Jacob's Pillow

Larry Murray moved from promoting the Pocket Mime to the BSO and Boston Ballet. He also worked with the legendary opera promoter Sarah Caldwell. He was on duty and fielded the press calls when his friend Arthur Fiedler passed away. In this second installment Murray describes his early years in theatrical marketing and PR.

MASS MoCA announces a major $3 million gift from the estate of Irene Hunter. This gift also leverages an anonymous $1 million challenge grant and the resulting $4 million total marks the completion of MASS MoCA's Permanence campaign which raised over $36.4 million since its launch in 2007. The Permanence Campaign had three goals: To create an endowment to provide financial stability for MASS MoCA's future and to build and endow a "museum within a museum" dedicated to Sol LeWitt's Wall Drawing Retrospective, and to support operations during the campaign period.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance, international arts presenter and home of America’s longest-running dance festival, now offers a curated online selection of informative and entertaining PillowTalks. Based in Becket, Mass., Jacob’s Pillow hosts more than 160 free pre-show talks, post-show interviews, and hour-long PillowTalks during its annual Festival. PillowTalks are a series of hour-long moderated discussions with choreographers, performers, historians, filmmakers, and experts in the arts and related fields.

Nice, but not exactly ground breaking. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago wants you to love them. They’re not one of those experimental, way out there dance companies that doesn’t care what the public thinks about its performances. They’re like the nice girl in high school, who says thank you and always smiles whenever you say something.

The Goteborg Ballet proved why they are the largest contemporary dance company in Nordic countries

The program had all the ingredients for a memorable night of dance, but CND2 artistic director Nacho Duato outsmarted himself and mixed them all up.

A U.S. premiere from Thailand arrives at Jacob’s Pillow July 14-18 in the Doris Duke Theatre. In the full-length work Chui Chai (Transformation), internationally acclaimed performer and choreographer Pichet Klunchun entwines khon, a form of traditional Thai masked dance drama, with contemporary movement. Intricate costumes and masks and music by Sinnapa Sarasas create a world of ancient beauty and drama that Klunchun juxtaposes with elements of modernity

The ballet company's delightful performance features seven distinctly different dances. For those who think the ballet company revolves around Ananiashvili, think again.

Jacob’s Pillow kicks off Festival 2010 on June 19 with the Season Opening Gala, the world-renowned dance organization’s biggest annual fundraising event. Following an exclusive Gala performance in the Ted Shawn Theatre and the presentation of the prestigious Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award to choreographer and director Bill T. Jones, guests are treated to dinner and dancing to live music. This evening is widely celebrated as a signature summer event in the Berkshires and attracts a multitude of dance lovers, celebrities, government dignitaries, and visitors from around the world every year.

The launch of the Fourth of July arts season in the Berkshires will be like an explosion in a fireworks factory. There has never been a greater offering of superb and diverse performances. While three days of James Taylor and Carole King at Tanglewood sold out ages ago there are many other top options. Mass MoCA is going head to head with Tanglewood on Friday night. It has Richie Havens vs. The Pops. Barrington Stage and Williamstown Theatre Festival will duke it out with dueling Sondheim musicals. There is a ton of stuff at Shakespeare & Company including the opening of John Douglas Thompson in Richard III. Jacobs Pillow and Berkshire Theatre Festival are in the mix. We offer a complete rundown.

During the opening gala of Jacob's Pillow on June 19 the dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones will receive the festival's Fourth Annual award. Jones won a Tony Award for Spring Awakening and is the director of Fela a musical which is now on Broadway. The Jacob's Pillow award comes with a prize of $25,000.

In its annual collaboration with Jacobs Pillow the 25-year-old Stephen Petronio dance company presented a new work I Drink the Air Before Me at Mass MoCA. The dance set to music by Nico Muhly evoked a storm at sea. It was an evening of turbulence in every sense.

In 2008, with $8 million in debt and missed payments, Berkshire Bank initiated foreclosure on Edith Wharton's Lenox estate The Mount. Under executive director, Susan Wissler, that debt has been reduced to $5.1 million with an annual budget of $2 million. The Mount is about to launch a new season with expanded programming. While The Mount is back on track it faces daunting challenges.

Back in the day the Berkshire Museum, the oldest in the region, collected everything from soup to nuts. The museum's director, Stuart Chase, is challenged to find projects drawn from a vast collection of 30,000 objects. The interactive exhibitions are fun for families and instructive for 13,000 annual visiting students.

Since 1987, State Representative, Dan Bosley, Democrat- North Adams, has been a great supporter of the arts organizations in the Berkshires. Last night, at the cozy Inn at Richmond, he asked a room of blue chip arts leaders for their support in a race for Berkshire Sheriff. He is opposed by Pittsfield Police Detective Thomas Bowler.

There is something magical about James Taylor and Tanglewood. But add his pal, Carole King, and wow. With the Pops on Friday, and three concerts by the dynamic duo, Tanglewood is set to draw some 60,000 visitors on the Fourth of July Weekend. Talk about fireworks. Zowie.

Highlights of the 2010 Festival include the U.S. debut of The Göteborg Ballet of Sweden; three world premieres co-commissioned by Jacob's Pillow from diverse young choreographers Kyle Abraham, Monica Bill Barnes, and Camille A. Brown; U.S. premieres from Spain, India, Thailand, and Israel; and celebrated favorites including contemporary ballet company Trey McIntyre Project, the men-on-pointe offerings of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and the ever-popular Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

The best things in life are free. Sortah. On Saturday, February 13 from 11 AM to 8 PM there is no charge to hang out at Mass MoCA. There will be tours of the galleries as well as fun and games. With complimentary cake and ice cream. Whoopie. Afro Cuban Hip Hop drummer and band leader Pedrito Martinez, will keep the dance floor packed starting at 8 PM. It will cost you $15 in advance and $19 the day of the show. Not free but cheap to shake your bootie on a frosty night.

In a pre Holiday meeting Joe Thompson, director of Mass MoCA, greeted staff, volunteers and the media followed by curators presenting a preview of the coming season. Musician and performance artist, Laurie Anderson, will be in residence with a dialogue on January 16. After a dinner break there will be Alt Cafe that night. Time to mark your calendars.

Jones' latest dance a let down. He's a nice person, pleasant to interview, smart, sincere and sometimes the creator of some really amazing dances. But.

Monica Bill Barnes will be in residence October 18-25, Kyle Abraham arrives November 15-21, and Camille A. Brown in the spring of 2010, April 18-25. Each Creative Development Residency includes housing and unlimited studio use for the artists and their dancers, and concludes with an invitation-only, work-in-progress showing during which artists receive valuable creative feedback from audience members.

The Arts and Artists of Adams, Massachusetts have received little attention. There are two vital and evolving arts organizations, the Topia Art Center and Greylock Arts Gallery, as well as several cultural entities to visit and enjoy.

Tina Ramirez founded Ballet Hispanico in 1970. She recently stepped down and the new Artistic Director is Eduardo Vilaro. Starting in 1984 this is the fourth appearance of the New York based company at Jacob's Pillow. They will close the Pillow season on Sunday, August 30. This appearance includes the world premiere of "Locked Up Laura" and four other works.

Summer may seem to be drawing to a close, but you can't tell by the busy schedule in the next few weeks. In fact, more new shows are opening, fresh dance companies are unpacking and the jazz musicians are waiting in the wings for a festive climax to Summer in the Berkshires. To make sure you don't miss anything, here is another handy roundup of the best events for late summer through the big Labor Day weekend.

The Doug Varone company resided in New York at the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center. Varone is noted for work in dance, theatre, opera, film, television and fashion. The company has thrilled the audience with a stunning program at Jacob's Pillow Dance in Becket.