The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Presents BODYTRAFFIC
Great Barrington— On Friday, November 10th at 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 11th at 3 p.m., The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Presents BODYTRAFFIC.
Los Angeles based BODYTRAFFIC has made waves from coast to coast with its far-reaching appeal. Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett leads a masterful troupe, all nimble interpreters of each choreographers’ distinct vision. This absorbing, thought-provoking, and vividly theatrical company assures an “absolutely joyous and oh-so-entertaining” evening of dance. Los Angeles Times called BODYTRAFFIC “one of the most talked-about companies nationwide.”
The program includes the pieces “Snap”, “Recurrence”, and “PACOPEPEPLUTO”.
“Snap” is inspired by the ethnically diverse yet isolating crowds of Los Angeles, the program recognizes the loneliness that pervades the search for acceptance but does not submit to it. Its eccentric intensity/vitality enlivens a sense of individuality, urging audiences to “snap out of” social pressures to conform and to celebrate what it means to find a home within yourself.
“Recurrence” deals with the inner workings of how humans treat the ones closest to them, in comparison to how they interact with strangers in daily life. It specifically begs the question of why humans sometimes do the worst things to the people they love most.
“PACOPEPEPLUTO” is three solos for male dancers set to songs popularized by “the king of cool,” Dean Martin, showcasing Alejandro Cerrudo’s skill at balancing aesthetic austerity and sharp wit. This work dares viewers to nakedly and joyfully embrace their true self-expression. It is performed in dim lighting and contains partial nudity with male dancers in dance belts.
The performances are on Friday, November 10th at 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 11th at 3 p.m. at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets are $35-$65. Members receive $5 off and there is a $15 ticket for those age 30 and under. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Art Center announces its first ever print show
Stockbridge— On Thursday, November 9th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Berkshire Art Center (formerly IS183 Art School) presents its first ever print show in the Stairwell Gallery at Citizens’ Hall in Stockbridge.
As Berkshire Art Center expands its capabilities in their Printmaking Department in Stockbridge with new classes and open studio offerings, the organization is celebrating with a print show that exhibits the work of printmakers ranging in all different ages with ties to Berkshire Art Center, the region and beyond. “It’s exciting to see the work of printmakers from across the county all in one place!” said Executive Director, Lucie Castaldo. “This show is a wonderful celebration of our newly developed printmaking department and I hope it will be the first of many to come.”
Work from a group of 16 artists will be exhibited. A variety of printmaking techniques including engraving, drypoint, linocut, woodcut, screen printing, collagraph, mezzotint, and monotype, were used.
The show runs Thursday, November 9th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. through March 31st in the Stairwell Gallery of Berkshire Art Center on Willard Hill Road in Stockbridge. Many works will also be for sale through Berkshire Art Center’s Gallery Shop with 70% of sales supporting the artists and 30% supporting Berkshire Art Center’s Printmaking Department. More information can be found online.
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‘Forest Conservation and Management Strategies for Climate Mitigation’ with DCR Forester Tom Ryan
Sheffield— On Thursday, November 9th at 6 p.m., Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) presents “Forest Conservation and Management Strategies for Climate Mitigation” with DCR Forester Tom Ryan, a DCR forester, at the November Berkshire Green Drinks event in person and online via Zoom.
Ryan will discuss several areas within forestry, including an overview of the current state of our forested landscape, a summary of state forestry programs and the existing land use designations for DCR state properties, conservation options for private landowners, forest-climate adaptation and carbon management concepts, landscape-scale habitat restoration efforts, MA forest product consumption trends, biochar, and supporting local forest products and how this can help mitigate climate change.
He has been a forester with DCR since 2003. In 2022, he shifted from the service forestry program – working with private landowners and municipalities – to the management forestry program, helping to manage and steward some 314,000 acres of state forest, park, and reservation lands.
The presentation is on Thursday, November 9th at 6 p.m. at Big Elm Brewery Sheffield Taproom on Silver Street in Sheffield. The in-person gathering begins at 5 p.m. The presentation and Zoom meeting start at 6 p.m. followed by a discussion and Q&A. Pre-registration is required to attend this free event. Everyone is welcome. Pre-registration and more infraction can be found online.
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Berkshire County Historical Society presents a virtual author talk with Skip Finley, with our of “Whaling Captains of Color, America’s First Meritocracy”
Pittsfield— On Thursday, November 9th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Berkshire County Historical Society presents a virtual author talk with Skip Finley, with our of “Whaling Captains of Color, America’s First Meritocracy”.
Whaling was the first American industry to exhibit any diversity, and the proportion of men of color was high. A man got to be captain not because he was white or well connected, but because he knew how to kill a whale. Along the way he would also learn navigation and how to read and write. Whaling presented a tantalizing alternative to mainland life.
Working with archival records at whaling museums, in libraries, from private archives and studying hundreds of books and thesis, Finley portrays the exciting era of whaling.
The virtual talk is on Thursday, November 9th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $10 for members. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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OLLI presents “You and Your Adult Child” with Dr. Laurence Steinberg, a free virtual book lecture
Pittsfield— On Thursday, November 9th at 7 p.m., OLLI presents “You and Your Adult Child” with Dr. Laurence Steinberg, one of the world’s leading experts on adolescence.
It now takes young people fifty percent longer to make the transition from adolescence to adulthood than it took their parents’ generation. Much has been written about the impact of this delayed and prolonged transition on young people, but little has been said about the effects of this social change on their parents or on family dynamics. In fact, many parents with children in their 20s and 30s are perplexed and confused about how to navigate these uncharted waters, and young people often feel misunderstood by their parents.
Dr. Steinberg will discuss the changed and changing nature of the relationship between parents and their adult children in contemporary society and offer guidance for parents, young people, and practitioners on how to handle issues that frequently arise in the domains of education, work, romance, finances, and grandparenting. He will also address how parents can maintain a strong bond with their grown child during this challenging time.
The free virtual lecture is on Thursday, November 9th at 7 p.m. Registration and more information can be found online.
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Simon’s Rock Theater Program presents ‘The Moors’ by Jen Silverman
Great Barrington— Opening Thursday, November 9th, the Bard College at Simon’s Rock Theater program presents “The Moors”, an anachronistic dark comedy by contemporary playwright, novelist, poet, and screenwriter Jen Silverman, and directed by Assistant Professor of Theater and Simon’s Rock alum Sara Katzoff
Simultaneously poetic and lyrical, acerbic and dark, and set in the 1840s(ish), “The Moors” follows spinster sisters Agatha and Hudley, their overworked scullery maid Marjoy, and their despondent Mastiff as they all live out their monotonous lives on the bleak “English” moors and dream of love and power. When Emilie, a hapless governess, is summoned under false pretenses and a moor-hen falls from the sky, all become entwined in a strange and elusive game. “The Moors” is equal parts gothic epic, drawing room farce, and post-punk feminist fable.
The cast features Lydia Helmstadter as Agatha, Reuben Giunta as Huldey, Agnes Allman as Emelie, Indiana Koumrian as Marjory, Jojo Vinai as The Mastiff, and Frances Zehner as The Moor-Hen.
The performances are Thursday, November 9 at 7 p.m., Friday, November 10 at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 11 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 12 at 2 p.m. in the McConnell Theater at the Daniel Arts Center on the Simon’s Rock campus on Alford Road in Great Barrington. All performances are free and open to the public.
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The Two Of Us Productions presents Noel Coward’s comedy, ‘Blithe Spirit’ at the Copake Grange
Copake— Opening on Friday, November 10th, The Two Of Us Productions presents “Blithe Spirit” by Noël Coward in the cozy & intimate Copake Grange Theater.
“Blithe Spirit” is a ghostly comedic thriller set in the home of socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati into his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. Charles’ scheme backfires when the séance inadvertently attracts the ghost of his deceased wife Elvira. Only Charles can see or hear Elvira, his new wife Ruth does not believe that she exists. The ghostly Elvira makes continued and increasingly desperate efforts to disrupt Charles’s current marriage, finally deciding to kill Charles in order to make him hers forever. To find out what happens, come and see “Blithe Spirit” for yourself.
The cast features John Leinung as Charles Condomine, Linda Storms as his wife Ruth Condomine, Constance Lopez as his deceased wife Elvira, Deborah Lombardi as the spiritual medium Madame Arcati, Mark Leinung as Dr. George Bradman, Diane Boice-Yorck as Mrs. Violet Bradman, and Karissa Payson as Edith, the Condomine’s speedy maid.
Performances run from November 10th through November 19th at the Copake Grange Theater on Empire Road in Copake. Tickets are $20 and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets and more information can be found online or by calling 518-758-1648.
For one night only, on Saturday, November 11th at 6 p.m., there is the option of dinner-and-a-show. Enjoy the culinary skills of local chef Paul Parillo of Chatham Previsions as he serves you a pre-show dinner at the theater. The cost of the dinner is $20 in addition to your theater ticket. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Pittsfield High School’s Proteus Theatre and Shakespeare & Company present Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’
Pittsfield— On Thursday, November 9th at 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 10th at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 11th at 2:30 p.m., Pittsfield High School’s Proteus Theatre and Shakespeare & Company present “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare, directed by Caroline Calkins and Sara Linares, as part of the 35th Annual Fall Festival of Shakespeare.
Performances are Thursday, November 9th at 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 10th at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 11th at 2:30 p.m. in the Pittsfield High School Theatre at Pittsfield High School on East Street in Pittsfield. Tickets are $10 and $5 for K-12 students. Tickets and more information can be found online. Tickets are also available at the door by cash or check.
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Chatham High School presents ‘Much Ado About Nothing’
Chatham— On Friday, November 10th and Saturday, November 11th at 7 p.m., Chatham High School presents “Much Ado About Nothing”.
Young love is sabotaged by meddling, gossip, and deception when William Shakespeare’s comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” hits the Chatham High School. Directed by Nick Nudler and Beth Somerville, the production is produced in partnership with the Fall Festival of Shakespeare sponsored by Shakespeare & Company.
Performances are Friday, November 10th and Saturday, November 11th at 7 p.m. at Chatham High School on Woodbridge Avenue in Chatham. Tickets are $5 at the door.
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Great Barrington Historical Society presents ‘Great Barrington 1854’ with Mike Fitzpatrick
Great Barrington— On Wednesday, November 8th at 7 p.m., the Great Barrington Historical Society is presenting a program entitled “Great Barrington 1854 with Mike Fitzpatrick” at the Teague Senior Center.
Mike Fitzpatrick, a long time Great Barrington resident and former fire chief, has developed a powerpoint presentation that will take the audience back in time to 1854 to look at what America, and in particular what Great Barrington, looked like in that era. With pictures and engravings from the past and the present, Mike will ask the audience to compare 1854 locations with the present day.
The presentation is on Wednesday, November 8th at 7 p.m. at the Teague Senior Center on South Main Street in Great Barrington. This program is free to the public and refreshments will be served. More information can be found online.
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The Stockbridge Grange is having a community dinner
Stockbridge— On Sunday, November 12th from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Stockbridge Grange is having a community dinner featuring roast pork, mashed potatoes, vegetable, with dessert choices of chocolate cream pie or apple pie.
The dinner is on Sunday, November 12th from noon to 1:30 p.m. It is $15 per person, take out only. Pick up is noon 1:30 p.m. at the Stockbridge Grange Hall on Church Street in Stockbridge. Orders must be made by Thursday, November 9th by calling 413-243-1298 or 413-443-4352.
