Shire City Sessions presents Wild Adriatic
Pittsfield — CompuWorks Shire City Sessions returns Monday, August 17, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the original sounds of Wild Adriatic and B.A. Dario as well as food trucks, craft beer, and good company. Admission is free.
Wild Adriatic is a heavily touring rock and soul trio that has won acclaim from sources such as Rolling Stone, Relix, and Guitar World. Pittsfield’s progressive jam-rockers B.A. Dario will open the show. The August 17th event marks the second of three Shire City Sessions scheduled for this inaugural season at the Shire City Sanctuary. While the series offers a wide range, the common element tying it all together is the focus on original music performed by the artists who created it. In addition to music, the Sessions include a variety of food trucks and beer and wine from local and craft breweries. In the event of inclement weather, the sessions will move indoors at the adjacent Shire City Sanctuary.
–E.E.
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New elementary school principal at SBRSD
Sheffield — Southern Berkshire Regional School District welcomes Stacy Burgess as its new elementary school principal. Ms. Burgess comes to SBRSD after holding the assistant principal position at the West Street Elementary School in the Southbridge (Mass.) School District. Before that she was the assistant principal at the Quarry Hill Community School in the Munson School District. Prior to entering the field of education administration, Burgess served as an elementary school teacher for a dozen years, teaching second and third grade at Quarry Hill, Special Education at Quarry Hill, and third grade at the Dryden Memorial School. She is a fourth-year doctoral student (Leadership and Supervision) at American International College, and has completed all of her coursework. Her Masters in Education was awarded in 2007 from Western New England College. She received her Bachelors of Education from the University of Massachusetts in 2001.
–E.E.
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“Ghosts & Legends of Upstreet Pittsfield” walking tours
Pittsfield — These Mysterious Hills will present its “Ghosts & Legends of Upstreet Pittsfield” historic downtown walking tour for a limited run of dates beginning on Monday, August 17.
Hosted by local folklorist and historian Joe Durwin, the tour explores some of the rich history of downtown Pittsfield through the lens of its folklore, legends, and mysteries. Beginning in front of the Pittsfield Common on First St., this approximately 90-minute guided walk will delve into ghost stories, oddities, and strange-but-true tales attached to many of the city’s premiere cultural venues.
There is a suggested donation of $5 per person. Non-matinee tours will take place primarily after dark; trick-or-treat rules apply and light clothing recommended. Crosswalks and traffic rules will be observed throughout the tour. The tour will cover some mature themes and parental caution is advised; this event may not be suitable for persons under 12.
Tour dates and times (rain will cancel) are: Monday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 26 at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, August 18 and Thursday, August 20 at 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, August 22 at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.
–E.E.
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Joey Alexander, 12, to bring piano trio to Helsinki Hudson
Hudson, N.Y. — The 12-year-old Bali-born jazz pianist Joey Alexander will bring his trio to Club Helsinki Hudson on Sunday, August 16, at 8 p.m. His Helsinki show comes just weeks after his appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival and a residency at New York City’s Jazz Standard nightclub. Born on the island of Bali in 2003, Joey Alexander first encountered a piano at the age of six. Despite no formal jazz education, Joey rose quickly in the Indonesian jazz scene and beyond. In 2013 he was featured at jazz festivals in both Jakarta and Copenhagen, and won the international improvisation contest in Odessa, Ukraine – besting over 200 adult contestants. He now resides in New York City, where he plans to go to school and continue honing his jazz chops.
For more information see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the club at (518) 828-4800.
–E.E.
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Shakespeare & Company to stage reading of “Sotto Voce”
Lenox — Shakespeare & Company presents the next work in its 2015 Studio Reading Series on Sunday, August 16th at 8 p.m. “Sotto Voce” by Nilo Cruz features Annette Miller, Ravin Patterson, and Joe Tapper and is directed by Daniela Varon.
Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Florida, playwright Nilo Cruz’ “Sotto Voce” is the story of a young Jewish-Cuban man who sets out to recover memories of an ill-fated World War II ship of Jewish refugees. He seeks out a prominent 80-year-old reclusive novelist who, as a young woman, loved a Jewish man who was a passenger aboard the ship.
Tickets to the reading are $15 for adults and $5 for students, and can be purchased in advance at the box office or at the door. For tickets or more information, call the box office at (413) 637-3353.
–E.E.
