatre's Kristen Van Ginhoven

My final article for soon-to-shutter Take Magazine. WAM Theatre's Kristen Van Ginhoven, an artist whose work I very much admire, and whose mission I believe in. https://thetakemagazine.com/kristen-van-ginhoven/

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 12/20/17.

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat for 12/20/17. The best theatre performances of the year. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-204/

ArtsBeat Radio 12/2O/17

My ArtsBeat Radio program for 12/2O/17 on 89.5fm/WSKB with TheaterWorks' Rob Ruggiero, Noble Shropshire from Hartford Stage's A Christmas Carol, and Westfield native Josh Burrage from Broadway'sCats. https://vimeo.com/248158819

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 12/13/17

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 12/13/17. "Best of The Arts" Part 2. The outstanding plays, musicals, directors, an designers. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-203/

Westfield News Group ArtsBeat 12/7/17: Arts Year in Review, Part I

Part I of my 3-part Westfield News Group Best of the Arts 2017. Some of the innovators: Kristen Van Ginhoven and WAM Theatre; Matt Bertuzzi and Kevin Rhodes for the Springfield Symphony Real Time Concert Notes; Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and Berkshire Theatre Group’s Travis Daly. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-202/

Westfield News Group Review: The Color Purple at The Bushnell

My Westfield News Group review of The Color Purple at The Bushnell. Powerful storytelling and distinctive staging. http://thewestfieldnews.com/review-color-purple-bushnell/

My December Succeeding in Small Business Column

My December column for Succeeding in Small Business. Event planning advice from three colleagues: Suzanne Hendery of Renown Health, Howard Sienkiewicz o Zasco Productions, an Julia Bradley Farmer from Northfield Mount Hermon School. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/event-planning-dos-and-donts-part-2/#.WibCDCMrJaV

Westfield News Group Reviews: A Christmas Carol and Christmas On The Rocks

My Westfield News Group reviews of two holiday traditions: A Christmas Carol at Hartford Stage has a new "Scrooge". At TheaterWorks, Christmas on The Rocks has a new playlet by Jacques Lamarre. http://thewestfieldnews.com/review-seasonal-theatre-hits-updated/