PAST MIFA EVENTS

FALL 2006/2007
Mary Frank Exhibit: At This Moment: An exhibition of work by noted American painter and sculptor, Mary Frank. Wistariahurst Museum, Holyoke, MA. September 30-October 31, 2006.

French Dance: Odile Duboc and her company, Contre Jour: in trio, 03/ODIL/bolero, two with music by Maurice Ravel and Pascal Contet, Costumes by Virginie and Jean-Jacques Weil and Dominique Fabregue with painting on fabric by Selim Saiah and Sergio Lopez and lighting by Francoise Michel. War Memorial Auditorium, Holyoke, MA. October 13& 14, 2006.

Boris Charmatz and his company, Association edna: in A bras le corps with dancer Dimitri Chamblas, an intensely physical evening of pure dance. War Memorial Auditorium, Holyoke, MA. October 21 & 22, 2006.

A Warning for the King by The Performance Project: The Performance Project, directed by Julie Lichtenburg, creates original works of theater and movement through collaboration with men and women in jail, those recently released from jail and other artists in the community. The work is immediate, funny, and transforming theater. The Esther B. Griswold Theatre, American International College. Springfield, MA. October 19, 20, 26, 27, 2006.

Leah Enters Late: A New Page in the Story of Yiddish (premiere): Following last season’s Skinner Servants Tour, Enchanted Circle Theater creates a new play on a subject pertinent to life in the Pioneer Valley. Leah Enters Late is about the husband and wife team whose passion for rescuing Yiddish books formed the basis for the valley’s world famous Yiddish Book Center. The Yiddish Book Center, Amherst MA. November 4-16, 2006.

Epistle to Young Actors: A new play by French playwright/director Olivier Py whose Requiem pour Srebrenica was a highlight of MIFA Fall Festival 2000, in a production from the Centre Dramatique d’Orleans. Epistle, performed in an English translation by David Edney, features an ageing tragedian in his tragi-comic lament on the decline of language in theatre and life. Epistle was a success of the 2004 Edinburgh Festival and stars British actor John Arnold and Olivier Py. The Curtain Theater, UMASS/Amherst, Amherst MA. January 23 & 24, 2007


Fall 2005/06

Van Gogh’s Ear: a theatrical concert by Eve Wolf; an Ensemble for the Romantic Century production; Directed by Donald Sanders; The dramatic story of Van Gogh’s tormented and ecstatic inner life during his last years. Florence Gould Hall, New York, NY, June 8, 2006

Macbeth by William Shakespeare; An Out of Joint Production; Directed by Max Stafford-Clark; Famed British theatre company sets Shakespeare’s classic tale in Africa. The War Memorial Auditorium, Holyoke, October 12-16, 2005.

Eddie Palmieri; Seven-time Grammy Award winning Latin Jazz great in concert. The War Memorial Auditorium, Holyoke, September 30, 2005.

Wire Monkey Dance in Precarious; Choreography by Saliq Francis Savage & Jennifer Polins; Music by Stephen Katz; Videography by Yoann Tullen; Multi-media modern and aerial dance on scaffolding. The Tree Studio, Holyoke, September 30- October 23, 2005

The Skinner Servants’ Tour: a play by Priscilla Kane Hellweg and Rachel Kuhn Daviau; A living history of Wistariahurst: home of Holyoke’s premier silk manufacturer, William Skinner. Wistariahurst Museum, Holyoke, September 23-October 2, 2005.

Spring Scatter Summation: exhibition of paintings by Robert Kushner; New works by the nationally known artist, painted specifically for the music room at The Wistariahurst Museum. Wistariahurst Museum, Holyoke, September 17, 2005-January 29, 2006.




Fall 2004/05

Hecuba by Euripides; New version by Tony Harrison from The Royal Shakespeare Company; Starring Vanessa Redgrave; MIFA’s honorary chair, Vanessa Redgrave co-hosted with William Weld, MIFA’s New York City Spring Gala to benefit MIFA’s activities. The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY, June 17, 2005.

The Skinner Servants’ Tour: a play by Priscilla Kane Hellweg and Rachel Kuhn Daviau; A living history of Wistariahurst: home of Holyoke’s premier silk manufacturer, William Skinner. Wistariahurst Museum, Holyoke, September 17-October 3, 2004 and May 11 & 18, June 3-June 12, 2005

Holyoke Civic Symphony; Conducted by David Kidwell; Guest Soloist Leonid Makarov, piano; Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto #1 in B flat minor. The War Memorial Auditorium, Holyoke, November 14, 2004

Wire Monkey Dance in As If Life; Choreography by Saliq Francis Savage & Jennifer Polins: Multi-media modern and aerial dance on scaffolding. Tree Studio, Holyoke, September 17-October 3, 2004

Canal Gallery Exhibitions; One of a Kind: New England Monoprint Guild; exhibition of award-winning mono-prints; Like or Not Like, Me: sculpture by Lisa Yetz; Photography by Saralyn Fosnight. Canal Gallery, Holyoke, September 18-October 16, 2004


Fall 2003/04

Oliver Mtukudzi & Black Spirits; MIFA Spring benefit evening with Zimbabwe’s best-selling artist. Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, April 19, 2004

Solos With Piano or Not…An Evening With MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV and Pianist PEDJA MUZIJEVIC. An evening of solos dances by American and European choreographers, including a world premiere of new work by Eliot Feld. War Memorial Auditorium, Holyoke. January 2004.

The Island by Athol Fugard; directed by Malcolm Purkey; A Side Street Production from Johannesburg, South Africa starring Thami Mngqolo and Mpho Osei-Tutu. Four performances at Mount Holyoke College’s Rooke Theater. October 2003

Odyssey, she once was a true love of mine. Beppie Blankert Danceconcerten, Amsterdam; choreography by Beppie Blankert; original music by Louis Andriessen; text by James Joyce (from Ulysses). Three performances in Mill 3 Theater at OpenSquare, Holyoke October 2003.

Between The Canals: the evolution of a mill town. co-written by Priscilla Kane Hellweg, Rachel Kuhm Daviau & Steven Angel; directed by Priscilla Kane Hellweg; a production of Enchanted Circle Theater. Performed in the historic Lyman Mill in a Living Museum Theater-style, the series of vignettes traces of evolution of immigrant life in the first planned industrial city in America (1846), the loss of industry and the arrival of new residents from Puerto Rico in the 1960’s. Three performances in Mill 1 Theater at OpenSquare, Holyoke. October 2003

IRAN – Exhibition of Illustrations from the book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Hart Gallery, Guild Art centre, Northampton Film Screenings – TEN (director Abbas Kiarostami) and Iran sous le voile des apparences (director Thierry Michel). Academy of Music, Northampton October 2003

Wire Monkey Dance in As If Life - first studio showing of work in progress by Holyoke-based company creating physical, inventive dance installations that transform towers of steel scaffolding in their Holyoke work space. Tree Studio. Holyoke. October 2003

The Complete Works for Carillon by John Cage. Performed by George Steel on the Smith College Carillon. October 2004

Rembetika - a program of Greek music and dance performed by the Mikrokosmos Ensemble and the Akrites Dance Company; hosted by Gail Holst-Warhaft, musicologist and author of Road to Rembetika. Academy of Music, Northampton. October 2003.

Omar Sosa in Concert. Cuban-born composer/pianist with Cuban vocalist Marta Galarraga, rapper Brutha Los, percussionist Gustavo Ovalles – state-of-the-art world Jazz, Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College. September 2003


Fall 2002/03:

Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill; Starring Vanessa Redgrave; First Spring MIFA benefit followed by a gala dinner at the French Consulate in New York City. Plymouth Theater, New York City, NY, June 5, 2003.

OUDS (Oxford University Dramatic Society): Twelfth Night, Or What You Will by William Shakespeare; directed by Alex Clifton. OUDS is responsible for the most exciting and experimental theatre in Oxford. Past members include John Gielgud, Edith Evans, Kenneth Tynan, Elizabeth Taylor Richard Burton and Caryl Churchill. Six performances at Mt. Holyoke College, September 2002.

Silcon Dance Project in Room American premier of two-act dance collaboration between the Turkish State Modern Dance Theater and Chimera Physical Theater. Features six dancers from Turkey and two from the United States. Three performances at Northampton’s Center for the Arts, September 2002.

Lackawanna Blues written and performed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson with music by Bill Sims, Jr. Tony Award winner Santiago-Hudson performs his multi-character tour de force of petty hustlers, lost souls and would-be philosophers who people the boarding house ruled by his beloved “Nanny.” Four performances at Northampton’s Academy of Music, September 2002.

Avila/Weeks Dance in Without Words Edisa Weeks and Homer Avila combine their companies in a new program of solos, duets and ensembles. Partial proceeds to benefit Family Diversity Projects. One performance at Northampton’s Academy of Music, October 2002.

Thomas Cole, A Waking Dream written and directed by Don Sanders; music by Henry Threadgill. A play about the American painter Thomas Cole, father of the Hudson River School of Painting. Written in verse, this multi-media work includes a live score by composer Henry Threadgill. Six performances at Mount Holyoke College’s Rooke Theater, October 2002.

Wire Monkey Dance in Short Circuits – Premiere of a new work and a continuing look at the young troupe presented in 2001 by MIFA to critical acclaim. Six performances at Northampton’s Center for the Arts, November 2002.


Fall 2001:

Wire Monkey Dance in Endangered Species - A multimedia dance event from floor to ceiling. Four performances at The Center for the Arts, Northampton, MA and two performances at The Center for the Arts, Boston, MA, October 2001.

The Noise of Time: Conceived and directed by Simon McBurney, creative collaborator Gerard McBurney, a Complicite production in association with the Emerson String Quartet. Extraordinary visual and music theater piece about the life and work of Dmitri Shostakovich featuring a live performance by the Emerson String Quartet. Direct from Lincoln Center, three performances at Northampton’s Academy of Music, October 2001

Ballet Nacional de Cuba in La Magia de Alonso (The Magic of Alonso): A spectacular production featuring the full 57 member company of principals, soloists, and corps de ballet, showcasing excerpts from Alicia Alonso’s choreography of ballet’s most beloved classics including Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Nutcracker, Don Quijote, Swan Lake, and Gottschalk Symphony. One sold-out performance at Northampton’s Academy of Music, November 2001.


Spring 2001/02:

La Comédie-Française: La Dernière Lettre (The Last Letter)- The world renowned la Comédie-Française presents a new play adapted and directed by Frederick Wiseman from a chapter of Russian novelist Vassily Grossman’s Life and Fate and starring France’s leading actress Catherine Samie. Eight performances at The Market Theater, Cambridge, MA and two performances at Springfield’s CityStage, June 2001.

Kartik Seshadri in Concert - Internationally acclaimed sitar virtuoso Kartik Seshadri in concert accompanied by the sought after tabla artist Arup Chattopadhyay. Congregational Church, Belchertown, MA. June 2001.


Fall 2000/01:

Buster Keaton & Peter Blanchette- Double feature screening of Buster Keaton’s silent film comedy masterpieces The General & The Navigator, with music played live by Blanchette and his trio of musicians. Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT, and Memorial Hall, Shelburne Falls, MA.

Requiem pour Srebrenica- American premiere of a new play by internationally acclaimed French multimedia artist Olivier Py. Production of Centre Dramatique Naitonal/Orleans-Loiret-Centre with original French cast. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA & the C. Walsh Theatre, Boston, MA. Presented in conjunction with the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).

Avila/Weeks Dance in Enwraptures - A program of solos and duets featuring the world premiere of a new work that explores a new style merging stunning, expressionistic dance with the dramatic tension of powerful theater. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Pedro Martinez in Concert- Opening of MIFA’s Fall 2000 season, Cuban born percussionist and singer in concert with jazz sextet. Martinez’ first public engagement since winning the prestigious Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz Competition in September 2000. Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA.


Spring 2000

Dave McKenna in Concert- Legendary Jazz pianist in a solo concert (spring 2000 festival finale). Congregational Church, Belchertown, MA.

Riverfest- Festival of arts and crafts in Shelburne Falls, MA.

Some Explicit Polaroids- The new play by Mark Ravenhill. Return engagement of London’s Out of Joint company directed by Max Stafford-Clark (MIFA 1999’s Blue Heart by Caryl Churchill.) Only U.S. appearance. Theatre 14, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

George Tooker- An exhibition of recent egg tempura paintings and lithographs by one of America’s contemporary masters. Hart Gallery at the Guild Art Center, Northampton, MA.

Midnight Sandwich or God Smells Like a Roast Pig- A new play written and performed by award winning Melinda Lopez. Blanchard Hall, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley


1999:

An Evening with Queen Victoria: A Portrait in Her Own Words- Adapted and directed by Katrina Hendrey starring British actress Dame Prunella Scales with tenor Ian Partridge and Richard Burnett on the piano, CityStage, Springfield, MA.

Irakere- Salsa Cubana direct from Havana with Chuchito Valdez. Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA.

Valdemar Bastos in Concert- Angolan composer/singer/musician – “the voice of that war-torn country.” Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT.

A Fuego Lento- A full length dance drama based on the Argentinean Tango, and performed by Companie Quat’Zarts, Lyon, France. Academy of Music, Northampton, and at the Emerson Majestic Theatre, Boston, MA.

Dubrovsky- A concert reading of a new opera by William Russo, libretto by Donald T. Sanders, Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Bitter Sweet- a concert reading of Noel Coward’s musical masterpiece, Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades - A US premiere and exclusive engagement of the Helikon Opera of the Moscow State Theatre (55 member orchestra, 20 member chorus and 20 soloists.) Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

The Ionian Singers, London- In a chamber choir presentation entitled “Renaissance Now and Then” Abbey Memorial Chapel, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA.

The Other Eric Carle- New works by the famed children’s book illustrator. Hart Gallery, Guild Art Center, Northampton, MA.

The Navigator-Buster Keaton’s silent film with an original score by Peter Blanchette. Memorial Hall Theatre, Shelburne Falls, MA.

L’Ensemble Koteba D’Abidjan: Waramba- A folkloric opera from the Ivory Coast, written by Souleymane Koly. Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA. Presented in conjunction with the Kennedy Center.

The Out of Joint production of Caryl Churchill’s Blue Heart- Directed by Max Stafford-Clark and featuring the original London cast. CityStage, Springfield, MA Presented in conjunction with BAM.

The Old Ship of Zion- A gospel evening with Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer and the Freedom Choir of Springfield. Part of Mount Holyoke College’s black history month series. Abbey Memorial Chapel, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA.

Paul Robeson by Phillip Hayes Dean starring Floyd Patterson Jr.- Part of the Northampton Center for the Arts black history month series. It is a one-man production chronicling the life of Paul Robeson. Center for the Arts, Northampton, MA.


1998:

Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis starring Corin Redgrave, with opening remarks by Wilde’s grandson, Merlin Holland. A one-man performance of Oscar Wilde’s epic letter to his friend and nemesis, Lord Alfred Douglas. Bowker Auditorium, UMASS/Amherst.

New Works of Gregory Gillepsie: An exhibition by one of America’s most important painters, and Massachusetts resident. Hart Art Gallery, Northampton, MA.

Fiesta Cubana: A three-day offering of exciting and innovative music groups from Cuba, that characterize the new, explosive appeal of Cuban music, both in Havana and internationally. Academy of Music, Northampton; Symphony Hall, Springfield; The Mullins Center, Amherst; Razzls’ Nightclub, Springfield, MA. (American debut)

Nine Metaphors: An Anthology of Visual Images of Cuba: A multimedia exhibition of works by nine Cuban artists. Sprague Cultural Arts Center, American international College, Springfield, MA. (Together, a first American showing)

Illuminations: Tale of Three Cities: A set of site-specific art installations by multimedia artist and designer, Phillip Baldwin, and students from Springfield, Holyoke, and Northampton High schools. (World Premiere) Pre-Concert Conversation with Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Symphony Hall, Springfield, MA. Panel Discussion: Bertolt Brecht with the Berliner Ensemble. Amherst College, Amherst, MA. Bertolt Brecht’s The Pocket Book or The Comeback of Evil: A cabaret performance featuring two members of the Berliner Ensemble of Berlin. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA. (American debut)

Happy 100th Birthday, George!: tribute to George Gershwin featuring pianists, Nigel Coxe and Estela Olevsky, soprano Paulina Stark, and DanceGalaxy with Judith Fugate. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Road to Heaven: musical revue of songs created for the “’97 Forever Young Festival,” Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with The Young At Heart Chorus. Leslie Phillips Forum Theatre, Holyoke, MA.

Art on the River: A gallery walk and open studio tour. Shelburne Falls, MA Buster Keaton’s The General: with original music by Peter Blanchette and the Festival Ensemble. Memorial Hall, Shelburne Falls, MA.

Sarah Bernhardt Comes to Town: a recital based on newly translated Chekov stories and favorite Chekov women, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Rachel Redgrave. A Moving Theatre Production (London). StageWest, Springfield, MA. (World Premiere)

Patience & Sarah: Opera in concert – first full length performance of new American opera by Paula Kimper, libretto by Wende Persons. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA. (This work was presented in workshop form by MIFA in 1995, and premiered at Lincoln Center in July, 1998.)


1997:

Schubert & Vienna: annual gala for Mohawk Trail concert series. White Church, Deerfield, MA.

Alcina: opera by Handel, American debut by the Nationale Reisopera of The Netherlands. Mullins Center, Amherst, MA.

Faustus in Africa: The Handspring Puppet Company of Johannesburg, South Africa. Symphony Hall, Springfield, and The Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Comedie Francaise in a Lecture-Spectacle Paroles de theatre by Moliere-Jouvet. Amherst College, Amherst, MA.

Chamber at the Quad: featuring violinist Masako Yanagita and pianist, Abba Bogin. Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA.

She’ll be Wearing Pink Pajamas: film by Tara Prem. Tower Cinemas, South Hadley, MA.

Moana: silent film by Robert Flaherty, new soundtrack by Monica Flaherty Frassetto. Hampshire College, Amherst, MA.

Tito Puente and his Latin Jazz Orchestra: War Memorial Auditorium, Holyoke, MA.

Festival Finale: pianist Nigel Coxe in Concert. Congregational Church, Belchertown, MA.


1996:

The Coronation of Poppea: an opera by Claudio Monteverdi. American debut of Onafhankelijk Toneel of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The Fine Arts Center, UMASS/Amherst, Amherst, MA.

Combattimento Consort Amsterdam in Concert: Sweeny Recital Hall, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

Voices of Light/The Passion of Joan of Arc: by Richard Einhorn with the Da Camera Singers. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Dr. Suess Double Bill: two original musical theatre works: Gertrude McFuzz, with Angelina Reaux, and The Sneetches, with Mercedes McCambridge. Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA.

Mini British Film Festival: A Bigger Splash, and A Rude Boy, by David Mingay. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Tito Puente and his Latin Jazz Orchestra: War Memorial Auditorium, Holyoke, MA.

Johnny Guitar: film by Nicholas Ray; conversation with actress Mercedes McCambridge. Showcase Cinemas, West Springfield, MA.

La Comedie Francaise in L’Amour Joue: a documentary film by Fredrick Wiseman. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA. (Massachusetts Premiere)


1995:

Angelina Reaux in Concert: Congregational Church, Belchertown, MA.

Balcom & Norris in Concert: Soprano Joan Morris and pianist, William Balcom. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Hilton Ruiz and his Latin Quartet: Grand Ballroom, City Hall, Holyoke, MA.

Rossini Opera Gala: Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Robert White in Concert: Wistariahurst Museum, Holyoke, MA.

La Belle et la Bete: an opera for the Cocteau film by Phillip Glass, performed by the composer and Ensemble. John M. Greene Hall, Northampton, MA.

Flaming Saddles: a musical revue featuring the Young At Heart Chorus and the Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Patience & Sarah: a workshop of a new American opera based on the novel by Isabelle Miller. Unitarian Society, Northampton, MA.

Green Eggs & Ham: children’s musical from the classic story by Dr. Seuss. First Church, Court Square, Springfield, MA.

I’ll Go On: Gate Theatre of Dublin, Ireland, comedy starring Barry McGovern. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

MassFest Music Finale: featuring Western Massachusetts composers Arnold Black, Salvatore Macchia, Ronald Perera and Donald Wheelock. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.


1994:

The Rite of Spring: featuring local artists Robert Salloom and the Stragglers. Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA.

Green Eggs & Ham: children’s musical from the classic story by Dr. Seuss. First Church, Court Square, Springfield, MA.

International Opera Gala: featuring the Metropolitan Opera Competition Winners. Academy of Music, Northampton, MA.

Robert White in Concert: The Victory Theatre, Holyoke, MA.

Jazz Nightcap: featuring pianist David Golostchokin, founder of the Leningrad Jazz Orchestra, and the Jeff Holmes Big Band. Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, MA.