Friday, February 14, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Bits & Bytes: ‘CATASFACTION’; BBG plant sale; ‘Spelling Bee’ at BCC; BerkChique! benefit sale

Plants-and-Answers will include experts from Berkshire Botanical Garden’s staff and plant professionals who will answer design questions and provide practical advice on growing and caring for plants.

‘CATASFACTION’ performance weekend and gala

Lenox — Community Access to the Artswill present “CATASFACTION,” its 25th anniversary gala and performance, Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13, at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse.

CATA’s annual performance is the culmination of performing arts workshops that serve over 700 people with disabilities in Berkshire and Columbia counties. CATA artists hone their talents throughout the year, and then take the stage to share their artistry with the community. This year’s performance features 30 local performers with disabilities and focuses on the theme of “CATASFACTION,” an exploration into all things that fulfill and satisfy. Through theatre, dance, music and more, the performance highlights the creativity of people with disabilities and celebrates the Berkshire community that has embraced CATA’s mission and made it possible for those people to discover their artistic abilities.

Saturday’s gala festivities begin at 5 p.m. with a performance at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and dancing. The Sunday matinee will begin at 1 p.m. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact CATA at (413) 528-5485 or info@cataarts.org.

–E.E.

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Plants are readied for Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Plants-and-answers sale. Photo courtesy Berkshire Botanical Garden

Berkshire Botanical Garden to host annual plant sale

Stockbridge — Berkshire Botanical Garden’s annual Plants-and-Answers plant sale will take place Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12. The event will kick off with early buying for BBG members on Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. and will then open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will continue Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thousands of woody and herbaceous plants will be displayed by habitat including plants for sunny areas, beds, borders, dry areas and woodland edges; as well as and woodland plants, annuals, tropicals and vines. This year’s sale will include more than 180 species and cultivars of native plants. Also available will be organic vegetable and herb plants, mixed succulent tabletop containers and BBG’s cone-shaped hanging container arrangements. Experts from BBG’s staff and plant professionals will be on hand to answer design questions and provide practical advice on growing and caring for plants. Select vendors will participate with a variety of services and products, and food will be available for purchase. A book sale and silent auction are also planned for both days. All proceeds from the sale will support BBG.

Admission and parking are free. For more information, contact Berkshire Botanical Garden at (413) 298-3926 or info@berkshirebotanical.org.

–E.E.

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Shannon Gwozdz, left, as Vice Principal Panch and Monica Bliss and Rona Lisa Peretti in the BCC Players’ production of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.’ Photo: Marissa Villacis

Berkshire Community College to present ‘The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee’

Pittsfield — The BCC Players will present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” in Berkshire Community College’s Robert Boland Theatre Friday, May 11, through Sunday, May 20. Performances will take place Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Winner of Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Book, “Spelling Bee” features a fast-paced book by Rachel Sheinkin and a vibrant score by William Finn. The show tells the story of an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents as they vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake.  “Spelling Bee” show opened on Broadway in 2005, but local audiences were treated to the pre-Broadway run by Barrington Stage Company.

Preceding the Saturday, May 12, performance, BCC will rededicate the Robert Boland Theatre with former BCC presidents Jonathan Daube, Catherine Addy and Paul Raverta. Those wishing to attend the rededication should be in the theatre lobby by 7:15 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for the general public; and $10 for students, BCC staff and faculty, and senior citizens. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact Ellen Shanahan at (413) 236-4703 or eshanahan@berkshirecc.edu.

–E.E.

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BerkChique! Clothing sale to benefit local nonprofits

West Stockbridge — The BerkChique! annual pop-up clothing sale and fundraiser will return for its seventh consecutive year Friday, May 11, through Sunday, May 13, and will be held at the West Stockbridge Historical Society.

The annual event features new and gently used clothing and accessories in a variety of sizes, including casual and formal tops, dresses, sweaters, blazers, coats, slacks and jeans. Since its inception in 2012, BerkChique! has donated over $150,000 to support local nonprofits. This year the sale is being presented by and in support of WAM Theatre and its programs, with additional donations going to the Berkshire Humane Society, Community Access to the Arts and IS183 Art School of the Berkshires. Items unsold at the end of the sale will be donated to the BHS’ Catwalk Boutique, Shakespeare & Company, the Soldier On Women’s Program and Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires’ Suit YourSelf program.

Purchasers of $100 VIP tickets will enjoy ‘first dibs’ access to all clothing and accessories at a shopping party beginning Friday at 5:30 p.m. General admission tickets for Friday evening starting at 6:30 p.m. are $25 or two for $40. The sale will continue for free on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact info@berkchique.com.

–E.E.

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