Mahaiwe presents comedian Patton Oswalt on his new stand-up tour ‘Effervescent’
Great Barrington— On Friday, November 1st at 8 p.m., the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center will present comedian Patton Oswalt on his new stand-up tour “Effervescent.”
Oswalt has appeared in many films, including “The Circle,” alongside Tom Hanks, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “Zoolander,” “The Informant,” with Matt Damon, “Observe and Report” with Seth Rogen, and “Magnolia.” Oswalt’s television work includes memorable roles on “Parks and Recreation,” which brought him a TV Critics Choice Award, “A.P. Bio,” Veep,” “United States of Tara,” and “Seinfeld” (his TV acting debut.) He is also very well known for playing Spence on “The King of Queens” for nine seasons. Oswalt is also the narrator of “The Goldbergs,” and he provided the voice for Remy the rat in Pixar’s Oscar-winner “Ratatouille,” as well as for many other well-known animated characters.
In 2020, Oswalt’s Emmy nominated Netflix special “I Love Everything” was widely applauded upon release, and he received a Grammy nomination for his comedy album of the same name. In 2017, he received Grammy and Emmy nominations for his album and Netflix special “Annihilation” which addresses his own devastating loss and dealing with the unexplainable, while making it all painfully funny. Oswalt has eight TV specials and released seven critically acclaimed albums. In 2016, he won the Emmy for ‘Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special’ for his sixth comedy special “Talking for Clapping” and a Grammy Award in 2017 for his comedy album. He has been nominated for a total of six Grammys and four Emmys.
The event is on Friday, November 1st at 8 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Spencertown Academy presents Grammy-nominated folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier with Jaimee Harris
Spencertown, N.Y.— On Thursday, September 26th at 7:30 p.m., Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Concerts Series presents Grammy-nominated folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier with special guest Jaimee Harris.
Gauthier’s discography includes a dozen studio albums and her songs have been covered by artists ranging from Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and Kathy Mattea to Boy George, Jimmy Buffett, and Bettye Lavette. Her songs often deal with marginalization, informed by her experience of adoption, addiction and recovery, and growing up gay in the deep south.
Although rarely in the pop/mainstream spotlight, throughout her career, Gauthier has won widespread acclaim and awards from the Americana Music Association, International Folk Music Awards, the Independent Music Awards, the GLAMA Awards, and the UK Americana Association. Gauthier’s memoir about the art of songwriting, “Saved by a Song” was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2021. She is a regular on the Grand Ole Opry and her latest album, “Dark Enough to See the Stars,” is out now on Thirty Tigers.
NPR Music proclaimed that Texas-born singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris is “poised to become the next queen of Americana-Folk.” Her latest album, “Boomerang Town” is an ambitious song-cycle that explores the generational arc of family, the stranglehold of addiction, and the fragile ties that bind Americans together.
The concert is on Thursday, September 26th at 7:30 p.m. at Spencertown Academy at 790 NY-203 in Spencertown, N.Y. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Theatre Group presents an evening with Roger McGuinn at The Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield— On Saturday, September 7th at 7:30 p.m., Berkshire Theatre Group presents an evening with Grammy Award winner Roger McGuinn at The Colonial Theatre.
With a career spanning decades, a legendary figure in the music world, McGuinn co-founded the iconic band, The Byrds, alongside Gene Clark and David Crosby in 1964. Before The Byrds, McGuinn made his mark performing with the Limeliters, Chad Mitchell Trio, and Bobby Darin, showcasing his talents as a guitarist and banjo player. His journey from the folk scene in Chicago to the bustling music hubs of New York and Los Angeles laid the groundwork for his innovative sound that blended folk with the emerging rock & roll.
McGuinn’s solo career is equally illustrious. Since disbanding The Byrds in 1973, he has released numerous solo albums, collaborated with music greats like Tom Petty, Elvis Costello and Chris Hillman, and embarked on projects like the Folk Den, preserving traditional folk music for future generations. His performances are a blend of stories and songs, reflecting his rich history in the music industry. Don’t miss this chance to experience the music and legacy of Roger McGuinn live at The Colonial Theatre, where his timeless songs and captivating storytelling will transport you through the eras of American music.
The concert is on Saturday, September 7th at 7:30 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre on South Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Spencertown Academy presents ‘All Write, Columbia: Creative Nonfiction Writers Conference’
Spencertown, N.Y.— From November 7th through the 10th, Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents “All Write, Columbia: Creative Nonfiction Writers Conference.”
This four-day intensive writing conference will focus on both the craft and the business of writing nonfiction. Award-winning authors Donna Kaz and Mardi Jo Link will serve as workshop leaders, with additional acclaimed faculty including essayist Chloé Caldwell, memoirist and filmmaker Déjà Vu Prem, and story coach and the author Lisa Cron.
“If you have always wanted to tell your story or turn a personal experience into an essay, this conference is for you. We look forward to gathering a mix of both emerging and veteran writers for this intimate, inspiring, and unique conference,” says Conference Director Donna Kaz. “All you need to apply is a short nonfiction writing sample and the willingness to join together with others who share a passion for putting their life experiences onto the page.”
The deadline to apply is Monday, September 30th. Submission guidelines, a full schedule, and faculty bios can be found online.
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OLLI presents ‘Exploring Ancestral Roots & Migrations Through Time & Place,’ an online writing workshop led by Jennifer Browdy, PhD
Pittsfield— On Monday, September 9th from 10 a.m. to noon, explore your ancestral roots, family patterns of migration, and your own sense of being rooted or still in search of a place to call home in a lively 2-hour online memoir workshop, led by award-winning memoirist and veteran teacher Jennifer Browdy, PhD.
Expertly crafted writing prompts will help you trace back through the generations to explore your ancestral connections to particular times and places, as well as the trajectories of your family’s migrations. Moving towards the present, you’ll inquire into the places where you have felt most rooted, and your own patterns of migration, using these meditations on past experiences to reach for a more intentional rootedness in a nourishing landscape that you can call home.
Jennifer Browdy, Ph.D. is a professor of literature, writing and media arts at Bard College at Simon’s Rock and the online global Bard Open Society University Network, with a special focus on purposeful memoir and media arts for social and environmental justice. Her latest book, “Purposeful Memoir as a Quest for a Thriving Future,” was a 2022 Nautilus Gold Award winner and a 2022 Gold Award winner in the Independent Press Awards. Her writer’s guide, “The Elemental Journey of Purposeful Memoir,” won a 2017 Nautilus Silver Award, and her memoir, “What I Forgot …And Why I Remembered,” was a finalist for the 2018 International Book Awards.
The online workshop is on Monday, September 9th from 10 a.m. to noon. No experience is necessary. More information can be found online.
