Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center to present Blues Traveler
Great Barrington — The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center will present Blues Traveler Saturday, March 3, at 8 p.m. Los Colognes will open the show.
The multi-genre rock band Blues Traveler emerged in the late 1980s from Princeton, New Jersey. With a total of 12 studio albums–four gold, three platinum, and one six-times platinum–the band has sold more than 10 million combined units worldwide, and played over 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people. Their hit “Run-Around” is the longest charting radio single in Billboard history, and earned them a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Featuring John Popper on lead vocals and harmonica, Chan Kinchla on guitar, Tad Kinchla on bass, Brendan Hill on drums and Ben Wilson on keyboard, the band has a proven reputation for improvisational live shows. The group’s most recent release, 2015’s “Blow Up The Moon,” was its first collaborative album and enlisted a range of artists across the musical spectrum.
Tickets at $49–$89. The event will include a beer tasting with Barrington Brewery at intermission. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Mahaiwe box office at (413) 528-0100.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Theatre Group productions to head to New York City
Pittsfield — Berkshire Theatre Group has announced that three of its productions will open in New York City this spring: “The Stone Witch” at the Westside Theatre beginning Monday, March 12; “Children of a Lesser God” at Studio 54 beginning Thursday, March 22; and “Dutch Masters” at the Wild Project beginning Wednesday, April 4.
The world premiere of “The Stone Witch,” written by Shem Bitterman, was presented at BTG’s Fitzpatrick Main Stage in Stockbridge in 2016 and directed by Steve Zuckerman. The New York premiere of “The Stone Witch” will feature Dan Lauria, Rupak Ginn and Carolyn McCormick. “Children of a Lesser God,” written by Mark Medoff, was presented at the Fitzpatrick Main Stage in July 2017, directed by Kenny Leon and featuring Joshua Jackson and Lauren Ridloff. The Studio 54 run will be the production’s first Broadway revival since 1980. The world premiere of “Dutch Masters,” written by Greg Keller, was presented at BTG’s Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge in 2011 and was most recently part of BTG’s No Boundaries in Art Staged Reading Series in August 2017. The New York premiere of “Dutch Masters” will feature Ian Duff and Jake Horowitz with direction by André Holland.
–E.E.
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Mason Library to screen ‘Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World’
Great Barrington — The Friends of the Great Barrington Libraries will screen the film “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” Saturday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mason Library.
The 2017 documentary film about the role of Native Americans in contemporary music history reveals how indigenous musicians helped shape rock and roll and influence popular culture. The film includes footage of Jimi Hendrix, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Link Wray and Redbone and won a Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award for Masterful Storytelling.
The event is part of the Friends’ First Saturday Free Film Series and will begin with a free wine and cheese social in the vaulted reading room at 7 p.m. More socializing and community discussion will follow the film until 10 p.m. The film does not reflect endorsement or advocacy for any particular point of view by the library or the town of Great Barrington. For more information, contact the Mason Library at (413) 528-2403.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Humane Society to hold fur reclamation drive in March
Pittsfield — Berkshire Humane Society will launch its first fur reclamation drive during the month of March to collect fur garments to be dismantled and distributed to wildlife rehabilitators in the Berkshires and surrounding areas. The project is spearheaded by BHS humane educator Lizzy Brown and animal welfare advocate volunteer Pam Youngquist, Ph.D.
BHS plans to work with local rehabilitators Dawn Collins, Judy Pasko and Julie Shanahan, who will use the donated fur pieces to line beds and handmade nests, and swaddle infants during bottle feeding. Pasko also plans to use the furs in her annual wildlife rehabilitation seminars at which she instructs beginning rehabilitators.
The drive welcomes all fur coats, gloves, stoles and other fur items or partial fur items. No mothball-affected or recently dry-cleaned furs can be accepted due to chemical usage. Those wishing to donate their furs may drop them off during business hours at BHS in Pittsfield, Catwalk and Purradise at 301 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, and Bark N’ Cat in North Adams. Donors who wish to claim deductions for their donations should consult IRS.gov and their tax specialists. Donated items should be appraised prior to drop-off, and any required tax forms must be completed in advance and presented at the time of donation. For more information, contact Lizzy Brown at (413) 447 -7878 x129 or ebrown@berkshirehumane.org.
–E.E.
