Sunday, February 16, 2025

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Bits & Bytes: Berkshire Playwrights Lab gala; ‘A Novel Night Out: Chapter Two’; Berkshire Dance Party & Cabaret; ‘MORE Room for IMPROVment

With help from friends from Monument Mountain Regional High School, Friday’s performances will mark third annual wholly original night of comedy written and performed by students from Berkshire Waldorf High School.

Berkshire Playwrights Lab to hold gala celebration

Great Barrington — Berkshire Playwrights Lab will hold its annual gala celebration on Friday, June 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Wyantenuck Country Club. The event will be a celebration of community and more than a dozen years of original plays, with cocktails and light fare, performances and a silent auction.

Hosted by gala co-chairs Stacey Gillis Weber and Robin Schultz Gerber, the benefit evening will feature a performance by Emmy Award– and Tony Award-winner Tony Shalhoub, who will perform a new short play by local playwright Richard Dresser. Silent auction items include two tickets to the Broadway production of “My Fair Lady” with a backstage tour

Gala tickets start at $125 per person. Proceeds will support BPL’s 2019 Staged Reading Series. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact Berkshire Playwrights Lab at (413) 528-2544.

–E.E.

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A bird’s-eye view of the Lenox Library’s first annual ‘A Novel Night Out’ in 2018. Photo courtesy Lenox Library

‘A Novel Night Out: Chapter Two’ to support Lenox Library

Lenox — The Lenox Library Association will host “A Novel Night Out: Chapter Two” Thursday, June 6, at 6 p.m. at the Lenox Library.

The event will bring together library lovers, community members and local businesses for a fun-filled night of food, drinks, dancing and prizes. After a walk down the “Read” carpet, Tricia McCormack Photography will be on hand to snap photos of friends and neighbors in their finery. Next up will be drinks provided by Spirited and Berkshire Mountain Distillers, along with tasty treats courtesy of Canyon Ranch. Music from hot jazz combo the Lucky 5 will jumpstart the action, and DJ BFG will get everybody moving with an outdoor dance party under the stars. Custom desserts from Chocolate Springs and Simply Sweet will also be available. Raffle prizes will include ticket packages to Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, Shed tickets for James Taylor’s July 4 concert at Tanglewood, and spa packages to Cranwell Resort and Canyon Ranch.

Tickets are $75. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Lenox Library at (413) 637-0197.

–E.E.

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Fourth annual Berkshire Dance Party & Cabaret to celebrate Pride Month

Pittsfield — Only in My Dreams Events will present the fourth annual Berkshire Dance Party and Cabaret Saturday, June 8, at 6 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre, 11 South St., in honor of Pride Month and the diversity of LGBTQ culture in the Berkshires.

The event will kick off with the second annual Mr./Miss Berkshire Drag Pageant from 7 to 9 p.m., hosted by Brita Filter of FusionTV’s “Shade: Queens of NYC.” In keeping with this year’s theme of “Real Life Heroes,” the panel of guest judges will include Berkshire heroes and heroines Dorinda Medley of “The Real Housewives of New York City”; activist and personality Jahaira DeAlto; Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield; WAM Theatre executive director Kristen Van Ginhoven; drag performer Nancy Nogood; and Multicultural BRIDGE CEO Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant. Guests are then invited to walk the pink carpet and break in their dancing shoes with DJ Tony Cee with lighting and projections by digital artist Joe Wheaton. A cabaret will feature special guest performers.

Tickets are $21–$46. A portion of tickets sales will be donated to Berkshire Pride. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Berkshire Theatre Group box office at (413) 997-4444.

–E.E.

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Berkshire Waldorf High School to stage ‘MORE Room for IMPROVment’

Noah Meyerowitz, Evan Silverstein and Toby Keenan, of Berkshire Waldorf High School’s comedy group ‘Room for IMPROVment’ in 2017. Photo courtesy Berkshire Waldorf High School

Great Barrington — Berkshire Waldorf High School will present “MORE Room for IMPROVment,” Friday, June 7, at 5 and 7:30 p.m. in the Liebowitz Studio Theater of Bard College at Simon’s Rock’s Daniel Arts Center.

With help from friends from Monument Mountain Regional High School, Friday’s performances will mark third annual wholly original night of comedy written and performed by students from Berkshire Waldorf. In their own voices, the high schoolers will satirize and lampoon politics, parents and life in the 21st century. Performances will include skits, stand-up, songs and audience-inspired improv. Note to parents: Some content and language may not be appropriate for students younger than middle school-age.

Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for adults and $40 per family. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended. All proceeds will benefit Berkshire Waldorf’s participation in Shakespeare & Company‘s Fall Festival of Shakespeare. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Berkshire Waldorf High School at (413) 298-3800.

–E.E.

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The Edge Is Free To Read.

But Not To Produce.