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Shakespeare & Co. schedules The Liar

Shakespeare & Co. schedules David Ives’s Adaption of The Liar

TheLiar scheduled at Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, MA
TheLiar scheduled at Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, MA; photo:K.Sprague
Shakespeare & Co., the theatre company located in Lenox, MA, has scheduled David Ives’s adaption of Corneille’s The Liar to run from Feb. 1 through March 24, 2013 at the Bernstein Theatre. The production is directed by Kevin G. Coleman; press opening is Saturday, February 9 at 7:00PM.

Tickets are $15-$50, and Shakespeare & Company offers a wide range of discount options, including discounts for groups, students, senior citizens, military, teachers and our very popular 40% Berkshire Resident Discount. To view a complete schedule, receive a brochure, or inquire about discounts, please call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353 or visit www.Shakespeare.org. For customized group visits—which may include artist talkbacks, tours, and catered events—contact the Group Sales office at (413) 637-1199, ext. 132. The Bernstein Theatre is hearing aid assisted, heated, and wheelchair accessible. Back by popular demand, Shakespeare & Company’s annual Valentine’s Day Brunch will return on Sunday, February 10th. Visit www.Shakespeare.org for further information and to book brunch and show packages.
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Shakespeare & Company tickets contact information

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Shakespeare & Company directions

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Preservation Hall Jazz Band concert at The Clark Feb. 8, 2013

2/7/13 – CONCERT HAS BEEN POSTPONED

Preservation Hall Jazz Band concert at The Clark Feb. 8, 2013

Preservation Hall Jazz BandThe Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform in concert at The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA on Friday, February 8, at 8:00 pm. Named for a building located in New Orleans’s French Quarter, Preservation Hall Jazz Band was founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. The band has traveled worldwide, spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate the art form of New Orleans jazz — a mission strengthened by the devastation brought about by Hurricane Katrina in 2007. Advance tickets are $42 ($38 members and students); $45 at the door. To order tickets, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 0524.

Whether performing at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, for British royalty or the king of Thailand, this music embodies a joyful, timeless spirit. Under the auspices of current director Ben Jaffe, son of founders Allan and Sandra, Preservation Hall continues with a deep reverence and consciousness of its greatest attributes in the modern day as a venue, band, and record label.

PHJB began touring in 1963. Many of the band’s charter members performed with the pioneers who invented jazz in the early twentieth century, including Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and Bunk Johnson. Band leaders over the PHJB’s history include the brothers Willie and Percy Humphrey, husband and wife Billie and De De Pierce, famed pianist Sweet Emma Barrett, and Wendall and John Brunious. These founding artists and dozens of others passed on the culture of their music to a younger generation, who now follows in their footsteps.

More about: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

Lenox Tub Parade

Lenox Tub Parade

One of the most unusual events during the shoulder season in the Berkshires between summer and fall is the Tub Parade in Lenox. Today’s event is a recreation of something that the idle rich denizens of the Gilded Age did in display of their mastery of indolence and consumption for consumption’s sake. The same escapist mentality that makes Downton Abbey must-see TV for people with more money than sense bodes well for the popularity of the Lenox Tub Parade.

Lenox Tub Parade video


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Remembering Dave Brubeck

Remembering Dave Brubeck in the Berkshires

Dave Brubeck in the Berkshires, Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, Oct. 17, 2009
Dave Brubeck in the Berkshires, Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, Oct. 17, 2009; photo: Dave Conlin Read.
We’re re-posting material in the wake of Dave Brubeck’s death Dec. 5, 2012, the day before his 92nd birthday. Dave Brubeck performed in the Berkshires throughout his legendary career, from the 1950s at the fabled Music Inn in Lenox to a 2009 Pittsfield CityJazz Festival performance at the Colonial Theatre.

Mr. Brubeck’s last performance in the Berkshires was a presentation of BerkshiresJazz.org, which afforded us the opportunity, as a member of the organization, to shoot some video during the afternoon rehearsal, where he prepared for his duet with high school student Sam Landes on Duke Ellington’s Take the A Train.

Dave Brubeck rehearshing “Take the A Train”

Dave Brubeck at 2002 Tanglewood Jazz Festival

September 1, 2002 performance review by Dave Conlin Read.

Three tunes into his 2½ hour 2002 Tanglewood Jazz Festival concert, Dave Brubeck said, “I like to introduce new stuff when I play here because the audience is so kind.” Makes you wonder if “here” referred to the seven year old Ozawa Hall where tonight’s gig was, or the Koussevitsky Music Shed, which opened when he was 18 in 1938, or just hereabouts, which would include the site of the fabled Music Barn and the Lenox School of Jazz, where he performed and taught during the 1950s. Regardless, what a treat it was to be in the audience while Dave Brubeck is introducing new material!

That new song was Crescent City Stomp, and it was built around an infectious beat established by drummer Randy Jones, a beat Brubeck said you hear all over New Orleans. Bobby Militello’s saxophone was the featured instrument after the drum intro and Brubeck himself was the most enthused member of the audience for a while, as he would be throughout the evening, whenever his bandmates took their many solos.

Rounding out the quartet, all dressed smartly in dinner jackets and black slacks, was bassist Michael Moore, who plucked and bowed several eloquent passages from his bass, which his languid body fairly enfolded. There were times when you’d think Moore was a ventriloquist for the cleanly enunciated lines he drew from his instrument, but an inartful one because all the while you could see his lips moving! (Read comprehensive bios of the band, from Hedrick Smith’s PBS show “Rediscovering Dave Brubeck.“)

Introducing the evening’s first tune, Brubeck said that for fifty years he started concerts with St. Louis Blues, but tonight would start with the title tune from his current release, “The Crossing.” He told about a trans-Atlantic jazz cruise with about 100 musicians aboard the QE II, which got underway on the Hudson, passed the Verazzano Narrows and into the Atlantic, ” – and we worked up a head of steam, which I hope we do tonight.”

They did.

The tune was some piece of magical mimicry; it was easy to imagine a grand ship honking and chugging away from the pier and soon enough finding its way into rough waters evoked by churning bass notes, then Brubeck took the helm playing long melodious lines, the ship rocking smoothly through eddies and swells.

In telling us that on September 21, he’ll celebrate his 60th wedding anniversary, Brubeck introduced the next tune, All My Love, a translucent ballad that had him hunched over the keyboard, his eyes only inches away from his hands playing so few notes that you could count them.

After The Crossing, came the haunting Elegy, an intimate composition that Ozawa Hall was designed for, where it seems to become part of the ensemble. Continuing in that vein, Brubeck introduced Don’t Forget Me with a few minutes of distant romantic lines that suddenly turned immediate and raucus with another of Militello’s expansive sax solos, and then had Brubeck’s hands flying all over the keyboard before he returned to the lonely little melody that he began with.

This was a very special evening of jazz, a million miles away from being a museum piece, every tune imbued with freshness and vigor. Brubeck’s age was apparent only when he stepped over to the mic, which he did several times to introduce tunes during the first set, which was probably pre-arranged as opposed to the second which I think he made up from the bench as he went along.

It began with Pennies From Heaven, dedicated to the people on the lawn who were being rained upon lightly. Brubeck played out the celestial theme in the next two tunes, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Sunny Side of the Street, developing each while the band listened to hear where they were going. Militello’s flute solo on – Rainbow was ineffably sublime. Sunny Side – was rollicking, and at one point Brubeck pointed toward Moore and drew a circle in the air, indicating another round of solos for all.

The audience responded to the celestial set with thunderous applause, which the quartet accepted graciously and which Brubeck seemed overwhelmed by, his grin so broad as he looked into the audience and then around to his band to spread out the acclaim. After his fans got quiet again, he mischievously noodled a few lines from Singing in the Rain then broke into the first notes of Take Five, the Paul Desmond composition from “Time Out,” the world’s first million-selling jazz record.

It was a thrilling rendition, featuring Militello’s slow reinterpretation of the theme before returning it to a rambunctiousness that Brubeck brought to a gleeful level which Randy Jones exploded with a virtuoso display of drumming. Brubeck brought the tune back to earth and then Jones laid down the tastiest little drum coda for the ultimate punctuation to this landmark of jazz.

Sustained applause brought these giants back on stage, Brubeck played a few notes of Brahm’s Lullabye to everybody’s amusement before the quartet re-loaded for Take the A Train, which was a rumbling jam session, the sea cruise of two hours earlier long over. It went on until Brubeck, answering a questioning look from Militello, raised his hands from the keyboard, turned them into pistols and fired a volley into the air.

This performance was a slice of jazz for the ages, delivered by the ageless gentleman genius Dave Brubeck and his virtuoso sidemen, each of whom was brilliant tonight.

Guthrie Center

Guthrie Center

Article by .

Arlo Guthrie in concert at the Colonial Theatre Pittsfield. Arlo Guthrie founded the Guthrie Center in 1991, housing it in the former Trinity Church made famous by the song The Alice’s Restaurant Massacree and the movie Alice’s Restaurant. It is located on Van Deusenville Road in Housatonic, a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Great Barrington, MA. Established as an Interfaith Church, “dedicated to all those around the world who believe that there is one truth and infinite ways to approach it.”

Arlo Guthrie providing a place to bring together individuals for spiritual service, as well as cultural and educational exchange founded the Guthrie Center, an Interfaith Church, in 1991. The Trinity Church where the song “The Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” began and where the movie “Alice’s Restaurant” was filmed, continues to service the local and international community.

Originally built as the St. James Chapel in 1829, the structure was enlarged in 1866 and renamed Trinity Church. Ray and Alice Brock purchased the property in 1964 and made it their home. The building has had several owners since the early 1970s.

Guthrie Center contact info.

  • 2 Van Deusenville Rd,
  • Great Barrington, MA 01230
  • Phone:(413) 528-1955
  • Web: guthriecenter.org

Berkshires Christmas holidays

Berkshires Christmas and holiday events

Norman Rockwell's Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas
Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas
The Berkshires offer an interesting variety of entertainment during December 2012, from A Christmas Carol at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, to the venerable The Temptations in concert at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Gt. Barrington, to the Festival of Trees at the Berkshire Museum, The Santaland Diaries at Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, and the Berkshire Bach Society’s annual New Year’s Eve concert in Great Barrington.

Christmas in the Berkshires

Some Berkshires towns and organizations schedule special events during the Christmas and holiday season, including:

  • Nov. 17 – Jan. 2, 2013 – Berkshire Museum Festival of Trees 2012: Myths & Magic
  • 23rd annual Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas, November 30, December 1 & 2, 2012 – featuring Caroling & Luminaria Walk; Holiday Concert featuring the Berkshire Lyric Chorus and the Blafield Children’s Chorus at the First Congregational Church; Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas Recreation of Norman Rockwell painting.
  • Dec. 7 – 9 – Lenox Caroling Festival Weekend.

Barrington Stage Company presents Vincent Dec. 14 – 30, 2012

Vincent is a one-man play about Vincent van Gogh, using his own words and those of his brother Theo. Leonard Nimoy, who wrote and originally performed Vincent, did years of painstaking research on the hundreds of letters between Vincent and Theo. Most of the story is told by Theo, but at times, the actor becomes Vincent and embodies the loving, passionate, combative, fierce, stubborn, outrageous, exasperating, moody, amazing, and brilliant man so cherished by his brother. This play is not simply a biographical work, but one filled with drama, conflict, humor and beauty. Written by Leonard Nimoy; Directed by Brant Pope; Performed by James Briggs.

Barrington Stage Company tickets contact information

  • Mainstage: 30 Union Street – Blatt PAC: 36 Linden Street
  • Box Office: 413-236-8888 – Administration: 413-499-5446
  • Website: barringtonstage.org

Berkshire Museum Dec. 2012 schedule

  • Through Jan. 2, 2013 – Festival of Trees 2012: Myths & Magic

Berkshire Museum tickets contact information

  • 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
  • 413-443-7171
  • Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;Sun. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Closed Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day
  • Berkshire Museum

Berkshire Theatre Festival – Unicorn Theatre Stockbridge

  • David Grover and Grover’s Gang – Dec. 27 and 28 – 11am

Berkshire Theatre Festival tickets contact information

  • PO Box 797, Stockbridge, MA 01262
  • Box Office – 413-298-5576 ext. 33
  • website: BerkshireTheatre.org

Clark Art Institute schedule

  • A Rita Coolidge Christmas – Friday, November 30, 2012 – 8:00 pm
  • The Met: Live in HD – La Clemenza di Tito- Saturday, December 1, 2012 – 12:55 pm
  • The Met: Live in HD – Un Ballo in Maschera – Saturday, December 8, 2012 – 12:55 pm
  • The Met: Live in HD – Aida – Saturday, December 15, 2012 – 12:55 pm

Clark Art Institute tickets contact information

  • 225 South Street – Williamstown, MA 01267
  • 413-458-2303
  • Galleries open daily – Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
  • web: clarkart.edu

Colonial Theatre – Pittsfield – Dec. 2012 schedule

  • Dec. 1 – 2pm and 7pm- Christmas At the Colonial-Mary Verdi and Tony Lee Thomas Band
  • Dec. 8 – 2:30 & 7pm – Albany Berkshire Ballet, The Nutcracker
  • Dec. 9 – 1:30 & 4:30pm – Albany Berkshire Ballet, The Nutcracker
  • Dec. 15 – 30 – A Christmas Carol
    • Saturday, December 15 at 7:30pm (Opening Night)
    • Sunday, December 16 at 2pm
    • Thursday, December 20 at 7:30pm
    • Friday, December 21 at 7:30pm
    • Saturday, December 22 at 2pm and 7:30pm
    • Sunday, December 23 at 2pm
    • Thursday, December 27 at 7:30pm
    • Friday, December 28 at 7:30pm
    • Saturday, December 29 at 2pm and 7:30pm
    • Sunday, December 30 at 2pm

The Colonial Theatre tickets contact information

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Dec. 2012 live performance schedule

  • Dec. 2 – 2pm – Close Encounters With Music: Tragicomedia; A Baroque Holiday Celebration
  • Dec. 31 – 6pm – Berkshire Bach Society Presents Bach at New Year’s: Brandenburgs PLUS

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center tickets contact information

  • 14 Castle Street – Great Barrington, MA 01230
  • Box Office: 413-528-0100
  • Mahaiwe.org

MASS MoCA Dec. 2012 schedule

  • Tim Crouch: My Arm – Saturday, December 1, 2012, 8:00 pm
  • Seagull (Thinking of you) – Saturday, December 15, 2012, 7:30 pm
  • Kidspace Vacation Art Workshops – December 26, 27, & 28 at 9:00 AM

MASS MoCA tickets contact information

  • 87 Marshall St.; North Adams, MA 01247
  • Fall, Winter, Spring Hours: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. closed Tuesday
  • Phone: 413.MoCA.111
  • Web: massmoca.org

Shakespeare & Company presents The Santaland Diaries Dec. 2012

The Santaland Diaries, by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello, directed by Tony Simotes, featuring David Josef Hansen runs weekends through Dec. 30, 2012.

Shakespeare & Company tickets contact information