Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents Better Than Ezra
Great Barrington— This Friday, March 27th at 7:30 p.m., the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents Better Than Ezra.
Named one of the “100 Greatest Alternative Artists of All Time” by Billboard, Better Than Ezra has made their mark on the music world. Their hummable melodies, unshakable guitar riffs, and confessional lyrics have stood the test of time — from 1995’s number one hit “Good” all the way to Taylor Swift’s famous 2010 cover of their classic “Breathless.” They even inspired a classic Saturday Night Live skit. Their songs, albums, and live performances are simply timeless.
The concert is on Friday, March 27th at 7:30 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Bennington Theater presents ‘A Doll’s House Part 2,’ Lucas Hnath’s witty and provocative sequel to Henrik Ibsen’s classic play
Bennington, Vt.— From March 27th through April 5th, Bennington Theater presents “A Doll’s House Part 2,” Lucas Hnath’s witty and provocative sequel to Henrik Ibsen’s classic play.
Fifteen years after she famously walked out on her family, Nora returns to the Helmer home to finalize a divorce, but her reappearance forces a reckoning with the family she abandoned, leading to explosive confrontations about marriage, gender roles, and personal freedom. The play explores the unresolved questions of freedom, love, and responsibility through sharp, modern dialogue as Nora confronts her estranged husband Torvald, her former nanny Anne Marie, and her now-grown daughter Emmy, revealing that the consequences of her departure are still deeply felt and that her fight for independence is far from over.
“A Doll’s House Part 2” received multiple Tony Award nominations and critical acclaim for its sharp writing and exploration of its themes, which delve into the complexities of female independence, the societal expectations placed on women, and the fallout from personal choices, making Ibsen’s 19th-century story relevant today. It’s a blend of comedy and drama, using modern language and humor to tackle serious, timeless themes.
Directed by David Dubov-Flinn, the performances Ron from March 27th through April 5th at Bennington Theater, located at 331 Main Street in Bennington, Vt. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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American Mural Project’s Happy Hour Piano Series continues with singer-songwriter Natalie Hamilton
Winsted, Conn.— On Friday, March 27th from 5 p.m. to 7p.m., American Mural Project’s Happy Hour Piano Series continues with singer-songwriter Natalie Hamilton. Eases into the weekend with live piano music and libations in Connecticut’s most unique art space.
Natalie Hamilton is known for her four-octave, velvet voice, and a style that blends jazz sophistication with folk intimacy. Critics describe her sound as evocative, powerful, and uniquely her own. Her narrative, lyrical compositions are compared to Joni Mitchell, and The Daily Sun reported that Hamilton “is able to say more with humming than most singers can say with words – reminiscent of a young Barbra Streisand.”
The concert is on Friday, March 27th from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. at American Mural Project, located at 90 Whiting Street in Winsted, Conn. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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North Adams Pride presents fourth annual Northern Lights Ball
North Adams— On Saturday, March 28th from 8 p.m. to midnight, North Adams Pride presents the fourth annual Northern Lights Ball, one of North Adams’ most anticipated annual events, bringing together friends, neighbors, and visitors from across the region for an evening of joy, creativity, and Pride.
The dazzling celebration invites the community to dress to impress and sparkle, glimmer, and shine on the dance floor for a night of music, drag, karaoke, and unforgettable energy. Headlining the main dance floor is crowd favorite DJ BFG, returning with her incredible music library and infectious energy to keep the party going all night long. Dress bold, dance freely, celebrate community, and groove under the glow of the Northern Lights.
Guests will also enjoy magical performances throughout the evening by an all-star lineup of local and regional drag performers, including Vuronika Baked, Jackie Legs, Gemini DaBarbay, Bella Santarella, Fagitty Anne, Hairy Debbie, and Gracie Smilez. DJ Liquid Courage will be hosting karaoke with Graziana of North Adams Pride and Tricia of Make Me Happy Radio. Upstairs in the lounge, DJ Black Angus returns to bring high vibes and fresh beats for guests looking for another place to groove or sit and relax.
The ball will be on Saturday, March 28th from 8 p.m. to midnight at the North Adams Elks Lodge, located at 100 Eagle Street in North Adams. Admission to this event is for ages 21+. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for cash purchase at the Elks bars. Christos Famous Pizza, Tres Ninos, and grab-and- go snacks from the Elks will be available for cash purchase. Guests are also encouraged to bring cash to tip performers. Those needing accommodations are encouraged to email northadamspride@gmail.com in advance. More information can be found online.
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Dress as your favorite author or literary character for the Becket Arts Center Novel Creations Ball
Becket— On Friday, March 27th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., dress as your favorite author or literary character for the Becket Arts Center Novel Creations Ball.
The ball features literary costumes, live music by Razztime, food, drinks, and an auction of community-member-created works of art created from books and magazines otherwise destined for the recycling pile.
The ball is on Friday, March 27th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Becket Arts Center, located at 7 Brooker Hill Road in becket. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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OLLI at BCC Distinguished Speakers Series and Berkshire County Historical Society present ‘Poor in the Berkshires: Poverty and Public Relief Before 1935’ a lecture by Cynthia Farr Brown
Pittsfield— On Thursday, March 26th at 5:30 p.m., OLLI at BCC Distinguished Speakers Series and Berkshire County Historical Society present “Poor in the Berkshires: Poverty and Public Relief Before 1935” a lecture by Cynthia Farr Brown.
What happened two centuries ago when people had no food, no housing, or no fuel? Where did people go for support? How did they understand poverty? What did law and custom prescribe? What changed over time – and how quickly or slowly? This talk will examine being poor in the Berkshires, from the mid-18th century when Europeans settled in the region, until the depths of the Great Depression. Using primary records, newspaper accounts, and more, you will learn about who was among the poor and how communities both supported and at times chose not to support those in need.
A published historian with a doctorate in United States History, Dr. Cynthia Farr Brown is the President of the Board of Directors of the Berkshire County Historical Society at Arrowhead.
The hybrid lecture is on Thursday, March 26th at 5:30 p.m. both in-person at Berkshire Community College, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield, and online via Zoom. Admission is free for students, staff, and faculty from Berkshire Community College, MCLA, and Williams; youth age 17 and under, and those holding WIC, EBT/SNAP, or ConnectorCare cards. Registration and more information can be found online.
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Bidwell House Museum presents ‘Military Occupation in Revolutionary America,’ a lecture by Donald F. Johnson
Monterey— On Thursday, March 26th at 7 p.m., Bidwell House Museum presents “Military Occupation in Revolutionary America,” a virtual lecture by Donald F. Johnson.
The experience of military occupation shaped the course of the American Revolution for tens of thousands of colonial Americans living in port cities and other areas controlled by the British Army. This talk explores how those experiences transformed ordinary peoples’ attitudes towards their government and the Revolution, and ultimately contributed to the defeat of the British Empire in America.
Donald F. Johnson is a historian of popular politics during the era of the American Revolution and associate professor of history at North Dakota State University. In 2023 he published “Occupied America: British Military Rule and the Experience of Revolution” with the University of Pennsylvania Press.
The virtual lecture is on Thursday, March 26th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Registration and more information can be found online. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents ‘American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt and the Jews,’ a book talk with historian Andrew Porwancher
Pittsfield— On Thursday, March 26th at 7 p.m., the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents “American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt and the Jews,” a virtual book talk with historian Andrew Porwancher.
From his early political career in New York, Roosevelt forged relationships with Jewish communities that were unprecedented for a future president. He spoke frequently on the Lower East Side, advocated for reform in sweatshops where many Jewish laborers worked under dangerous conditions, and publicly praised the heroism of the Maccabees, holding them up as a model for American Jewish life.
The program will also address the contradictions in Roosevelt’s record. During his presidency, he was confronted with the brutal persecution of Jews in Eastern Europe, which sent waves of refugees to the United States, even as antisemitic and xenophobic sentiments were growing at home. Drawing on new archival research, Porwancher will present a nuanced portrait of a leader whose engagement with Jewish issues reflected both moral conviction and the limitations of his time.
Andrew Porwancher is professor of history at Arizona State University. He is the author of “The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton” and “The Devil Himself: A Tale of Honor, Insanity, and the Birth of Modern America.”
The virtual talk is on Thursday, March 26th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Registration and more information can be found online.
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First Congregational Church of Great Barrington presents ‘The Town Square,’ a monthly music and poetry open mic
Great Barrington— On Friday, March 27th at 1 p.m., the First Congregational Church of Great Barrington presents “The Town Square,” a music and poetry open mic happening on the last Friday of month.
Have you felt disconnected by winter, world events, or what have you? Come gather with neighbors and friends to lift up songs and poems of connection and uplift. Performers and listeners are needed, and people of all abilities are invited. Face-to-face engagement powerfully connects humans, so put down your screens, pick up an instrument or some poetry and get connected!
The open mic is on Friday, March 27th at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Great Barrington, located at 251 Main Street in Great Barrington.
