Jacob’s Pillow announces second season of on-site and virtual programming during COVID-19
Becket, MA — Jacob’s Pillow welcomes artists to its campus for residencies, new commissions, and virtual premieres this winter and spring. In what continues to be a challenging time for dancemakers to make and present work, the Pillow has deepened many of its preexisting relationships with artists, and opened its doors for new ventures, resulting in a diverse array of projects from now through June.
Following the loss of the Doris Duke Theatre in November 2020, the Pillow continues residencies in the Perles Family Studio, the remaining winterized studio space on its campus. The organization continues to look ahead to a summer 2021 Festival, with planned on-site performances and activities including professional advancement programs of The School at Jacob’s Pillow and the newly-expanded archives in Blake’s Barn.
“Thanks to a major grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, we will be able to continue ‘bubble’ residencies in the Pillow Lab,” said Pamela Tatge, the Pillow’s executive and artistic director. “Their support also ensures we can continue the Inside the Pillow Lab docuseries. At the same time, we continue providing virtual programs to stay engaged with communities in Berkshire County and artists and educators across the country.”
Winter/spring season highlights include:
- Residencies for six artists including Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, NYC Ballet principal dancer Taylor Stanley, and INSPIRIT directed by Christal Brown (formerly of Urban Bush Women)
- A focus on percussive dance and music with residencies for Dorrance Dance, flamenco and Latin dance artist Nelida Tirado, and Afro-Brazilian influenced Music from the Sole, a tap and live music ensemble fronted by Gregory Richardson (co-music director of Dorrance Dance) and Leonardo Sandoval (one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” for 2021)
- Virtual commissions from Chrybaby Cozie, whose film “Get the Lite” will highlight the contemporary hip-hop style Litefeet; and from Eiko (Otake), who will premiere a film created with Liz Sargent and Minos Papas in dialogue with the site of the Doris Duke Theatre
- Dance for Social Justice™ workshops, as part of an ongoing residency with choreographer Mar Parrilla, in Pittsfield, as well as virtual Jacob’s Pillow-hosted Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) workshops on dance history and pedagogy
- Virtual convenings of field leaders in a Dance and Social Change working group supported by the Ford Foundation
—A.K.
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Chester Theatre Company announces Chester@Hancock for the 2021 summer season
Chester — Chester Theatre Company (CTC) will be partnering with Hancock Shaker Village for its 2021 summer season. The three-show lineup will take place outdoors, under a tent on the 750-acre grounds of the living history museum. This temporary change in location is for the safety of audiences, performers, staff, and crew due to the pandemic. The season will be performed under the heading of Chester@Hancock.
“I’m thrilled by our partnership,” says CTC Producing Artistic Director Daniel Elihu Kramer, “which will offer a remarkable experience to Chester Theatre Company audiences, and an opportunity for patrons of each of our organizations to learn more about the other. Hancock Shaker Village is a treasure of our region and a beautiful location in all seasons. I look forward to sharing the summer there with our audiences.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Chester Theatre Company this summer,” says Jennifer Trainer Thompson, director of Hancock Shaker Village. “They’ve found a creative solution to a vexing challenge, and we welcome the opportunity to have outdoor live theater at the Village all summer long.”
The season will consist of three productions, one each in June, July, and August. Shows and exact dates and times will be announced at a later date. CTC intends to return to its regular home in the Town Hall Theatre in Chester in 2022.
—A.K.
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BNRC reopens new Mahanna Cobble Trail with improved access
Pittsfield — Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), Bousquet Mountain, and Mill Town announce the re-opening of the improved hiking access trail to Mahanna Cobble from the base of Bousquet Mountain. The Cobble is a conservation reserve owned and managed by BNRC. Hiking and snowshoeing to Mahanna Cobble, a south-facing natural destination atop Bousquet Mountain, is free and open to the public.
Last summer, hikers enjoyed a temporary access route from the base of Bousquet to the new Mahanna Cobble Trail. When construction at Bousquet increased in the fall, access was temporarily closed. Now reopened, the route is improved with a woodland access trail leading from Bousquet’s base. This is the first time the Trail is available for winter access.
The Mahanna Cobble Trail is a 1-mile-long, single-track trail with switch-back turns and stone steps. The total distance is 3.2 miles for an out-and-back trip.
Bousquet Mountain welcomes hikers to enjoy food, beverages, and facilities at the base of the mountain which, for the 2021 season, will operate every day except Wednesdays, entirely outside with seating in the pavilion, dining deck, and around firepits.
Follow signage and view the Mahanna Cobble webpage at www.bnrc.org/trails-and-maps/mahanna-cobble/ for updates before heading out.
—A.K.
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Learning to enjoy classical music with Warren Whitaker
Falls Village — The David M. Hunt Library will host a two-part Zoom event, Learning to Enjoy Classical Music with Warren Whitaker, on Saturdays, Jan. 23 and Jan. 30, at 4 p.m. both days. Register on the library’s website, its Facebook page, or by calling the library at 860-824-7424. This program is free and suitable for all ages. Warren Whitaker, a lawyer and long-time amateur music enthusiast, will discuss how to approach classical music for enjoyment on January 23, and discuss the major composers and their most accessible works on January 30. Warren is on the board of Music Mountain, the nationally renowned chamber music concert hall located in Falls Village, Conn.
—A.K.
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Great Barrington libraries service update
Great Barrington — Both the Mason and Ramsdell Libraries are closed to the public, but continue to offer curbside service. You may request materials by phone at (413) 528-2403 on weekdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; by emailing masonramsdell@gmail.com; or online at bark.cwmars.org. Youth bundled books can be requested via the online order form.
The library will contact you when your items are ready. You may pick them up curbside at Mason or Ramsdell. Same-day requests cannot be honored, but can be available at the next available pick-up time. Mason curbside hours are Tuesdays–Fridays from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Ramsdell curbside hours are Wednesdays from 1–5 p.m.
