Egremont Barn presents Sam Burchfield
South Egremont— On Thursday, November 21st from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Egremont Barn presents Sam Burchfield.
Sam Burchfield was raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina, where he learned to play and write. His youth was steeped in the mossy creeks and deep ravines of those ancient woods, and they imbued him with the gift of song. Now in his thirties, Burchfield raises a small family in the North Georgia mountains and continues to find inspiration in the rivers and ridges of Southern Appalachia. His music is Americana, psychedelia, indie folk, and Southern rock. His latest album is an exploration of mankind’s toil for meaning in a world of vapid consumerism and commercialism – one in which we have become deaf to our own harmony with nature. Despite the weight of these ideas, the album feels like a lighthearted sojourn through the backwoods of our imagination.
The concert is on Thursday, November 21st from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Egremont Barn, located at 17 Main Street South in Egremont, Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Taconic Theatre Department presents ‘Clue’
Pittsfield— On November 15th at 7 p.m. and November 16th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Taconic Theatre Department presents “Clue.”
Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie, which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Led by the butler, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. Clue is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult-fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out…WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT!
Performances are on November 15th at 7 p.m. and November 16th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Taconic High School, located at 96 Valentine Road in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Race Brook Lodge presents Bread and Puppet Theatre
Sheffield— On Saturday, November 16th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Race Brook Lodge presents Bread and Puppet Theatre.
As many ask what they can do in the light of a new reality that is dawning around us, we are humbled and exhilarated to look to Bread and Puppet Theatre for an answer, or at the very least a new set of questions.
Bread and Puppet Theater, founded in 1963 by German-American artist Peter Schumann in New York City, is renowned for its politically charged, community-oriented performances and use of large puppets made from papier-mâché. Emerging during the turbulent 1960s, the theater sought to engage audiences in discussions of social justice, anti-war sentiments, and grassroots activism through accessible street theater. Bread and Puppet relocated to Vermont in the 1970s, where they established a self-sustaining commune and hosted “Our Domestic Resurrection Circus,” an annual outdoor festival that attracted thousands until it ended in the late 1990s.
Bread and Puppet Theatre will perform “Gray Lady Cantata #9,” continuing a series of shows made in the 60’s and 70’s in response to the Vietnam War. This new iteration features texts from Palestinians living through the war in Gaza. With the iconic gray lady puppets from the original production moving through vignettes both dreamlike and brutal, “Gray Lady Cantata #9” offers meditations on grief, war, and resistance. As always, the shows will include puppets large and small, music, up-to-the-minute politics, and spectacles not to be missed. After the show Bread & Puppet will serve its famous sourdough rye bread with aioli.
The performance is on Saturday, November 16th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., in the Barnspace at Race Brook Lodge, located at 864 South Undermountain Road in Sheffield. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets and more infuriation can be found online.
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Berkshire Theatre Group presents ‘Tommy: A 55th Anniversary Concert Celebration’ with Who Are You and friends
Pittsfield— On Friday, November 22nd at 7:30 p.m., Berkshire Theatre Group presents ‘Tommy: A 55th Anniversary Concert Celebration’ with Who Are You and friends, a spectacular all-star concert to celebrate the 55th anniversary of The Who’s legendary rock opera, “Tommy.”
Massachusetts-based tribute band Who Are You’s dedication to authenticity has made them a standout act performing at venues throughout the United States and Canada. Audiences can expect an electrifying multimedia experience that captures the sheer power and energy that made The Who one of rock & roll’s greatest live acts. Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of rock history at The Colonial Theatre, where the spirit of The Who will come alive in a performance you won’t forget!
The concert is on Friday, November 22nd at 7:30 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre, located at 111 South Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Star party at Olana State Historic Site
Hudson, N.Y.— On Friday, November 22nd from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., visit Olana State Historic Site for a star party.
Spend your evening looking up at the cosmos in the spirit of Frederic Church’s celestial-inspired paintings. During this free, drop-in program, learn more about the night sky and when viewable planets and deep-sky objects are visible from Olana State Historic Site. Members of the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association will project real-time astro-images of galaxies and nebulae inside while Saturn, Jupiter, and other objects will be visible with the aid of additional powerful telescopes outdoors.
The free event is on Friday, November 22nd from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Olana State Historic Site, located at 5720 State Route 9G in Hudson, N.Y. At 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., special star-tours will be held, where an expert guide will point out the evening’s visible constellations. Light refreshments will be served. More information can be found online.
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OLLI presents a computer security and online basics workshop
Pittsfield— On Friday, November 22nd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., OLLI presents a computer security and online basics workshop in-person at Berkshire Community College.
In this workshop, we will discuss several aspects of computer security. The goal is to provide you with basic tools and knowledge to stay safer online.
The following topics will be covered:
- Common online threats
- Password best practices
- Recognizing and avoiding phishing scams
- Multi-factor authentication
- Securing your data
- What to do when things go wrong
The workshop is on Friday, November 22nd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Berkshire Community College, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. Attendees may want to bring their computer or tablet with them to follow along, but it is not required. Registration and more information can be found online.
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BRTA announces free rides from November 29th through September 30th
Berkshire— It was announced that Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) will receive $699,733 for fare free service from January 1st, 2025 to September 30th, 2025. BRTA was already awarded funding to provide free rides for the 2024 holiday season starting on November 29th.
Working together, 13 Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities submitted a joint application to disburse the $30 million made available in the state budget based on ridership within their service areas. The additional funding was provided in the FY 2025 budget signed by Governor Healey in July.
