(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – The renowned Soweto Gospel Choir of South Africa, Canadian indie-rock group Cowboy Junkies, and the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia will bring an international flavor to the Mahaiwe stage early next year. The puppet theater will perform its stage adaptation of Leo Lionni’s children’s books Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch By Inch on Sunday, January 26, 2014, at 2pm; the choir will appear on Friday, February 14, at 8pm; and the moody alt-country rockers will return to the Mahaiwe for the first time since 2010 on Saturday, March 8, at 8pm.
Founded in 1972, the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is a touring children’s theatre whose productions incorporate whimsical puppets. The company has a global audience, having performed for over four million spectators on four continents. At the Mahaiwe, they will perform their stage adaptation of Leo Lionni’s exquisitely crafted Caldecott Honor books Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch By Inch. Swimmy is a tiny fish who uses ingenuity to fend off danger. Frederick, a poetic mouse, makes everyday life an artful experience. The third story is about a lovable inchworm who shares his facility for measuring absolutely everything. The show features an assortment of innovative puppetry styles and imaginative lighting techniques, as well as an original musical score. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Tickets are $10 for children and $20 for adults.
Soweto Gospel Choir has collaborated, recorded, and performed with artists including Bono and U2, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Robert Plant, Celine Dion, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, and Andre Rieu. They have performed in front of President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and their spiritual fathers, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Under the direction of choirmaster David Mulovhedzi and South African Director and Executive Producer Beverly Bryer, the Soweto Gospel Choir shares the brightest talent from churches and communities in and around Soweto. Theirs has been an incredible journey from the streets of Soweto to the world’s most prestigious venues. Along the way, they have won two Grammys, an Emmy and an Oscar nomination, and they have just released their sixth album, Divine Decade. Tickets are $25 to $65.
For more than 20 years, the Cowboy Junkies have remained true to their unique artistic vision and to the introspective, quiet intensity that is their musical signature, creating a critically acclaimed body of original work that has endeared them to an audience unwavering in its loyalty. This Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band has released 16 studio albums, several live albums and a number of singles and built up a dedicated following in the alternative rock community. Since the release of their seminal album, The Trinity Session, in 1988, Cowboy Junkies has appeared on countless major television shows in North America from Saturday Night Live to Late Night with David Letterman and the Tonight Show. Their music has been featured in dozens of television programs and feature films. In 2010, they launched The Nomad Series, a four album series released over an 18-month period. The latest, The Wilderness, was released in February 2012 and continues the beautiful melodic brooding that they do so well. Tickets are $30 to $50.
The Mahaiwe is located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Box office hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6:00pm and three hours before show times. A limited number of $15 tickets are available for patrons ages 30 and younger to all Mahaiwe-produced programs through the Mahaiwe ArtSmart Tix program. For tickets and information, see the Mahaiwe or call 413.528.0100.