Williamstown Theatre Festival begins
WILLIAMSTOWN— The 2022 season of the Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) begins on Tuesday July 5. The festival, running through August 14, will feature five staged plays and four live readings.
The festival begins with Man of God, which opens on July 5. Man of God will run through July 22.
Chaos ensues when four teenage girls on a mission trip to Bangkok discover a camera hidden by their pastor in their hotel bathroom. Do they leave it to God or take matters into their own hands?
Most Happy in Concert opens on July 13 and will run through July 31.
Drawing on a broad range of musical genres and performed by a company of 20 actors and musicians, Most Happy in Concert invigorates the musical concert form, inviting audiences to consider anew Frank Loesser’s exquisite score for The Most Happy Fella.
On August 2, the Festival will host the world premiere of We Are Continuous, which runs through August 14. The play was commissioned by WTF and is directed by 2020 WTF Foeller Fellow Tyler Thomas.
Simon and his mother, Ora, have always been close. She’s been his champion, his defender, and his friend. But when a life-changing secret comes to light, can their bond survive?
Alex Edelman will take the Main Stage for six performances from August 3-6 in a one-man show called Just For Us.
Just For Us takes the audience through hilarious anecdotes from Alex Edelman’s life, but at its center is an astonishing and frighteningly relevant story. After a string of anti-Semitic abuse is directed at Edelman online, he decides to covertly attend a gathering of White Nationalists in New York City and comes face to face with the people behind the keyboards. The result is a hair-raising encounter that gives Just For Us its title and final, jaw-dropping twist.
The festival will conclude with a benefit concert starring two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton. The actor and director will regale the audience with stories and songs, accompanied by surprise special guests. Known for his critically acclaimed award-winning performances in shows like Chicago and City of Angels, James has appeared in countless Cabarets and more than 20 productions at the Festival
WTF will also present a reading series called Fridays@3, which will feature plays in development. Four readings will take place on the Nikos Stage, starting on July 8.
For more information and to purchase tickets for the shows, visit wtfestival.org/shows-events/.
A limited number of AccessTix will be available for every Festival performance for $30. AccessTix are available for sale online, over the phone (413-458-3253), and in-person at the Festival Box Office. While there are no restrictions on who can purchase AccessTix, the purpose of the program is to provide an entry-level price point for people who cannot otherwise afford to attend the Festival, so theatergoers are asked to consider this when making their ticket selection.
—A.J.
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Applications for a 2023 MASS MoCA residency close Friday
NORTH ADAMS – The Studios at MASS MoCA welcomes artists at all career stages, income levels, and disciplines to apply for their residency program, though spaces are best suited for visual artists and writers. Interested artists can apply via the General Application for Winter/Spring 2023 or the Early Application for Summer/Fall 2023. It’s free to apply, and applicants can opt to be considered for full fellowships and partial financial aid via the General Application.
Selected artists receive a variety of amenities, including private studio spaces at MASS MoCA, housing near the museum, and access to business workshops catered to artists. Artists also receive free access to the galleries and discounts on performing arts events and store purchases.
To learn more about residency applications, visit the MASS MoCA website. Applications are due on Friday, July 8.
—A.J.
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A month of dance begins at PS21
CHATHAM — PS21’s Summer Festival of Dance begins Wednesday, July 6. This celebration of movement throughout July and August will feature new works and repertory favorites.
The Paul Taylor Dance Company will kick off the month with performances on July 6 and 7, showcasing three of their most popular pieces.
On July 15, members of the French group Art Move Concept will perform Anopas, blending hip-hop and contemporary styles with elements of silent comedy.
The Israeli group Vertigo Dance Company will perform One. One & One on July 28 and 29. This piece presents a vision of sustainability and features ten dancers on a soil-strewn stage.
The festival will conclude with a week-long residency by the Mark Morris Dance Group from August 1-6. The residency will include an August 5 performance at PS21’s Gala in the Orchards as well as an August 6 performance in PS21’s Pavilion Theater.
Additionally, all visiting companies will offer dance workshops for community members, each showcasing the styles of the featured companies.
For more information about performances, visit ps21chatham.org/events/. For more information about free workshops, visit ps21chatham.org/workshops-with-dance-luminaries/.
—A.J.
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Berkshire Waldorf High School in talks to renovate Old Town Hall in Stockbridge as future home
STOCKBRIDGE — Berkshire Waldorf High School has announced that a multi-year fundraising campaign has enabled the first phase of the renovation of Procter Hall, the Old Town Hall on Main Street in Stockbridge, as the future home of the school.
The school plans to retain the services of an architect to design the space and an engineer to assess the building’s needs. Once this is complete, assuming all lights are green, work on renovating the building for classes will begin as soon as possible.
Photo courtesy of Berkshire Waldorf High School.
Executive Director and Faculty Chair Stephen Sagarin said this move will enable the school “to double our current square footage, including creation of more and larger classrooms and a science lab, while allowing us to remain in Stockbridge within walking distance of the town center.”
“The Town of Stockbridge can finally realize its two–decade old dream of finding a permanent use for this 1829 historic structure,” added Teresa O’Brient, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Berkshire Waldorf High School, a longtime Stockbridge resident, and owner of the Stockbridge Country Store. “We are so excited to finally have the resources to fund the extensive remediation and renovation effort that will be required to open a new chapter in the story of the Old Town Hall.”
The First Congregational Church, UCC, in Stockbridge has formed a partnership with the School to bring the building back to life. Pastor Brent Damrow described the partnership as a “win, win, win” for the church, school, and town.
The Town of Stockbridge will need to approve aspects of any plan, probably later in the summer or in the early fall.
Berkshire Waldorf High School is currently located in rented space on Pine Street in Stockbridge. The school is 20 years old and just graduated its 16th senior class. The school’s tagline, “Small school, big world,” conveys its commitment to the community and beyond.
—A.J.
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“CATA: Nurturing Inclusion Through the Arts” on July 7
PITTSFIELD – On Thursday, July 7, at 10:45 a.m., the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires will sponsor a talk led by Margaret Keller, executive director of Community Access to the Arts (CATA). CATA is a non-profit that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities.
Throughout the year, CATA provides vibrant arts programs to more than 800 people across our community — children, teens, and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, elders with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and people with acquired or traumatic brain injuries. CATA artists explore new talents and share their unique points of view through a rich array of arts workshops.
This free program will be presented in person as part of the Federation’s Connecting with Community Series presented at Knesset Israel and will be followed by a kosher hot lunch. Lunch is a $3 suggested donation for adults over 60 years of age, or $7 for all others. Reservations are required for lunch and can be made by calling (413) 442-2200 before 9 a.m. on the day of the program. Knesset Israel is at 16 Colt Road in Pittsfield. Proof of vaccination required, and masking is optional, but encouraged.
For more on this program and other Federation events, visit the calendar of events at jewishberkshires.org.
—A.J.
