The World Premiere of Eric Hissom’s “Rude Mechanics”
Catskill, N.Y. — Bridge Street Theatre launches its 2023 Season with the world premiere of a hilarious new comedy from actor/director/playwright Eric Hissom, “Rude Mechanics,” at Priscilla Mainstage, located at 44 West Bridge Street in the Village of Catskill, for eight performances only, April 20-30.
This speeding express train of a play transports audiences to a snowy January in 1612 London. On a night packed with political and romantic intrigue, a spear-carrier in Shakespeare’s acting troupe is suddenly forced to step into a major role at the very last minute and frantically rehearses for an imminent command performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” before the King and all the court. This is a fast, funny, slyly anachronistic, and scarily relevant period comedy about the absolute insanity of trying to create theatre during a time of plague. Sound familiar?
Featured in the cast are Jack Rento as Julian Crosse, Em Whitworth as Rosemary Bassanio, Andrew Goehring as Henry Worthy (all making their BST debuts), as well as Bridge Street co-founder Steven Patterson in the triple role of Lord Philip Strayte (hmm), William Shakespeare, and the Ghost of Queen Elizabeth I. The production will be directed by the playwright himself, with costumes by Michelle Rogers and sets and lights by John Sowle. Kiara Vedovino is the production stage manager.
The play will be presented Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. from April 20 through April 30. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $28 – this year, no additional service charge will be added to any online ticket purchase – or at the door prior to each performance (on a seats available basis) for $30.
* * *
Sharon Playhouse premieres “I Love You, Get Away From Me!”
Sharon, Conn. — On Thursday, March 20 and 27 at 7:30 p.m., the Sharon Playhouse will host an evening of brand new comedy with the show “I Love You, Get Away From Me!” in the Bok theatre.
Dena Blizzard’s NEW show “I Love You, Get Away From Me!” is a three generation comedy show about finding the funny in life’s transitions with Dena’s mom, Diana, and her son, Dean. Whether it’s becoming a widow at 75, divorcing and empty nesting at 50 or trying to act like a grown up at 23…there’s plenty to laugh (or cry) about! “I Love You, Get Away From Me!” is perfect for anyone starting over, going through some sh*t or who just wants everyone to GET AWAY FROM HER!
Dena Blizzard is a comedian, mother of three and creator of “One Funny Mother” a multi-media company creating content, products and live comedy shows about “Wine, Women and Laughter,” as well as “My Name is NOT Mom.”
* * *
“Reallocating Land: from Market to Commons” talk honors the book “Small is Beautiful”
Great Barrington— The Schumacher Center for New Economics monthly talk featuring New Economic thinkers, builders, and activists from a range of fields is on April 20 at 2 p.m. with the theme “Reallocating Land: from Market to Commons.”
April’s panelists are those pioneering radical forms of land tenure that challenge the private property norm. Combined, their experience with voluntary land gifting and community trusteeship spans three continents. And at our current crossroads, their ongoing commitment to land access offers a deep reserve of inspiration for a bottom-up revolution in access to land.
The four panelists are Severine Von Tscharner Fleming, Satish Kumar, Sjoerd Wartena, and Natasha Hulst. Severine Von Tscharner Fleming is the founding Board President of Agrarian Trust, an innovative national land-access organization working to build a cooperatively-owned farmland commons. Satish Kumar founded The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity that seeks to inform and inspire a just future for all, and was a personal friend and collaborator to E.F. Schumacher. Sjoerd Wartena is a sustainable food systems advocate and Founder of Terre de Liens, a civil society organization devoted to ecologically-friendly agriculture and securing affordable access to farmland. Natasha Hulst is the Schumacher Center’s Program Director for European Land Commons, raising awareness of Community Land Trusts as a proven vehicle to broaden access to land in a fair, place-based, democratic manner.
The event will be held virtually on Thursday, April 20th, at 2 p.m. Registration is free.
* * *
MCLA Annual Undergraduate Research Conference
North Adams— On Thursday, April 20, 2023, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will hold the 21st annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) including 122 student participants and keynote speaker Jenna McElroy ‘16.
Conference registration begins at 8 a.m. in the Bowman Hall lobby followed by welcome remarks from Dr. Anna Jaysane-Darr, Chair of Undergraduate Research, and Dr. Caroyln Dehner, Dean of Academic Affairs. Paper presentations will take place in Bowman 201, 203, and 205 followed by poster sessions in Venable Gym from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Lunch will take place in the Campus Center Gym at noon led by President James Birge who will announce the Feigenbaum Scholars recipients, followed by the keynote address.
Paper presentations continue throughout the day in Bowman Hall with a mini philosophy conference at 4 p.m. in Murdock 208. A senior art exhibit, “Liminal Spaces: The Overlooked & The Otherworldly,” will close the day at MCLA’s Gallery 51.
The URC highlights MCLA’s commitment to nurturing a dynamic culture of research where students will have the opportunity to showcase the hard work they’ve done on various academic projects throughout the year.
Students will present 15-minute talks, posters, and artistic work; the URC will also include special sessions and events focused on specific themes and performances. Members of the media are welcome to cover this MCLA community event, sit in on virtual talks, and interview students and faculty members.
Learn more about the URC at MCLA.edu/urc.
* * *
Watch the 1927 German film “Metropolis”
Williamstown— On Thursday, April 20 at 6 p.m., the Clark Art Institute screens Metropolis in its auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center. Presented in connection with the Clark’s exhibition “Portals: The Visionary Architecture of Paul Goesch,” this is the third event in the Clark’s five-part series, “Visionary Architecture on Film.” The film series explores themes related to Paul Goesch’s life and work in early twentieth-century Germany.
In a futuristic city marked by extreme inequality, the wealthy live lavishly in skyscrapers while workers toil underground, operating machines that keep society running. One of the first science fiction films, Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” (1927; 1 hour, 54 minutes) both reflected and accelerated the emergence of Art Deco design in the United States and Europe. With its themes of mechanization, societal stratification, and fascism, the film is a grand tour of the issues that animated interwar Germany.
Free and open to the public; no registration is required. The Clark’s “Visionary Architecture on Film” series is organized by Ella Comberg, MA ’24 in the Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.
