Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire are excited to announce additions to the fall and winter seasons, as well as casting for the Fall production of David Auburn's Lost Lake at The Unicorn Theatre.
Kate Maguire says, "We are thrilled to present Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner, David Auburn's, Lost Lake, as our Fall production. David has an affection for creating complex characters in the midst of turmoil, characters that are flawed, fragile and real. Directed by the talented Daisy Walker, this cast will feature stage, film and TV actors, Lynnette R. Freeman and Quentin Maré."Previously announced music at The Colonial Theatre includes Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (8/17) and New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players I've Got A Little Twist (8/18), will be joined by: Live from Laurel Canyon: Songs & Stories of American Folk Rock (9/30), featuring music from Carole King, James Taylor, Crosby Stills & Nash and more; Pittsfield CityJAZZ Festival: The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience (10/14); The Airplane Family & Friends with Live Dead '69 (10/27); Ain't Wastin' Time: A Berkshire Tribute to Gregg Allman with Rev Tor's Steal Your Peach Band & Friends (11/30); Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience (3/8/18) and Ladysmith Black Mambazo (3/9/18).
Previews: Thursday, September 28 and Friday, September 29
Press Opening/Opening Night: Saturday, September 30 at 7pm
Talkback: Thursday, October 5 after 7pm performance
Closing: Sunday, October 22 at 2pm
Tickets: Preview: $45
Tickets: $50
Sponsored by: Lead Sponsor, Bobbie Hallig; The Shubert Foundation; Furlano and Arace, PC; The Westfield News Group and Massachusetts Cultural Council
Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner, David Auburn (Proof), Lost Lake is an engrossing, evocative play. Part drama, part melancholy comedy, Lost Lake follows the story of Veronica, played by Lynnette R. Freeman (On The Outs) and Hogan, played by Quentin Maré (Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll). Veronica, hopelessly in need of an escape from life's uphill battle, takes her children to a lakeside rental. Unfortunately for Veronica, not only is the property less than ideal, it also includes a bedraggled and secluded estate owner, Hogan. Both fighting their own battles, the two outcasts find complicated comfort in their shared isolation. Directed by Daisy Walker (Assistant Director on Broadway's Jersey Boys, The Farnsworth Invention, Dracula: The Musical), this stirring, unexpected and visceral play is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award.
Pittsfield CityJAZZ Festival: The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, October 14, at 7:30pm
Tickets: A: $38, B: $23
The Afro-Cuban Experience, led by Dizzy Gillespie's long-term bassist, John Lee, showcases the unique rhythms and well-loved melodies (such as "Manteca" and "Tin Tin Deo") of Gillespie's library of Cu-Bop, which he developed with Chano Pozo in the '40s and '50s. Their repertoire also explores the broader world of Latin-American music. The musicians are drawn from the high-calibre talent that frequent the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band and All Star groups, such as trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, saxophonist Sharel Cassity, Brazilian pianist/vocalist Abelita Mateus, drummer Tommy Campbell and percussionist Roger Squitero.Ain't Wastin' Time: A Berkshire Tribute to Gregg Allman
with Rev Tor's Steal Your Peach Band & Friends
at The Colonial Theatre
Thursday, November 30 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $27.50
An all star lineup of regional and local artists gather to celebrate the life, spirit and music of the legendary Gregg Allman, hosted by Rev Tor's Steal Your Peach Band.Gregg Allman, who passed away in May of this year, was a founding member and lead singer of the legendary Allman Brothers Band. His career spanned five decades, with many hits such as "Sweet Melissa," "Midnight Rider" and "One Way Out." Gregg Allman was considered one of the pioneers of southern rock, blues and soul music
This event is hosted by Rev Tor's Steal Your Peach Band. This all star group features Tor Krautter, Andy Crawford and Drew Costa of Rev Tor/Last Waltz Live, along with Dan Teichert of Arlo Guthrie/Xavier, Brian O'Connell of Uncle Sammy/Gordon Stone Band and Jeremy Walz of Soul Sky. These artists will serve as the back up band for the regional and local guest artist celebrating the music of Gregg Allman.
Patrons are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food donation of any size to be delivered directly to a local food pantry after the show. Guest artists are asked to perform in support of the food drive.
at The Colonial Theatre
Thursday, March 8 at 7:30pm
Tickets: A: $35, B: $20
Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience is the nation's most innovative and unique show utilizing the works of The Beatles. This amazing group, anchored by brothers Billy, Ryan and Matthew McGuigan, perform as themselves and leave the song choices completely in the hands of the audience. This is done through request cards that audience members fill out prior to the show. On those cards, the audience member only needs to fill out three things: their name, their favorite Beatles song and the reason why they chose that song. The cards are collected and two minutes before the show begins, a set list is created based upon the songs chosen and the reasons that the audience members chose those songs make up the narrative of the evening.at The Colonial Theatre
Friday, March 9 at 8pm
Tickets: A: $45 B: $30
"It isn't merely the grace and power of their dancing or the beauty of their singing that rivets the attention, but the sheer joy and love that emanates from their being." -Paul Simon The Grammy Award-winning acappella ensemble, Ladysmith Black Mambazo captures South Africa's historic struggle in an inspiring repertoire that melds the tradition of Zulu harmony, singing songs born in the mines during the apartheid era, with hints of gospel. Whether performing at Nelson Mandela's inauguration, in Disney's The Lion King, or alongside Paul Simon on his album Graceland, Ladysmith Black Mambazo creates beautiful harmonies that have brought its unique sound to international prominence. The rich uplifting sounds and effortlessly synchronized dancing convey universal themes of faith, hope and peace, yielding a performance of pure, uninhibited joy.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo was founded in the early 1960s by Joseph Shabalala, then a teenage farm boy living on the lands just outside the small town of Ladysmith, South Africa. Joseph incorporated the town into the name he would give his group to honor his family history. As well, the word Black is a reference to the black oxen, the strongest of all farm animals; and Mambazo, the Zulu word for chopping axe, a symbol of the group's ability to "chop down" any singing rival who might challenge them. So began the fifty-plus year career of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Ladysmith Black Mambazo's most recent CD, Walking In The Footsteps Of Our Fathers, was nominated for Best World Music Album of 2016, marking the group's 17th Grammy Award-nomination, in addition to its four wins.
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