BIFF to celebrate 30th anniversary of ‘Scrooged’
Great Barrington — Berkshire International Film Festival will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film “Scrooged,” starring Bill Murray and Karen Allen, with a screening Friday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. A question-and-answer session with Allen and BIFF board member Mary Mott will follow the screening.
A dark comedy update of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” directed by Richard Donner, “Scrooged” stars Murray as cynical television executive Frank Cross, whose cutthroat business practices have made him rich and powerful but left him a coldhearted and lonely cynic. Allen plays his compassionate and kind-hearted girlfriend, Claire Philips. Cross’ ruthless nature inspires a supernatural intervention when he callously fires his long-suffering yes-man Eliot (Bobcat Goldthwait) on Christmas Eve. That night, he is visited by three eccentric ghosts (John Forsythe, David Johansen and Carol Kane), who force him to look back on the life choices that led him to his present state and the grim future that awaits if he doesn’t change his ways.
Tickets are $15. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Mahaiwe box office at (413) 528-0100.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Botanical Garden to exhibit ‘Plant Shadows’
Stockbridge — Berkshire Botanical Garden will exhibit “Plant Shadows: Cyanotypes by Joan Dix Blair” beginning Saturday, Dec. 15, in its Center House Leonhardt Galleries. An opening reception will be held Friday, Dec. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m.
“Plant Shadows” explores printmaking through cyanotypes—objects arranged on light-sensitive paper and exposed to ultraviolet light or sunshine to produce images. Influenced by the botanical work done in the 1840s by Anna Atkins, who recorded seaweed plants using cyanotype, this form of expression is a natural match for printmaker Blair, whose solo and group exhibitions include Northeastern University’s Gallery 360 in Boston; Highpoint Center for Printmaking in Minneapolis; and the Washington Printmakers Gallery in Washington, D.C. Her exhibition at BBG brings together a current body of work created over the past two years in her Williamstown studio.
The event is free an open to the public. For more information, call (413) 320-4794.
–E.E.
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Chesterwood to hold book launch for ‘Monument Man’
Stockbridge — Chesterwood will mark its 50th anniversary as a National Trust for Historic Preservation site with a kick-off holiday cocktail party Saturday, Dec. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m.
This fundraising event will celebrate the launch of the new biography “Monument Man: The Life and Art of Daniel Chester French” by Harold Holzer, and will honor the patronage of Chesterwood council emerita Jeannene T. Booher. Holzer will give remarks at the event and sign advance copies of the book, which will be available for sale. In collaboration with volunteers from Berkshire Botanical Garden, the residence will be decorated for the holidays.
Tickets are $125 for the general public and $100 for Chesterwood members, and books are $38 for the general public and $34 for Chesterwood members. For tickets and book reservations, contact Chesterwood at (413) 298-2034 or chesterwood@savingplaces.org.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Immigrant Center to offer immigration attorney workshop
Pittsfield — On Saturday, Dec. 15, the Berkshire Immigrant Center will host private consultations with experienced immigration attorneys from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Attorneys will be available to answer questions about staying in the U.S., Temporary Protected Status/Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals expiration, family reunification, citizenship, employment-based cases and other pressing immigration concerns. All types of immigration law inquiries are welcome.
BIC is the only organization in the county offering immigration benefit information and application support, legal assistance, advocacy and referrals for the growing immigrant population. BIC provides low-cost private appointments with multilingual caseworkers, and fee waivers are available for those who qualify.
The event is free and open to any community members in need of immigration law consultation. Consults are offered by appointment only, and pre-registration is required. Spanish-speaking interpreters will be available. To register, contact Berkshire Immigrant Center at (413) 445-4881, or info@berkshireic.com.
–E.E.
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Oakes & Smith to present holiday candlelight concert
Stockbridge — Berkshires-based folk duo Oakes & Smith will perform a holiday candlelight concert Friday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Robert Oakes and Katherine Smith have produced six recordings since joining together a decade ago. They performed locally at the Guthrie Center, Canyon Ranch and Kripalu as well as on the national music stage. For their holiday concert, the duo will draw from a range of sacred and secular, contemplative and festive, and traditional and original holiday music. Eclectic in spirit, the program seeks to express the soulful presence shared by many traditions as well as that found in nature.
The concert free and is open to the public; any voluntary contributions will benefit the historic church. For more information, contact stpaulsstockbridge@gmail.com.
–E.E.
