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Colonial Theatre Plans Exuberant 2009-10 Season

Full Schedule of Coming Events

By: - Mar 25, 2009

Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season Colonial 2009 Season
Yesterday a large and expectant crowd huge of volunteers, trustees and contributors gathered at the Colonial theatre to await the formal announcement of the 2009–2010 season. The crowd was abuzz because word was that despite the down economy, the Colonial's leaders were going to make some adventurous moves. To date, the Colonial has been, to this observer at least, somewhat of a cautious organization. That is as it should be. Presenting well known artists  is not for the faint of heart, and mistakes can be expensive.

Finally David Fleming, the organization's CEO went to the microphone and announced exactly what the crowd had hoped for:  a daring and audacious schedule for the coming year. He explained that this was only done after a long process of surveying ticket buyers and the Berkshire community to determine what was most wanted. The resultant lineup expanded the range of offerings, even pushing the envelope a bit, while remaining safely within the mainstream.

On the slate are The Second City comedy group, Canadian Brass, Mel Brooks' The Producers, Richie Havens, Sister's Christmas Catechism, P.D.Q. Bach & Peter Schickele, The Irish Rovers, The Wedding Singer, David Sedaris, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Herman's Hermit's Starring Peter Noone, Seussical, James Naughton, Tom Chapin, The Dave Brubeck Quartet and Mandy Patinkin. And 30 more events.

Tickets have gone on sale to their supporting members - you can become one by contributing $50 or more -  and will open to the general public on April 7. They can be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, by calling (413) 997-4444 or online beginning April 7 at www.TheColonialTheatre.org.

The new season - its fourth -  begins on June 4, 2009 with a four-show run of Mel Brooks' The Producers and concludes on May 8, 2010 with the double-bill, family show Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny.

At the gathering, Fleming explained the choices:  "Our ongoing mission is to be a community resource in entertainment and education. We purposely present programs that appeal to the broadest possible audience. Our goal is to make the performing arts as inclusive as possible."
 
Fleming thanked those gathered for their individual contributions and pointed out that the Greylock Federal Credit Union is the exclusive sponsor for the Family Time series for a fourth year. Individual event sponsors include Berkshire Bank for Girl's Night: The Musical, Nelson Furlano, CPA for An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas with Eileen Ivers. Crane & Co. and The Legacy Banks Foundation have made generous sponsorship donations to support the entire season. Berkshire Life Insurance Company, Cain Hibbard & Myers, PC and Interprint, Inc. are co-sponsoring the Colonial's Performing Arts for Schools Program this season.
 
Gary Scarafoni, President of the Colonial Theatre's Board of Trustees - the volunteers who wrestle with the presenting organization's budget each year - remembered those who made the revitalization of the Colonial possible. "We have so many generous and visionary people to thank for the restoration and success of this architectural treasure. The ongoing support from local businesses and the acceptance of the people in the community is tremendous. I hope everyone who has caught the spirit of this great theatre will buy tickets, participate as advertisers and become annual contributors through memberships," he said.
 
Fleming took time to note a very important new relationship in programming: "We have established two new partnerships this year, the first with C-R Productions of Cohoes to bring The Producers and The Mikado, the second with The Berkshire Symphony Orchestra for two performances in the fall. We are proud to continue our involvement with the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival and support of Think Pink among many community groups."
 
This season, the Colonial is collaborating with many local community organizations and presenters along with Think Pink and the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, including: The Legacy Banks Foundation Lecture Series, Chapters Book Store, Romance, Soul Rock n' Roll, Berkshire Concert Choir, The Berkshire Bridal Show, Ballets Metropolis, Berkshire Symphony Orchestra, Berkshire Bach Society, Oldies but Goodies, Albany Berkshire Ballet, Westfield State College, Warren Miller with more to be announced.

When asked about the possible return of the Berkshire Opera, which has been reported to have gone out of business, the staff members I spoke with didn't offer much hope. They seemed as disappointed at the demise of the Berkshire's only opera company as are local opera lovers.
 
Here is the month by month rundown of the offerings, followed by a capsule synopsis by category from their press release:

June
6/04–6/06 Mel Brooks' The Producers
6/13 Mandy Patinkin: Dress Casual
6/14 Berkshire Bridal Fashion Show
6/18–6/20 Girl's Night: The Musical
6/24 Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone
6/30 P.D.Q. Bach & Peter Schickele
 
July
7/05 Bill Blagg III: A Night of Magic
7/09 The Glenn Miller Orchestra
7/13 James Naughton
7/20 An Evening with Jeff Daniels
7/22 Dark Star Orchestra
7/24 Gary Puckett
7/25 The GrooveBarbers
 
August
8/01 Tom Chapin
8/01 Harry Chapin: A Celebration In Song
8/04 Steve Ross: Live At the Algonquin
8/08 Assume the Position with Mr. Wuhl
8/17 Andrea Marcovicci: I'll Be Seeing YouÂ…
8/19 An Evening with Mountain
8/21 Melanie & Country Joe McDonald
 
September
9/30 An Evening with David Sedaris
 
October
10/03 Richie Havens
10/16 I'm A Boomer Baby!
10/17 The Dave Brubeck Quartet
10/18 Berkshire Symphony Orchestra
10/30–10/31 Ballets Metropolis: Dracula The Ballet
 
November
11/07 Hormonal Imbalance™
11/08 Seussical
11/14 The Second City
11/15 Berkshire Symphony Orchestra
 
December
12/01–12/06 Sister's Christmas Catechism
12/08 The Canadian Brass
12/09 George Winston
12/19 An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas with Eileen Ivers
 
January 2010
1/30 Cabaret
 
February 2010
2/06 Mike Dugan's Men Fake Foreplay
2/12 Romeo & Juliet
2/27 Corbian The Dinosaur
 
March 2010
3/02–3/03 The Wedding Singer
3/06 The Mikado
3/11 The Irish Rovers
3/27 Roger McGuinn & Tom Rush
 
April 2010
4/17 Janis Ian & Karla Bonoff
4/23 Sarah Vowell
 
May 2010
5/01 Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway
5/08 Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny
 
Broadway Series

MEL BROOKS' THE PRODUCERS

C-R PRODUCTIONS ON TOUR
Thurs 6/04/09 7:30pm • Fri 6/05 8pm • Sat 6/06 3pm & 8pm
A: $45 B: $25
Based on the classic 1968 movie, Mel Brooks' The Producers is an outrageous and hilarious musical comedy about two scheming Broadway theatrical producers. The winner of 12 Tony Awards, The Producers will have you holding your sides with laughter as Max Bialystock, Leo Bloom and a cast of outrageous characters sing and dance their way through the greatest showbiz scam ever devised!

MANDY PATINKIN: DRESS CASUAL 

WITH PAUL FORD ON PIANO
Sat 6/13/09 8pm
A: $75 B: $45
Before he was an Emmy-winning TV star, Mandy Patinkin was already a Tony-winning Broadway legend. Mandy Patinkin: Dress Casual presents the acclaimed actor-singer-storyteller in his most electrifying role: concert performer. "Mandy Patinkin is in the business of show stopping," raves the New Yorker, and that's exactly what he does in this powerful, passionate evening of popular song. From Irving Berlin to Stephen Sondheim, from Cole Porter to Harry Chapin, Mandy Patinkin takes you on a dazzling musical journey you'll never forget.

CABARET
Sat 1/30/10 3pm & 8pm
A: $65 B: $45
"'Wilkommen!, Bienvenue!, Welcome!,' sings the Emcee of the Kit Kat Club through painted lips, as the people of 1929 Berlin join him. Whatever your troubles, you will forget them at the Cabaret." Songs include, "Wilkommen," "Cabaret," "Money Makes the World Go Round," "Don't Tell Mama" and "Two Ladies." Cabaret is the winner of 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Revival.

THE WEDDING SINGER
Tues & Wed 3/02/10–3/03 7:30pm
A: $60 B: $35
With a score that pays loving homage to the pop songs of the 1980s, The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. This musical is based on the hit film starring Adam Sandler as Robbie Hart and Drew Barrymore as Julia.

NEIL BERG'S 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY
Sat 5/01/10 8pm
A: $45 B: $25
Five of Broadway's finest stars recreate the greatest moments from a century of Broadway musicals, including* The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, CATS, Jersey Boys, Rent, South Pacific, West Side Story and more—all in one magical evening. (*Shows subject to change)

Great Night Out Series

"I DO!" BERKSHIRE BRIDAL FASHION SHOW
Sun 6/14/09 Outdoor expo 4pm • Fashion show 6pm
All tickets: $40
Benefit for The Colonial Theatre and the Berkshire Historical Society
Don't miss this "one-stop-shop" for planning the perfect Berkshire wedding. Includes tented vendor area and bridal fashion show hosted by Deidre Torra of Deidre's. Offered as a counterpoint to "Something Old, Something New: 200 Years of Berkshire Brides," the exhibit of local antique gowns at Ventfort Hall, Lenox.

The World Famous
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
Thurs 7/09/09 7:30pm 
A: $35 B: $25
The legendary Glenn Miller was the most successful of all the big bandleaders back in the Swing era of the 1930s and '40s. Currently led by trombonist Larry O'Brien, the 19-member band continues to play the original Miller arrangements that keep exciting fans around the world.

THE GROOVEBARBERS
Sat 7/25/09 8pm 
All seats: $25
Don't miss this "acapella supergroup" comprising original members of Rockapella. Called "acapella rock and soul royalty" by the Village Voice, this awesome foursome serves up a sparkling blend of vocal group classics including "Earth Angel," "In The Still of The Night," "Why Do Fools Fall In Love," "Under The Boardwalk" and hits by Sam Cooke, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Beach Boys and more.
 
THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET 

& THE PITTSFIELD CITYJAZZ YOUTH ENSEMBLE
In Association with the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival
Sat 10/17/09 8pm 
A: $25 B: $15
Dave Brubeck, designated a "living legend" by the Library of Congress, continues to be one of the most active and popular musicians in both the jazz and classical worlds. The Pittsfield CityJazz Youth Ensemble, a big band comprising high school students, will perform and later join the Brubeck Quartet onstage.

BALLETS METROPOLIS: DRACULA THE BALLET
Fri 10/30/09 8pm • Sat 10/31 2pm & 8pm
A: $25 B: $15
After the success of its 2008 debut, Dracula returns to the Colonial in this family-friendly production by Ballets Metropolis.

ROMEO & JULIET

PRESENTED BY THE ACTING COMPANY AND THE GUTHRIE THEATER
Fri 2/12/10 8pm 
A: $45 B: $25
The Acting Company, the most respected and praised touring repertory theater in America, and the renowned Guthrie Theater proudly present Romeo & Juliet. Young love has never been so delightful, or as dangerous, as in this stirring, full-length production.

THE IRISH ROVERS
Thurs 3/11/10 7:30pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $45 B: $35
These international ambassadors of Irish music will deliver a rollicking, rousing performance of good cheer that will have audiences on their feet, singing and clapping along.

Just For Laughs Series

GIRL'S NIGHT: THE MUSICAL
Sponsored In-Part by Berkshire Bank
Thurs 6/18/09 7:30pm • Fri 6/19 8pm • Sat 6/20 3pm & 8pm
A: $45 B: $25
A touching and hilarious tell-it-like-it-is look at the lives of five female friends, Girl's Night: The Musical promises to have audiences laughing, crying and dancing in the aisles! Packed with female anthems including, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "I Will Survive," "Lady Marmalade," and more songs that celebrate women!

ASSUME THE POSITION WITH MR. WUHL
STARRING ROBERT WUHL       
Sat 8/08/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $45 B: $25
In an all new follow-up to his acclaimed HBO specials, Emmy-winning, Robert Wuhl, best known from his long running series, Arli$$ on HBO, delivers an imaginative, irreverent, hysterical take on history that ingeniously examines some of the facts, myths, and myths-that-became-facts that have permeated American history. Robert Wuhl is the history teacher you never had—but wished you did!

I'M A BOOMER BABY! STARRING DAN RILEY
Fri 10/16/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $35 B: $25
This one-man, fun-filled, musical tribute celebrates the songs, the spirit and the times of the Baby Boomer generation. Dan Riley covers songs by Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Elvis Presley, Richie Valens, Rod Stewart, The Who, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and more!

The Four Bitchin' Babes® Present
 HORMONAL IMBALANCE™
Â…A MOOD SWINGING MUSICAL REVUE!

Starring: Sally Fingerett, Debi Smith, Nancy Moran & Deirdre Flint
Sat 11/07/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $40 B: $25
Start with four gifted singer-songwriters—Add 3/4 cup married life, 4 kids, 3 cats, one piano, four guitars, a rockin' purple bass, a dollop of sharp social commentary and a pinch of PMS.  Set this on the road to tour for 17 years, throw in a hot flash or two and you've got Hormonal Imbalance™…A Mood Swinging Musical Revue!—an estrogen fueled hilarious show that celebrates the best of "Babes, Boys, and Botox."

THE SECOND CITY
Sat 11/14/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $35 B: $25
Hilarious, spontaneous, topical and insightful, The Second City is the most famous brand in live sketch comedy and has been the springboard for generations of the comedy world's best and brightest. Its alumni list includes: Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Candy, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Steve Colbert, Steve Carell and many, many more.

MIKE DUGAN'S MEN FAKE FOREPLAY
Sat 2/06/10 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $35 B: $25
"It was never about finding the right woman. It was about becoming the right man." Men Fake Foreplay is a hilariously funny, yet pointed commentary on relationships and the battle of the sexes, written and performed by Emmy-winning writer and Tonight Show comedian Mike Dugan.

Pop & Rock Series

HERMAN'S HERMITS 
STARRING PETER NOONE
with special guest Dan Riley (I'm A Boomer Baby!)
Wed 6/24/09 7:30pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with pre-show Artist meet & greet
A: $45 B: $25
At the age of fifteen, Peter Noone achieved international fame as "Herman," lead singer of the legendary '60s pop band Herman's Hermits. To date the band has sold over 60 million albums and continues to tour. Classic hits include, "Hold On," "I'm Into Something Good," "I'm Henry VIII I Am," "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter," "Baby, Baby, Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" and "There's A Kind of Hush."

DARK STAR ORCHESTRA

Continuing the Grateful Dead Concert Experience
Wed 7/22/09 7:30pm 
A: $45 B: $35
Using the same methods as orchestras interpreting the music of classical composers, Dark Star Orchestra recreates song for song Grateful Dead performances with, "fanatical attention to detail," according to Rolling Stone Magazine.

GARY PUCKETT
Fri 7/24/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $45 B: $25
Gary Puckett's unforgettable voice and songs defined a generation. Hits like "Young Girl," "Woman, Woman," "Lady Willpower," "Over You," "Don't Give In To Him" and "This Girl Is A Woman Now," have resulted in six consecutive gold records and made Puckett a concert, television and Las Vegas favorite.

Classical Series

P.D.Q. BACH & PETER SCHICKELE:

THE JEKYLL & HYDE TOUR
Tues 6/30/09 7:30pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $45 B: $35
For decades, Peter Schickele has kept audiences rolling in the aisles with his rib-tickling presentations of the alleged music of P.D.Q. Bach, classical music's answer to the Marx Brothers. The New York Times remarks, "as a musical humorist, Mr. Schickele is without peer and irreplaceable."

BERKSHIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Ronald Feldman, Music Director
Sun 10/18/09 2pm • Sun 11/15/09 2pm
All seats: $25
10/18 Berkshire Symphony Orchestra Accompanied by the Williams Concert Choir, Brad Wells, Director
Music from the Movies and the Gallery, Close Encounters, Altered States, Edward Scissorhands, Oscar and Lucinda, 
Empire of the Sun and Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
11/15 Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Rendering by Luciano Berio based on sketches by Franz Schubert for a 10th symphony, Brahms' Double Concerto for violin and cello. Haldan Martinson, violin, Mihail Jojatu, cello (members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra)

THE CANADIAN BRASS
Tues 12/08/09 7:30pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $50 B: $35
The Canadian Brass blends world-class virtuosity with spontaneity, precision choreography and humor to the delight of sold-out audiences worldwide. The group's gifted musicianship and quirky sense of humor make classical music cool and so much fun!

THE MIKADO
C-R PRODUCTIONS ON TOUR
Sat 3/06/10 3pm & 8pm 
A: $45 B: $25
The Mikado is a sparkling and lavish comedic operetta written by Gilbert & Sullivan at the height of their creative genius. A Japanese prince will do just about anything to win the hand of the national executioner's daughter, for she is his one true love. Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo and other charming and absurd characters will amuse and entertain.

Family Time Series
(Sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union)

BILL BLAGG III: A NIGHT OF MAGIC
Sun 7/05/09 2pm & 7pm
VIP: $40 preferred seating & pre-show, private "close-up" magic show
A: $15 B: $15
A Night of Magic is a Las Vegas style, family-show full of grand scale magic & illusion and unmatched audience interaction. Bill Blagg III is breaking the mold of the typical magician. Critics refer to his show as The Second City meets David Copperfield. Recommended for ages 5 and up

TOM CHAPIN
Sat 8/01/09 2pm 
All seats: $15
Three-time Grammy winner Tom Chapin presents a lively, interactive and fun-filled performance that will engage the hearts, minds and imaginations of children and adults alike. His witty and clever songs convey positive messages about family and the environment. Parents Magazine says, "Nobody today is writing and performing better kids' songs." Recommended for ages 4 and up

SEUSSICAL
Sun 11/08/09 1pm & 4pm 
All seats: $15
"Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters and stories hit the stage in this unforgettable musical adventure. The noble Horton the Elephant, the one-feathered bird Gertrude McFuzz and the antics of the Cat in the Hat steal the spotlight in one of Theatreworks' largest-scale productions to date! Recommended for ages 5 and up

CORBIAN THE DINOSAUR: 
A GLOW IN THE DARK ADVENTURE
Sat 2/27/10 3pm 
All seats: $15
Truly unique and visually dazzling, Corbian is an innovative theatrical experience that sparks imagination and inspires creativity. Audiences will be awed as electroluminescent crayon-like creatures and characters light up the stage in this heart-rending tale of a dinosaur that discovers the true meaning of love. Recommended for ages 7 and up

GOODNIGHT MOON & THE RUNAWAY BUNNY
Sat 5/08/10 1pm & 4pm
All seats: $15
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia presents an innovative double-bill adaptation of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd's beloved bedtime classics. Whimsical puppetry and evocative original music will bring a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted generations. Recommended for ages 3 and up

American Cabaret Theatre Series

JAMES NAUGHTON
Mon 7/13/09 7:30pm
A: $45 B: $35
Two-time Tony Award-winner ("Chicago," "City of Angels"), film & television star James Naughton, has won critical acclaim in dramas, comedies and musicals.  He has met equal success with his elegant and intimate solo concert/Cabaret acts, receiving the 1999 Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Award for Best Male Vocalist.

STEVE ROSS: LIVE AT THE ALGONQUIN

In Association with Ligeti Artists LLC/Theshowstore.com
Tues 8/04/09 7:30pm
A: $45 B: $35
Steve Ross performs classic songs from Dietz & Schwartz, Kurt Weill and Cole Porter, with more recent evergreens by Jim Croce and Stephen Sondheim. The San Francisco Inquirer raves, "attending a Ross performance is like opening a treasure chest of great, often rare, songs. No one performing today is his equal."

ANDREA MARCOVICCI: 
I'LL BE SEEING YOUÂ…LOVE SONGS OF WORLD WAR II
Mon 8/17/09 7:30pm
A: $45 B: $35
Through songs, stories and poetry, Andrea Marcovicci takes the audience on a journey through America's dramatic era of 1939–1945, when every song became irrevocably intertwined with precious memories. Highlights include "Skylark," "Sentimental Journey" and "The White Cliffs of Dover."

Singer–Songwriter Series

AN EVENING WITH JEFF DANIELS
Mon 7/20/09 7:30pm 
A: $45 B: $25
When you think of "grassroots" and "down to earth," you don't normally think of a movie star. But, that is what Jeff Daniels has accomplished with his second CD, Grandfather's Hat, proving that he is not an actor who sings, but an accomplished singer–songwriter whose musical talent stands alone.

HARRY CHAPIN: A CELEBRATION IN SONG
WITH TOM CHAPIN AND THE STEVE CHAPIN BAND
FEATURING JOHN WALLACE AND HOWARD FIELDS
Sat 8/01/09 8pm 
A: $45 B: $25
In an evening to remember, the famous, musical Chapin Brothers come together to celebrate and bring alive the music of the late Harry Chapin. Songs like "Taxi," "Cats In The Cradle," "Mr. Tanner" and "Circle" are sung by those who know them best—Harry's original band and his amazing family. An evening full of story, emotion, humor and transcendent music, this is a concert to fill your ear and stir your heart.

ROGER MCGUINN & TOM RUSH
Sat 3/27/10 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $45 B: $25
Roger McGuinn, the co-founder and front man of the Byrds, is an accomplished singer-songwriter. His amazing guitar technique and soaring vocals captivate audiences of all ages.
Tom Rush is a gifted musician and performer with a distinctive guitar style and a warm, expressive voice. Rush's shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues.

Songs of a Generation
Featuring
JANIS IAN & KARLA BONOFF
Sat 4/17/10 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with pre-show Artist meet & greet
A: $45 B: $25
Songs of a Generation is a celebration of song, featuring two of the most influential songwriters of the last three decades.
Janis Ian's hit songs include "Society's Child," "At Seventeen," "Jessie" and many more from her 27 albums.
Karla Bonoff has written numerous million-selling songs including "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me," "Home" and "All My Life." This will be the concert to remember from two unforgettable artists.

Woodstock at 40 Series

An Evening with
MOUNTAIN

featuring Leslie West & Corky Laing
Wed 8/19/09 7:30pm 
A: $45 B: $35
Few artists can be credited with forging a style and sound that forever changes the face of rock music. The innovative music of Leslie West, Felix Pappalardi, Corky Laing and Steve Knight and their seminal rock band, Mountain, is one of those elite examples. Hits include "Mississippi Queen" and "Nantucket Sleighride."

MELANIE & COUNTRY JOE MCDONALD
Fri 8/21/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with pre-show Artist meet & greet
A: $35 B: $25
Melanie has sold more than 80 million records over a 40 year career. Her hits, including "Brand New Key" and "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma," plus her classic Woodstock performance of "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)" have made her a legend.
Country Joe McDonald is one of the best known names from the '60s rock era still performing today. McDonald will be forever remembered for his "Give Me An F" cheer at the original Woodstock festival.

RICHIE HAVENS
Sat 10/03/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $35 B: $25
Richie Havens' fiery, poignant, soulful singing style has remained unique and ageless since his historic appearance at Woodstock in 1969. As the festival's first performer, Havens held the crowd spellbound for nearly three hours. Having run out of tunes, he improvised a song based on the old spiritual "Motherless Child" that became "Freedom," a song now considered to be the anthem of a generation.

Spoken Word Series

AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS
Wed 9/30/09 7:30pm • post-show book signing
A: $65 B: $45
NPR Humorist and Best-selling Author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and When You Are Engulfed in Flames
With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris is one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today.

SARAH VOWELL
Fri 4/23/10 8pm
A: $35 B: $25
Sarah Vowell is the acclaimed author of four bestselling books and a contributing editor for NPR's This American Life. She has written documentaries and monologues about everything from the Cherokee Trail of Tears, presidential libraries and Frank Sinatra, to more personal pieces about her father's homemade cannon, a youthful obsession with The Godfather and her own Goth makeover.

Holiday Cheer

SISTER'S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM: 

THE MYSTERY OF THE MAGI'S GOLD
Tues, Wed, Thurs 12/01/09-12/03 7:30pm; Sun 12/06 7pm
A: $30 B: $19
Fri 12/04 & Sat 12/05 8pm; Sat 12/05 3pm; Sun 12/06 2pm
A: $35 B: $25
Employing her own scientific tools, assisted by a local choir as well as a gaggle of audience members, Sister creates a living nativity unlike any you've ever seen. With gifts galore and bundles of laughs, Sister's Christmas Catechism is sure to become the newest addition to your holiday traditions.

GEORGE WINSTON
Wed 12/09/09 7:30pm
A: $45 B: $25
George Winston is a consummate, contemporary instrumental performer. Winston's melodic contemplative piano style conjures up seasonal images depicted in his bestselling albums Autumn, Winter into Spring, December and Summer.

AN NOLLAIG: 
AN IRISH CHRISTMAS
WITH EILEEN IVERS
Sponsored by Nelson Furlano, CPA
Sat 12/19/09 8pm
VIP: $65 preferred seating with post-show Artist meet & greet
A: $50 B: $35
Eileen Ivers captures the spirit and magic of the season in this heartwarming holiday show. The program features traditional Irish songs, original tunes and specially arranged holiday favorites such as "The Holly Tree," "Don Oíche úd I mBeithil" (One Night in Bethlehem), "Hark the Herald Angels," "The Wexford Carol" and more. An Nollaig is a special celebration for all ages by the legendary Ivers, described by the New York Times as "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin."
 
Tickets may be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, by calling (413) 997-4444 or online beginning April 7.

Quick Link to the Colonial Theatre