Thursday, November 7, 2024

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Bits & Bytes: ‘The Art of the String Quartet’; Construct’s MayFest; high school musicals celebration; Shakespeare summer training; ‘Tulipalooza II;’ Sisters for Peace fundraiser; BCC student in ’29 Who Shine’

The Summer Training Institute provides young actors the opportunity to immerse themselves in Shakespeare six days a week during the height of Shakespeare & Company’s summer performance season and is geared toward but not limited to undergraduate theater majors.

CEWM to present ‘The Art of the String Quartet’

Great Barrington – Close Encounters With Music (CEWM) will present the program “The Art of the String Quartet” on Saturday, May 14, at 6 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. The program will feature the Dover Quartet and will include works by Beethoven, Dvořák, and Berg.

The Dover Quartet has performed at Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, and in festivals such as Chamber Music Northwest, the Festival Internacional de Musica de Cartagena, Bravo! Vail, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Individual members of the Quartet have appeared as soloists with some of the world’s finest orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic. The Quartet’s members are Joel Link and Bryan Lee on violin, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt on viola, and Camden Shaw on cello.

Tickets are $45 and $25. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the Mahaiwe box office at (413) 528-0100.

–E.E.

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MayFest fundraiser for Construct

Norrises
Mary Ann and Bob Norris.

Great Barrington — Construct will hold its annual MayFest fundraiser, at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 16, at 5:30pm at Crissey Farm.

This year’s Mayfest will honor longtime friends and supporters Bob and Mary Ann Norris of Great Barrington. The Norrises have served on the boards or as volunteers for Construct, Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Multicultural BRIDGE, Rotary, WAMC, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, and the New England Forestry Foundation, among others. Continuing last year’s theme of “The House That Ernie Built,” the focus this year will be on landscaping and community gardens for the newest affordable housing project planned for 316 State Rd. In addition to honoring the Norrises, Construct will recognize Paul Moritz of Sheffield as honorary chair of MayFest in celebration his six years on Construct’s board and three years as a MayFest chairperson. The gala will also include tastings from 26 area restaurants and wine vendors, and music by the Lucky 5.

Tickets to the gala are $75. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (413) 528-1985.

–E.E.

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BTG to celebrate high school musicals

Pittsfield — Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) will present the third annual “Encore! An Evening to Celebrate High School Musicals” at the Colonial Theatre on Friday, May 13, at 7 p.m. This special event, directed by Travis G. Daly, features 10-minute encore performances from this year’s Berkshire County high school musicals.

More than 100 students from Hoosac Valley High School, Lee High School, Taconic High School, Mt. Greylock Regional High School, Pittsfield High School, Drury High School, Wahconah Regional High School, and others will participate in the event. Ticket proceeds will benefit BTG PLAYS!, BTG’s year-round education program.

Tickets are $10 for students, and $15 for adults. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the Colonial ticket office at (413) 997-4444.

–E.E.

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Shakespeare & Company to offer summer training

Lenox — Shakespeare & Company‘s Center for Actor Training is currently accepting applications for its Summer Training Institute, which will run Tuesday, May 31, through Sunday, June 26.

The Institute provides young actors the opportunity to immerse themselves in Shakespeare six days a week during the height of the Company’s summer performance season and is geared toward — but not limited to — undergraduate theater majors. The rigorous schedule provides participants with master classes from the Company’s leading actors and teachers, integrating a full range of disciplines including clowning, stage fighting, rhetoric, and dance.

The deadline for actor submissions is Sunday, May 15. For more information, contact (413) 637-1199 x114 or training@shakespeare.org.

–E.E.

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GBRSS’ ‘Tulipalooza II’

Lenox – The Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School (GBRSS) will present its second annual spring gala fundraiser on Saturday, May 14, from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. at Stonover Farm.

Billed as the “night of 1,000 tulips,” Tulipalooza is the group effort of many local organizations. The event will include music by the Lucky 3 (members of the Lucky 5 jazz band), catering by Chef Brandon Scimeca of Hunt and Harvest, a signature cocktail courtesy of Berkshire Mountain Distillery, desserts by Paula Perlis of Taste It Presents, and dance music courtesy of Stitch the Selector. A live auction will include items such as a chef-prepared dinner for 10 at the winner’s home and a three day weekend in New York City. Silent auction bidding for unique art, gift certificates, professional consultations and more will also take place.

Tickets are $100 per person or $175 a couple. To RSVP, contact Jenna Lamond at development@gbrss.org or (413) 528-4015 x104.

–E.E.

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Sisters for Peace fundraiser

Caroline Wheeler artisan
Sisters for Peace founder Caroline Wheeler with a Tanzanian artisan.

Great Barrington – Nonprofit organization Sisters for Peace (SFP), which focuses on empowering women and girls locally and around the globe, will hold “Together We Can,” an African marketplace and fundraising event, on Friday, May 13, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and will take place at the Thornewood Inn.

All of the fabrics, bags, and jewelry being sold at the event were brought back from a recent SFP trip to Tanzania and made by women in SFP’s partner programs. All proceeds from the sales will be used to further the work of SFP and its partners in Tanzania.

For more information, contact (413) 205-6442 or sistersforpeace@gmail.com.

–E.E.

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BCC student honored as one of ‘29 Who Shine’

Jose Alfredo Cruz
Jose Alfredo Cruz.

Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College (BCC) student Jose Alfredo Cruz was honored at a “29 Who Shine” awards ceremony at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on Monday. Presented by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, “29 Who Shine” recognizes outstanding students representing each of the state’s 29 public campuses.

A native of Oaxaca, Mexico, Cruz is the first in his family to go to college. The Pittsfield resident began taking classes at BCC in 2013. He is president of the Student Government Association, a member of the Multicultural Student Services Organization, volunteers with MassPIRG, and has been involved in BCC’s recent Latino American event series. Cruz also served as a lead organizer of BCC Hacks, a 24-hour hackathon held in late April, which attracted students from throughout New England. He will graduate from BCC next month with an associate degree in business administration. He plans to transfer and to eventually own his own business.

–E.E.

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