A highly selective preview of cultural events taking place this weekend in the greater Berkshire region, including an American theatrical premiere; a Jewish music concert; comedy; Chinese dance; a glam-rock legend; and a whole lot more.
Sarah Aroeste
PAUL GREEN & SARAH AROESTE PLAY JEWISH-JAZZ FUSION in MUSIC & MORE SERIES
(NEW MARLBOROUGH, Mass.) – Clarinetist Paul Green leads his Jewish-jazz fusion band, Two Worlds, with special guest vocalist Sarah Aroeste, one of the world’s premiere Ladino vocalists, in a concert exploring links among klezmer, jazz, and Sephardic music, as part of the Music & More Series at the Historic Meeting House on Saturday, October 1, at 4:30pm. The members of Green’s band include famed guitarist Michael Musillami, keyboardist Joe Rose, drummer Bill Chapman, and bassist Dan Broad.
David Adkins
‘THE BAKELITE MASTERPIECE’ GETS AMERICAN PREMIERE at UNICORN THEATRE
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – “The Bakelite Masterpiece” by Kate Cayley, a drama based on a real-life story of an art forgery that raises questions about collaboration and the intertwining of art, commerce, and politics, receives its American premiere at the Unicorn Theatre from Thursday, September 29 through Sunday, October 23, in a co-production by Berkshire Theatre Group and WAM Theatre. WAM artistic director Kristen van Ginhoven directs the play, which stars David Adkins and Corinna May.
Tim Dillon
TIM DILLON to TELL JOKES at MASS MoCA
(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – New York City-based stand-up comedian Tim Dillon brings his uniquely skewed view of the world to Club B-10 at MASS MoCA on Saturday, October 1, at 8pm, as part of the ongoing High Mud Comedy Fest. Pittsfield’s own Ryan Shea will warm up the crowd for Dillon.
H.T. Chen & Dancers
H.T. CHEN DANCERS on CHINESE in AMERICAN SOUTH at WILLIAMS COLLEGE
(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.) – H.T. Chen & Dancers perform their latest work, “South of Gold Mountain,” on the ’62 Center’s MainStage at Williams College on Saturday, October 1, at 8pm. The performance – a Williams Dance Department commission – is rooted in the images and oral histories of the Chinese immigrants who settled in the American South prior to World War II. Starting from the diaspora that led the Chinese to the American South, “South of Gold Mountain” is a collective journey of these individuals. Through the power of faith, tradition, and work ethic, these individuals experienced, endured, and overcame their hardships.
Ian Hunter
GLAM-ROCK LEGEND IAN HUNTER of MOTT THE HOOPLE HEADED to HELSINKI HUDSON
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Mott the Hoople lead singer and songwriter Ian Hunter brings his current group, the Rant Band, to Club Helsinki Hudson on Friday, September 30, at 9pm. As leader of 1970s British rock legends Mott the Hoople and a hugely influential solo artist, Hunter is widely revered as one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most compelling and influential performers, as well as one of its most articulate songwriters.