Previews: A Berkshire Review of The Arts
Guide to Music, Theatre and Dance: May 18-31
By: Larry Murray - May 18, 2009
Barrington Stage Company
Main Stage 30 Union Street, Pittsfield
Stage II 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield
Box Office 413.236.8888
Online http://www.barringtonstageco.org/
POOLSIDE AT THE HOTEL BEL-AIR: To kick off the 4th Musical Theatre Lab season there will be a staged reading of a new musical by everyone's favorite Greek - Niko Tsakalakos - that was written at a poolside in Pittsfield on May 23 at 7:30pm and May 24 at 7:30pm Music and Lyrics by Nikos Tsakalakos, Book and Lyrics by Janet Allard, Directed by Kevin Del Aguila (MTL's Funked Up Fairy Tales). Performances at Stage II on Linden Street.
THE BACON BROTHERS: ON May 30, Kevin and Michael Bacon will take over the Main Stage on Union Street for an evening of their unique blend of folk, rock, soul and country. Kevin is, of course an acclaimed film star, and Michael has won many awards for his musical scores for films and TV. They have made music together for more than 20 years. Get your tickets early, it will be a sell-out.
Berkshire Theatre Festival
Main Stage Main Street (Route 102), Stockbridge
Unicorn Theatre Route 7, Stockbridge
Box Office 413.298.5576
Online http://www.berkshiretheatre.org/
FAITH HEALER: Opening the BTF Season is the much anticipated Faith Healer, written by Brian Friel and directed by Eric Hill with David Adkins, Colin Lane (making his BTF debut) and Keira Naughton. Francis Hardy has an unusual job. He, his wife, Grace, and his loyal manager, Teddy, travel across the British Isles performing a series of almost vaudevillian faith healings. But like any professional, Hardy begins to worry about losing his talent, or whether or not he ever really had one. The strain is felt by his wife, observed by his manager, and so grips Francis that he becomes obsessed with curing the incurable, no matter the cost.
Running Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm from May 21-June 20.
Running Monday, Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday at 7pm from June 20-July 4
Theatre Company at Hubbard Hall
25 E. Main Street
Cambridge, New York
Information: 518.677.2495
http://www.hubbardhall.org/
PRESENT LAUGHTER: Darlings, you simply must make the trek to see this uproarious Noel Coward comedy classic, all it needs are slamming doors to enter the realm of true farce. Leading an incredible company of local actors is Broadway vet Kevin McGuire who knows a thing or two about hangovers, stalkers, and occasional interventions by cult members which makes up the plot. Performing in a cherished antique of an opera house, who knew such talent was scattered throughout our hill country farmlands not far from the Berkshires. Worth the trip? You betcha.
Shakespeare & Company
Founders Theatre, Rose Footprint, Bernstein Theatre
70 Kemble Street, Lenox
Box Office 413.637.3353
Online http://www.shakespeare.org/
ROMEO AND JULIET: The company's touring company of Romeo and Juliet settles into the Bernstein Theatre for 19 performances of Shakespeare's most popular play. Directed by Youth Programs Director Jonathan Croy. This electric and invigorating take on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has been wowing audiences across the northeast since January, and finishes its remarkable run with these special performances for neighbors, family, and friends from May 21 to June 7. The cast includes Paul D'Agostino, Ben Brinton, Kaitlin Henderson, Alyssa Hughlett, Kelley Johnston, Sean Kazarian and Daniel Kurtz.
SHIRLEY VALENTINE: Also, this season Shakespeare & Company offers its new Diva Series, three one-woman plays, available individually or as a subscription with significant discounts. The first will be Shirley Valentine, featuring Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer from May 27—31. Shirley Valentine follows the poignant and often hysterically funny story of a dowdy working class British housewife, and her journey to self-discovery by way of the Greek islands. Packer performed the role to critical acclaim in Boston several times in the late 1980's. Company artist and Youth Programs Director Jenna Ware directs at the Bernstein Theatre.
Williamstown Theater Festival
'62 Center for Theatre and Dance
1000 Main Street (Route 2), Williamstown
Box Office (Not yet open)
Online http://www.wtfestival.org/
ADVANCE PEEK: The Willliamstown season will open July 1-12 with Children by A.R. Gurney, directed by Tony Award nominee John Tillinger (Loot) in a co-production with Westport Country Playhouse. The cast includes Mary Bacon (Rock 'n' Roll, Arcadia), Katie Finneran (Tony Award – Noises Off, Mauritius), Judith Light (Wit, "Ugly Betty," "Who's The Boss") and James Waterston (Buffalo Gal, As You Like It). The design team for Children includes set designer James Noone, costume designer Jane Greenwood, lighting designer Rui Rita and sound designer Scott Killian. The production stage manager is Gregory T. Livoti.
Tanglewood
Koussevitzky Shed, Ozawa Hall, Gould Auditorium, Theatre
297 West Street, Lenox
413.637.1600
Online http://www.bso.org/
Events begin June 26, first BSO concert July 3.
Jacob's Pillow Dance
358 George Carter Road, Becket
Box Office 413.243.0745
Online http://www.jacobspillow.org/
Performances begin June 24.
Colonial Theatre
111 South Street, Pittsfield
Box Office 413.997.4444
Online http://www.thecolonialtheatre.org/
DICKEY BETTS & GREAT SOUTHERN, Wed, May 20
Dickey Betts is a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. Along with being one of the most influential guitar players of all time, Betts is credited as both writing and singing the group's biggest hit, Ramblin' Man. Having helped define the genre, Dickey Betts & Great Southern continue to tour and break new ground in the grand tradition of great Southern Rock.
OLLI at BCC Annual Meeting and Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture with Mika Brzezinsk - Fri, May 29
Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture – Mika Brzenzinski on "Journalism in the Age of Obama" Co-host of "Morning Joe" and an MSNBC anchor, Ms. Brzenzinski will discuss journalism and the Obama administration. A lively question and answer session will be included.
THE BERKSHIRE CONCERT CHOIR Sun, May 31
he Berkshire Concert Choir, John Cheney, Artistic Director, presents Berkshire County Sings, a concert featuring Berkshire County high schools: Mount Greylock, Monument Mountain, and Wahconah Regional. Dr. Ann Howard Jones, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Boston University, will be the guest conductor. The
centerpiece will be Franz Schubert's Mass in G, surrounded by an engaging mix of American past and present choral favorites.
SNEAK PEEK: THE PRODUCERS
Mel Brook's The Producers arrives for four performances from June 4-6. We wanted to alert you to this engagement since it is very likely tickets will sell out in advance. This is one of the hottest Broadway shows in America today, and kicks off a new co-production effort between the Colonial and C-R Productions. Great acting, singing, dancing and a live pit orchestra too!
Here is a plot synopsis: Based on the classic 1968 movie, Mel Brooks' The Producers is an outrageous and hilarious musical comedy about two scheming Broadway theatrical producers. The winner of 12 Tony Awards, The Producers will have you holding your sides with laughter as Max Bialystock, Leo Bloom and a cast of outrageous characters sing and dance their way through the greatest showbiz scam ever devised!
Mahaiwe Peforming Arts Center
14 Castle Street, Great Barrington
Box Office 413.528.0100
Online http://www.mahaiwe.org/
PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY, May 23
The Company returns for its annual engagement with a spectacular program of three Taylor masterworks, including Beloved Renegade, hailed by The New York Times as "the best new choreography in 2008." The evening begins with Funny Papers, a hilarious romp with a score that includes such novelty tunes as "Popeye the Sailor Man" and "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On The Bedpost Overnight)." Next, the legendary Scudorama -newly revived for the first time in almost 40 years - a "dance of death" from 1963 that The New York Observer recently called "a revelation - a blazing declaration of Taylor's talent." The program concludes with Beloved Renegade , inspired by the life of Walt Whitman and set to Poulenc's stirring choral work, Gloria.
BERKSHIRE PLAYWRIGHTS LAB Gala Opening, May 29
The Berkshire Playwrights Lab kicks off its 2nd Season with an evening of staged readings of one-act plays by renowned playwrights. This is the BPL's one paid event to support its FREE reading series. For more background, read our recent interview with founders Jim Fragione and Bob Jaffe.
The BPL is dedicated to encouraging, developing, and presenting new plays. Through readings, workshops, and fully staged productions, the Lab will provide emerging and established writers with a professional and creative environment, while offering audiences the unique and provocative opportunity to share in the dramatic evolution of premiere works.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH MUSIC - Mendelssohn and Franck, May 30
CEWM presents Mendelssohn's sparkling solo and chamber works, together with those of his great friends and colleagues Robert Schumann and Frederic Chopin, including the majestic Piano Quartet in E-flat major,op. 47; a sampling of ballads, mazurkas and polonaises; and Songs without Words and variations-two forms Mendelssohn brought to their highest points. Also works by Fannie Mendelssohn, and introducing the masterful String Sextet No. 1 by Eduard Franck, Felix's student and friend, to the American public for the first time! Avalon String Quartet: Blaise Magniere, violin; Marie Wang, violin; Tony DeVroye, viola; Cheng-Hou Lee, cello, plus James Tocco, piano; Yehonatan Berick, violin; Yehuda Hanani, cello
Mass MoCA
1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams
Information: 413.662.2111
Online http://www.massmoca.org/
10th ANNIVERSARY GALA with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, May 23
Celebrate 10 years of contemporary art in North Adams at our 10th Anniversary Ball with dancing to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, a retro soul big band who, according to Spin magazine, perform " songs [that] sound old and new, wiggly and sensual, raw and cooked."
Ball tickets include the opening reception for three exhibitions (Guy Ben-Ner: Thursday the Twelfth, George Cochrane: Long Time Gone, and This is Killing Me) from 5:30 - 7:30. Grab dinner in town then come back at 8:30 to continue the celebration with non-stop dancing and open bar in the Hunter Center.
NORTH ADAMS APPRECIATION DAY, May 31
In celebration of their 10 year anniversary and to thank their neighbors for a decade of support, Mass MoCA opens its galleries free to North Adams residents (only) from 11 AM - 5 PM on Sunday, May 31. Visitors will have the opportunity go through the galleries on their own or take a tour, meet the newly arriving members of the 2009 Steeplecats, record a story about Sprague or MASS MoCA for a public access television program, enjoy a piece of free birthday cake and/or participate in an ice cream tasting courtesy of Lickety Split, play croquet under the upside down trees, and do an art project based on North Adams history or visit Kidspace with the younger set.
BERKSHIRE MUSEUM FREE IN MAY
The Berkshire Museum
39 South Street
Pittsfield, MA
413.443.7171
http://www.berkshiremuseum.org
"We view this as one way of giving something back to our wonderful and supportive community. It's our version of an economic and cultural stimulus program. We hope to encourage visitors, especially those who've never been here, or who last visited the Museum as children, to come and check us out." - Stuart Chase, Berkshire Museum Executive Director
THE BERKSHIRE SALON
The Eclipse Mill Gallery
The Second Annual Berkshire Salon
May 22 through June 21
Opening Reception: Friday, May 22, 6 to 8 PM
243 Union Street
North Adams, MA
http://www.eclipsemill.com
In the spirit of the 19th century Paris Salon exhibitions the artist run Eclipse Mill Gallery opens the season during Memrial Day Weekend with an eclectic survey of work by some 50 artists. The Second Annual Berkshire Salon is a community based project open to any artist interested in showing their work.
THE SHAKERS AND THE JEWS
May 31 - "Common Ground between Shakers and Jews," a panel discussion between noted Shaker and Jewish scholars Rabbi Steve Fuchs, and Dr. M. Stephen Millerand Shaker historian Stephen Paterwic will take place on Sunday, May 31st, 4:00pm at Congregation Knesset Israel Synagogue (16 Colt Road in Pittsfield, Massachusetts). Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public by reservation. RSVP to Knesset Israel at 413.445.4872.