Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend
Lee — The fifth annual Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend will take place Thursday, June 16, through Sunday, June 19, and includes ticketed headline concerts, a free “Jazz in the Park” concert, a jazz-themed art show, and more.
The documentary film “Keep On Keepin’ On,” the story of jazz pianist Justin Kauflin, will open the weekend’s events on Thursday, June 16, at 6 p.m. at the Lee Library. A performance by the Lucky 5 will follow at the Lee Congregational Church. The opening reception for the Weekend’s jazz-themed art show will take place on Friday, June 17, at 4 p.m. at the Lee Congregational Church, followed by a performance by trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg at 8 p.m. A free “Jazz in the Park” concert will take place downtown at noon on Saturday, June 18. Justin Kauflin will appear at the Lee Congregational Church with his trio on Saturday, June 18.
The weekend will also include other jazz-themed events. For more information, contact web@berkshiresjazz.org
–E.E.
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Shakespeare & Co. to present ‘Ugly Lies the Bone’
Lenox — Shakespeare & Company will present the regional premiere of the Woodward/Newman Drama Award-winning play “Ugly Lies the Bone,” written by Lindsey Ferrentino and directed by Daniela Varon, at its Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre Thursday, June 16, through Sunday, August 28.
The play tells the story of combat veteran Jess who returns to her home in Florida after three tours in Afghanistan bearing deep physical and emotional scars. An innovative, experimental video game therapy offers an escape from her excruciating pain, but can virtual reality help Jess come to terms with the altered reality of her hometown, relationships, and dreams? The play earned writer Ferrentino a special citation of excellence from the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation in 2015.
For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the Shakespeare & Company box office at (413) 637-3353.
–E.E.
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‘The Power of Food’ with Deb Phillips
Great Barrington – Nutritionist and Berkshire Edge columnist Deb Phillips will present a talk entitled “The Power of Food: How Food Sustained Our Ancestors and How We Can Use It to Sustain Ourselves” on Wednesday, June 15, at 7 p.m. at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire.
Deb Phillips has worked in the southern Berkshires as a nutritionist for 30 years. She holds a B.S. in nutrition from Cornell University and an M.S. in health education from Russell Sage College. Her talk will explore how our modern diet compares to the diets of our ancestors, and what we can do to optimize our health while continuing to enjoy food.
For more information, call (413) 528-6378.
–E.E.
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BPL to present annual gala
Great Barrington — Berkshire Playwrights Lab (BPL) will present its ninth annual gala on Friday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Wyantenuck Country Club. The event will celebrate almost a decade of original plays with cocktails and light fare, performances, and a silent auction.
Hosted by Gala Chair Stacey Gillis Weber, gala guests will include BPL playwrights, actors, and directors as well as the Berkshire community of artists and arts patrons. Silent auction items will include a one-year membership to the Kilpatrick Athletic Center, a signed and numbered painting by Sol LeWitt, a vintage acting edition of “Glengarry Glen Ross” inscribed by playwright David Mamet, a private tour for 10 at Berkshire Mountain Distillers, and many other items.
Tickets are $125 per person and $250 for underwriter tickets. Proceeds from the gala will help support BPL’s Free Staged Reading Series. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call (413) 528-2544.
–E.E.
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‘Alice in Wonderland’ book-reading marathon
Great Barrington – Lauren Clark Fine Art will host a marathon reading of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” on Friday, June 17, from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 18, from 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.; and Sunday, June 19, from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Local actors of all ages will take turns reading from the book in honor of its 151st anniversary. All are welcome. Tea will be served. For more information, call the Gallery at (413) 528-0432.
–E.E.
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350Mass Berkshires monthly meeting
Pittsfield — 350Mass Berkshires will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 15, at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Tyler Soleau, Community Outreach Director of Energy and Climate at Acadia Center, will present EnergyVision, a roadmap for how Massachusetts can achieve deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through a transformation of its energy systems. He will also discuss how energy systems can be designed to allow for more community control and how utility incentives can be realigned. A discussion will follow.
A snack potluck will precede the meeting at 5:30 p.m. It is requested that those interested in attending the meeting RSVP online.
–E.E.
