Wednesday, February 18, 2026

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Monica Bliss

Monica Bliss grew up in the Berkshires and now lives in New Lebanon, N.Y. with her husband, daughters, dog, and cats. She spends her time singing, acting, directing, writing, cooking, baking, and working towards social change.

written articles

BITS & BYTES: Jake Heggie’s ‘Dead Man Walking’ at Mahaiwe; Indigenous People’s Day workshop at Mission House; BRIDGE 15th Anniversary; Mario Cohn-Haft at Hoffmann...

Based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir about her fight for the soul of a condemned murderer, “Dead Man Walking” matches the high drama of its subject with Heggie’s poignant music and a libretto by Tony and Emmy Award–winner Terrence McNally.

BITS & BYTES: Gypsy Layne at The Foundry; ’Heart of Brick’ at MASS MoCA; ’Barefoot Dances’ at The Foundry; Tyra Nurmi at Dottie’s Coffee...

Gypsy Layne returns to The Foundry for a Halloween-tinged production that will unleash your darkest desires, offering heart-pounding pleasures served with a wicked dose of life-affirming body positivity that even the undead will find irresistible.

BUSINESS BRIEFS: Close Encounters With Music hires new marketing director; BCC staff updates; Susan B. Anthony Museum hires new director; Zain Khalid wins Bard...

Ramiro’s hope is that these murals add to the pride of the community and activate forgotten or underutilized spaces, while at the same time bringing the importance of plants and nature into the subconscious of the viewer. 

BITS & BYTES: The Acting Company at the Mahaiwe; Jane Bevans at the Norfolk Library; Wine dinner at Gedney Farm; Simon Winchester at the...

Set in the present day, four young women trapped in the limbo of a refugee camp retell Odysseus’ adventures as they struggle with their own search for a home.

BITS & BYTES: ‘Birdheart’ at Race Brook Lodge; Norman Rockwell Museum pays tribute; Pie contest at Dewey Hall; Pie workshop at Dewey Hall; BFAIR’s...

“Birdheart" is a widely celebrated show that’s toured the world multiple times as far as Zimbabwe and Abu Dhabi including a private performance for His Holiness The Dali Lama.

BITS & BYTES: Heather Maloney at Spencertown Academy; ’Honoring Native America’; L.A. Rebellion at the Clark; Jazz at the Ballroom presents ‘Accentuate the Positive’;...

The New York Times called her music “utterly gorgeous, visceral” and SPIN Magazine described her as “stunning, breathy, and starkly memorable.”

BITS & BYTES Part One: Misty Blues at The Guthrie Center; BlackBox Ensemble at the Clark; ‘Copenhagen’ at the Unicorn Theatre; Jean-Marie Zeitouni debuts...

Misty Blues pays homage to the older blues made popular by the bold and brassy women of its time, while still paying respect to classic male artists of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.

BITS & BYTES Part Two: ‘Soprano Riot!’ at Stockbridge First Congregational Church; Northampton Jazz Festival; ’The Lifespan of a Fact’ at Sharon Playhouse; Elizabeth...

Repertoire to be performed includes Aaron Copland settings of texts by Emily Dickinson, Lori Leitman’s settings of texts by Margaret Atwood, and songs by Florence Price using poems of Langston Hughes.

BUSINESS BRIEFS Part One: Simon’s Rock names Dr. Sarah Porter-Liddell; Suki Kim named Keith Haring Fellow at Bard; Mahaiwe appoints Natalia Bernal; Irwin Feld...

The aim for this position is to best serve all students by more intentionally including the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of student life and the Office of Campus Life.

BUSINESS BRIEFS Part Two: Miss Hall’s School names new Dean; New Berkshire Museum Trustees; Berkshire Bank welcomes Rob Nichols; Berkshire Regional Planning Commission awards...

Smith provides direction for academic life at Miss Hall’s, convening department chairs and faculty to spearhead a transformative academic program that develops vision, voice, interpersonal efficacy, and gumption in MHS students.

BITS & BYTES: Regional Art Show at Spencertown Academy; CATA reading at The Mount; ’The Happiest Man on Earth’ at Barrington Stage; ’Kar-beer-oke with...

“These artworks seamlessly transport us to the heart of rural life in the Hudson Valley, Berkshires, and surrounding regions.”

BITS & BYTES: Richard Stanmeyer at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge; ‘A Gathering’ at The Springfield Museums; Trio Calore at New Marlborough Meeting House; New art...

Hailed as a "trumpet prodigy" by Berkshires Jazz, Richard Stanmeyer has performed with internationally renowned musicians.

BITS & BYTES: Grace Kelly at the Stationery Factory; Beatriz Cortez at Williams College Museum of Art; 14th annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day; Tom Piazza...

A rising legend at the age of 31, Grace Kelly has become a mainstay of what she calls “State-of-the-art Electro Jazz Pop”, with millions of followers across that spectrum.

BITS & BYTES: Celebration of African writing at Bard; ‘March To End Fossil Fuels’; Harvest meditation with Sandrine Harris; Autumnal equinox with Turn Park...

Chinua Achebe was a groundbreaking Nigerian writer best known for his first and most influential novel, “Things Fall Apart”.

BUSINESS BRIEFS: 1Berkshire’s Trendsetter Awards ceremony; Angéla Kóczé receives award; Lebanon Valley Community Corporation provides support; Berkshire United Way and partners provide support; Literacy...

Mill Town was recognized as the special honoree for “Putting the Berkshires on the Map” in recognition of the investments that they have made in housing, downtown redevelopment, and other key Berkshire properties along with their philanthropic support around the region.

BITS & BYTES: Black Legacy Project album release; ‘Lunar Eclipse’ at Shakespeare & Company; Vintage jazz at Spencertown Academy; Ken Mask at Kimball Farms;...

The Black Legacy Project is a musical celebration of Black history to advance racial solidarity, equity, and belonging.
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