Colonial Theatre

The smaller Nikos Stage of the Williamstown Theatre Festival has long been known for presenting new plays many of which went on to runs Off Broadway. In her first season as artistic director, Jenny Gersten has added reworking classics to the Nikos program with mixed results. The season opener Streetcar Named Desire raised critical eyebrows. The second classic A Doll's House is a bomb that has arrived D.O.A. for a run that, ironically sold out on the lure of the potential of one of Ibsen's most enduring plays. Who knew?

At six feet six Tommy Tune, with nine Tony Awards, has cast a long shadow over Broadway. Reflecting on 50 years in show business through, song and dance with anecdotal commentary he will appear at the Colonial Theatre on Thursday, August 11. In an often hilarious dialogue we discussed a challenging life in theatre and dance that started deep in the heart of oh so macho Texas.

When Rocco Landesman, the head of the NEA, suggested that there are too many arts organizations with supply outweighing demand there was a response of outrage in the arts community. Here in the Berkshires it begs the question of sufficient audience and patrons to support four major theatre companies. It also begs the question of the role of critics? Are we just providers of consumer information for ticket buyers?

Tommy sold out at the Colonial for the VIP opening on Saturday night. The reviews are staggering in, partly because some critics opted for an offer of better seats on Monday night. That doesn't give much time to promote an expensive show with a short run that ends on Saturday. We asked artistic director, Kate Maguire, about that during the opening night party.

Act fast if you plan to see the smash rock opera Tommy, starring Randy Harrison, at the Colonial Theatre. The hit show, which opened last night in Pittsfield will close after next weekend. In this first co production of the Colonial and Berkshire Theatre Festival, as the now combined as Berkshire Theatre Group, even in short run of an expensive production, in an 800 seat house that's a lot to tickets to sell. So call now if you want in on the top ranked theatrical event the Berkshire season. Shoot yourself if you miss this one.

In 1950, as a little shaver, Mom took me to the original Broadway production of the then five time Tony winning musical Guys and Dolls. Now, decades later, be still dear heart, the production at Barrington Stage evokes a thrilling rush of childhood memories. I was enchanted then and just as ecstatic now. This is the smash hit and sure sell out that launches a fabulous new Berkshire season.

Nearly seven months after two of Berkshire County’s preeminent producing and performing theaters said that they intended to join forces, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer Kate Maguire announced that both have merged into one organization: Colonial Theatre/Berkshire Theatre Festival Merger Corporation.

Tom’s Colonial Theatre appearance this Saturday past was more than just a concert. It was a reunion and a celebration of the mutual respect with which Paxton and the Pittsfield fire brigade hold each other.

With the high profile Ferrin Gallery space on the market has a flagship of the creative economy in Pittsfield morphed into a red flag? In part two of an in depth interview with Leslie Ferrin we explore the complex reasons behind this decision. What does it imply about the fragile infrastructure and synergy of the arts in the Berkshires? How tough is it to stretch the busy summer season into a year round retail operation? Overall, Ferrin is upbeat about new options and challenges.

With affordable rent in a rural setting Leslie Ferrin has sustained a successful gallery through a difficult economy. But she is now faced with the decision to sell the space in Pittsfield. She plans to focus more on the major art fairs and working with artists whose careers have really taken off with global opportunities. That is measured against a retail business that is only viable during the busy Berkshire summer season.

This summer, in partnership with the Berkshire Theatre Festival and The Colonial Theatre, The Mount--the historic estate of Edith Wharton--is introducing family friendly outdoor theatre. Nightly performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will run from July 20 through July 30.

Ella Baff, the artistic director of Jacob's Pillow, described meeting the President and First Lady during an award ceremony at the White House as a "peak experience." She discussed travel to Cuba where she covered 30 companies in five days. This summer Mark Morris and his company will open the season for Tanglewood and close it for The Pillow.

Our Boston correspondent Barbara Brilliant provides a dense schedule of arts events in Boston. The listings provide capsule and links for box office connections. Events range from Hair and Educating Rita to a complete breakdown of the Boston Pops.

A stellar line-up of legendary Boston rock musicians, who have played with The J. Geils Band, Aerosmith, Boston, The Joe Perry Project and other notable acts, have joined together to play an All-Star concert at four dates around New England.

The Colonial Theatre's live music additions include the underground hip-hop icon Talib Kweli on July 22, Jersey Shore rock legends Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on August 25, the unique Celtic sounds of the Tartan Terrors on October 21 and the return of the popular community production Romance, Soul & Rock N’ Roll on October 28 and 29. The family programming will begin with the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats on June 11 and The Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical on December 4.

Blogs and the social networks routinely scoop print media on news, previews and reviews. By the time newspapers cover arts stories they may be days old. Arts organizations continue to rely primarily on print reviews to sell tickets but that has changed dramatically in the past few years. Through blogs and tweets Broadway shows with long previews may be dead in the water by opening night. Through internet coverage audiences make up their minds on ticket sales before reviews appear in print.

During its initial seasons the 100-year-old former vaudeville house, the Colonial Theatre, renovated at a cost of some $23 million, seemed more like a white elephant than a tangible asset. Coming into its first season in a merger with the Berkshire Theatre Festival is proving to be a game changer for theatre and the performing arts in the Berkshires. Artistic director, Kate Maguire, is leading with an ace by headlining Randy Harrison in the rock musical Tommy. See me, feel me, touch me.

This year’s lineup includes three world premiere theatre performances produced by BTF, three separate BTF musical productions on the Colonial stage, a rare appearance by noted columnist Frank Rich and live performances of some of the leading artists in the worlds of theatre, jazz and comedy. Among the organizations that will be co-promoting events will be Lift Ev’ry Voice, the Pittsfield 250th anniversary committee, Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, Word x Word Festival, and ZipStohr Comedy.

Hot Tuna Blues sizzled at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. It launched a busy Valentine celebration in the Berkshires. Barrington Stage is presenting a weekend long V Day Cabaret. Shakespeare & Company is opening a winter run of Mystery of Irma Vep. Williamstown Theatre Festival announces its season on Friday and hosts a reading of a Neal Simon play on Monday at the Clark. The Met Live in HD will screen Nixon in China on Saturday at the Mahaiwe, Beacon and Clark. Here's looking at you sweetheart.

Storefront Artist Project announces the relocation of its gallery and office to 31 South Street at the corner of Park Square in downtown Pittsfield Massachusetts. Storefront will be leaving its present location in the Howard building at 124 Fenn Street, a space it has occupied since 2006, and share the new South Street space with local retailer Emporium.

The Colonial Theatre has a full slate of performances scheduled through May, all of which will continue as originally scheduled. While Mr. Shaw may add on to the existing calendar, his primary focus is on the 2011–2012 season which will begin in June.

Now that we have slogged through the Holidays there is a lot of new theatre and music to enjoy. This month Huntington Theatre opens Ruined. Over in Cambridge ART focuses on visionary architect R. Buckminster Fuller. Emerson has a range of events at its Majestic and Paramount theatres. We have tips and links for information and tickets.

For most of us right now its jingle bells. With the announcement of the 2011 Tanglewood schedule this week, however, Berkshire arts organizations are hard at work planning a fast launch to the season on the Fourth of July. But, like Abbott and Costello, come summer, let's hope they aren't wondering about "who's on first." There is desperate need for branding, pooled resources, and a marketing strategy for the Berkshires.

Our Boston arts and entertainment correspondent has been making a list and checking it twice. There is a lot of fun for the whole family on tap for the holiday season. Barbara Brilliant once again provides a cheat sheet to the best and brightest offerings and convenient links to the box office.

There is a domino impact for the arts in the Berkshires with the merger, over the next year, of the Colonial Theatre and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. A more dynamic Colonial increases the critical mass and leadership of Pittsfield as the matrix and hub of the arts and cultural economy. It is equidistant from the boundaries of the region that represent more than an hour to drive from one end to the other. Strengthening the thriving arts community in Pittsfield changes the paradigm for the region. It increases the potential for synergy or competition.