A highly selective preview of cultural events taking place this weekend in the greater Berkshire region, including a concert by a Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright; the inauguration of a new venue by a living legend of Afro-Cuban jazz; a discussion with a New York Times bestselling author; a museum exhibition devoted to Saturday morning cartoon classics; and a whole lot more.
Eisa Davis
ACTRESS-PLAYWRIGHT EISA DAVIS to CONCERTIZE at MASS MoCA
(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – The multi-talented Eisa Davis – an acclaimed actress and Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright – sits down at the piano in Club B10 at MASS MoCA for an intimate evening of her intense, minimalist soul-pop on Saturday, November 12, at 8pm. Her subtle sound recalls piano-playing soul singers such as Nina Simone, Laura Nyro, and Carole King.
Arturo Sandoval
AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ GREAT ARTURO SANDOVAL to INAUGURATE NEW CLARK AUDITORIUM
(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.) – Cuban-born Grammy Award-winner Arturo Sandoval and his band bring their distinctive Afro-Cuban sound to the Clark Art Institute on Saturday, November 12, as part of the Clark’s opening weekend celebration of its newly renovated Manton Research Center. The concert inaugurates the Clark’s newly renovated auditorium, which features state-of-the art sound systems and acoustics, upgraded seating, and new support facilities that make the space fully accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Cathi Hanauer (photo Phoebe Jones)
CATHI HANAUER, EDITOR of ‘THE BITCH IS BACK,’ to SPEAK at THE MOUNT
(LENOX, Mass.) – Writer-editor Cathi Hanauer will discuss the new book, “The Bitch is Back: Older, Wiser, and Getting Happier,” a collection of essays by writers including Kate Christensen, Sarah Crichton, Debora Spar, Ann Hood, Veronica Chambers, and Hanauer herself, at The Mount on Sunday, November 13, at 2pm, in the Drawing Room of the Main House.
(l-r) Joseph Barbera and William Hanna with their animated cast of characters (courtesy Warner Bros. Consumer Products)
NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM SALUTES SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON TEAM HANNA-BARBERA
(STOCKBRIDGE, Mass.) – A new exhibition, “Hanna-Barbera: The Architects of Saturday Morning,” featuring the work of the creative team behind such memorable Saturday morning cartoons as “The Yogi Bear Show,” “The Flintstones,” and the “The Jetsons,” goes on view at Norman Rockwell Museum on Saturday, November 12, and remains on display through May 29, 2017. There will be a special exhibition preview talk by Jerry Beck, animation historian and author of “The Hanna-Barbera Treasury,” on Saturday, November 12, at 4pm.
Before the rise of basic cable, Saturday mornings for many children in America were spent watching cartoons on one of three available television channels. From 1958 through the 1980s, a majority of those cartoons bore the imprint of Hanna-Barbera. Creating scores of popular series such as The Yogi Bear Show, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Jonny Quest, and Scooby-Doo, Hanna-Barbera was an animation powerhouse and its bountiful creativity is beloved to this day.
Dust Bowl Faeries (photo Noah Fowler)
DUST BOWL FAERIES and LUIS MOJICA BRING ALT-FOLK to HELSINKI HUDSON
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Gothic-folk artists Dust Bowl Faeries and Luis Mojica will bring their ethereal sounds to Club Helsinki Hudson on Sunday, November 13, at 8pm. The unique compositions of Dust Bowl Faeries have roots in folk, alternative, and vaudeville music. Luis Mojica weaves words, chants, and sounds through a loop pedal combining Baroque-style compositions with beatbox and pop percussion. Mojica also lent his keyboards and vocals to Dust Bowl Faeries’ first album.