Jacob’s Pillow and MASS MoCA dance co-presentation
North Adams — Jacob’s Pillow Dance and MASS MoCA will present two innovative and independent New York City-based dance artists, Katie Workum and Kimberly Bartosik, in a one-night-only engagement on Saturday, October 24 at 8 p.m. at MASS MoCA’s Hunter Center. Katie Workum will present her new work “Black Lakes,” a piece full of improvisation, risk, and humor. The second half of the program will feature New York Dance and Performance (“Bessie”) Award-winner Kimberly Bartosik’s “Ecsteriority4 (Part 2)” which constructs a landscape of power and desire to explore violence in American culture today.
Tickets are $12 in advance, $18 on the day of the performance, $10 for students, $24 preferred, and $5 for MASS MoCA members. Tickets and more information are available from the Berkshire Edge calendar and the MASS MoCA box office at (413) 662-2111.
–E.E.
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Mahaiwe announces additional HD broadcasts
Great Barrington — The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has announced additions to the organization’s schedule of HD broadcasts and movie screenings. The Mahaiwe will broadcast seven dances by the Bolshoi Ballet in HD and three plays by London’s National Theatre in HD.
On Sunday, October 25 at 1 p.m., the Mahaiwe will present the Bolshoi’s “Giselle” with original choreography by Yuri Grigorovich and music by Adolphe Adam. This treasure of romantic ballet is one of the oldest and greatest in classical repertoire, touching upon the great romantic themes: a doomed love affair ending in tragedy, a dive into fantasy, and ultimate redemption through the power of love. The Bolshoi is renowned for its intimate and emotionally intense interpretation of this beloved drama.
The Bolshoi Ballet broadcasts will include “Jewels” on November 15; “Lady of the Camellias” on December 6; “Nutcracker” on December 20; “Taming of the Shrew” on January 31, 2016; “Spartacus” on March 13; and “Don Quixote” on April 24. All broadcasts will be on Sundays at 1 p.m.
Performances broadcast from London’s National Theatre will include “Jane Eyre” on Sunday, December 27; “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at 7 p.m.; and “As You Like It” on Sunday, February 28 at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $17 per broadcast. For more information and tickets, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the Mahaiwe box office at (413) 528-0100.
–E.E.
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‘Haiku Tasting’ poetry workshops
Goshen — On Sunday, October 25 at 2 p.m., author and educator Colin Harrington will present the first in a series of four workshops that will offer an introduction to and instruction in writing haiku poetry at Prakasa Yoga Studio.
Attendees will participate in discussion of haiku as a process and an art form; mindfulness and meditation; green tea tasting; reading, writing, and sharing the poetry written; and other activities.
Additional workshops will be held on the Sundays of December 20, February 7, and April 10. The cost of the workshop is $25 and registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Colin Harrington at (413) 684-4535 or email codeb@verizon.net
–E.E.
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One-man Shakespeare drama at Camphill Ghent
Chatham, N.Y. — “Shakespeare and the Mystery of the Human Being,” a one-man drama, will be performed on Saturday, October 24 at 7 p.m. by actor and writer Michael Burton in the Culture Hall at Camphill Ghent.
During the performance Burton will step into the shoes of 27 different characters – some only for a few seconds and some, such as Hamlet, for much longer. “All that is important in life is here – sex, love, evil, death, humor and transcendence,” said Burton of his performance. “Donations will be accepted at the door the night of the performance. Burton will also give a talk on Friday, October 23 at 7 p.m. at Camphill Ghent called “A New Mystery Drama and the Theme of the Threefold Social Order” which is open to the public. Donations will be accepted at the door.
Burton has worked with artistic speech and drama for more than 35 years as a writer, speech performer, actor, speech therapist, and voice teacher. He is based in Sydney, Australia.
For more information contact Camphill Ghent Activities Director Gry Brudvik at (518) 392-2760 x104.
–E.E.
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Georgetown professor to discuss Israel, Iran, and ISIS
Lenox – On Sunday, October 25, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires will present “Perspectives on the Middle East: Israel, Iran, ISIS,” with Dr. Ralph Nurnberger, Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University. This free program will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Elaine P. Bernstein Theatre at Shakespeare & Company. All are welcome to attend.
Dr. Ralph Nurnberger has addressed a wide range of audiences on a variety of topics including overall American foreign policy, American policies in the Middle East, the history of the Middle East conflict, and current American political issues. He was the first director of “Builders for Peace,” an organization established in 1993 to encourage private sector investment in the West Bank and Gaza. In that capacity he dealt with international leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, then-Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, as well as American and international business and political leaders. He is a partner in a Washington, D.C. government relations firm, Nurnberger & Associates, which was founded in 1994.
For more information call the Federation at (413) 442-4360 x10.
–E.E.
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Alford Road paving project
Great Barrington — The Town of Great Barrington’s Alford Road paving project will begin on Monday, October 26, weather permitting. Lane Construction was awarded the $450,000 contract to resurface Alford Road from the Alford town line to Castle Hill Avenue. Two-way traffic flow on Alford Road will remain throughout the project, with police details directing traffic around the work area.
Resurfacing work will start on Alford Road on Monday at the intersection of Seekonk Road and will progress towards the Alford town line over two days. The following week, Lane Construction will pave from Castle Hill Avenue to the Alford town line.
Lane Construction will be resurfacing the road with a cold-in-place recycling (CIPR) rehabilitation method. The CIPR method reuses existing pavement in place, with a process that does not involve heat but crushes and mixes material with added recycled aggregate. This method is beneficial from cost, performance, and environmentally sustainable perspectives.
The paving of Taconic Avenue from Castle Hill Avenue to the Railroad bridge at St. James Place will be done next spring. The Town will be installing speed monitoring signs and stop signs in the residential area to reduce speeding.
For more information contact the Town of Great Barrington Highway Superintendent Peter Soules at (413) 528-2500.
–E.E.
