A very lively December Calendar Guarantees Holiday Fun for all

Berkshire Theatre Group (Colonial and Unicorn Theatres, Garage Club) in Pittsfield and Stockbridge
www.thecolonialtheatre.org

Thursday, December 1, 2011 @ 9:00pm at The Garage – Tony Lee Thomas Band
A wealth of performance experience lends him the ability to connect with audiences spanning a multi-faceted scope: from intimate and poignant solo performances to momentous full-blown commanding vamps.

Saturday December 3 at 7:00pm on the Main Stage – Christmas at the Colonial with Mary Verdi
Bring the whole family and ring in the Yuletide season with this old-fashioned Christmas celebration. This joyous performance features local favorite, Mary Verdi, along with some of the best musicians in the Berkshires and the most beloved songs of the season. Read our Preview: A Berkshire Christmas with Mary Verdi and Friends

Sunday, December 4 at 2:00pm on the Main Stage – Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical
Chock full of adventure, song and gigantic dancing laundry, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical tells a tale of firsts: a stuffed animal’s first trip in the laundry, a little girl’s first words and a Daddy’s first time dealing with his child going “boneless.” Based on his beloved Caldecott Honor-winning picture book. Read our full story about Mo Willems: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 9:00pm at The Garage – Sparkplug
Organist Beau Sasser and drummer Bill Carbone spent several years as the other 2/3s of the late legendary soul-jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks’ trio. Sparks was always planning for the future, and he frequently played the band demos of songs he wanted to record or other tracks–everything from Jimmy Smith to Zapp and Roger–that he thought would be fun live. Sparkplug is Bill and Beau’s way of paying tribute to their friend.

Saturday, Dec. 10 3pm & 7:30pm; Sunday, Dec. 11 1:30pm & 4:30pm – The Nutcracker
The Albany Berkshire Ballet has been bringing this production of The Nutcracker to audiences throughout the Northeast for over 35 years.

Friday, December 16, 2011 at 9:00pm at the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge – The McLovins
The McLovins are a progressive jam, improvisational rock band that has produced two original albums, improvises extensively on their own songs, and also covers a wide array of newer and older tunes including those from bands like Phish, Rush, Grateful Dead, The Doors, Sugarhill Gang, The Meters, and more.

December 17 to December 30 on the Main Stage – A Christmas Carol
BTF’s annual production comes to the Colonial! Revel in the joy and redemptive power of Christmas as told in the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge. Read our preview: James Taylor to play Bob Cratchet in a Christmas Carol at Colonial Theatre

Matt Cusson, on the rise.

Friday, December 23, 2011 at 8 pm - Matt Cusson Concert
Award-Winning R&B Singer/Songwriter, performing with Brian McKnight, Cee Lo Green, Javier Colon. Wait until you hear his trademark whispery voice and jazzy piano style, you’ll fall in love with this re-animator of a different era.
The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, MA
ickets $15, Show: 8pm, Doors: 7:30pm
To purchase tickets call 413-997-4444 or go to www.thecolonialtheatre.org

Cancelled:
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 8pm – Rebecca Leigh and Friends: Holiday Cabaret
The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, MA

Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 7pm and Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 11am
David Grover & Grover’s Gang with BTG Children’s Chorus
The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, MA
Tickets: $15 Adults, $7 Children

Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, NY
www.cohoesmusichall.com

December 8-18 – A Wonderful Life
A holiday classic is brought to the Cohoes Music Hall stage as a heartwarming musical. The story closely follows the original plot of the film, set in 1945, telling the story of a suicidal man whose guardian angel reveals to him how different the world, and everyone whose life he has touched, would be had he never been born.

EMPAC at RPI in Troy, NY
http://empac.rpi.edu/events/2011/fall

Friday and Saturday, December 2-3 at 8:00 PM – Japanther
Music, video, and performance draw parallel lines between the three industrial archetypes, with Japanther + collaborators utilizing fragments of their environment to envision a utopian creative endgame.

Friday, December 9, 8 PM – Jack Quartet
A string quartet performance in two acts featuring three pieces from the 1960s to the present that play with conventions of music notation and performance, and a haunting 30-minute piece from the 1990s with an uncanny spectral interplay. The program includes Earle Brown, String Quartet; Peter Ablinger, Wachstum und Massenmord; Alex Mincek, String Quartet No. 3 “lift-tilt-filter-split”; Horaţiu Rădulescu, String Quartet No. 5 “before the universe was born”

Lenox Caroling Festival
lenoxcarolingfestival.org

December 10 and 11 – Lenox Caroling Festival
Decked out in holiday splendor, the streets of this quaint Berkshires village will be filled with Holiday music sung by singing groups from throughout the Northeast. The festival is one of several holiday activities planned throughout the weekend to celebrate the spirit of the season.

The caroling competition will be held on Saturday (12/10) from 10 am to 4 pm with each group performing at least one 15-minute set at one of several street locations throughout the village. Winners will be decided by a combination of popular vote and a panel of professional judges. The public is invited to attend a Caroler’s Reception emceed by Gene Shalit of the Today Show at 5:30 pm at Shakespeare & Company’s Bernstein Theatre which will feature festive food, a sing-a-long and an awards presentation.

Participating choirs include the Berkshire Concert Choir, the Hudson Valley Choral Society, Quintessential, the Glee Club and a cappella choir from the Lenox memorial High School, the Berkshire Country Day Chorale (administrators and teachers), the Taconic High School Honors choir, Mt. Everett High School madrigals, the MCLA Allegrettos Gospel Choir, and the Senior Choir of Christ Memorial AME Zion church

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center – Great Barrington, MA
www.mahaiwe.org

Coming up in December are performances by Spyro Gyra (December 11), Lyle Lovett (December 17), and The Paperbag Players (December 18), as well as “Live in HD” presentations of the London’s National Theatre production of Collaborators (December 1) and the Metropolitan Opera’s Rodelinda (December 3, encore December 7), Faust (December 10, encore December 14), The Magic Flute (holiday encore December 21), and Hansel and Gretel (holiday encore December 22). “The ‘Mahaiwe mix’ will be in full swing this holiday season,” said Executive Director Beryl Jolly. “We’re delighted to offer world-class country and jazz fusion artists, a legendary children’s theater troupe, an incredible British drama, and Met Opera broadcasts and encores this month.”

Eight-time Grammy-winners Spyro Gyra bring a jazz fusion twist to the holidays with A Night Before Christmas onSunday, December 11 at 7:00pm. The band has spent more than three decades pushing the boundaries and definitions of jazz beyond commonly accepted parameters. Their breakthrough success with the Calypso-inspired hit “Morning Dance” was followed by the Grammy-nominated “Wrapped in a Dream” that spent 64 weeks on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart, where they still command a presence to this day. The group continues to forge an edgy, enduring sound that incorporates some of the best elements of jazz and merges them with R&B, pop, Latin, and other styles, as they keep evolving and moving forward musically, rather than looking back. Tickets are $40 to $60.

With his distinctive voice and his wry sense of humor, Lyle Lovett is one of the all-time great American singer-songwriters. The four-time Grammy winner will perform at the Mahaiwe with his five-member Acoustic Group on Saturday, December 17 at 8:00pm. Finely wrought and full of wit, wisdom, and Texas-sized storytelling, his songs are rife with characters and concepts that loom large on the American landscape. Lovett has led a remarkable career that includes 14 albums and more than four million records sold. His idiosyncratic style intersects an array of genres from gospel, blues, soul, heartfelt ballads, jazz, bluegrass, swing, and straight-up country. Tickets are $70 to $100.

Families will enjoy The Paperbag Players on Sunday, December 18 at 2:00pm. Founded in 1958 in New York City by Judith Martin, Shirley Kaplin, Sudie Bond, and Remy Charlip, The Paper Bag Players is a company of adults who create and perform original, contemporary musical theater for children. Their shows, based on a child’s everyday experiences, combine short plays, rousing songs, freewheeling dances, audience participation, mime, and painting and drawing on stage. Common household objects, cardboard boxes, and brown craft paper brightened with splashes of poster paint and crayon transform into their sets, props, and costumes. The Paper Bag Players touring has taken them to 37 states and to Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Israel, Iran, Egypt, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Recommended for children ages 4 through 9. This performance is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union. Tickets are $15.

The Mahaiwe will present London’s National Theatre: Live in HD broadcast of Collaborators, a disturbingly funny new play by John Hodge (screenwriter of Trainspotting) about Stalin, dissidents, and secret police, set in Moscow circa 1938, with Alex Jennings and Simon Russell Beale (Thursday, December 1 at 2:00pm). Tickets are $18 to $25.

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live transmissions to movie theatres around the world, continues at the Mahaiwe with Handel’s Rodelinda (Saturday, December 3 at 12:30pm and an encore presentation on Wednesday, December 7 at 12:30pm) directed by Stephen Wadsworth and starring Renée Fleming, and Gounod’s Faust (Saturday, December 10 at 1:00pm and an encore presentation on Wednesday, December 14 at 1:00pm) directed by Des McAnuff and starring Jonas Kaufmann. Tickets are $18 to $25.

Opera expert Scott Eyerly gives an introductory talk about each Met opera before its live broadcast. Mixing erudition and humor, Eyerly’s lectures enhance the opera-goer’s experience. All interested community members are welcome to attend these educational seminars whether attending the broadcast or not. These talks will take place at the Mahaiwe on Saturday, December 3 at 10:30am (Handel’s Rodelinda) and on Saturday, December 10 at 11:00am (Gounod’s Faust). Tickets are $10 per lecture or $100 for the series of 11 lectures (general admission). WHDD Robin Hood Radio in Northwest Connecticut now airs these talks as radio broadcasts and podcasts.

The Mahaiwe will also present two Met holiday encore broadcasts. Mozart’s The Magic Flute on Wednesday, December 21 at 7:00pm, directed by Julie Taymor and conducted by James Levine, is an abridged 100-minute version, sung in English and featuring a youthful cast, making it perfect for opera fans of all ages. On Thursday, December 22 at 7:00pm, Richard Jones’s innovative staging of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel will reveal the darker underpinnings of this charming and beloved Brothers Grimm tale. Tickets to the holiday encore broadcasts are $14 (general admission).

The Mahaiwe will host several community events this month, including a screening of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994, PG-13) presented by Greenagers on Friday, December 2 at 7:00pm ($8 general admission); Lisztomania! A 200th Anniversary Celebration presented by Close Encounters with Music on Sunday, December 4 at 2:00pm ($30 to $40); and Bach at New Year’s presented by the Berkshire Bach Society on Saturday, December 31 at 6:00pm ($37 to $57).

The Mahaiwe is located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington, Mass. Box Office Hours: Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6pm and three hours before show times. For tickets and information, see www.mahaiwe.org or call 413.528.0100.

Mass MoCA in North Adams, MA
www.massmoca.org

Saturday, December 3, 2011, 8:00 pm – Stephanie Rothenberg
Merging Charlie Rose with Oprah, Best Practices in Banana Time sets out to identify what it means to work and live between the worlds of the physical and the virtual. Hosted by Rothenberg’s virtual doppleganger, Doctor Rodenberger, the show features Second Life residents as virtual guests who work the same job in both their real life and in their Second Life: doctors, musicians, architects, wedding planners, escorts, , activists and other diverse occupations. A webcam set up next to the stage will enable MASS MoCA audience members to participate in a Q&A with the virtual guests. Read our preview: Best Practices in Banana Time.

Saturday, December 10, 2011, 8:00 pm – Maya Beiser: Elsewhere
After a 10-day residency, contemporary cellist Maya Beiser will present the first act of her inspired, psychological cello opera Elsewhere as part of our series of work-in-progress showings. Beiser, who has been christened the “cello goddess” by The New Yorker, will be accompanied during the residency by choreographer Karole Armitage and four dancers and the work will feature video from Peter Nigrini and environments by Riccardo Hernandez. Our full preview: Maya Beiser’s Cello Opera

Mill City Productions – North Adams, MA
millcityproductions.org

Friday-Sunday Dec. 9-11 – Fireside Yuletide
Performances will take place on Friday, December 9th at 7pm, Saturday, December 10th at 2 & 7pm and Sunday, December 11th at 2pm.

“Fireside Yuletide” includes dramatic readings of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Featured actors include: Marissa Carlson, Jackie DeGiorgis, Wendy Gregory, Tim Mangun, Cynamon Marshall, Evan Marshall, Sydney Marshall, Courtney Shapiro, Alison Tassone and Liz Urban. The production also includes singing of classic holiday songs. Festive holiday refreshments will also be served.

Performances will take place at Mill City’s Theatre at Building 4N (next to the Visitor’s Center) in the Western Gateway Heritage State Park in North Adams. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for students/seniors and are available at the door.

Minerva Arts Center, North Adams
minervastage.com

December 1-18 – Fiddler on the Roof

With a cast of 40 community based actors, Fiddler tells the story of Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and Jewish religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives. He must cope with both the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters—each one’s choice of husband moves further away from the customs of his faith—and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village.

Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00 pm – The Boston String Quartet Celtic Christmas
The Boston String Quartet is a high-energy string ensemble who take a daring approach to music entertainment by pushing the envelope with their unconventional emphasis on rhythm and beats. The extravaganza will consists of magical Celtic music, wistful Christmas stories and a special visit from Santa for the whole family.

Thursday, December 29th at 7:00 pm – Mozart Live
Clarinetist and Julliard Graduate William A. Hagenah takes the role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who travels through musical history to entertain, awe and inspire his audience. A noted concert highlight is the unique and engaging “Parade of the Stuffed Animals” led by Hagenah, designed to let children who attend the concert become ‘involved in the act’ by participating in an indoor celebration and musical parade while carrying their own favorite stuffed animal. The show uses a mixture of inspiring virtuoso performances on the clarinet and piano, along with period costume, wit, humor and tall-tale-telling.

New Stage Performing Arts Center, Pittsfield
newstageperformingarts.org

December 2-18 – The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Based on Barbara Robinson’s beloved children’s book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever tells the story of what happens when one church’s boring, predictable Christmas pageant is taken over by the six tough, rowdy Herdman kids – the worst kids in town. It is full of laughs, warmth and Yuletide spirit. Our preview article: Rowdy Kids Reinvent Tradition

Shakespeare & Company, Lenox MA
www.shakespeare.org

December 2-30 – The Santaland Diaries with Ryan Winkles
Ryan Winkles takes on his first one-man show with The Santaland Diaries as he seamlessly slips into the role of Crumpet the Elf. The actor, who is well known from other Shakespeare & Company productions as a top comic actor, says he will be bringing a sleigh load of fun-filled holiday cheer with him. For our interview with Winkles and details on the David Sedaris essay-turned-Christmas favorite: Taking on Crumpet the Elf

December 16 at 7:00pm and Dec. 17 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm – Cymbeline
The Conservatory at Shakespeare & Company’s winter production of Cymbeline, featuring S&Co. Founder and Director of Training, Dennis Krausnick in the title role. Now in its fifth year, the Conservatory, a 13-week professional actor training program includes 10 – 16 promising actors from across the country and around the globe. This year’s program features a group of 11 who will join forces in Shakespeare’s genre-defying romance, Cymbeline, directed by long time faculty member and actor Andrew Borthwick-Leslie.

Spectrum Playhouse, Lee

Friday, December 2 at 7pm: The Eagles Band’s Brass Ensemble in Concert.
The Eagles Brass Ensemble is proud to present an evening of traditional brass ensemble fare peppered with some swing and, or course, holiday favorites. Free with a suggested $10 donation. Spectrum Playhouse, 20 Franklin Street, Lee, MA. For more information call 413-499-2071

Saturday,December 3 at 11am: Cameron Collins
Come liven up your morning and listen to Americana, watch and tap along to this hour long sonic soundscape that goes from a remake of a Civil War era song all the way to an Irish Immigrant’s lament of the homeland. Free with Suggested $5 Donation. Spectrum Playhouse, 20 Franklin Street, Lee, MA. For more information call 413-394-5023 x 12

Saturday, December 3 at 8pm: ‘Voices and Guitars, Berkshire Favorites in Concert‘.
Come hear three prolific singer-songwriters join forces, voices and guitars for an evening of holiday favorites and original music. With Robin O’Herin, Dianne Steele and Lance Gallup. Free with Suggested $10 donation. Spectrum Playhouse, 20 Franklin Street, Lee, MA. For more information call 413-243-2271

Thursday, December 15 at 7:30pm: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life‘-Holiday Movie Night at the Spectrum.
Cutting Edge Video and SEDF are co-presenting this great holiday classic movie in downtown Lee. Delight in a dinner and movie package for $20 per person or just see the movie for $7.50. Participating restaurants listed at www.sedfund.org A great way to start the holidays! Spectrum Playhouse, 20 Franklin Street, Lee, MA. For more information call 413-394-5023 x 12