Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement: Nuttin’ but a Word’
Great Barrington— On Saturday, October 18th at 1 p.m., Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents “Rennie Harris Puremovement: Nuttin’ but a Word.”
Celebrated choreographer Rennie Harris returns to The Mahaiwe to lay down his three laws of hip-hop—individuality, creativity, innovation. Here to expose the essence of their art form with unmatched subtlety and surprise, the indefatigably disciplined dancers of Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater command the stage with a mixtape of moves from b-boying to Campbell locking to house. Every step tells a story in sync with the rhythm, honoring hip-hop’s roots while raising the bar to new heights.
Harris explains, “The work’s title, ‘Nuttin’ But A Word,’ was taken from a cultural phrase used amongst Blacks in the United States. The complete phrase is, ‘You ain’t said nothing but a word.’ Loosely translated, it means, ‘Your words mean nothing — pay close attention because what I do next will trump anything you have to say.’”
The performance is on Saturday, October 18th at 1 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Adams Theater presents ‘Feral,’ a tale of intuition and learned behavior told in puppetry by Sandglass Theater
Adams— On Saturday, October 18th at 7:30 p.m., the Adams Theater presents “Feral,” a tale of intuition and learned behavior told in puppetry by Sandglass Theater.
Created and led by Sandglass Artistic Director Shoshana Bass, “Feral” invites audiences on a woman’s journey as she experiences the tension between her intuitive knowledge and learned societal behavior, captured by an allegorical transformation into a werewolf. As the woman tries to reintegrate this wild voice, she wrestles with her sanity while being diagnosed with a growing feral condition. Within the protection of her domelike dress, domestic acts are disrupted by ancestral visitations and dreams of wolves.
Bass grew up in puppetry. Her parents, Eric Bass and Ines Zeller Bass, formed Sandglass Theater in Munich in 1982, and moved to Vermont, four years later. At first they were a touring company, and in 1996, they opened a theater space in their new hometown.
The performance is on Saturday, October 18th at 7:30 p.m. at the Adams Theater, located at 27 Park Street in Adams. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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The Foundry presents Rumbo Tumba, the electro-acoustic music project by Facundo Salgado
West Stockbridge— On Friday, October 17th at 7:30 p.m., The Foundry presents Rumbo Tumba, the electro-acoustic music project by Facundo Salgado.
Salgado’s unique blend of South American folk and organic loops will transport you to the purest corners of nature. A craftsmen of organic loops, a one man orchestra playing traditional wooden instruments fused with urban beats such as Dub, Hip Hop, and House, taking South American folklore and Andean music to the future. Rumbo Tumba’s music harmonizes the deep emotions of living in contact with nature and the everyday dynamics of large cities, bridging the gap between two worlds that often seem antagonistic. Mountains and cities, earth and asphalt, wood and electricity merge together to give birth to his sound.
The concert is on Friday, October 17th at 7:30 p.m. at The Foundry, located at 2 Harris Street in West Stockbridge. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Becket Arts Center presents an evening with Natalia Bernal and Jason Ennis
Becket— On Saturday, October 18th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Becket Arts Center, as part of its “Music Brings Communities Together” series, presents an evening with Natalia Bernal and Jason Ennis.
Chilean-born Natalia Bernal brings the songwriting traditions of her homeland to her original compositions, as well as unique interpretations to selections from the Great American Songbook. Guitarist Jason Ennis, with a background in jazz, blues, Brazilian and classical music, is in high demand as a soloist, sideman, and musical director.
The free concert is on Saturday, October 18th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Becket Arts Center, located at 7 Brooker Hill Road in Becket. Donations are appreciated. More information can be found online.
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Berkshire Theatre Group presents ‘Yesterday Once More,’ a tribute to The Carpenters at the Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield— On Saturday, October 18th at 7:30 p.m., Berkshire Theatre Group presents “Yesterday Once More,” a tribute to The Carpenters at the Colonial Theatre.
This captivating performance meticulously recreates the original concert experience, complete with the signature harmonies, rich arrangements and heartfelt lyrics that defined the duo’s sound. From chart-topping hits like “Close to You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun” to fan favorites such as “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “Please Mr. Postman,” the show offers a nostalgic journey through the Carpenters’ extensive catalog. The talented ensemble delivers each song with remarkable authenticity, capturing the essence of Karen and Richard Carpenter’s musical legacy.
Beyond the music, the immersive experience transports audiences back to the 1970s, when The Carpenters dominated the airwaves and sold over 90 million records worldwide. The period-accurate costumes to the warm, analog sound ensures that every aspect resonates with longtime fans and newcomers alike. Whether you’re reliving cherished memories or discovering these classics for the first time, this tribute promises an evening of unparalleled musical excellence.
The concert is on Saturday, October 18th at 7:30 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre, located at 111 South Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Clark Art Institute presents Metropolitan Opera’s broadcast of ‘La Sonnambula’
Williamstown— On Saturday, October 18th at 1 p.m., the Clark Art Institute presents Metropolitan Opera’s broadcast of “La Sonnambula,” kicking off the 2025–26 season of The Met: Live in HD.
Nadine Sierra summits another peak of the soprano repertoire as Amina, who sleepwalks her way into audiences’ hearts in Bellini’s poignant tale of love lost and found. In his new production, Rolando Villazón, the tenor who has embarked on a brilliant second career as a director, retains the opera’s original setting in the Swiss Alps but uses its somnambulant plot to explore the emotional and psychological valleys of the mind.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to complement the broadcast, The Clark’s is hosting a pop-up exhibition of works related to the theme of dreams and sleep. The selected prints, drawings, and photographs engage with that mysterious state of being between consciousness and unconsciousness, reason, and fantasy.
The broadcast is on Saturday, October 18th at 1 p.m. at the Clark Art Institute, located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Botanical Garden presents ‘Flock,’ watercolor paintings by Robin Crofut-Brittingham
Stockbridge— From October 18th through November 30th, Berkshire Botanical Garden presents “Flock,” watercolor paintings by Robin Crofut-Brittingham.
This exhibition features the original paintings from the artist’s new book, “The Illuminated Book of Birds,” alongside selected works from her broader fine art practice. Crofut-Brittingham’s work is rooted in a deep and enduring fascination with the natural world. What began as casual field notes and collected imagery evolved into a vibrant, richly layered visual archive.
The exhibit is on view from October 18th through November 30th at Berkshire Botanical Garden, located at 5 West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge. Admission is free. More information can be found online.
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Du Bois Freedom Center presents community open house and walking tours
Great Barrington— From October 17th through the 19th, Du Bois Freedom Center presents community open house and walking tours.
The Du Bois Freedom Center invites the community to join us to celebrate W. E. B. Du Bois’s powerful legacy and the rich Black history of the Berkshires as they unveil a vibrant new center for learning, dialogue, and cultural pride. Explore exhibits, engage with local leaders, and join conversations that honor the past, inspire the present, and shape a future rooted in justice, knowledge, and community connection.
The event runs from October 17th through the 19th at the Du Bois Freedom Center, located at 309 Main Street in Great Barrington. Registration for walking tours is required. Registration and more information, including a complete schedule of tours and open house hours, can be found online.
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Lenox Library presents ‘The Jazz Barn,’ a new book by John Gennari, together with an exhibit of photos by Clemens Kalischer
Lenox— On Saturday, October 18th at 2 p.m., the Lenox Library presents “The Jazz Barn,” a new book by John Gennari, together with an exhibit of photos by Clemens Kalischer.
In the 1950s, Stephanie and Philip Barber bought part of the Wheatleigh estate, where they converted an old barn, an icehouse, and a greenhouse into an inn that could host musical performances and seminars. “The Jazz Barn” tells the story of the Music Barn and later, the Lenox School of Jazz. Dr. Gennari explores the premise that the locations where jazz is played and heard indelibly shape the music and its meanings.
The book includes iconic photographs by Clemens Kalischer (1921-2018) whose works will be on exhibit in the Lenox Library’s Welles Gallery. Kalischer’s images of musicians in the Jazz Barn and the surrounding fields meld well with Gennari’s thesis of the importance of place to the music.
The event is on Saturday, October 18th at 2 p.m. at the Lenox Library, located at 18 Main Street in Lenox. More information can be found online.
