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Home , A Night at the Roxbury, Colin Quinn, John Lodge (musician), Rick Springfield

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 Release, please: Thursday, December 12, 2013, 5pm

Berkshire Theatre Group Announces Spring 2014 Season with : , and : Unconstitutional and the Summer Season Musical: Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music featuring Maureen O’Flynn

Highlights of the Spring Season: Pop-Rock Idol Rick Springfield: Stripped Down Moody Blues Frontman Justin Hayward Iconic Comedian Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional Television’s Hit Comedienne Loni Love Locally Grown Indie-Folk Quartet Darlingside The Berkshire Comedy Improv Troupe RBIT

Summer Season Musical: Stephen Sondheim’s Beloved Musical A Little Night Music

Pittsfield, MA– Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO, Kate Maguire are excited to announce the 2014 spring schedule of events and the 2014 summer season musical. Tickets are available for purchase to members and pass holders on Friday, December 13 and to the general public on Monday, December 16.

Berkshire Theatre Group's spring season is filled with chart-topping musical artists and internationally acclaimed comedians. Kate Maguire comments, “This spring season brings programming for a variety of tastes, interests, and budgets in music and comedy. We believe that great live performances and entertainment, presented by the most talented artists, provides a sense of fun that is inherent within the arts. All of our spring events, we hope, will put a smile on your face. We are also thrilled to announce our summer musical, Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music directed by Ethan Heard featuring Maureen O’Flynn at The Colonial Theatre!”

The season holds an array of talented musical performances: Indie-folk quartet Darlingside, Pop-Rock Idol Rick Springfield, and Moody Blues Frontman Justin Hayward. BTG is also is excited to partner again this year with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in presenting their community chamber concert.

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For comedic productions: The number one girls’ night out SPANK! Harder, The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe, Colin Quinn in Unconstitutional, and Loni Love of Chelsea Lately. During February’s school vacation week, DiNO-Light, the family production seen on NBC’s hit talent show America’s Got Talent, is at the Colonial.

"The spring season will bring entertaining shows for all!” says Berkshire Theatre Group Programmer, Simon Shaw. "We have a great lineup of internationally-known comedians and musicians along with locally grown and up and coming talent. My intent when booking this season was to plan events that would offer a fun night for all in music and comedy while displaying the quality of area artists alongside influential and celebrated musicians and performers.”

BTG is also very pleased to announce the summer musical for the 2014 Summer Season. Stephen Sondheim’s, A Little Night Music, will be performed at The Colonial Theatre featuring the incomparable vocalist, actress, and Berkshire native, Maureen O’Flynn. This charming and witty musical features one of Sondheim’s greatest hit show tunes, “Send in the Clowns” and is sure to be a wonderful musical theatre offering that celebrates love and the entanglements of it all.

Tickets are available for purchase to members and pass holders on Friday, December 13 and to the general public on Monday, December 16. Contact the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield by calling 413-997-4444. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org. The Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturdays 10am- 2pm and on any performance day from 10am until curtain. All plays, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change.

CALENDAR OF SPRING SEASON 2014:

Darlingside: The Garage: Friday, January 24 at 8pm The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe: The Garage: Friday, January 31 at 8pm SPANK! Harder: The Colonial: Saturday, February 8 at 8pm Rev Tor's Dead of Winter Jam: The Garage: Thursday, February 13 at 8pm The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe 10 x 10 Festival: The Garage: Sunday, February 23 at 2pm Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional: The Colonial: Sunday, February 16 at 7pm DiNo-Light: The Colonial Theatre: Friday, February 21 at 2pm (School Vacation Week) Loni Love: The Colonial: Friday, March 7 at 8pm Rick Springfield: Stripped Down: The Colonial Theatre: Wednesday, March 26 at 7:30pm Boston Symphony Orchestra Community Chamber: The Colonial: Sunday, April 6 at 3pm Justin Hayward: The Colonial: Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30pm

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SPRING SEASON 2014 OVERVIEW

Darlingside at The Garage Friday, January 24 at 8pm Tickets: $15 Advance, $18 Day of Show

Darlingside is a Massachusetts-based indie folk quartet. With four distinct voices clustered around a single microphone, their tightly-arranged tunes draw from the unexpected, featuring strains of bluegrass, classical and barbershop. Accompanied by an arsenal of classical strings, guitars, mandolin and percussion, these four close friends swap instruments from song to song, keeping audiences across the country on the edge of their seats. Members include: Don Mitchell: guitar, vocals; Auyon Mukharji: mandolin, violin, vocals; Harris Paseltiner: cello, guitar, bass, vocals; David Senft: vocals, bass guitar, guitar.

The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe at The Garage Friday, January 31 at 8pm Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door

The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe (RBIT), the funniest thing in the Berkshires since roundabouts, is a comedy improv group that has been delighting audiences with its own brand of unscripted comedic mayhem since June 2001. Performing a mix of theater games reminiscent of the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the group models its work on the teachings of renowned theater games/improvisation instructor Keith Johnstone. Through audience participation, RBIT’s mission is to create entertaining scenes which explore the boundaries of theater improvisation.

SPANK! Harder at The Colonial Theatre Saturday, February 8 at 8pm Tickets: A: $47.50 (premium seating) B: $37.50 C: $27.50

The original SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody was last year’s #1 show across the country, delivering naughty and hilarious fun to women in over 150 cities. Now, the ALL NEW, SPANK! Harder picks up where the original left off, parodying not only Fifty Shades but taking aim at a variety of issues facing women in today’s pop culture. Gather your girlfriends and buy your tickets now for the funniest show this year!

Rev Tor's Dead of Winter Jam Celebrating the Music of the Grateful Dead at The Garage Thursday, February 13 at 8pm Tickets: $10 Advance, $12 Day of Show

Since its conception in the mid-90s, The Rev Tor Band, led by singer and lead guitarist Tor Krautter, has become one of the most compelling and exciting acts on the blues and jam-band circuit. This show Page 4 of 7 will be a mid-winter celebration of the music of The Grateful Dead featuring a multitude of guest artists. Pulling inspiration from a variety of influences, Tor and his band have shared the stage with members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Allman Brothers and The New Riders of the Purple Sage.

The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe Presents 10 Musicals: Unscripted Presented as a part of the 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival at The Garage Sunday, February 23 at 2pm Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door

The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe (RBIT) explores the boundaries of theater improvisation through audience participation and the use of theater games reminiscent of the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? For this special 10X10 performance, RBIT will collaborate with musician Carlton Maaia to perform 10 unscripted short musicals providing the greatest spontaneous musical theatre ever seen!

Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional at The Colonial Theatre Sunday, February 16 at 7pm (President’s Day Weekend) Tickets: A: $35 B: $25

Comedian, Colin Quinn, became a household name in the '80s with television roles as co-host of MTV's popular game show Remote Control and spots on and ’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. Film roles followed including: , Comedian, and 's Grown Ups. In 2010, Quinn starred in the hit Broadway show Colin Quinn Long Story Short directed by . Quinn will be back on the upcoming season of HBO’s Girls and returns to the stage in Unconstitutional where he tackles 226 years of American Constitutional calamities in 70 minutes. From predator drones to the Kardashians, he pulls no punches in asking if this is what the founding fathers planned.

DiNO-Light at The Colonial Theatre Friday, February 21 at 2pm (School Vacation Week) Tickets: A: $20 B: $15

Lightwire Theater presents DiNO-Light as created by Corbian Visual Arts and Dance where electroluminescent creatures light up the darkness in a heart-rending original tale. Truly unique and visually dazzling, DiNO (formally known as Darwin) has been praised for its cutting edge blend of puppetry, technology, and dance by audiences all over the world.

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Loni Love at The Colonial Theatre Friday, March 7 at 8pm Tickets: A: $35 B: $25

Loni Love is one of the most hilarious and lovable comics performing stand-up on the comedy club and college circuits today. Both Variety and Comedy Central named her among their "Top 10 Comics to Watch." Her many television appearances include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, VH1′s I Love the ′70s/′80s/′90s, and Comics Unleashed among numerous others. In 2009, Love became a CNN correspondent for the show D.L. Hughley Breaks the News covering the inauguration of President Barack Obama as well as a correspondent for the Dr. Oz Show and The Doctors. Currently, Love is a regular panelist on E!’s hit show Chelsea Lately.

Rick Springfield: Stripped Down at The Colonial Theatre Wednesday, March 26 at 7:30pm Tickets: A: $75 (premium seating) B: $57.50 C: $47.50 D: $37.50

Rick Springfield fans will get to witness the pop-rock idol as they’ve never seen him before in his first- ever solo acoustic tour! In addition to playing unplugged versions of many of his memorable tunes, Springfield will share stories about the songs and his life during the performances and do a Q&A session with fans after the performance. Springfield is known for one of his most famed hits, the Grammy Award-winning #1 single "Jessie's Girl," a landmark of '80s pop-rock that helped establish the emerging music video age. His 1983 album went platinum on the strength of hits "Human Touch," "Souls," and "." That same year Springfield won the American Music Award for "Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist." Springfield is also known for his role as Dr. on the daytime drama .

Boston Symphony Orchestra Community Chamber Concert at The Colonial Theatre Sunday, April 6 at 3pm Please RSVP to the BSO for your free ticket online: www.bso.org or by phone: 617-266-1200

BSO Program Bach Contrapuntus Nos. 5 and 10 Albinoni Sonata Saint Mark Martin Simple Fugue Arnold Brass Quintet

BSO Musicians Benjamin Wright and Michael Martin, trumpets Jason Snider, horn Stephen Lange, trombone James Markey, bass trombone

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BSO community chamber concerts provide high-quality, relevant, and engaging free chamber music concerts performed by BSO musicians in greater Boston area communities limited in access to the BSO by distance or economics. Community chamber concerts build personal connections to the BSO and orchestral music, allowing community members to become more deeply engaged with the BSO over time. Each concert program lasts approximately one hour and is followed by a coffee and dessert reception for the audience and musicians.

Justin Hayward at The Colonial Theatre Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30pm Tickets: A: $95 (premium seating) B: $70 C: $45 D: $35

Justin Hayward is best known as the singer, composer and lead guitarist for . The Swindon, England native’s professional career began in 1964 when he joined Marty Wilde and his wife, Joyce, in the Wilde Three. Hayward joined the Moody Blues in late 1966, replacing departing vocalist, . Bassist John Lodge replaced Clint Warwick at the same time. The integration of Hayward and Lodge into the Moody Blues sparked commercial success and recognition for the band, transforming them from a cover band into one of the biggest selling acts of all-time. The 1967 album was one of the most influential albums of its genre and spawned the Hayward- penned singles “” and “” that went on to sell over 2 million copies worldwide.

SUMMER SEASON MUSICAL

A Little Night Music music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim book by Hugh Wheeler orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick suggested by a film by Ingmar Bergman originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince directed by Ethan Heard featuring Maureen O’Flynn

at The Colonial Theatre Preview Tickets: $50 Tickets: A: $65 B: $45 C: $25

Performance Dates Monday, June 30 at 8pm (Preview) Tuesday, July 1 at 8pm (Preview) Thursday, July 3 at 8pm (Preview) Friday, July 4 at 8pm (Preview) Saturday, July 5 at 8pm (Opening Night) Sunday, July 6 at 2pm Monday, July 7 at 8pm Tuesday, July 8 at 8pm Thursday, July 10 at 8pm Friday, July 11 at 8pm Page 7 of 7

Saturday, July 12 at 2pm & 8pm Sunday, July 13 at 2pm Monday, July 14 at 8pm Tuesday, July 15 at 8pm Thursday, July 17 at 8pm Friday, July 18 at 8pm Saturday, July 19 at 2pm & 8pm

One of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved musicals, A Little Night Music explores the witty and farcical tale of unexpected liaisons, relentless desire, and ill-fated heartbreak in the life of acclaimed actress, Desiree Armfeldt, played by the renowned actress and vocalist, Maureen O’Flynn. One eventful weekend, Desiree, her former beau and his wife, and Desiree’s current lover and his wife all arrive at a Swedish country estate. Long-held passions are soon rekindled in this classic waltz of a musical directed by Ethan Heard from this past summer’s hit, The Cat and The Canary. Featuring one of Sondheim’s most notable show tunes, “Send in the Clowns,” A Little Night Music celebrates love and all the foolhardy particulars it entails.

Maureen O’Flynn (Desiree Armfeldt) Born and raised and still living in her beloved Berkshires of Massachusetts, O'Flynn has had a more than a 28 year career singing leading soprano roles in virtually every major opera house in the world; Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, Dallas Opera, La Fenice to name a few. She has shared the stage with Bryn Terfyl, Stephanie, Blythe, Renee Fleming, Leo Nucci, Roberto Alagna and sung under the batons of Riccardo Muti, Marco Armiliato, Nello Santi, and Maurizio Benini. Throughout her career, Ms. O'Flynn performed as much musical theatre and straight theatre as her opera career would allow. She played the role of Guenevere in Camelot, and Eliza in My Fair Lady with Berkshire Theatre Festival, Jenny in Companywith Berkshire Public Theatre, and the dual roles of Queen/Claudia in Joan Ackermann's The Taster at Shakespeare & Company in 2010.In 2011, Maureen presented her first cabaret, At the Crossroads, at Feinstein's in NYC. Still performing, she teaches voice at Hartt School of Music, and maintains private voice studios in the Berkshires and NYC. ### About Berkshire Theatre Group The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. Having united in November of 2010 under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, these two institutions are providing the Berkshires and beyond with the finest in live theatre, music, dance and the visual arts on five stages in Stockbridge, MA, Pittsfield, MA and Lenox, MA. The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (408 seats), cataloged by the National Register of Historic Places, was originally designed and built by Stanford White as the Stockbridge Casino in 1888. The intimate Unicorn Theatre (122 seats) is a home for emerging artists and new theatrical ideas. The Colonial in Pittsfield (780 seats) re-opened in August of 2006, following a $21 million restoration, and boasts pristine acoustics, classic gilded age architecture and state-of-the- art technical systems. BTG also performs at the newly built outdoor Neil Ellenoff stage at the Mount and at The Garage, a music venue located in the lobby of The Colonial. Together they serve over 100,000 patrons per year and reach over 10,000 students through their educational and outreach programs. For more information on BTF call (413) 298-5536 and on The Colonial call (413) 448-8084. To purchase tickets, call (413) 997-4444 or (413) 298-5576 or go online towww.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.