City Stage, Symphony Hall unveil lineupDate: 7/16/2015 SPRINGFIELD – Selecting a season of attractions is an intense process, but Tina D’Agostino, the president of CityStage & Symphony Hall, believes this season will offer people the return of popular performers, as well as new productions.
Tickets for this upcoming season are currently on sale for members, while tickets will be available to the general public will be available on Aug. 10.
Tickets for one special event will go on sale to everyone on July 20, D’Agostino explained. “Molly Ringwald Revisits the Club: 30th Anniversary Screening of ‘The Breakfast Club’” will feature the actress in an hour-long questions and answer after a screening of the comic drama. There will be a special VIP ticket available that includes a meet and greet with the actress.
She said these kinds of performances are part of a growing trend in live entertainment.
The event is something different for CityStage and Symphony Hall and “is an answer to the technical challenges we face at Symphony Hall,” D’Agostino said.
She explained to Reminder Publications that part of the selection process is to consider shows that can literally fit on the stage of Symphony Hall. Touring companies of Broadway plays want to duplicate the Broadway experience and that includes large sets, D’Agostino said. Fortunately a number of producers now understand this issue, as Symphony Hall isn’t the only venue that has a size issue, she added.
The schedule at CityStage includes Robert Dubac’s “The Book of Moron,” Oct. 22 – 24; California Guitar Trio Nov. 5; “A Sinatra Centennial Celebration: Cent’anni!” featuring Patrick Tobin and The Dry Martini Orchestra, Dec. 12; “Moondance: The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Concert,” Jan. 15, 2016; Ibex Puppetry presents “Sing Along With ‘The Muppet Movie,’” Jan. 30, 2016; “Sex Tips For Straight Women From A Gay Man,” Feb. 18 to 20, 2016; “Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience,” March 11 and 12, 2016; “Memoirs and Boudoirs,” March 18, 2016; Cirque Zuma Zuma, April 3, 2016; “Adam Trent: The Futurist,” April 19, 2016; and “Steve Solomon’s Cannoli, Latkes and Guilt!” April 28 to 30, 2016.
The Bud Light Presents Stand Up Comedy Series returns for its seventh season with comedian Wendy Liebman on Nov. 7. Other comedy at CityStage includes “Best of Boston Comedy Festival: Italian Comedians” on Feb. 26, 2016 and “Paul Venier: The Comedy Tornado” on April 9, 2016.
The Symphony Hall schedule includes “Molly Ringwald Revisits the Club: 30th Anniversary Screening of ‘The Breakfast Club,’ Discussion, and Q&A” Oct. 18; Capitol Steps, Nov. 20; “Disney in Concert Magical Music from the Movies” Feb. 28, 2016; “One Night of Queen” performed by Gary Mullen and The Works,” April 6, 2016; and “Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Two Man Group,” May 1, 2016.
D’Agostino explained that she and her staff listen to the reactions of their audiences and determine if an act or production should be brought back. She noted there was an overwhelmingly favorable reaction to “Yesterday and Today,” which caused her to consider returning the show.
“Every fourth person [leaving the performance] said, ‘You’ve got to bring them back,’” she said.
Robert Dubac is a performer who has been at CityStage several times and this performance will be new material, D’Agostino said. She explained he has been working on it and one version was showcased in Springfield, but she didn’t think it was the right fit at that point for local audiences. She saw the finished version in New York City and booked it.
Competition for acts is high, D’Agostino said. She must compete with venues such as The Calvin Theater and the Iron Horse in Northampton as well as the Bushnell in Hartford, CT.
Audiences in the Springfield area live in “the best possible location,” she said. Broadway shows are three hours away in New York City and national touring companies of productions can be seen in Hartford, CT.
She also takes into consideration that CityStage and Symphony Hall attract different audiences.
“It’s a tough business, but a lot of fun. I enjoy doing it, but it’s not easy,” she said.
For more information on tickets and schedules go to www.symphonyhall.com.
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