THE FULL CATASTROPHE, Gordon Lightfoot, Three Dog Night and More Set for Berkshire Theatre Group's Fall 2013 Season
By: BWW News Desk Aug. 14, 2013
Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire are excited to announce the 2013 Fall schedule of events at The Colonial Theatre, The Garage and The Unicorn Theatre. Tickets are available for purchase to members and passholders on August 20 and to the general public on August 22.
Berkshire Theatre Group's Fall Season brings outstanding theatre, chart-topping musical artists, comedy, community events and staged readings to the Berkshires. The season holds an array of talented musical performances: Heather Maloney featuring Ryan Hommel, Dave Mason, The Wanda Houston Band, The Pittsfield CityJazz Festival featuring The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, Gordon Lightfoot, Three Dog Night, Romance, Soul and Rock n' Roll andMary Verdi. For theatrical offerings: Michael Weller's new play, The Full Catastrophe is a workshop performance of a comedic story rich in intimacy and truth that deftly captures the daily cut and thrust of married life. Mary and Edith: Musings by Women a Century Apart celebrates Berkshire women writers with an evening of stories old and new. The annual community production, A Christmas Carol brings holiday cheer for all at The Colonial Theatre."The fall season will bring amazingly memorable nights!" says Berkshire Theatre Group Programmer, Simon Shaw. "We have a full lineup of iconic, internationally-known performers along with locally grown and up and coming talent. My intent when booking the fall season was to offer events that would display the quality of area artists alongside influential and celebrated musicians. I am looking forward to the diversity of our audiences and the performances on all of our stages."
Tickets are available for purchase to members and passholders on August 20 and to the general public on August 22. Contact the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield by calling 413-997-4444. Tickets may also be purchased online atwww.berkshiretheatregroup.org. The Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm and on any performance day from 10am until curtain. All plays, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change.
FALL SEASON OVERVIEW:
A New Staged Reading Comedy by Michael Weller
The Full Catastrophe
Saturday, August 31 at 8pm
Sunday, September 1 at 2pm
at The Unicorn Theatre
Invited Audience
In The Full Catastrophe, Michael Weller has deftly captured the daily cut and thrust of married life-that pressure cooker of intimacy that can raise anger to a fever pitch in seconds, or bring two people suddenly and miraculously to a state of perfect bliss. His play is rich in comedy, intimacy, and truth.
Heather Maloney with Opening Act Ryan Hommel
at The Garage
Friday, September 6 at 8pm
Tickets: Advance: $10, Day of Show: $12
Heather Maloney is the acclaimed singer-songwriter's self-titled debut for Signature Sounds. The Western Massachusetts based artist has received numerous accolades for her startlingly soulful voice and literate songwriting exploring themes of spirituality, transformation, and impermanence. Maloney marks life lessons on this album, penning tuneful reminders to herself about the little triumphs of love on "Flutter," the solace of redemption on "Turn Yourself Around," and her firm belief that nothing's colder than trying too hard to be cool, an idea that inspired "Fire for You."
Although Maloney's influences are largely rooted in what she calls "adventurous folk," she pushes outward on these 11 songs, digging deeper, and roaming wider, than she has before on songs populated by vivid characters that ultimately trace their way back to her. Critics are quickly discovering Maloney's talent with No Depression raving "Her music is riveting, her voice adventurous, her lyrics thought-provoking...Maloney's expansive range can handle Ella Fitzgerald-style jazz scat and adapt to Beatlesque pop or Joni Mitchell folk..." while Blurt Magazine wrote "Heather Maloney is one of the most talented tradition-based singer-songwriters I've heard in some time....the writing is stunning."Dave Mason
at The Colonial Theatre
Wednesday, October 9 at 7:30pm
Tickets: A: $45 B: $35 C: $25
Dave Mason is a living rock legend who had a profound effect on the genre of rock and roll. He penned the Traffic hit "Feelin' Alright." The song became a global rock anthem and has been recorded by dozens of artists.
Dave Mason's career spans several important rock eras, and encompasses his work as a producer, performer, songwriter, and consummate guitarist. In 2004, Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the groundbreaking group Traffic.
Mary and Edith: Musings by Women a Century ApartWith Kate Maguire, Mary Mott, and Kim Taylor in stories by Mary Mott and Pulitzer Prize Winning Author, Edith Wharton
From Where I Sit
by and with Mary Mott
directed by Robert Moss
Roman Fever
by Edith Wharton
adapted by Eric Hill
directed by Kiera Naughton
with Kate Maguire and Kim Taylor at The Unicorn Theatre
Friday, October 4 at 7pm
Saturday, October 5 at 7pm
Sunday, October 6 at 2pm
Friday, October 11 at 7pm
Saturday, October 12 at 2pm
Sunday, October 13 at 2pm
Monday, October 14 at 2pm
Friday, October 18 at 2pm
Saturday, October 19 at 7pm
Sunday, October 20 at 2pm
Tickets: $30
Celebrate Berkshire women writers with an evening of stories old and new. Mary Mott will share stories of her life in the Berkshires, and Kate Maguire and Kim Taylor will perform a stage adaptation of a short story by one of the Berkshires' most well known authors, Edith Wharton. Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade are old friends vacationing in Rome with their daughters. As the two reminisce, they begin to realize that the secrets they each hold about the past may not be as hidden as they thought. Based on the short story by Edith Wharton, Roman Fever explores the power of love and deception, all the while set on a beautiful Italian terrace.
Made in the Berkshires FestivalFriday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13
Tickets: $15 Single Event (On Sale September 11) • $50 Opening Night
$100 Festival Pass (On Sale Now through September 10)
at The Colonial, The Unicorn, and The Garage
The 3rd Annual Made in the Berkshires Festival is a locally-grown event of new works featuring original theatre, live music, film, short stories and dance.
This year's festival hosts a weekend of talented artists featuring an opening night performance premiering the original composition from Gerard Burney, "Cherry Cottage." A new play from acclaimed playwright Chris Newbound, a short story from local author Kevin O'Hara, a dance performance from CATA with contributions by Dawn Lane and additional new works from talented area artists fill the weekend with an array of artistic talent.
Audiences will enjoy the breadth and depth of the arts from Berkshire County while celebrating the best in the visual and performing arts.
Wanda Houston Bandat The Garage
Saturday, October 12 at 9pm
2013 Made in the Berkshires Festival Event
Tickets: $15
The Wanda Houston Band plays favorite hits from the '20s through the '90s and brings a highly versatile and exuberant experience to the stage. This talented group includes: Peter Putnam (drummer and vocalist), Jeff Stevens (horns and vocalist), Robert Kelly (keys and vocalist) and Wanda Houston (vocalist).
With the adept arrangements of music director Robert Kelly, the song stylings of Houston and Putnam and the trumpet improvisations of Stevens, the band winds through an evening of music that has audiences recounting memories and dancing to new ones. But, this is not your typical cover band. You will hear your favorites with a "twist" as they bring their own flavor to Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Beetles, Amy Winehouse and so much more. Come, listen, and enjoy the music of The Wanda Houston Band.Pittsfield CityJazz Festival: The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, plus the Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, October 19 at 8pm
Tickets: A: $30 B: $18
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet is an exciting jazz group featuring two members of one of America's most accomplished musical families, drummer Dan Brubeck and bassist/trombonist Chris Brubeck, guitarist Mike DeMicco, and pianist Chuck Lamb, complete this dynamic quartet.
An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiattat The Colonial Theatre
Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30pm
Tickets: A: $111.50 B: $96.50 C: $76.50 D: $56.50
($1.50 of the ticket price will be donated to the Oklahoma City Tornado Victims fund)
Lovett and Hiatt have been touring together periodically since 1989, delivering one of the most compelling and spontaneous concerts on the road.
Lyle Lovett has four GRAMMY Awards to his credit which include Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1989 and Best Country Album for "The Road to Ensenada" in 1996. Lovett's newest album, Natural Forces, was released in 2009. He's known for his hits "If I Had a Boat," "She's No Lady," and "Long Tall Texan."
John Hiatt, a prolific songwriter and talented singer/guitarist, has 11 GRAMMY nominations and his numerous awards include induction into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame and the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award in Songwriting from the American Music Association. Hiatt has released 19 studio albums. His latest release, Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns was released in 2011. He's known for his hit songs, "Have a Little Faith In Me" and "Bring the Family."
Romance, Soul & Rock 'n Roll: Musical Flashback
Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $20
at The Colonial Theatre
Romance, Soul & Rock 'n Roll, invites you to Musical Flashback with band director David Pickard. Now in their 12th year, RSRR performs a musical scrapbook that will have audiences singing along. Join RSSR on this nostalgic journey of familiar songs and popular hits that span decades of America's greatest tunes. With a live band and multi-talented cast, the show will be just as exciting and entertaining as ever! Tickets sell fast, so don't wait-you won't want to miss it! Proceeds benefit Berkshire Theatre Group.
LoFi Sundays at The Garage featuring: Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe
at The Garage
Dates and Times TBD
The Royal Berkshire Improvisational Troupe (RBIT) is a comedy improv group based in Western Massachusetts. Founded by Berkshire County native and actress Alexia Trainor, RBIT has been delighting audiences with its own brand of unscripted comedic mayhem since June of 2001. Performing a mix of theater games reminiscent of the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyways?, the group models its work on the teachings of renowned theater games/improvisation instructor Keith Johnstone. Through audience participation, RBIT's mission is to create entertaining scenes which explore the boundaries of theater improvisation (impressive, huh?).
Gordon Lightfoot
at The Colonial Theatre
Friday, November 8 at 8pm
Tickets: A: $75 B: $60 C: $45
After 50 active years of hit song making and international album sales well into the multi-millions, it's safe to say that esteemed singer-songwriter and musician Gordon Lightfoot resides with some very exclusive company atop the list of all-time greats.
Gordon Lightfoot has recorded 20 albums and received five GRAMMY nominations.His songs have been aired regularly for 50 years, earning him Radio Singles Chart Positions in North America achieved by few others. Lightfoot's radio hits in the USA have earned Five #1s, Five Top 10s and Thirteen Top 40 hits.
His song catalog is incredibly vast and includes such immortals as "Early Morning Rain," "If You Could Read My Mind," "Carefree Highway," "Sundown," "(That's What You Get) For Lovin Me," "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald," "Cold On The Shoulder," "Canadian Railroad Trilogy," "Ribbon Of Darkness," "Beautiful," "Song For A Winter's Night," "Shadows," "Rainy Day People," "Did She Mention My Name," and "Summertime Dream" to name a few.
Three Dog Night
at The Colonial Theatre
Thursday, November 21 at 8pm
Tickets: A: $125 B: $95 C: $75 D: $50
Legendary music icons, Three Dog Night, celebrate their 4th decade bringing with them some of the most astonishing statistics in popular music. In the years 1969 through 1974, no other group achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records or sold more concert tickets than Three Dog Night. This iconic band's hits wind through the fabric of pop culture today, whether on the radio where they are heard day in and day out, in TV commercials or in major motion pictures-songs like "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)," "Joy to the World," "Black and White," "Shambala," and "One" serve to heighten our emotions and crystallize Three Dog Night's continuing popularity.
This Grammy-nominated band is not content resting on their legacy alone. Always working to expand their audience, Three Dog Night have embraced 21st century music technology. New fans buy Three Dog Night's music on iTunes as well as at record stores. In fact, their releases from this decade alone have sold well over a million copies and the band's continued popularity has landed "The Best of Three Dog Night: 20th Century Masters" on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart for 9 of the last 12 months.
Mary Verdi: Christmas at the Colonial
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, November 30 at 7pm
Sunday, December 1 at 2pm
Tickets: Adults: $20 Children 16 and under: $10
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens • adapted by Eric Hill • directed by Eric Hill
Tickets: TBD
at The Colonial Theatre
Sunday, December 15 at 2pm
Friday, December 20 at 7pm
Saturday, December 21 at 7pm
Sunday, December 22 at 2pm
Friday, December 27 at 7pm
Saturday, December 28 at 7pm
Sunday, December 29 at 2pm
Revel in the joy and redemptive power of Christmas as told in the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, the infamous miser who is reformed and shown the error of his ways by four spirits. Journey back to Victorian England and experience the classic story filled with terrific turns and infused with holiday music.
For more information about the performance, visit the website at www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.
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, Pittsfield, MA and Lenox, MA. The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (408 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 newly built outdoor Neil Ellenoff stage at the Mount and at The Garage, a music venue located in the lobby of The Colonial. Together they serve over 100,000 patrons per year and reach over 10,000 students through their educational and outreach programs. To purchase tickets, call (413) 997-4444 or (413) 298-5576 or go online to www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.
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