Waldorf High School’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’
Stockbridge –– The Berkshire Waldorf High School will present William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at the Unicorn Theater in Stockbridge on Valentine’s Day weekend. These performances, in collaboration with Shakespeare & Company, will be Friday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 14 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 15 at 2 p.m.
Berkshire Waldorf High School students spent the last six weeks absorbed in rehearsals for their inaugural production, as part of a new Shakespeare & Company collaboration established this year at the high school. About two-thirds of Berkshire Waldorf High School’s 45 students chose to participate in this elective class.
BWHS students have delved into Shakespeare’s plays, unpacking the language and savoring the humor, intensity, and beauty of Shakespeare’s work. Students also developed skills in stage combat, performance aesthetics, period dance, technical theatre, stage management, and marketing and publicity.
“Rehearsing and performing the plays of William Shakespeare for each other and the community, students inhabit a Renaissance world of beautiful language, profound thought and passionate feelings that articulate and celebrate the full spectrum of human experience,” said Kevin G. Coleman, Shakespeare & Company’s Director of Education.
In preparation for this residency, BWHS students participated in Common Classes, offered in October as part of Shakespeare & Company’s annual Fall Festival. Working alongside students from ten other regional schools, they participated in fight and dance workshops, learned about lights and costumes, and staged small scenes.
English and drama teacher Beth Robbins went to teaching and directing workshops at Shakespeare & Company last September to prepare for this residency, and she is co-directing the production with Shakespeare & Company director Lezlie Lee. Shakespeare & Company set, prop, lighting, sound, technical and costume staff are also collaborating with directors and students.
Additional information about the performances of Much Ado About Nothing and the BWHS Shakespeare & Company residency are available www.waldorfhigh.org.
Tickets are $15 per person or $40 per family and are available at the door or in advance by calling the Berkshire Waldorf High School at (413) 298-3800.
— H.B.
* * *
Valentine’s frolic at Shires City Sanctuary
Pittsfield — Shire City Sanctuary and The Berkshire Historical Society are collaborating on a lingerie themed evening of mid-winter merriment on Saturday, February 14, at the old Notre Dame Church at 40 Melville St. Festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. with a Victorian Era lingerie fashion show, followed by dinner catered by NAtURAlly Catering, at 6:30 p.m. The evening will end with a dance party spun by DJ BFG starting at 8 p.m.
“The February Frolic promises to be a magical affair, combining our local history, great food and a lingerie themed dance party,” said Shire City Sanctuary co-owner Crispina ffrench. “Not bad for a wintery weekend in the Berkshires.”
Tickets for the lingerie fashion show can be purchased, $25 in advance, by emailing lingerie@berkshirehistory.org or at the door for $30. Reservations are required for dinner ($25). They can be made at: shirecitysanctuary.com/valentines-day-lingerie-party or call 413-236-9600. Dance party admittance is $10 at the door.
— H.B.
* * *
Gospel Gang 5th annual benefits for fuel emergency funds
The Gospel Gang, a contemporary Christian/gospel choir along with The Messengers, a men’s gospel quartet will be presenting a program of gospel music “Keep the heat on!” this season to benefit the Emergency Oil Fund of the PACC (Pittsfield Area Council of Congregations) and The Emergency Assistance Fund of CONSTRUCT Inc., Great Barrington.
They will perform on February 15 at 3 p.m. at Berkshire South Community Center, Crissey Road in Great Barrington, Mass., and on February 22 at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Pittsfield, 55 Fenn St., in Pittsfield, Mass.
This is the fifth annual concerts these groups have presented for the benefit of Emergency Fuel Funds. This is the second year they have expanded their program to two concerts to reach people in South County as well. In past years, the event raised over $5,000.
The Emergency Fund of the PACC is a long-term interfaith ministry that has distributed funds to families throughout our community with the help of many local agencies, often beginning with contacts made through the social work staff at the Salvation Army.
CONSTRUCT INC. of Great Barrington, has provided not only the basics of food, shelter and emergency financial assistance but also adult education and counseling for life skills, employment and housing so people can make the successful transition to lead self-sufficient lives.
The Gospel Gang and the Messengers are sponsored by the United Methodist Church of Lenox, as part of the musical outreach program. The UMCL hopes to support other local churches and community agencies in their efforts in a positive, exciting and musical way. They bring an assortment of contemporary Christian music styles, including Southern Gospel, country, blues, urban and Northern Gospel along with their message of good news. The group is comprised of 30 singers and a full instrumental band.
This winter, one hundred gallons of heating oil will be given on a one-time basis to families that have exhausted all other forms of fuel assistance. Given that as of this date the federal Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program has been cut by 50 percent, the anticipated need here in Berkshire County will be immense. The Emergency Fund is administered through the good graces of Pittsfield’s Salvation Army and for their help we are most grateful.
CONSTRUCT, on the average, assists 40 households each winter season with 100 gallons of heating fuel, reaching families in crisis in the 15 villages and hill towns in the southern Berkshire region.
There is a suggested donation of $10 for these performances.
— D.S.
* * *
Seeing, photographically: Steinhacker at Lenox Library
Lenox — Photographer Charles Steinhacker will speak on, “How to See – Photographically,” at The Lenox Library on Sunday, February 15, at 4 p.m.. Mr. Steinhacker’s landscape and wildlife photography graced the pages of magazines such as Life and National Geographic in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Then he walked away from the industry for decades, returning on his own terms. He now makes his living as a fine arts photographer. In the lecture, he will be reviewing images from his wildlife and landscape work, as well as explaining how he creates his abstract pieces. Come see the world as he sees it, and add a touch of creativity to your own snapshots.
This talk is part of the Distinguished Lecture Series, established at the library in 2007 by Boston University Professor of Music Jeremy Yudkin. All Distinguished Lectures are free, thanks to the generosity of the speakers themselves and donations from the public. For further information about the series, call the library at 413-637-2630. For more information about Charles Steinhacker’s work, see his website at https://photographyeditions.com/.
— D.S.
