Triplex Cinema presents a screening and discussion of ‘Hannah Arendt: Fighting Tyranny’ with Yale Professor Seyla Benhabib
Great Barrington— On Sunday, October 12th at 11 a.m., in honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of Hannah Arendt’s death, the Triplex Cinema presents a screening of “Hannah Arendt: Fighting Tyranny” with post-screening discussion with Yale Professor of Political Science and Philosophy Emerita Seyla Benhabib, who has written extensively about Hannah Arendt.
Arendt was one of the most fearless writers of the 20th century, and her report of the Adolf Eichmann trial coined the phrase, “the banality of evil.” The German American scholar transformed her time as a political prisoner and refugee during World War II into insights about the human condition, the refugee crisis, and totalitarianism. Hannah Arendt witnessed the rise of Nazism in Germany and her groundbreaking works sought to understand how regular people could be seduced by horrendous ideologies such as antisemitism and fascism.
The event is on Sunday, October 12th at 11 a.m. at the Triplex Cinema, located at 70 Railroad Street in Great Barrington. Benhabib’s books on Hannah Arendt will be available for purchase. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire International Film Festival presents screening of ‘Out of Plain Sight’ to kick off annual Environmental Film Focus Series
Great Barrington— On Sunday, October 12th at 3 p.m., the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) presents a screening of “Out of Plain Sight” to kick off their annual Environmental Film Focus Series. There will be be a post-screening discussion with prize-winning journalist, author, and director Rosanna Xia and ocean conservation expert Emily Woglom, with BIFF programmer and board member Lillian Lennox.
“Out of Plain Sight,” winner of the BIFF’s “Audience Award” at last year’s festival, is a cinematic exposé of an environmental disaster lurking just off the coast of Southern California. Not far from Catalina Island, aboard one of the most-advanced research ships in the world, David Valentine discovered a corroded barrel on the seafloor that gave him chills. He calls Rosanna Xia, who pieces together a shocking revelation: In the years after World War II, as many as half a million barrels of toxic waste had been quietly dumped into the ocean – and the consequences continue to haunt the world today.
The event is on Sunday, October 12th at 3 p.m. at The Triplex, located at 70 Railroad Street in Great Barrington. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Shakespeare & Company presents ‘Celebration of Jewish Plays,’ an immersive weekend of staged readings
Lenox— From October 10th through the 12th, Shakespeare & Company, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, presents ‘Celebration of Jewish Plays,’ an immersive weekend of staged readings.
To honor the tradition and impact of storytelling, the weekend will feature four enhanced staged readings of acclaimed plays, plus a special literary event. The plays that will be read are “The Price” by Arthur Miller, “Roz & Ray” by Karen Hartman, featuring Tony-nominated actor John Douglas Thompson; “Here There Are Blueberries” by Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich and “The Sisters Rosensweig” by Wendy Wasserstein. Additionally, select scenes will be presented from a new theatrical adaptation of the National Jewish Book Award-winning novel “The Weight of Ink” by Rachel Kadish, currently in development by Kate Kohler Amory and Tamara Hickey, which will be followed by a Q&A and reception.
“This festival celebrates the depth, humor, and resilience of Jewish storytelling – past and present – through the vibrant voices of playwrights who explore identity, history, and the human spirit,” said Barry R. Shapiro, co-chair of the planning committee.”In a time when connection matters more than ever, the Jewish plays remind us that humor heals, memory matters, and every story is a kind of survival.”
The festival runs from October 10th through the 12th at Shakespeare & Company, located at 70 Kemble Street in Lenox. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents a grand opening celebration for its new performance space the Indigo Room
Great Barrington— From October 10th through the 12th, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents a grand opening celebration for its new performance space the Indigo Room.
The celebration weekend features ceremonial festivities and performances by Tony-award winning jazz vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway, Grammy-nominated blues guitarist Guy Davis, and award-winning family-friendly musician Terry A La Berry. Ceremonial festivities include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, stand-up comedy, drag bingo, and a traditional Chinese lion dance. Beyond the opening weekend, the Indigo Room will offer performances regularly as part of the Mahaiwe’s year-round programming.
“The Mahaiwe team is thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Indigo Room. Over the weekend we will demonstrate exactly what the Indigo Room will be: a versatile performance space with a true range of offerings. Between comedy, cabaret, blues, family fun and more, we hope to appeal to all entertainment appetites in our community. Come toast this new cultural hub in downtown Great Barrington,” said Mahaiwe Executive Director Janis Martinson.
The celebration is from October 10th through the 12th at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center’s Indigo Room, located at 20 Castle Street, next door to the historic theater in the former Great Barrington firehouse building. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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American Mural Project presents American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Innovation Wall
Winsted, Conn.— From October 10th through the 26th, the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Innovation Wall will be displayed at American Mural Project.
For more than 350 years, Connecticut has been the birthplace of invention. The helicopter, nuclear submarine, the first space suit on the moon, and even the Wiffle Ball were all born and manufactured in Connecticut. To honor this legacy, the Innovation Wall, a 1,500 sq interactive display, features 50 Connecticut innovation firsts. This “greatest hits” of Nutmeg State ingenuity includes everything from the first nuclear submarine to the first moon walk, from Sikorsky to Silly Putty, from the WASP engine to Wiffle Balls, from PEZ to parachutes.
The exhibit will be on display from October 10th through the 26th at American Mural Project, located at 90 Whiting Street in Winsted, Conn. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Great Barrington Land Conservancy to host its first annual Walk for Conservation
Great Barrington— On Sunday, October 12th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Great Barrington Land Conservancy will host its annual Walk for Conservation.
A strong town-wide trail system includes accessible trails that allow everyone to experience nature and to connect to recreation and fellow community members. This community event celebrates accessible trails, with each route providing many opportunities to connect with water and nature.
The event is on Sunday, October 12th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Olympian Meadows, located at 578 Main Street in Great Barrington. The family-friendly event includes performances by Roger the Jester as well as snacks of apples, bananas, bagels, and pizza at the start and end of each route. All are welcome. Donations are welcome but not required. Funds raised will support Great Barrington Land Conservancy’s mission to involve the community in conservation and trail care. More information can be found online.
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Lenox Library Association to host its 30th annual book sale
Lenox— On October 11th and 12th from 9 a..m to 5 p.m., the Lenox Library Association will host its 30th annual book sale at the Lenox Town Hall.
The sale will offer more than 8,000 books in 30 categories, all donated from area homes and most in like-new condition. Book lovers of all ages will find a wide selection of fiction, history, art, biography, timely non-fiction, local interest, children’s books, and much more. The sale will also include music CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks. A special interest section features collectors’ items, including limited editions, signed and first editions, and books from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The two-day sale is on October 11th and 12th from 9 a..m to 5 p.m. at Lenox Town Hall, located at 6 Walker Street in Lenox. Admission is free except for Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, when it is $10. Eco-friendly reusable tote bags with the Lenox Library Association logo will be available for purchase. Shoppers who spend $50 or more will receive a free bag. All proceeds will support the library’s programs, collections, and resources. More information can be found online.
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Stockbridge Grange to host community dinner
Stockbridge— On Sunday, October 12th from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Stockbridge Grange will host a community dinner featuring ham, scalloped potato, vegetable, bread, and dessert choices of chocolate cream or apple pie.
There will be in-person and take-out service on Sunday, October 12th from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Stockbridge Grange Hall, located at 51 Church Street in Stockbridge. Dinner is $17 per person. Reservations and take out orders can be made by calling 413-243-1298 or 413-443-4352.
