Everyone in Boston knows that Harry Frazee traded away Babe Ruth to finance the Broadway run of NO, NO NANETTE. But who knew that the Ice Capades played a major role in signing Bill Russell to play for the Celtics? Ken Dooley’s delightful new play about the life and times of Arnold “Red” Auerbach is chock full of delicious behind the scenes basketball stories like the Ice caper. THE AUERBACH DYNASTY (playing through July 3rd at the Arsenal Center for the Arts) is a one-man show with the remarkable Jeff Gill in a tour de force as Auerbach. Gill transforms himself into the brash, charismatic, cigar chomping mega-coach, easily holding sway as he shares the secrets and triumphs which made Auerbach a legend.
For basketball fans, the show is a revelation. For historians, it’s a must. The playwright collaborated with Auerbach on several projects, including a motivational film and a biography called MBA: MANAGEMENT BY AUERBACH and was privy to many a tale no one else was. Even if you think you know the man from his courtside antics, you’ll be surprised to discover what a public relations genius he was, what a strategist he was and what a pioneer he proved to be for the game.
