Pittsfield CityJazz Festival presents the legendary Count Basie Orchestra at The Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield— On Saturday, May 3rd at 7:30 p.m., Pittsfield CityJazz Festival presents the legendary Count Basie Orchestra at The Colonial Theatre.
The legendary Count Basie Orchestra. under the masterful direction of Scotty Barnhart, continues to set the gold standard in jazz, recently earning their 18th Grammy Award. With a rich history of captivating performances for audiences worldwide, the upcoming concert, featuring guest vocalist Denise Thimes, promises an evening of unparalleled musical excellence.
The Berkshires Jazz All Star Youth Ensemble will open the show, showcasing the region’s emerging talent. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to witness both the future and the legacy of jazz in one unforgettable evening.
The concert is on Saturday, May 3rd 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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WAM Theatre presents a ‘Fresh Takes’ reading of ‘Cry it Out’ at Hot Plate Brewing
Pittsfield— On Sunday, May 4th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., WAM Theatre, as part of its Fresh Takes Play Reading Series, presents a reading of Molly Smith Metzler’s “Cry it Out,” directed by Molly Merrihew, at Hot Plate Brewing.
Isolated in a sleepy suburb, Jessie, once a corporate lawyer, is now in milk-stained yoga pants attempting to comfort a screaming newborn. She’s desperate for a friend and soon spies a fellow new mom, her neighbor Lina. The two start meeting for coffee over nap time in their adjoining yards, and a fast friendship is made. The laughter comes quickly in their shared space and newborn haze, when a well-intended stranger interrupts asking if his wife can join. “Cry It Out” is a chaotic comedy with an edge, grappling with the absurdities of motherhood, the power of friendship, and the effect class holds on parenting in America.
“Cry It Out is expertly written by Metzler, it makes you laugh out loud, cringe with delight, and delivers a gut punch of reality. The play is a poignant look at early motherhood, and the skillful way women carve out space for themselves amongst the chaos. I love how Metzler weaves class so effortlessly into the stories of female friendships. These friendships are ones I know well as a working mother – the mom-friends who I met in toddler daycare or library story hour – we have nothing in common, and then everything in common all at once. This play speaks to those friendships, and the unexpected lifelines formed in parenthood,” said director Molly Merrihew.
The reading is on Sunday, May 4th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Hot Plate Brewing, located at 2 School Street in Pittsfield. There will be a post-reading talk-back. Call 413-274-8122 for tickets. More information can be found online.
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MASS MoCA and Jacob’s Pillow present celebrated dance-theater artist David Roussève’s ‘DaddyAF: Waiting for Peter Pan’
North Adams— On Saturday, May 3rd at 8 p.m., MASS MoCA and Jacob’s Pillow present celebrated dance-theater artist David Roussève’s “DaddyAF: Waiting for Peter Pan.”
“Daddy AF” is an intimate meditation on life’s purpose, created and performed by a queer African American man acutely aware of the finite time he has left on the planet. Like strands of DNA, it connects elements encoded in his body, including 600 years of genealogy, a roller coaster journey with HIV, and the shattering loss of a husband — while revisiting movement from 35 years of dance-making to explore the meaning of ‘virtuosity’ for a 64-year old body.
The performance is on Saturday, May 3rd at 8 p.m. at MASS MoCA, located at 1040 MASS MoCA Way in North Adams. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Center for Peace through Culture presents ‘Water Rites,’ a multimedia exhibition honoring water and our shared responsibility to protect it
Housatonic— From May 3rd to May 31st, at The Center for Peace through Culture (CPC) is proud to present “Water Rites,” a powerful group exhibition that honors the Housatonic River, celebrates the sacredness of all waterways, and explores the essential relationship between water, humanity, and the environment.
“Water Rites” is a multimedia showcase of visual art, sculpture, photography, and mixed-media works that reflect on the importance of water in our lives and our ecosystems. This exhibit invites viewers to experience water as a source of life, spiritual meaning, and a focal point for urgent environmental and social justice conversations. Featuring works by 31 artists, Water Rites includes a specially commissioned piece by Rebecca Burr, a Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican artist, whose work speaks to the pressing clean water concerns affecting residents in the Housatonic region.
The exhibit runs from May 3rd to May 31st at The Center for Peace through Culture, located at 137 Front Street in Housatonic. There is an opening reception on May 3rd and a closing reception on May 31st. There will be panel discussions on May 9th and 17th. More information can be found online.
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Berkshire Bach presents Peter Sykes to play the Great Roosevelt Organ at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington
Great Barrington— On Saturday, May 3rd at 4 p.m., the Berkshire Bach Society completes its Organ Masters series with Peter Sykes playing the great Roosevelt Organ at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington.
“Our Organ Masters series gives us the chance to showcase great organ music, superb organists, and important instruments that are true cultural treasures in our region,” said Terrill McDade, Executive Director of the Berkshire Bach Society.
The 1883 great Roosevelt Organ at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington has pride of place among large historic organs in the U.S. At installation, it was the biggest and most important organ in America, predating the 1910 Skinner organ at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City by 27 years. It is the largest example of the work of prominent organ builder Hilborne Lewis Roosevelt, that survives in close to its original form and is still playable. Cousin to U.S. presidents Teddy and Franklin, Hilborne established Roosevelt Pipe Organ Builders in 1870 and built many large organs in America in the period. His Great Barrington organ remains a sophisticated and expressive example of his craft that, in the hands of master organist Peter Sykes, inspires awe and can literally shake the rafters–figuratively and literally–with its beauty, majesty, and power.
The concert is on Saturday, May 3rd at 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington, located at 251 Main Street. Children and students with valid ID are admitted free. Tickets and more information can be found online.
