Of course, it is not your traditional family, though in many ways Joe Iconis is the big daddy of his group. They are indeed a family of musicians and sometime denizens of musical theatre whose love affair with the Berkshires is reciprocated by local followers of his brand of music which is show tunes on adrenelin. So many of the songs he writes begin gently and end up rocking the roof. And each songs tells a story, or part of one, as in his recent musical workshop, The Black Suits – also at Barrington Stage Company (BSC) – which would have garnered a rave review from me, but it was an early iteration, not ready for the critical press.

This preface is our way of letting you know that Julianne Boyd (BSC’s Artistic Director), and Tristan Wilson, (BSC’s Managing Director) have announced the return of award-winning songwriter Joe Iconis with his popular cabaret Joe Iconis & Family for three performances October 11- 13, at the now 99-seat (recently increased from a more modest capacity) Mr. Finn’s Cabaret, located on the lower level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (formerly Stage 2), 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield. Tickets to Joe Iconis & Family are $15 and general admission. Beer, wine and soda are available.

Barrington Stage audiences will remember this summer’s Musical Theatre Lab production of Joe’s rock musical The Black Suits that played to popular acclaim. Joe made his BSC debut last summer with his cabaret show Hell Raisers.

Mr. Finn’s Cabaret is located on the lower level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (formerly Stage 2), 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield. Joe Iconis & Family performance dates/times are Thursday, October 11 at 8pm, Friday, October 12 at 10pm and Saturday, October 13 at 8pm. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Barrington Stage Box Office at 413-236-8888 or visit www.barringtonstageco.org. The Box Office at Mr. Finn’s Cabaret opens 30 minutes prior to each performance. Barrington Stage Company’s Musical Theatre Lab is sponsored in part by Elayne Bernstein and Sol Schwartz.

The two videos embedded at the top of this article, and again right above these words, are the best way to discover Joe Iconis and begin to appreciate his brand of musical innovation. I find his work both familiar and different at the same time, delivered with a bit of what can only be called a theatrical sensibility. It’s a bit of a guessing game, too, for to tell you the truth, we have no idea who will be along with him for this next gig in Pittsfield at Mr. Finn’s Cabaret, but his talented friends are legendary, and his appearances are always a night out that is different and totally enjoyable. Which is why we would like to point out that this is a top pick for the weekend of October 11-13, 2012.

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