A Christmas Journey
Pittsfield— On December 14, The Berkshire County Historical Society will host local author Kevin O’Hara for two readings from his collection of Christmas tales A Christmas Journey. This will be a special evening of joyous and heartfelt tales from Kevin’s Pittsfield childhood.
A Christmas Journey includes 16 of O’Hara’s annual Christmas columns published in The Berkshire Eagle. The stories range in subject from tales of his growing up in Pittsfield to poignant tales of his time as a psychiatric nurse at Berkshire Medical Center to his Christmas celebration in an Irish pub at the conclusion of his famous travels in Ireland with Missie the donkey.
O’Hara is also the author of Last Of The Donkey Pilgrims, about his travels with Missie around Ireland;A Lucky Irish Lad, about his boyhood; and Ins and Outs of a Locked Ward, which chronicles O’Hara’s three decades as a nurse in Berkshire Medical Center’s psychiatric ward.
Tickets are $10 BCHS members and $15 non-members, and can be purchased at berkshirehistory.org. This event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.
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Elf Jr.
Sharon— The Sharon Playhouse presents Elf Jr. December 15 – 18 in the Bok Theatre.
In this play, Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. This modern-day holiday classic is sure to make all audiences embrace their “inner elf”.
This play is directed by Michael Kevin Baldwin, choreographed by Sarah Cuoco, with music direction by Sonny Capaccio.
Tickets are available here. Performances are Thursday, December 15 at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 16 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 17 at 3 p.m.; Saturday, December 17 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, December 18 at 3 p.m.
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Holiday Peace Poetry Reading
Norfolk— The Norfolk Library is hosting a virtual Holiday Peace Poetry Reading on Thursday, December 15 at 7 p.m.
Celebrate the peace and hope of the holidays with a group of local poets reading the finest work of the season. After many challenges in recent years, these poets want us to remember the true purpose of the holy day: peace, light, and love. Join in a community of joy and put aside your shopping lists for one night.
Each poet will read a poem of their own or a classic by a favorite author. Poets include: Rennie McQuilkin – CT Poet Laureate Emeritus; Ginny Connors – West Hartford poet laureate emerita; Robert Piazza – Litchfield poet laureate; Sandy Carlson – Woodbury poet laureate; Rick Magee – Bethel poet laureate; Barb Jennes – Ridgefield poet laureate; Karen Silk – Washington poet laureate; Joan Hoffman – Canton poet laureate; Deborah Rose – New Milford poet laureate; Jack Sheedy – Harwinton; Patricia Martin – Torrington; and Jim Kelleher – Goshen.
This virtual event is sponsored by Oliver Wolcott Library. Click here for the Zoom link or visit here.
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Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Great Barrington— On Friday, December 16 at 7 p.m. see Miracle on 34th Street (1947) for free at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
In this classic holiday film, a department store Santa Claus claims to be the real Santa, and the ensuing drama and comedy that arises from the situation. It stars Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn.
This event is free, but registration is required. The duration is 96 minutes. The film is in English with Spanish subtitles.
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A Christmas Carol
Annandale-on-Hudson— The Fisher Center presents a brand new adaptation of A Christmas Carol, December 16 – 18.
This version of Charles Dickens’ seasonal tale of hope and redemption comes from the SITI Company, one of this country’s most lauded theater ensembles, led by acclaimed director and Bard alum Anne Bogart ’74. Steeped in the intimacy and alchemy of Dickens’ magical words, this wondrous adaptation conjures the world of Scrooge and his adventure with the ghosts of the past, present, and future from a bare stage and the magic of our shared imagination. The performance of this seasonal ritual offers hope and redemption for us all and weaves a tale of gratitude, fairness, and justice for our own times.
Tickets start at $25, with $5 for Bard students, available here. This event will take place in the Sosnoff Theater of the Fisher Center. Performances are Friday, December 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, December 17 at 6 p.m.’ and Sunday, December 18 at 2 p.m.
