Barrington Stage announces summer events with Broadway stars
PITTSFIELD — Barrington Stage Company (BSC) recently announced its Summer 2022 Events with Broadway’s Best at the Boyd-Quinson Stage and the St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now and available by calling 413-236-8888 and barringtonstageco.org.
May 29 at 8 p.m.
JOSHUA HENRY UP CLOSE
Celebrate the reopening of the Blatt Performing Arts Center with Broadway star Joshua Henry (“The Scottsboro Boys,” “Hamilton,” “Carousel”). Henry will present an encore performance of last summer’s concert at BSC. St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (36 Linden Street). Tickets: $60.
August 15 at 8 p.m.
ANDY KARL & ORFEH: LEGALLY BOUND
She has a “powerhouse voice” and he is “a theater world heartthrob” (The New York Times). Together, Orfeh and Andy Karl have had an impressively long run as one of Broadway’s best couples. They co-starred in “Legally Blonde,” which garnered Orfeh a Tony nomination. Karl earned his own Tony nods for “Rocky,” “On the Twentieth Century” and “Groundhog Day” (for which he received an Olivier Award). The sexy, funny and talented duo will be joined by musical director Steven Jamail and their band for an evening of chart-toppers, showstoppers and high belting. Boyd-Quinson Stage (30 Union Street). Tickets: $35–$75.
August 21 at 8 p.m.
GRACE McLEAN LIVES IN CONCERT
The New York Times calls Grace McLean’s singing “phenomenal.” This award-winning actor-singer-songwriter will return to BSC playing her acclaimed original music, accompanying herself on her very own looping machine. Grace received a 2021 Jonathan Larson Award, and her musical “In the Green” earned her a 2020 Richard Rodgers Award. St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (36 Linden Street). Tickets: $45.
August 22 at 8 p.m.
AN EVENING WITH THE CREATORS OF “COME FROM AWAY”
Irene Sankoff and David Hein have earned awards and much acclaim for their work worldwide and are now bringing their music to BSC, sharing new songs, cut songs and untold stories from “Come From Away” and songs from their favorite composers. St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (36 Linden Street). Tickets: $45.
—A.K.
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Monument Mountain theatre department to present “Addams Family”
GREAT BARRINGTON — The Monument Mountain Regional High School theatre department announces the return of its annual musical after a hiatus of three years. “The Addams Family” is a family-friendly romp with the morbid and macabre family of comic strip, television, and film lore.
The book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and the music by Andrew Lippa. “The Addams Family” premiered on Broadway in 2010 with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as the titular couple and was nominated for two Tony awards.
The Monument Mountain show is directed by Jolyn Unruh and assistant director Rachel Siegel. Actors include Zach Annand, Carlin Beacco, Kate Goble, Lucy Ernst, Gavin Santos, Teal Pratt, Nic Kierstead, Anika Thiemann, Sofia Adams, Aria Grossman, Niko Friedmutter, Sarah Cull, Tytiauna Wheeler, Coco Hartcorn, Madeleine Rocheleau Holmes, Isabella DeFelice, Hyatt Tucci, Owen McDougall, Rosie Dohoney, Noah Kramer, and Maddie Rundle. It is designed by John Hartcorn and Annika Wainwright, and is stage managed by Paige Lussier and Eve McDougall.
Performances take place May 19–21 at 7:30 p.m. and May 22 at 6 p.m. at the Monument Mountain auditorium. Tickets are $12. Children are welcome.
—A.K.
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Olga Dunn Dance Company to perform at Saint James Place
GREAT BARRINGTON — The Olga Dunn Dance Company will perform “Alive and Onstage,” the first show of its 2022 spring-summer season, on Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m., at Saint James Place in Great Barrington.
“The program we are bringing is full of surprises and new work,” said Artistic Director Dunn. “We aim to inspire people to laugh, smile, and feel uplifted.”
The performance boasts five numbers in contemporary, ethnic, and theatrical styles. It will run an hour in length, with no intermission. A highlight of the evening promises to be “Live Cello,” a new piece with dancers moving around cellist Jay Shulman, who will be seated centerstage playing Bach. “This unique close proximity between dancers and musician creates an unexpected magic and rapport between artists,” said Kate Chester, one of the dancers in this number. “We can tune into each other’s rhythms and even rehearsals are impacting us differently.”
Besides Chester, other core company dancers making up the cast include Ava Girard, Maya Jocelyn, and Hope St. Jock, who have been with the Company for several years. The Company will also welcome back former member Jane Singer.
Tickets are $20 per person (children under 12 free), and are available at the door the day of the show. Seating is first come, first served; doors open half an hour before curtain time. To insure a ticket, reservations can be made by calling the Company at 413-528-9674.
—A.K.
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Spencertown Academy to present “Flowers, Fields, Forests: Abstracted” exhibit
SPENCERTOWN, N.Y. — Spencertown Academy Arts Center will kick off its 18th annual Hidden Gardens program with the “Flowers, Fields, Forests: Abstracted” curator’s choice exhibition. Each member of the Academy’s Curatorial Committee selected one artist to be included in the show, which will feature botanical-themed works by Timothy Ebneth, Tina Lincer, Sherry Meeks, and Susan Sabino. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, May 21 from 4–6 p.m., and art will remain on display through Sunday, June 19. Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1–5 p.m. and by appointment. Admission is free and all art is for sale, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Academy. Please note that on Saturday, June 11, the gallery will be open from 8:30a.m.–4 p.m. for the Hidden Gardens Tour.
—A.K.
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Canna Provisions, Berkshire Humane team up for free rabies clinics
PITTSFIELD — With a grant from Canna Provisions, Berkshire Humane Society is offering free rabies vaccines for cats on Tuesday, May 24 from 4:30–6 p.m. and for dogs on Wednesday, May 25 from 5–7 p.m. at the main shelter, 214 Barker Road in Pittsfield. On each day, microchips will be available at a discounted price of $10 each to celebrate National Chip Your Pet month. Pittsfield residents with any current rabies certificate may also license their dogs on Wednesday: $10 for spayed or neutered dogs and $20 for intact dogs. All items are available during clinic hours on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
For both days, pet owners should bring the most recent rabies certificate for their animal, even if the certificate has expired. Cats should be in carriers and dogs should be on 6-foot, non-retractable leashes. Cat owners should use the main entrance on Tuesday. Dog owners on Wednesday should park in the lower parking lot and enter through the Family Dog School door.
To expedite microchip processing, download a microchip form and fill it out before visiting the shelter.
Earlier this year, Canna Provisions presented Berkshire Humane Society with a check for $10,000, with the intent that half of it would be used towards community projects to help Berkshire County residents in need care for their pets.
—A.K.
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LitNet, Stockbridge Library partner on a new lecture series
LEE — The Literacy Network of South Berkshire (LitNet) and the Stockbridge Library announce the launch of a new lecture series, Community Conversations, featuring lectures on fun, informative, and discussion-worthy content. The content will be organized and delivered in such a way as to be accessible to community members whose first language is not English and will be open to all members of the community to attend. The intention is for these lectures to provide an immersive listening and discussion opportunity for Berkshire area intermediate/advanced-level English language learners seeking to develop their language skills. The lectures are free and the content is for a general audience.
The inaugural lecture, The History of Chocolate, will be led by Great Barrington resident Deb Ryan and will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Stockbridge Library. Ryan worked in advertising and marketing for several chocolate-related companies, including Duncan Hines and Schrafft’s Candy Co. before becoming the president and founder of the Historic Division of Mars, Inc. She is also the producer of the film “Cocoa to Chocolate,” which describes the chocolate-making process.
Ryan co-contributed to vision of the series. “The idea occurred to me from my experience as an adult language learner when I lived in France,” said Ryan. “It’s a chance for learners and other members of a community to get together and practice speaking and listening in a relaxed, nonjudgmental, and no-stress way.”
Lectures will run 20-30 minutes with 20-30 minutes of follow-up questions and discussion, and will include a range of general-interest topics. They are scheduled to occur every six weeks.
Community members are welcome to propose their own lectures or to suggest topic ideas for future Community Conversation events. To do so, contact LitNet’s Executive Director Leigh Doherty at ldoherty@litnetsb.org or 413-243-0471 or Stockbridge Library Director Wendy Pearson at wpearson@cwmars.org or 413-298-8140.
—A.K.
