Press Contacts

Press Contacts:

Rebecca Brighenti, (413) 448-8084 x11 [email protected] www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org

Christina Riley, (413) 448-8084 x15 [email protected] www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org

For Immediate Release, please: Friday, October 3, 2013

Governor and First Lady Celebrate Berkshire Culture at Made in The Berkshires 2014 New Works Festival

Pittsfield, MA– Governor Deval L. Patrick and First Lady Diane B. Patrick will serve as Honorary Chairs of the 2014 Made in the Berkshires festival. The ‘locally grown’ arts festival is held on Columbus Day Weekend, October 10-12 and features new works in drama, dance, music, film, readings, and visual art. Now in its fourth year, Made in the Berkshires presents artists, writers, and performers who share a common connection with the region co-curated by Hilary Sommers Deely and Barbara Sims.

“We’re delighted to see Made in the Berkshires flourish and we appreciate the Governor’s and Mrs. Patrick’s endorsement,” said Kate Maguire, Artistic Director and CEO of Berkshire Theatre Group. “The Colonial Stage will play host to an opening extravaganza and throughout the weekend there will be performances both in Pittsfield and at the Unicorn Theatre on our Stockbridge campus.”

The Opening Night celebration kicks off on October 10th at 6pm in the Colonial Theatre lobby with a cocktail hour and visual art show curated by Suky Werman. The opening night program begins at 7:30pm on stage at The Colonial Theatre. Highlights include a film rave by Joe Wheaton, a scene from Diary of a Fashionista; Styled by Destiny, 25 local young dancers from Youth Alive in a performance combining rap and fashion trends and hip hop; 13 year old jazz musician, Nico Wohl; "Who's Loving You" By Michael Buble, danced by Stockbridge-based dancer Ruslan Sprague and Tess Lane; Paul Celebi, classical pianist from Berkshire Music School; Berkshire County’s blues rocker Albert Cummings in a music video shot at The Colonial Theatre by Dave Simonds; scenes from Emmy Award-winning writer Lee Kalcheim’s new play Speed Dating. The Opening Night Celebration is followed by a “Taste of the Berkshires” reception in The Colonial lobby featuring Berkshire farm to table produce and locally crafted foods with music from DJ RothFitz.

On Saturday, October 11 at 1pm, The Unicorn Theatre, will feature two performance blocks; Lee Kalcheim’s new full length play Speed Dating and a Shorts program at 3:30pm, a celebration of literary works, from Albert Stern, Maggie Howard, Jane Denitz Smith, Jane Ryan, Andrew Joffe, Dina Noto, Carole Owens, Joel Kalodner and Lisa Avery. On Saturday evening at 7pm in The Unicorn Theatre, patrons are invited to experience the last four days of Edgar Allan Poe’s life in a new play and world premiere of POE written and directed by Eric Hill featuring David Adkins with Madeline Calandrillo, Kate Maguire, Brian E. Plouffe, and J. Andrew Young.

On Saturday evening at 7pm Made in the Berkshires is thrilled to present Berkshire Dance Theatre, Berkshire Pulse, Dawn Lane and The Moving Company and the choreography of Ruslan Sprague in a “dance extravaganza” on the Colonial stage. “Diary of a Fashionista; Styled by Destiny featuring Destiny Saunders, Jerome Edgerton, Jernee Edgerton and Youth Alive take over the Garage at the Colonial at 9:30pm in a “rip the runway” fashion spectacular!

On Sunday afternoon, October 12, a matinee performance of POE starts at 2pm at The Unicorn Theatre. Made in the Berkshires in partnership with The Red Lion Inn will hold a “Meet the Artist” reception on Sunday, October 12 from 4 pm to 6 pm in the Side Parlor of The Red Lion Inn. Curated by Sarah Eustis, local artists: Peg Biscotti, jewelry designer; Ken Musselman, painter; Ruth Bass, writer; Sheila Jones, fabric artist will be on hand to discuss their creative process and showcase their work. There will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres provided by The Red Lion Inn.

On Sunday evening at 7:30pm, Music Inn and Berkshire Theatre Group Presents: Jay and The Americans a part of Made in the Berkshires and a benefit for Music Inn Archives at The Colonial Theatre. Known for their hits “Cara Mia,” “This Magic Moment,” “Crying,” and “Sunday and Me,” Jay and The Americans were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002, placing them among the greatest vocal groups in rock and roll history. Jay and the Americans’ ties to the Berkshires stretch back to the legendary Music Inn in Lenox where they were presented by impresario David Rothstein.

Before the Jay and the Americans concert on Sunday, October12 at 4pm, The Music Inn Revival will have a special reunion at 4pm in the Colonial Lobby with guest performance by local creative artist Heather Fisch.

TICKETS FOR THE FESTIVAL:

All-Access MITB 2014 Pass: $50 (includes 15% off Jay and the Americans (10/12) and POE (10/11 or 10/12)

Friday, October 10 at The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield: A Taste of MITB Opening Night: $35 6pm: Berkshire Visual Artists Curated by Suky Werman 7:30pm: Opening Night Celebration followed by Reception Saturday, October 11 (The Unicorn Theatre, The Colonial Theatre, and The Garage) 1pm full length play Speed Dating at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge: $10 3:30pm "The Shorts" Literary program at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge: $10 7pm POE at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge: $35 7pm "Dance Block" at The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield: $15 9:30pm Diary of a Fashionista Styled by Destiny at The Garage at The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield: $5 Sunday October 12 (The Unicorn Theatre, The Red Lion Inn, The Colonial Theatre) 2pm POE at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge: $35 4pm "Meet the Artists" Reception at The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge: no charge 4pm Music Inn Reunion at The Garage: no charge 7:30pm Concert: Jay and the Americans at The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield: $35-$65

Contact the Colonial Ticket Office, located at 111 South Street, Pittsfield by calling 413-997-4444. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org. Ticket Offices are open Monday-Friday 10am- 5pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm or on any performance day from 10am until curtain. All plays, presentations, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change.

FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday, October 10 at The Colonial Theatre Opening Night Celebration 6pm Berkshire Visual Art- Curated by Suky Werman 7:30pm Opening Night Celebration begins on the Colonial Stage Berkshire Rave film by Joe Wheaton Solo jazz performance by Nico Wohl Scene from Speed Dating by Lee Kalcheim Piano Performance by Paul Celebi Amazing Grace a Short film by Dave Simonds Free Bird Flyin' a Berkshire Pulse Solo Dance choreographed and danced by Ellen Gorman Scene from Speed Dating by Lee Kalcheim "Who's Loving You" by Michael Buble, danced by Ruslan Sprague and Tess Lane Working Man Blues a Music Video by Dave Simonds featuring Albert Cummings Finale Performance: Diary of a Fashionista Styled by Destiny; Featuring Destiny Saunders, Jerome Edgerton Jernee Edgerton and Youth Alive Reception: A Taste of the Berkshires featuring farm to table produce and locally crafted foods. Dance party with music by DJ RothFitz

Saturday, October 11 at The Unicorn Theatre 1pm Staged Reading of Full Length Play, Speed Dating written and directed by Lee Kalcheim

3:30 pm Literary Shorts Program Short Stories: Who Am I, Road Kill, and Spring Offensive written and read by Maggie Howard Short Play: Deidre’s Bake Sale written and directed by Andrew Joffe Short Story: Newfangled Jew written and read by Albert Stern Short Story: Washington DC and The Sad Opera Singer written and read by Jane Ryan Short Play: Mommy Detox written by Jane Denitz Smith directed by Karen Beaumont Poetry written and read by Joel Kalodner Short Story: Fun Night, 1988 written and read by Dina Nota Short Story: Bob Dylan and the Aurora Borealis written by Carole Owens, read by Lisa Avery

7pm World Premiere of POE: written and directed by Eric Hill featuring David Adkins with Madeline Calandrillo, Kate Maguire, Brian E. Plouffe, and J. Andrew Young

Saturday, October 11 at The Colonial Theatre 7pm Dance Extravaganza featuring: Berkshire Pulse, Berkshire Dance Theater, Ruslan Sprague and friends, Dawn Lane and the Moving Company

Saturday, October 11 in the Garage at The Colonial Theatre 9:30pm Diary of a Fashionista, Styled by Destiny

Sunday, October 12 at The Unicorn Theatre 7pm World Premiere of POE: written and directed by Eric Hill featuring David Adkins with Madeline Calandrillo, Kate Maguire, Brian E. Plouffe, and J. Andrew Young

Sunday, October 12 at The Colonial Theatre 7:30 pm Jay and The Americans

“Meet the Artist” Reception 4-6pm in the side parlor at The Red Lion Inn Curated by Sarah Eustis with artists: Peg Biscotti, jewelry designer; Ken Musselman, painter; Ruth Bass, writer; Sheila Jones, fabric artist

Supporting Events, Sunday October 12 The Music Inn Revival Reunion 4-6pm in the Garage, at The Colonial Theatre

For additional information about Made in the Berkshires, please visit our website at www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org or visit www.MadeInTheBerkshires.org. All-Access Passes, opening night tickets and single event tickets are on sale now. All-Access Passes include tickets to each MITB presentation and specially provided snacks and concessions from Elm St. Market.