The Next Festival of Emerging Artists also has its eyes on the future. An annual event founded by composer-conductor Peter Askim in 2013, it brings together young like-minded string players and cutting-edge composers for a week of intensive preparation followed by a pair of performances.
The "season of celebration" has, in this era of uncertainty, a darkness that shows promise, especially with "Ragtime" leading off the main stage's season.
Bigoted, mean-spirited men of business have always believed in their God-given right to rule the world they control. Seeing this play again, now, in this season of our political year, is a hysterically funny yet chilling experience.
The Hoosac Tunnel, which opened for rail traffic in 1875, took over 25 years to build, cost millions of dollars to construct, and claimed more than 100 lives.
Every actor in the company is right on with characterization and realization and the ensemble of men and women only do the right things at the right times.
Altogether this is as close to perfection as you get in the theater. A very good play with extremely good actors under the exacting direction of a very talented man of the stage.
This year's edition is grounded in fine work. Different work. It's an excellent mix with only a slight miss here and there, but not a miss that distracts from the success of the venture overall.
