UBU Theatre to present ‘Our Town’
Tyringham — UBU Theater will present a site-specific, outdoor, community-based production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” directed by Courtney O’Connor and performed by Tyringham residents, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5; Sunday, Aug. 6; Saturday, Aug. 12; and Sunday, Aug. 13 on the front lawn of the Tyringham Union Church and in a nearby field bordering the Tyringham Cemetery.
UBU Theater envisions “Our Town” as an apt artistic lens through which to examine current societal dilemmas. Narrated by the character of the Stage Manager, the 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning play following the Webb and Gibbs families as they experience love, marriage, death and dying, and celebrates universal themes that are still relevant in small, rural American communities today.
The Our Town Tyringham Project was conceived in 2015 during the town’s annual observance of Memorial Day, which inspired UBU Theater’s founder and artistic director Ann Gallo to mount a Tyringham production of “Our Town” to celebrate the intrinsic and essential value of community and identity. Tyringham residents, primarily non-actors and non-arts professionals, are participating in all aspects of the production. This is the first theater experience for many of the actors and crew.
Tickets are $5 for Tyringham residents and relatives, $20 for nonresidents and free for children under age 10. Attendees are advised to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. In case of rain, performances will be held inside church. For more information, contact UBU Theater at anngallo@ubutheater.org.
–E.E.
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Wes Buckley to perform at Dream Away Lodge
Becket — On Friday, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m., songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Wes Buckley will perform at the Dream Away Lodge in support of his recent release “Changing Environments.” Joining Buckley will be psych-folk musician Gary Higgins.
Pittsfield-based Buckley is a songwriter, guitarist, saxophonist and mandolin player whose exploratory sound is constantly evolving. He has performed with Kath Bloom, Greg Ginn, Ralph White, Eugene Chadbourne, Deer Tick and others. In 2014 Buckley recorded a split single with folksinger Michael Hurley and played subsequent shows with him as a duo. Buckley is also a member of the Hoping Machine with Sarah Lee Guthrie.
The performance is free, though a collection will be taken to support the artist. For more information, contact Dream Away Lodge at (413) 623-8725.
–E.E.
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CHP to host event for World Breastfeeding Week
Great Barrington — Local women who are breastfeeding and pregnant women considering nursing their infants are invited to celebrate the womanly art of breastfeeding on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to noon at CHP Family Services, 442 Stockbridge Rd. Presented by CHP Family Services and Berkshire South WIC, the event is part of World Breastfeeding Week and will connect nursing mothers to each other and provide support to pregnant women planning to nurse their babies. Refreshments, prizes and childcare will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. Those who are interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Meaghan at (413) 528-0457 x1245 or mrogers@chpberkshires.org.
–E.E.
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Columbia County Fair to hold craft brewing contest
Chatham, N.Y. — The Columbia County Fair will hold its amateur craft beer, wine and cider contest Wednesday, Aug. 30, through Monday, Sept. 4.
The contest is open to amateur wine, beer and cider makers 21 years of age or older who live within 50 miles of Chatham. Entries will be received for lager, stout, ale, India pale ale and fruit beer in the craft beer category; for red, white, mead and “other” in the craft wine category; and for specialty cider, standard cider and perry classes in the cider category. Awards of $15 for first prize, $8 for second prize and $5 for third prize will be awarded in each category. A $50 prize will be awarded to the best of show for the overall outstanding amateur beer, wine or cider chosen from among all of the first place winners in each class.
Entry forms and payment of $5 per entry must be postmarked by Sunday, Aug. 20, and mailed to the Columbia County Fair, P.O. Box 257, Chatham, NY 12037. All entries must be received for judging no later than noon on Saturday, Aug. 26. Judging will take place the same day at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Betsy Braley at (518) 392-2121.
–E.E.
