Colonial Theatre

Tony Award-winner Tommy Tune in Taps, Tunes, and Tall Tales performs on Monday, July 28 at 8pm at Barrington Stage in Pittsfield. Tune is a nine-time Tony Award winner for his work on Seesaw, A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine, Nine, My One and Only, Grand Hotel, and The Will Rogers Follies. In addition, he has been awarded eight Drama Desk Awards, three Astaire Awards and the Society of Directors and Choreographers' George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement. He was honored with The Helen Hayes Tribute in 2011. We have an interesting and hilarious interview.

"For our 86th Summer Season, we are producing a full schedule of musicals, plays, and special theatrical performances for another wonderful summer in the Berkshires with a splendid cast and crew of talented artists from across the nation,” said Kate Maguire. "Six extraordinary plays: The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful, Benefactors, Design for Living, A Hatful of Rain, including two world premieres: Cedars and POE and two wonderful musicals: A Little Night Musicand Seussical highlight our schedule and make for an enjoyable mix of masterful and provocative classics and contemporary works. A special week-long performance of A Lover's Talespotlighting the works of Giuseppe Verdi, Charles Ludlam and Alexandre Dumas and performances by our summer apprentices, our 86th season will be memorable and entertaining for all.”

No it ain't Mardi Gras in New Orleans but Pittsfield is giving it a shot. Shake off the funk with the annual city wide Ten by Ten Festival. There's lots to do so bundle up and break out of the cabin.

Yesterday there was a late afternoon media scramble when a Barrington Stage Company press conference announcing the 2014 season was followed within minutes by an unanticipated release by Williamstown Theatre Festival. It's taken some sorting but we now have an unusually early and clear picture of the summer season. We have a fairly complete clip and save rundown. Berkshire Theatre Group has yet to announce and WTF will soon post its program of the Nikos Stage.

In 1987 Clarence Fanto moved full time to the Berkshires joining the Berkshire Eagle as editor of its then new Sunday edition. He left the paper as its managing editor and several years ago rejoined as a reporter and has now slowed down as a freelancer and columnist. For the past several years he has compiled an annual summary of budgets, attendance and box office revenues of the major Berkshire arts organizations. We got together for lunch to connect the dots. There is no dispute over the accuracy of the data he compiles but we differ on its interpretation. Our occasional meetings and e mails are always lively and this is a chance to listen in.

With several major Berkshire arts organizations now closed until next year it's time to reflect on the intense and often remarkable 2013 high season. It's impossible to be everywhere, often with conflicts on any given night, but we offer highlights of what we managed to review. In addition to the Berkshires we covered five new plays at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The busy season included a number of interviews with artistic directors, actors and playwrights.

The iconic 1943 Oklahoma, with the magnificent music of Rodgers and Hammerstein would seem to be a shoe in hit for the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfeld. While the production has stunning moments, caveat emptor, the whole is less than the sum of its parts. After five decades the jingoism and heart on the sleeve Americana which wowed audiences during World War II is hardly convincing today.

Since moving to Vermont film and television actor, Treat Williams, is getting more involved with theatre in the Berkshires. We spoke with him following opening night of The Lion in Williams, with Jayne Atkinson, for Berkshire Theatre Group in Stockbridge. With its star billing the play is sure to be a top draw for the 2013 season. He talked about working with South African playwright Athol Fugard.

Julianne Boyd, the artistic director of Barrington Stage in Pittsfield called for a morning chin wag about the upcoming season. That led to a lively discussion of the current state of theatre and impact of criticism. Now in its 8th season the company has just completed raising $7 million. This is part one of an extended dialogue.

Seeing Joan Rivers on stage at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield prompted us to check out the video documentary. It was featured a couple of years ago in the Berkshire International Film Festival. With an appearance by the star at the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington. Missed it. Having seen the bitch in heat we were curious to learn more about the insecure, fragile little girl from Brooklyn lurking behind that ferocious, grotesque, surgically altered mask. If you think you know Joan Rivers see this documentary and think again.

At 81 the sharp witted Joan Rivers has passed from complications at a clinic that are under investigation. In a 2013 appearance in the Berkshires we wrote "With a mask like face, pulled as tight as a drum from numerous nips and tucks, the potty mouthed, eighty something going on sweet sixteen, Joan Rivers prowled the stage of the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield like a tigress in heat hungry for raw meat."

Over the years we heard Richie Havens perform on many occasions. Including at 2009 concert at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. He returned to the Berkshires and Mass MoCA in 2010. He is best remembered for opening the Woodstock Rock Festival in 1969 and later being included in the film and album of that event. It established a career that ended only recently because of deteriorating health. He is recalled as one of the great voices and unique stylists of his generation.

Legendary comedian, Joan Rivers, will perform her world renowned stand up at The Colonial Theatre on May 10 at 8pm with opener Brad Zimmerman. Audience members are invited to walk the red carpet before the show and stay after to see Tom Judson sing and play the piano in The Garage.

Berkshire Theatre Group announces three additions to its 85th summer season: the 8th Annual Children's Theatre Production, Peter Pan, at The Colonial Theatre, Just So Stories, by Rudyard Kipling, at The Neil Ellenoff Stage and a special writers workshop with Hunter Bell, of the Tony nominated show, [title of show]

Bringing beloved classics to life on the Colonial Stage, The Hit Men, featuring original stars from Frankie Valli & The Four seasons, perform live at The Colonial Theatre on March 21 at 7:30pm.

Major funding for the Festival of Women Writers is provided by the John A. Sellon Charitable Trust, the Massachusetts Council on the Humanities, Bard College at Simon's Rock, and local Cultural Councils of the Massachusetts Council on the Arts, along with many organizations, individuals and businesses.

During the July Fourth weekend which launches the Berkshire season the Colonial Theatre will stage the perennial tribute to Ameriana the classic musical Oklahoma. The Stockbridge Main Stage will get a jump start on June 25 with Treat Williams starring in The Lion in Winter. Local legend Karen Allen, who made her directorial debut at the Unicorn Theatre with Moonchildren will return to that stage directing Extremities.

With a diverse staff of contributors Berkshire Fine Arts strives for national theatre coverage. In this year end roundup we provide an overview with highlights rather than a top ten or best of list. There are numerous links to plays, features and interviews. Overal,l it was a great year that include a week in Chicago for the meeting of the American Theatre Critics Association as well as in depth coverage of the Berkshires and a taste of Broadway.

For the brilliant young comic, Jenn Harris, the indy film, Gayby, which was screened at the recent Williamstown Film Festival may be her breakthrough. We spoke with her about the film and her work with the young company QWAN. She and Randy Harrison appeared for a one nighter with Qwan at the Colonial Theatre this past summer.

Arlo Guthrie will play the Colonial on November 16 at 8pm to honor his father, Woody Guthrie, and all that he contributed to Folk Music. For this concert only, Arlo will be accompanied by his family, to celebrate Woody Guthrie's life and music.

The second and final part of Williamstown Film Festival covers events on Saturday and Sunday. The five day festival drew some 1,200. With so much to absorb in a short time we offer some higlights and insights for the 14th annual WFF.

Now 74, for the very first time, Kenny Rogers performed in the Berkshires. In an adventurous booking coup the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield was near capacity for a rare appearance by a leading Country artist. With his signature, rough textured vocals and greatest hits Rogers both amused and abused a doting audience.

​Berkshires Jazz, Inc. has announced the final lineup for the 8th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, which runs from Oct. 4-13 in various venues in downtown Pittsfield. The music spans the spectrum of jazz, and includes the New England Jazz Ensemble with guest soloists Giacomo Gates and Ali Ryerson; The Jazz Arts Trio; Jazz About Town (a "jazz crawl" that features local musicians in restaurants and lounges throughout downtown on Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 5-7); and a new entry in the Jazz Prodigy series, Adam O'Farrill, a trumpet player who is garnering accolades across the northeast.

Berkshire Theatre Group regular Randy Harrison was on hand to support his pals playwright/ actor Hunter Bell and members of the New York based theatre/ education collective Story Pirates. The mostly younger audience found this second ever performance of the workshopped musical Found just hilarious. While youth must be served it was a tad too raunchy for grownups.

Wall Street Journal drama critic Terry Teachout has written and produced an opera The Letter and a play Satchmo at the Waldorf. He has written two plays and another libretto since then but refuses to reveal details. We discussed his next music bio Mood Indigo, about Duke Ellington, which he hopes to finish in January. He did admit that he had a multi character idea for a play that would not include Ellington.