Berkshire Bach to present annual ‘Messiah’ sing-in
Great Barrington — The Berkshire Bach Society will present its annual Handel’s “Messiah” sing-in on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 251 Main St., with Frank Nemhauser conducting the Berkshire Bach Players.
The Berkshire Bach Players is a seasoned instrumental ensemble of professional musicians including Lucy Bardo on cello and trumpet player Allan Dean along with Miriam Shapiro and Cindy Olgunick on violin, Eric Martin on viola, and Donald Sosin on organ.
The event is free but donations are appreciated. Participants may bring their own scores or borrow or buy one (G. Schirmer version) from Berkshire Bach for $15. For those who wish to practice in advance, online videos of the parts are available. For more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call Berkshire Bach at (413) 528-9555.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Scenic Railway to present Tinseliner™ train rides
North Adams — The Tinseliner™, a Christmas-themed event created by the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum exclusively for its Hoosac Valley Service, will operate during this holiday season on a rail line between North Adams and Adams.
The Tinseliner™ seeks to capture a moment in time and a sense of nostalgia by evoking Christmas in 1955. Upon arrival for the one-hour ride, passengers will be greeted by the sounds of a 1950s holiday from Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra and enjoy the atmosphere and music as the decorated train rides the rails. Halfway through the trip, Santa will join the crew to hand each child a gift.
Trains will run weekends beginning Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 18, and will depart from 98 Crowley Ave. Tickets are $18 for adults and $14 for children ages 4–12. For more information, call the Museum at (413) 637-2210.
–E.E.
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Ghent Playhouse to present annual panto
Ghent, N.Y. — The Ghent Playhouse will present “The Turn of the Scrooge,” this year’s panto offering, Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 11. Written by the Loons, who have put their own zany spin on the classic holiday tale “A Christmas Carol,” the original British-American panto is directed by Cathy Lee-Visscher and features Paul Leyden, Sam Reilly, Sally McCarthy, Monk Schane-Lydon, Michael Meier, Nellie Rustick, Joanne Mauer, Paul Murphy and Mark Wilson. Tickets are $20 for the general public, $17 for Playhouse members, and $10 for students with ID. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the Playhouse at 1 (800) 838-3006.
–E.E.
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Olana to host Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes
Hudson, N.Y. — On Friday, Nov. 25, the Olana Partnership will host two performances by the Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes: “Three Little Pigs” at 10 a.m. and “Carnival of the Animals” at 11 a.m.
The Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes, with three generations of family history behind the productions, bring classic tales to life with hand-crafted puppets and live music The troupe has performed at venues from the Dorset Playhouse in Vermont; the Gramercy Arts Theatre, the West Side Y and the Museum of the City of New York in New York City, the Boston Children’s Museum; the Woodstock Playhouse in Woodstock, New York; the Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, Connecticut; and hundreds of fairs, schools, resorts, inns and libraries.
Families are encouraged to pre-register, but walk-ins are welcome if available. The cost of the performances is $10 for Olana members, $15 for nonmembers, and $30 for families of up to five people. For more tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call Olana’s education department at (518) 828-1872 x105.
–E.E.
