by Shera Cohen
Usually our Berkshires’ articles have been written in the
past tense, reason being that our initial media format was a newspaper.
Although, I am one of those who enjoy leafing through newspapers and magazines,
I’ve been told to move into the 21st century. And so we have internet, website,
Facebook, and probably other apparatus that I have not yet learned.
Every summer, I create a spreadsheet listing my selections
for this summer’s Berkshires arts and culture to attend. One conscience element
is to find something different, even if slight.
Some of my additions are quirky, first -time events, and/or
designed for children. I take in everything possible that is offered; there’s
only 24 hours to squeeze in much more, or at least more that is novel to me.
"Taming of the Shrew" in rehearsal |
St. Ann’s Summer Festival: Not everything in the Berkshires
costs money. This is an ol’ town festival arranged by a group of ol’ town folk
to delight their neighbors and tourists. I’ve never been, but I attend this
year on July 13th. http://stannlenox.org/pdfs/2019/Tri-Fold-2019-final.pdf
Talks: Jacob’s Pillow, WTF, Shakes & Co., Barrington
Stage, Tanglewood, Aston Magna, Tanglewood, and other venues offer free talks
before or after performances. I used to attend a few of these when there was
time to kill. Now, I purposely make time for talks; they’re far more
interesting than killing time. Google each venue’s site for dates.
Sell Out: Oh no, you missed purchasing the last four seats
for your long-awaited play? Do you have to sit together? Not really. No one
talks (or shouldn’t) during performances. See your friends during intermission
and after the show.
Sculpture by Andrew DeVries |
Sculpture: Sculpture Andrew DeVries’ name is synonymous with
the Berkshires. His are the many works throughout the region of elongated
women’s bodies standing, blown in the wind. He’s a chatty fellow who’s always
out and about in Stockbridge and Lenox. I rarely approach famous artists, but I
did. You know, artists are people. You might want to get out of the “but why
would they talk to me” thoughts. DeVries is a fun guy. https://andrewdevries.com
Berkshire Theatre Group: Occasionally, on Friday afternoon,
BTG offers professional play readings. The audience asks questions and
comments; it makes for a wonderful “test” for the writer. Whether this is new
to BTG or not, it is new to me. In fact, most theatre venues offer readings.
You might be watching the next “All My Sons”? www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
BTG Repeats: Again, something I’ve never done; see the same play twice in two weeks. Actors and directors repeatedly claim that no two performances are ever the same. Maybe I will agree with them? Maybe not. I have selected “The Skin of Our Teeth.”
Tanglewood Music: The smaller facility, Osawa Hall, hosts
music, conductors, musicians, and genres oftentimes new to me. I’ve scheduled a
guitar duo concert with Beatles’ songs on the menu. I think of Tanglewood as
“The Shed.” It’s about time that I experience this other performing arts venue
more. Then there’s the new, giant education/performance building, open
year-round. www.bso.org
Happy Anniversary: Numerous venues are celebrating
significant anniversaries of some sort this summer, each hosting special
programs, and many for kids. I’m not sure if I’ll “party,” but you can.
The Mount, photograph by Christina Lane,
Courtesy
of Berkshire Magazine
|
The Mount: You don’t know about Edith Wharton? Never read
her books? No worries. Tours of her Lenox mansion, carriage house, and grounds,
along with weekly author talks give the Berkshires just a tad bit of upper
crust culture that you would imagine was the norm a century ago. www.edithwharton.org
How to schedule 2 Berkshire weeks: On any given summer day
there can be as many as a dozen cultural opportunities to choose from. When we
started our journeys 25 years ago, we thought nothing of scheduling 4 programs
each day; i.e. the Boston Ballet at Jacob’s Pillow, “A Doll’s House” at
Williamstown Theatre, a freaky and fun frog exhibit at Berkshire Museum, and
the annual sculpture show at Chesterwood. Years passed; we aged. Surprise. Our
decision was to cut four venues to three; enough to satisfy our bodies and
brains. We learned what we wanted to do vs. what we were able to do.
Jacob’s Pillow: I will admit that most dance troupes are
extraordinary, over the years a few were quite strange and much too odd for me.
You can’t win them all, whatever the genre is. However, in lieu of seeing the
second half of the afternoon’s dance, roaming the Pillow’s beautiful campus,
small buildings, photography barn, and snazzy gift shop was enough for me to
enjoy. I had never taken the time to do that. I’ll be seeing Mark Morris and
Paul Taylor this summer. www.jacobspillow.org
A New Art…for you: You hate modern art. You haven’t been to
an historic museum in decades. Musicals are so artificial. I dare you – give
every art form a chance. You may appreciate the art through your “new” eyes of
an adult than many years ago when your teacher dragged the entire third grade
class to the symphony, for example.
Speaking of musicals: I already know the ones on my Top 10
List, and they will stay steadfast forever. There is absolutely no room for
anything new. But, I just “discovered” Mac-Haydn Theatre, in the New York state portion of the Berkshires. Who knows what
wonderful productions they might do? I’ve got my tickets for “Ragtime.” www.machaydntheatre.org
What to wear? I was under the old assumption that when you
go to the theatre, especially in the evening, you dress up. Wrong. The fine
duds are unnecessary especially in the Berkshires.
Shakespeare with a newbie: While I’m rather astute at
“getting” Shakespeare [majored in
Hancock Shaker Village |
Hancock Shaker Village: Visiting HSV has been on my bucket
list for 10 years. As you can see, my list is not exotic, but more on the
educational side. Animals are not my thing. They belong in one place, and
humans belong in another. This is true history; not the fake stuff. HSV is back
on my list this summer. www.hancockshakervillage.org
New Horizon: This is a must-see – a first time ever, both on
and above the planet. Appearing in Stockbridge and Williamstown will be a gigantic,
glass, floating balloon-like art sculpture. Accompanying concerts, art parties,
and children’s events are popping up throughout the Berkshires and Massachusetts. This is truly one of those unique, elaborate, and fun things to do that
you’ve never done before. This is a First. The balloon will embark and hover
over Naumkaeg in Stockbridge. www.thetrustees.org/newhorizon
Take time to read our summer reviews to know where In the Spotlight writers have been. and visit https://berkshires.org. Then decide where you might want to go.
Happy Summer!