Music Inn Revival and Berkshire Theatre Group Present JAY AND THE AMERICANS This Weekend

Music Inn Revival and Berkshire Theatre Group Present: Jay and the Americans at the Colonial Theatre on Sunday, October 12 at 7:30pm as a part of Made in the Berkshire 2014 and a benefit for Music Inn Archives. Over Columbus Day Weekend, today, October 10, 11 and 12, the 4th annual Made in the Berkshires Festival features cutting-edge theatrical works performed as staged readings, live music, film, short stories, and dance in a festival atmosphere. New and innovative pieces as well as established work will be presented by local Berkshire County playwrights, actors, directors, musicians, and performers.

Tickets for Jay and the American are on sale now for $35-$65. Ticket buyers who purchase an All-Access MITB Festival Pass for $50 will receive a 15% discount for tickets to Jay and the Americans and admission to all of the events for MITB Festival. Contact the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield by calling 413-997-4444. Tickets can also be bought online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org. The Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm or on any performance day from 10am until curtain.

Very few bands have ever reached the musical heights of Jay and The Americans. From 1962-1971, this group charted an unprecedented "12" top 10 records. Jay and the Americans features the three original band members, Sandy Yaguda (aka Deane) founding member, Howie Kirschenbaum (aka Kane) original member, and Marty Kupersmith (aka Sanders), original member, plus the addition of "Jay" Reincke. They have recreated the authentic sound of all of their great hits that everyone remembers. Jay and The Americans first record was Tonight (from the Broadway Musical West Side Story), and their breakout hit song was "She Cried." Jay and The Americans next chart hit was "Only In America," followed by top ten hits "Come A Little Bit Closer" and later "This Magic Moment."

Where were you when you first heard "Cara Mia?" Jay and The Americans pay tribute to the late Roy Orbison with "Crying," and no other band in history has sold more copies of the song "Some Enchanted Evening" than Jay and The Americans. Neil Diamond's first hit song released, "Sunday and Me," was recorded by none other than Jay and The Americans, who have toured with such legendary artists as Roy Orbison, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.

Jay and The Americans were a major force in starting the rock and roll revival with their album "Wax Museum," where they paid tribute to many great rock and roll artists with their versions of such great songs as "Hushabye," "Walkin' In The Rain," and "This Magic Moment." You will hear all of these songs, which are featured in the new Jay and The Americans' show. In 2002, Jay and The Americans were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, placing them among the greatest vocal groups in rock and roll history.

Over the course of 3 three decades, Music Inn stages welcomed some of the greatest names in jazz, folk, blues and rock and roll for concert experiences like none other in the Berkshires. The blurry line between artist and audience created a vibe that is resonating well into the 21st Century. In 2010, David Rothstein, partner in Music Inn during the '70s, spearheaded the creation of a website dedicated to archiving the Music Inn story. The project was funded with proceeds from two Music Inn Reunions. Since then, hundreds of artists, fans and staff have contributed photos, stories, and memorabilia to the website and Facebook Page. The Music Inn Revival is a benefit for the maintenance and development of the Music Inn Archives.

The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. Having united in November of 2010 under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, these two institutions are providing the Berkshires and beyond with the finest in live theatre, music, dance and the visual arts on five stages in Stockbridge, MA and Pittsfield, MA. The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (400 seats), cataloged by the National Register of Historic Places, was originally designed and built by Stanford White as the Stockbridge Casino in 1888. The intimate Unicorn Theatre (122 seats) is a home for emerging artists and new theatrical ideas. The Colonial in Pittsfield (780 seats) re-opened in August of 2006, following a $21 million restoration, and boasts pristine acoustics, classic gilded age architecture and state-of-the-art technical systems. BTG also performs at the outdoor Neil Ellenoff stage, located on the grounds of BTF in Stockbridge, and at The Garage, a music venue located in the lobby of The Colonial. BTG serves over 100,000 patrons per year and reaches over 17,000 students through its educational and outreach programs. For more information on BTG call (413) 448-8084. To purchase tickets, call (413) 997-4444 or go online to www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.

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