Hancock Shaker Village to open for Hancock Holidays
Pittsfield — Hancock Shaker Village will welcome visitors to Hancock Holidays, its final event of the year, on Saturday, Dec. 12. HSV will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while shopping in Shaker Mercantile and a special pop-up holiday market will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 pm.
In a modified version of HSV’s annual tradition, the day includes strolling the paths and exploring some of the historic buildings, visiting the farm animals in the Round Stone Barn, going on a scavenger hunt, hearing a Shaker talk about Christmas at 1 p.m., and taking physically distanced photos of Santa on the tractor from 11:30 a.m. to noon or 1:30 to 2 p.m. Visitors can also see the exhibition “Notes About Home: 60 Years at Hancock Shaker Village,” grab a bite to eat at the food truck (weather permitting), warm up by the fire pit, or hike the grounds and nearby trails.
All activities are included with admission, which is $20 for adults, $8 for youth ages 13-17, and free for kids 12 and under. Advance tickets are not required. For more information, contact Hancock Shaker Village at (413) 443-0188 or info@hancockshakervillage.org.
–E.E.
* * *
Olga Dunn Dance to present virtual performance
Great Barrington — The Olga Dunn Dance Company’s “A Gift of Dance” virtual performance will premiere Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. on its website.
Three pieces that specifically celebrate the holidays highlight the virtual performance; two have been composed to music from “The Nutcracker” and one piece is set to a vocal soundtrack of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The performance will feature some previews and other surprises. Dancers will include Jamal Ahamad, Rosa Barnaba, Kate Chester, Ava Girard, Hope St. Jock and Julie Webster.
The program is free to watch and will be available through Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. For more information, contact Olga Dunn at (413) 528-9674.
–E.E.
* * *
Club Helsinki Hudson to livestream Dust Bowl Faeries duet show
Hudson, N.Y. — On Saturday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m., Club Helsinki Hudson will livestream the December variety show series “Wish You Were Hear” produced by design artist Corey Aldrich, which will blend the wistful verses and morbid amusements of the Dust Bowl Faeries duo with the sultry sounds of Hudson Valley/Brooklyn musician Belle-Skinner.
The Dust Bowl Faeries duet of Ryder Cooley and Jon B. Woodin perform dark cabaret music played on accordion and acoustic guitar. The band was founded by interdisciplinary artist Cooley along with Hazel, a disembodied taxidermy ram who performs with the Faeries as their mascot/spirit animal. Their songs draw inspiration from circus, post-punk and Eastern European folk music. Belle-Skinner is a singer-songwriter who specializes in fingerstyle contemporary-sounding, folk-based pop. She was named one of the “8 Female Musicians from Upstate NY You Should Be Listening To Right Now” by Saratoga Living.
Tickets are available by sliding scale donations to support the musicians in these difficult times of ongoing closure. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar, or contact Club Helsinki Hudson at (518) 828-4800 or info@helsinkihudson.com.
–E.E.
* * *
Williamstown Theatre Festival to offer intergenerational theater class
Williamstown — Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Community Works community theater program will launch its first scene-study class beginning Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Members of two different age groups (ages 18-30 and ages 60-plus) will be matched to study, rehearse and present scenes from published plays. Participants will meet over Zoom for four sessions with facilitator and WTF associate artistic director Laura Savia to spend time on the fundamentals of acting and share their work. Participants will be required to meet (virtually) outside of class time to rehearse.
There is no cost to participate, but participants may be required to purchase play scripts (approximately $20). Applications to join the program must be completed by Friday, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m. Each applicant will be notified on a rolling basis if they have been offered a spot in the class. For more information, contact community@wtfestival.org.
–E.E.
