Hudson Hall presents the Sean Jones Quartet
Hudson— On Saturday, March 2nd at 7 p.m., Hudson Hall presents the Sean Jones Quartet.
Internationally acclaimed trumpeter Sean Jones, called “a force of nature” by NPR, brings his masterful sound and talented quartet to the stage for his Hudson Hall debut. A former member of the SFJAZZ Collective and first-chair trumpeter of Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jones is a musical chameleon who draws from a rich history of musical influences.
The concert is on Saturday, March 2nd at 7 p.m. at Hudson Hall on Warren Street in Hudson. Tickets start at $23. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Theatre Group presents Dawn of the Divas Dance Party with DJ BFG at The Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield— On Friday, March 1st at 8 p.m., Berkshire Theatre Group presents Dawn of the Divas Dance Party with DJ BFG at The Colonial Theatre.
Get ready to step into a world of glamor and groove at the “Dawn of the Divas” dance party, where the legendary DJ BFG is set to spin the beats that will make you move and groove all night long.
DJ BFG, the mastermind behind the turntables, will curate a playlist that spans the ages, blending classic diva anthems with the latest hits to create a pulsating fusion of nostalgia and contemporary beats. Expect everything from disco divas to pop queens, ensuring there’s a dance-worthy moment for everyone with songs like Beyonce’s “Break My Soul,” Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” and Britney Spears’ “Toxic.”
Glittering gowns, sparkling accessories, and fierce dance moves are not just encouraged, they’re practically mandatory. Channel your inner diva and let the music be your guide as you dance the night away with fellow diva enthusiasts.
The party is on Friday, March 1st at 8 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre on South Street in Pittsfield. Admission is $12. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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CATA and Berkshire Botanical Garden present ‘Wild Findings,’ an exhibit of nature-inspired work by artists with disabilities
Stockbridge— From March 1st through March 24th, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) and Berkshire Botanical Garden (BBG) present “Wild Findings,” an exhibit of nature-inspired work by artists with disabilities.
The 30-plus works featured in the exhibit were created through CATA’s year-round workshops serving children, teens and adults with disabilities. Some of the works were created on-site at Berkshire Botanical Garden as part of an ongoing partnership between CATA and BBG, while others were created by CATA artists at day programs and residences serving people with disabilities, as well as in CATA’s studios in Great Barrington. The exhibit includes botanical studies, landscapes, abstract paintings, and photographs each ranging widely in stylistic expression and scale of size.
The exhibit runs from March 1st through March 24th in the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Leonhardt Galleries on West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge. Admission is free. There is a free opening celebration on Friday, March 1, from 3 to 5 p.m. Reservations are requested. Reservations and more information can be found online.
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Miss Hall’s School presents ‘Matilda’
Pittsfield— From February 29th through March 2nd, Miss Hall’s School (MHS) presents “Matilda.”
Discover the power of a young person’s imagination and her resilience in the face of adversity in this uplifting musical based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl. Matilda tells the story of an imaginative five-year-old whose special powers and extraordinary potential go unrecognized by her abusive parents and cruel headmistress. Instead, Matilda seeks refuge in her books and bonds with a supportive librarian and a new schoolteacher, before showing her classmates they, too, can stand up against the forces holding them back.
Directed by Jennifer Jordan, MHS Director of Theater and Dance, the production features Eleanor Jacobsen ’27 as the title character Matilda Wormwood, Willa Dowling-Paul ’25 as the bullying Headmistress Miss Agatha Trunchbull, Casey Lai ’25 as Matilda’s supportive teacher Miss Honey, and Kyla Gore ’24 and Hanna Heaton Wellenstein ’24 as Matilda’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood.
The performances are on Thursday, February 29th at 7 p.m., Friday, March 1st at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 2nd at 2 p.m. at the Woods Theater of the Elizabeth Gatchell Klein Arts Center at Miss Hall’s School on Holmes Road in Pittsfield. Tickets are $10. Reservations are recommended. Reservations and more information can be found online.
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2024 Daniel Manacher prize for young artists call for art
Sandisfield— The Sandisfield Arts Center is pleased to announce the 3rd annual Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists, created by Adam Manacher and Carol Birnbaum in memory of their son and his passion for art.
“Daniel worked on different surfaces, always hand-drawn,” said his father, Adam Manacher. “He loved interacting with people in their love for art. We hope, with the Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists, to inspire other young artists and to assist them as they reach for their dreams.”
Eligible artists are those working in painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture, aged 17-26 years of age, and residing or attending school in Berkshire County. No fee is associated with the application, and all entrants will be judged based solely on the merit of the work presented. Past winners are not eligible to apply. Complete eligibility requirements can be found on the Sandisfield Arts Center website. The application can be found online.
The Call for Art is open through April 7th. The contest will be judged by Josephine Halvorson, Professor of Art and Chair of Graduate Studies in Painting at Boston University. Up to three artists will be selected as finalists, each receiving $400 to support their art practice. Winners will be notified no later than June 1st. An exhibition of the finalist’s work will be held in the fall at the Sandisfield Arts Center.
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Berkshire Humane Society leap year ‘wrap’ raffle to benefit homeless animals
Pittsfield— Berkshire Humane Society is launching a Leap Year raffle to raise money for shelter animals by offering dog and cat owners the chance to have their pet’s caricature and name included on a wrap of one of their shelter transport vans.
“Berkshire Humane Society is excited to partner with caricature artist Reuben Lara of Barkshire Dog Trading Company to adorn our vans,” said John Perreault, Executive Director of Berkshire Humane Society. “Our transport vans travel around the Berkshires and beyond and we wanted to spruce them up with happy pets, regardless of whether or not they were adopted from Berkshire Humane Society.”
Only 200 tickets will be sold, 100 for a dog van and 100 for a cat van. Twelve spaces are available on each van. Tickets are $229.00 each in honor of February 29th, Leap Day. Tickets are available at the Dr. John Reynolds Adoption and Education Center at 214 Barker Road in Pittsfield or by calling 413-447-7878, extension 131. The drawing is on April 1st. The full contest rules and more information can be found online.
