Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents ‘Coming Home: The Tour,’ with Robert Hartwell
Great Barrington— On Saturday, July 20th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents ‘Coming Home: The Tour,’ a private screening and celebration of Robert Hartwell’s new home renovation TV series, “Breaking New Ground” on HBO Max.
In June of 2020, you saw a Black gay man purchase a white house in Great Barrington in cash and it gave you hope. Robert Hartwell walked to the bank on Juneteenth of 2020 to pay for the home in the midst of the George Floyd protest as we cried out that Black Lives Matter.
It took four years of renovation, but with the help of the Oprah Winfrey Network, HGTV, and Scott Brothers Entertainment, the project is complete, and to celebrate, Hartwell embarked on a ten city national tour. This Saturday night, at the historic Mahaiwe Theater on the very same street as Robert’s 200 year old historic home, Hartwell concludes his “Coming Home Tour” in his hometown of Great Barrington!
The event includes a screening of episode one with a post show talk-back with Hartwell and friend, film and Broadway star, Beanie Feldstein. It is on Saturday, July 20th at from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets are $57 to $97. More information can be found online.
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Norfolk Chamber Music Festival presents GRAMMY® Award-winning Imani Winds
Norfolk, Conn.— On Saturday, July 20th 8 p.m., Norfolk Chamber Music Festival presents GRAMMY® Award-winning Imani Winds with “BLACK AND BROWN II: A Celebration of Composers of Color.”
Celebrating over a quarter century of music making, Imani Winds has led both a revolution and evolution of the wind quintet through their dynamic playing, adventurous programming, and imaginative collaborations that have inspired audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
The concert is on Saturday, July 20th 8 p.m. at the Norfolk Festival Music Shed at 49 Battell Road in Norfolk, Conn. Tickets are $75 to $750. Youth under age 19 are free. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Ancram Center for the Arts presents cabaret superstar Rizo
Ancramdale, N.Y.— On Saturday, July 20th at 8 p.m., Ancram Center for the Arts will present cabaret superstar Rizo in her new show “Home” at the Circa 1799 Barn.
In “Home,” Rizo uses her trademark blend of songs, stories, performance art, comedy and glamor to explore the nature of home and how it informs our identity. Does where you hang your hat define who you are or how you think about yourself?
Rizo was once a teenage punk rocker. She says “An anarchist streak still runs through me. I love the idea of claiming something that’s uncool and making it authentic.” To that end, the NYC-based artist has earned a name for herself by transforming nightclub-pop into experiences that are more soulful and theatrical. A provocateur with an electric wit, Rizo channels both Edith Piaf and Freddie Mercury.
Rizo has collaborated with Moby and Reggie Watts, as well as Yo-Yo Ma on his “Songs of Joy & Peace” album, which won a Grammy Award. She’s received a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship, a Time Out London theater award, and a 2013 London Cabaret Award. She also co-composed music for Adam Rapp’s “Los Angeles,” as well as theme songs for the Fuse network and E! Entertainment.
The performance is on Saturday, July 20th at 8 p.m. at Circa 1799 Barn at 105 Simons Road in Ancramdale, N.Y. The grounds open at 7 p.m. for picnicking. Tickets are $15 to $65. The is a post-show after party at North Star at The Alander at 7519 NY-22 in Copake, N.Y. After party tickets are $25 and include a drink and nibbles. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Race Brook Lodge presents ‘New Orleans Night’ with Natty & The Woes
Sheffield— On Friday July 19th at 8 p.m., Race Brook Lodge presents “New Orleans Night” with Natty & The Woes.
Nathan Wolman, trumpeter extraordinaire of the New Orleans trad scene, performs with the Secret Six jazz band, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, and many others. He makes a return to the Northeast for a night of traditional jazz and more, joined by friends and family.
The concert is on Friday July 19th at 8 p.m. on the Pine Grove Porch at Race Brook Lodge at 864 South Undermountain Road in Sheffield. The doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Lee Chamber of Commerce presents Cheyenne Renee’s ‘50-IN-50’ mural unveiling and celebration
Lee— On Friday, July 19th at 2 p.m., the Lee Chamber of Commerce presents Cheyenne Renee’s “50-IN-50” mural unveiling and celebration.
The “50-IN-50” project is Renee’s most recent adventure, with a goal to paint one mural in 50 small towns across all 50 states by the end of 2025, with a hope to create an awareness for small towns and cities all across the United States.
Cheyenne Renee checks Massachusetts off her list with her newest mural Lee. With guidance from the Chamber of Commerce, Renee has designed a mural that will highlight Lee and its small-town charm as the “Gateway to the Berkshires”. The mural will be on display at the corner of Main Street and Frank Consolati Way.
Following the unveiling, there will be a reception at Appetito at 54 Main Street in Lee. More information can be found online.
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Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents ‘Jews, Ivies, and Antisemitism: The American Dream on Trial’ with Mark Oppenheimer
Great Barrington— On Friday, July 19th at 10:45 a.m., Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents ‘Jews, Ivies, and Antisemitism: The American Dream on Trial,’ with scholar and journalist Mark Oppenheimer, as part of its “Knosh & Knowledge” series.
About 100 years ago, Columbia University pioneered anti-Jewish admissions measures which quickly spread around the Ivy League. Ever since, the welcoming of Jews has been a litmus test for the openness of a college campus. Come learn about the history of Jews in higher education.
Mark Oppenheimer wrote the “Beliefs” column about religion for The New York Times from 2010 to 2016. He created “Unorthodox,” the world’s most popular podcast about Jewish life and culture, with over seven million downloads to date. He is the author of five books, including his most recent, “Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting & the Soul of a Neighborhood.”
The free program is on Friday, July 19th at 10:45 a.m. at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire at 270 State Road in Great Barrington. Registration and more information can be found online.
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Literacy Network to host live storytelling event at the New Marlborough Meeting House
Lee— On Saturday, July 20th at 4:30 p.m., Literacy Network (LitNet) will be hosting an evening of live storytelling at the New Marlborough Meeting House.
Six learners enrolled with the Literacy Network will take the stage to perform true stories on the theme of challenge. The storytellers, all of whom are immigrants working on their English with the Literacy Network, have been practicing the art of storytelling in a series of workshops with local story coach Sheela Clary and in partnership with their LitNet tutors.
“This project has been a wonderful way for our learners to practice their English speaking and pronunciation skills. It has also been a great opportunity for them to try out an art form they otherwise might not have. Each of our learners has important stories about the challenge of learning a new language and culture or returning to education as an adult, and it feels incredibly important to get some of these stories out into the community,” says Leigh Doherty, LitNet’s Executive Director.
Clary, herself a Moth Story Slam winner and Grand Slam participant who leads storytelling workshops, says, “It’s been a unique honor to go behind the scenes to workshop these funny, sad, surprising, vulnerable stories of challenge. I’m so proud of these storytellers, who show us what bravery looks like.”
The event is on Saturday, July 20th at 4:30 p.m. at the New Marlborough Meeting House at 154 Hartsville New Marlborough Road in New Marlborough. Refreshments will be provided, including homemade Colombian desserts made by LitNet learner, Sandra Zarate, of Obleas Bendito Capricho. Reservations and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Community College to hold adult swim clinic
Pittsfield— On Saturday, July 20th at 9:30 a.m., Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold “All about Freestyle,” a swimming clinic for adults with certified coach Chris Colburn.
Designed for master swimmers, triathletes, and fitness swimmers, the clinic will offer tips, drills and techniques on how to swim a faster, more efficient freestyle. The session will include 45 minutes of on-deck/classroom instruction, followed by 90 minutes in the water working on mastering the skills learned in the classroom.
The clinic is open to swimmers ages 18 and up who are able to swim at least 100 yards of freestyle (front crawl) unassisted and nonstop. The in-water portion of the clinic includes several drills, most of which will incorporate one length of the pool (70 feet).
The clinic is on Saturday, July 20th at 9:30 a.m. at Berkshire Community College’s Paterson Field House at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. The fee is $45 and $30 for Paterson Field House gym members. To register, call 413-236-1670 or visit the Paterson welcome desk.
