THE BAKELITE MASTERPIECE, Made in the Berkshires and More Join BTG's 2016-17 Season
By: BWW News Desk Sep. 02, 2016
Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire are excited to announce music, comedy and community additions to the fall and winter seasons.
Kate Maguire says, "This fall and winter season, we have an exciting array of internationally acclaimed performers, along with locally grown and up-and-coming talent.
We are thrilled to present the American Premiere of The Bakelite Masterpiece, a co-production with WAM Theatre starring David Adkins and Corinna May this fall. This December, we're delighted to once again produce our 11th Annual Community Production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Eric Hill and directed and Travis G Daly."
Comedy at The Garage features the return of the popular Laugh Lounge Series. Fill up your tank at The Garage on various Wednesdays throughout the year. The Laugh Lounge Series spotlights up-and-coming comedians, including: Joe List, Dave Hill and more!
Music at The Colonial Theatre includes The Everly Brothers Experience by the Bird Dogs, Pittsfield CityJazz Festival: the Karrin Allyson Trio, and the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, The Havana Cuba All-Stars: Performing "Cuban Nights," and Rev Tor Band & Friends Perform The Last Waltz Live: An All Star Re-Creation of The Band's Classic Concert Film.
The 6th 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 like no other. To kick off the weekend, Made in the Berkshires opening night benefit celebration will honor actress, director, business woman, and artistic associate, Karen Allen on Friday, November 11.
Celebrated actress Mary Mott will perform in a one woman show, directed by Bob Moss, at The Unicorn Theatre on October 29, October 30, November 5 and November 6.
Join us at The Colonial Theatre on Sunday, November 27, for the second annual free Children's Holiday Extravaganza, filled with fun for the whole family. This event includes kid-friendly activities, food and door prizes with pop up entertainers featured on the Colonial's main stage. Tickets must be reserved in advance and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
A few events in BTG's 2016 Season were previously announced, including: indie-pop band, And The Kids; founder and former KISS guitarist, Ace Frehley; folk singer/songwriter and musician, JoNathan Edwards (On The Stage Series) and folk singer/songwriter, Liz Longley (On The Stage Series).
Tickets may be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield or by calling (413) 997-4444 or 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. All plays, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change. Tickets for A Christmas Carol, Made in the Berkshires Festival, Mary Mott and Children's Holiday Extravaganza will be on sale within the next several weeks.
FALL 2016 OVERVIEW IN DATE ORDER:
And The Kidsat The Garage
Saturday, September 17 at 8pm
Tickets: $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show Recently called one of "the Western Mass. indie scene's brightest creative lights" by Pitchfork, Northampton, Massachusetts' And The Kids recently released their debut full-length album, Turn to Each Other (Signature Sounds). Turn to Each Other is more than an album title: it's a statement of fact for the band, whose bond-as musicians, friends and creative foils-is as tight as they come. The album features 11 tracks full of ringing guitars from Hannah Mohan, knotty rhythms from drummer Rebecca Lasaponaro and bold accents from synthesizers and percussion by Megan Miller. Together, they create "apocalyptic pop," a dizzying stop-start ride with lush, intricate soundscapes that frame Mohan's lively lead vocals. Taliana Katz made her debut as And The Kids' bassist at their NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and continues to carry the energy of the album to the stage.
Laugh Lounge: Joe List
at The Garage
Wednesday, September 21 at 8pm
Tickets: $12 in advance and $15 the day of the show
Hailed by the Boston Globe as the "most talented" and "the city's freshest new comedian" in 2005, Joe List is a favorite at clubs across New York City. In 2007, List performed at the prestigious HBO Las Vegas Comedy Festival, where his solid performance garnered industry attention and positive reviews. In 2010, List was a Semi-Finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing, was featured at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, and has since appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, and his own Comedy Central special.
Ace Frehley
with special guests, SIMO
at The Colonial Theatre
Tuesday, September 27 at 8pm
Tickets: $60
Through his work as a founding member of the band, KISS, and as a solo artist, Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer, Ace Frehley, is championed as one of the most influential guitar players of the last four decades. With his smash 1978 self-titled solo album and post KISS work including Anomaly, Frehley continues to be the best selling member of the original band.
Splitting from KISS in the early eighties, the first fruits of Ace's creative efforts came in 1987 with his new band, Frehley's Comet, and eponymous debut album, which yielded the radio hit, "Into the Night." From there, Frehley was on a roll, issuing a string of well received solo albums, including Second Sighting and Trouble Walkin.
Reuniting with KISS in 1996, Frehley teamed up with his old mates for a spectacularly successful five-year run, including high profile appearances at the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Splitting from the group in 2001 after their Farewell Tour, Frehley needed to recharge his creative batteries and took a much needed sabbatical after decades in the rock and roll circus. Eight years later, in 2009 Frehley returned to the music scene with his first new studio album in twenty years. A commercial and artistic triumph, Anomaly, proved to be his highest charting album since his classic 1978 solo debut.
American Premiere
The Bakelite Masterpiece
by Kate Cayley
directed by Kristen van Ginhoven
with David Adkins and Corrina May
a co-production with WAM Theatre
at The Unicorn Theatre
The Larry Vaber Stage
BTG's Stockbridge Campus, 6 East Street
Previews: Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30
Press Opening/Opening Night: Saturday, October 1 at 7pm
Talkback: Monday, October 6 after 7pm performance
Closing: Saturday, October 23 at 7pm
Tickets: Preview: $45
Tickets: $50
Lead Sponsor: Bobbie Hallig
After a critically acclaimed World Premiere at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, Canada, Berkshire Theatre Group and WAM Theatre are joining forces to present the American Premiere of The Bakelite Masterpiece. This stirring production is directed by Co-Founder and Artistic Director of WAM Theatre, Kristen van Ginhoven, and features BTG Alums David Adkins (Thoreau or, Return to Walden; Poe; Same Time, Next Year) and Corinna May (Same Time, Next Year; Homestead Crossing; Two-Headed).
It's the end of World War II, and Holland is in chaos. The artist Van Meegeren is arrested. His crime? Selling a long-lost painting by the Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer to the Nazi Leader, Hermann Goering. His defense? It was a perfect forgery painted by him. His proof? In front of his prosecutor Geert Piller, art historian and resistance fighter, he must paint another flawless Vermeer to save his life. The Bakelite Masterpiece is a play that debates beauty, faith, memory and the reconstruction of a country.
A portion of box office proceeds will be donated to the Berkshire Immigrant Center and Suzi Banks Baum.
On The Stage Series:
JoNathan Edwards
at The Colonial Theatre
Thursday, October 6 at 8pm
Tickets: $40
Four decades into a stellar career, JoNathan Edwards has only grown sweeter with age. His highly respected repertoire includes such classics as "Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy," "Sometimes," "One Day Closer," "Don't Cry Blue," "Emma," "Everybody Knows Her," "Athens County," "Shanty" and the classic, "Sunshine (Go Away Today)," that fierce proclamation of protest and independence that resonated with thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women when it was first released in 1971. This is a rare opportunity where audience and musical icon share the stage for one night only.
On The Stage Series
Liz Longley: Weightless Tour
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, October 8 at 8pm
Tickets: $30
Award-winning singer/songwriter, Liz Longley, has taken home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country, including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Rocky Mountain Folk Fest Songwriting Competition. According to Longley, she opens her soul in the service of her art because that's what matters most to her. "Every time I get into these songs they resonate with me, lock with me, because they're based on something I went through. I hope they connect with people and that they'll help with whatever they've gone through." Longley's songs and vocals invite complimentary comparisons to Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole and Nanci Griffith-all artists she's shared the stage with.
The On The Stage Series gives audiences the opportunity to see their favorite performers, up close and personal, with artists and audience together on the historic Colonial stage.
The Everly Brothers Experience by the Bird Dogs
at The Colonial Theatre
Thursday, October 13 at 8pm
Tickets: A: $35 B: $20
The Bird Dogs bring a genuine and youthful Everly Brothers experience to the stage. The Zmed brothers, Dylan and Zachary, celebrate the genetic intimacy so ever present in the harmonies created by Don and Phil Everly. When the guitar became electric, The Everly Brothers bridged the gap between country and rock 'n' roll. With countless hits and classics, The Everly Brothers inspired bands like the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, The Kinks, Buddy Holly and many groups that utilize the blend of two part harmony. Their career spanned three decades and they continue to influence artists around the world.
The Bird Dog's Everly Brothers Experience is a 90-minute recreation of some of the greatest music of all time with songs like, "Bye Bye Love," Wake Up Little Susie," "Cathy's Clown," "All I Have To Do Is Dream," and so many more.
Pittsfield CityJazz Festival: the Karrin Allyson Trio, and the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, October 15 at 7:30pm
Tickets: A: $35 B: $20
Music lovers and critics around the world have been marveling at the range of vocalist, Karrin Allyson. Allyson is an extraordinary musician, who moves with ease and authority, from the Great American Songbook of Gershwin and Porter to the Great American Jazzbook. Her trio appears with America's Big Band, the U.S. Army's 19-piece Jazz Ambassadors, who have received worldwide acclaim performing America's original art form. The evening will also feature the Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble, in residence at Herberg Middle School.
The Havana Cuba All-Stars: Performing "Cuban Nights"
at The Colonial Theatre
Thursday, October 20 at 8pm
Tickets: A: $65 B: $50 C: $25
The Havana Cuba All-Stars is a band comprised of Cuba's greatest and most prominent musicians, and is devoted to promoting the entire tapestry of Cuban music. The origin of the Havana Cuba All-Stars began when it was created to exemplify the great musical traditions of the Cuban people. This is their debut tour in the United States and Canada.
Drawing inspiration from their traditional Cuban Son, Cuba's greatest musicians have created and maintained the songs and music of the rich culture of the Cuban people. Staying true to an acoustic base, they have developed a fresh sound with inventive songwriting. The Cuban Nights program is representative of the extraordinary musical legacy of this wonderful country.
The Havana Cuba All-Stars are:
Fito Florian: Spanish Guitar, Tres & Chorus
Alejandro (Flecha) Albar: Steel Guitar, Tres & Chorus
Juan Luis (Luz Brillante) Alarcon: Bongos, Cowbell & Cajon
Vicente Arencibia: Lead Vocal & Congas
David Echevarria: Lead Vocal, Bongos & Hand Percussion
Michel (Pata) Salazar: Bass and Chorus
Camilo Menjura: Chorus, Hand Percussion, Guitar
Andres V. Valdes: Chorus & Guitar
Yoan Sanchez: Timbales, Snare, Congas & Percussion
Eikel Venegas: 2nd Trumpet & Slide Trombone
Michel Padron: 1st Trumpet & Valve Trombone
Laugh Lounge: Dave Hill
at The Garage
Wednesday, October 26 at 8pm
Tickets: $12 in advance and $15 the day of the show
Dave Hill burst onto the NYC comedy scene in 2005, and within two years was named one of "10 Comics to Watch" by Variety Magazine. In addition to performing at comedy festivals all over the world, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, he is a regular on Comedy Central's @midnight, TruTV's Comedy Knockout, and has appeared on Inside Amy Schumer, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Jim Gaffigan Show among many other shows. A published writer in The New York Times, GQ, Paris Review, XXL, McSweeney's, The Believer, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Salon, and The Huffington Post, Hill's second book, Dave Hill Doesn't Live Here Anymore, was published earlier this year to critical acclaim. Hill's comedy goes far beyond the traditional joke-punchline format, combining his unique perspective with storytelling, music, and more!
Made in the Berkshires Festival
at The Colonial Theatre, The Unicorn Theatre, and The Garage
Friday, November 11 through Sunday, November 13
Tickets: TBA
Made in the Berkshires opening night benefit celebration will honor actress, director, business woman, and artistic associate, Karen Allen on Friday, November 11.
Children's Holiday Extravaganza
at The Colonial Theatre
Sunday, November 27
Tickets: FREE (sale date, TBA)
Filled with fun for the whole family. This event includes kid-friendly activities, food and door prizes with pop up entertainers featured on the Colonial's main stage. Tickets must be reserved in advance and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Rev Tor Band & Friends Perform The Last Waltz Live:
An All Star Re-Creation of The Band's Classic Concert Film
at The Colonial Theatre
Friday, November 25 at 8pm
Tickets: $27.50
The Last Waltz LIVE is a re-creation of The Band's classic concert film, featuring The Rev Tor Band as The Band (accompanied by a full horn section) along with a cast of about a dozen local, regional, and national artists as the film's special guests. Not a tribute show, but rather a powerful community event.
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
adapted by Eric Hill
Directed by Travis G Daly
at The Colonial Theatre
December 10, through December 22
Tickets: TBA
Celebrate the timeless holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol with the whole family and revel in the joy and redemptive power of Christmas as told in the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, the infamous miser who is shown the error of his ways and reformed by four spirits. Journey back to Victorian England and experience the classic story filled with holiday carols and the wonderment of the season.
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 in Stockbridge, MA and Pittsfield, MA. The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (314 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. The Colonial is available to rent for performance events as well as other events/functions. For more information about renting our facilities, contact Ashlei Perkins at ashlei@berkshiretheatre.org, or (413)448-8084 x18. BTG also performs at The Garage, a music venue located in the lobby of The Colonial. BTG serves over 100,000 patrons per year and reaches over 13,000 students through its educational and outreach programs. To purchase tickets, call (413) 997-4444 or go online to www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.
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