As the curtain rises on the 2025 summer arts season, a new wave of innovation is making its mark on a region that already boasts a heralded history of presenting important work. While the Berkshires, Hudson Valley, and Litchfield County have an arts legacy to be proud of, many theaters, companies, galleries, and venues are throwing themselves headlong into the presentation of striking contemporary work and unconventional adaptations this summer. The mix of time-honored tradition and bold progress is riveting.

The 2024 production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA.

Theater

All the region’s theaters seem to be embracing bold narratives and fresh perspectives presently, ensuring that audiences are treated to performances that are both thought- provoking and reflective of our times. Here are just some of the highlights of the upcoming productions that exemplify this dynamic theatrical landscape.

Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA

“Camino Real”

July 17–August 3. Tony Danza and Pamela Anderson return to the stage this summer in Tennessee Williams’s “Camino Real.” Directed by Obie Award- winner Dustin Wills, the production reimagines Williams’s surreal epic, set in a dreamlike plaza inhabited by literary and historical figures. The play explores themes of corruption and the resilience of the human spirit. This marks Anderson’s first theatrical appearance since her acclaimed 2022 Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in “Chicago.”

“Spirit of the People”

July 17–August 1. Playwright Jeremy O. Harris (“Slave Play”) presents the world premiere of this provocative new work that interrogates the legacy of Tennessee Williams through a contemporary lens. Directed by Katina Medina Mora, the production delves into themes of identity, memory, and the narratives we inherit. This piece is part of the festival’s thematic focus, “Williams, Tennessee,” celebrating and reexamining the playwright’s enduring influence.

“Untitled on Ice”

July 18–August 2. Blending theater and ice dancing, “Untitled on Ice” is a ground- breaking production conceived and directed by Will Davis. Choreographed by Olympic medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani, this performance transforms a local ice rink into a stage, exploring themes inspired by Tennessee Williams’s works in a new, kinetic medium.

“Many Happy Returns”

July 18–August 3. This dance-theater piece, co-created by choreographer Monica Bill Barnes and writer/performer Robbie Saenz de Viteri, looks deeply into the rituals of daily life and the passage of time. Through movement and storytelling, “Many Happy Returns” offers a poignant reflection on memory and the human experience.

Berkshire Theatre Group, Pittsfield & Stockbridge, MA

“The Mousetrap”
July 24–August 17. Agatha Christie’s legendary whodunit returns in a stylish new production directed by Gerry McIntyre. At a snowbound countryside guesthouse, a murder sets off a suspenseful search for the killer—where everyone is a suspect. The longest-running play in theatre history, The Mousetrap remains a thrilling ride full of twists, secrets and surprises.

“Dying is No Excuse”
August 7–30. Emmy winner Renée Taylor premieres this deeply personal and laugh-out-loud solo show about life, love and loss, directed by Tony Award-winner Elaine May. From a whirlwind TV wedding to navigating Hollywood and heartbreak with husband Joe Bologna, Taylor brings warmth, wit and wisdom to this unforgettable new work.

Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA

“Camelot”

June 25–July 19, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s classic musical returns in a new production directed by BSC Artistic Director Alan Paul, based on his acclaimed 2018 staging for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC. This reimagined “Camelot” aims to explore themes of justice, honor, and hope.

Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA

“The Taming of the Shrew”

August 14–24. Directed by Allyn Burrows and Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, this production offers a fresh perspective on Shakespeare’s classic comedy, amping up the play’s musings on identity, gender roles, and the clash of wills. Staged at the Tina Packer Playhouse, the performance invites audiences to engage with the timeless battle of the sexes.

Mac-Haydn Theatre, Chatham, NY

“Jesus Christ Superstar”

July 24–August 3. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s iconic rock opera returns to the Mac-Haydn stage in a bold new production. The story reimagines the final days of Jesus through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, sung as a spectacle that blends biblical drama with 1970s rock, offering a powerful exploration of faith, fame, and betrayal.

Sharon Playhouse, Sharon, CT

“Million Dollar Quartet”

June 20-July 6, The Playhouse kicks off its summer season with “Million Dollar Quartet,” a musical inspired by the legendary 1956 recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. This high-energy show promises rock ‘n’ roll hits and a glimpse into a pivotal moment in music history.

Great Barrington Public Theater, Great Barrington, MA

“Madame Mozart, the Lacrimosa”

July 10–July 27, Anne Undeland’s poignant profile of Constanze Mozart’s life brings historical nuance and emotional depth to the stage.

“The Best Medicine”

August 1–August 17, Written by Robin Gerber and directed by Judy Braha, this production explores the complexities of healing, resilience, and humor.

MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA

“Sarah Sherman Live”

July 19, Sarah Sherman of “Saturday Night Live” brings her signature unhinged hilarity to MASS MoCA’s Hunter Center. Known for her surreal and boundary-pushing comedy, Sherman delivers a performance that blends absurdity with sharp social commentary.

Julio Torres Live”

August 8. Comedian and writer Julio Torres brings his distinctive brand of surreal humor to the Hunter Center stage. Known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” and “Los Espookys,” Torres’s performance blends whimsical storytelling with sharp wit.

Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, NY

“Gypsy”

July 18–August 24. This summer, the Center revives the classic Broadway musical with a powerhouse score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Centered on the fiercely determined stage mother Rose and her daughters’ rise through vaudeville, “Gypsy” is a sharp and entertaining portrait of ambition, identity, and transformation.

Time & Space Limited, Hudson, NY

“Avoidance & Peculiar 2025”

August 29, As part of the 2025 Hudson Eye Festival, Time & Space Limited presents “Avoidance & Peculiar 2025,” a revived and reimagined performance text by TSL cofounder Linda Mussmann. Originally staged in 1985, the piece returns in a newly conceived form that blends live performance with archival film. Performed by Mussmann’s longtime collaborator, wife, and muse, Claudia Bruce, the performance is a meditation on memory, abstraction, and the passing of time. Drawing inspiration from the aleatory techniques of John Cage, “A&P 25” becomes a layered experience where movement, language, and image intersect unpredictably, offering a haunting and poetic take on collaboration, distance, and the strange beauty of ordinary things.

Bard SummerScape, Spiegeltent Series, Annandale-on Hudson, NY, June 27-August 17.

Music

From an orchestral collab between hip-hop legend Nas and the Boston Symphony Orchestra to the soulful melodies of Jon Batiste and the timeless presence of Yo-Yo Ma, the 2025 summer music landscape promises a dynamic return to form. At the center of it all is Tanglewood, which once again offers a rich tapestry of sound designed to electrify audiences and resound through the Berkshire landscape.

Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has always appreciated the venue’s ambiance and the effect it has on concert goers. In a past interview with Rural Intelligence, Ma remarked, “It’s a different mix from a city audience. Urban folk start to shed city habits in a rural setting, and rural folk are less harried and more in touch with nature’s rhythms.” With Tanglewood and a host of other venues across the region embracing bold, genre-spanning lineups, this summer is set to be filled with song, rhythm, and energy. Below are some of the key performances to catch.

Tanglewood, Lenox, MA

Nas with the Boston Pops

June 27. Hip-hop icon Nas teams up with the Boston Pops for an orchestral performance that blends his legendary tracks with classical instrumentation. This one-of-a-kind event offers a genre-defying night under the stars.

Jon Batiste

June 28. Grammy-winning multi- instrumentalist Jon Batiste brings his singular fusion of jazz, soul, and classical to Tanglewood in a performance expected to be filled with musical mastery and emotional positivity.

James Taylor and Band with Special Guest Tiny Habits

July 3 and 4. Beloved troubadour James Taylor returns for his annual Independence Day concerts, joined by his All-Star Band and rising vocal group Tiny Habits. The July 4 performance concludes with a fireworks display. Yo-Yo Ma and Brooklyn Rider August 13 Contemporary string quartet Brooklyn Rider joins forces with renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma for a special performance. The program features contemporary works by Colin Jacobsen, Reena Esmail, and Philip Glass.

MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA

Guster and the Mountain Goats

July 26. Two iconic indie rock powerhouses share the stage in an outdoor concert that may be nostalgic but will likely still pack a punch. 32 ruralintelligence.comRoomful of Teeth August 24 The Grammy-winning vocal ensemble returns with a concert that reconstructs conventional ideas of choral music, blending throat singing, yodeling, and contemporary composition.

Berkshire Opera Festival, Great Barrington, MA

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center and Saint James Place

August 14–29, Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Berkshire Opera Festival presents a season of operatic excellence in Great Barrington. The festival opens with a special anniversary concert on August 14, featuring highlights from beloved operas performed by the BOF Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of artistic director Brian Garman. The centerpiece of the season is a new production of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” staged on August 23, 26, and 29. This timeless tale of love and sacrifice stars soprano Vanessa Becerra as Violetta, tenor Joshua Blue as Alfredo, and baritone Darren Drone as Giorgio Germont.

Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

Bard SummerScape: Spiegeltent Series

June 27–August 17, The Spiegeltent returns for its 18th season, offering an eclectic mix of cabaret, jazz, world music, and late-night revelry under its iconic colorful pavilion. This year’s lineup features a diverse array of performers, including Grammy- winning artist Meshell Ndegeocello presenting “No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin” (August 9–10), drag performance artist Juno Birch (August 1–2), and cabaret legend John Cameron Mitchell with “Queen Bitch: John Cameron Mitchell Sings David Bowie” (August 15–16) Other highlights include performances by Martha Redbone (July 12), Elisapie (July 13), and the electro- pop duo Ringdown (June 28). The Bluegrass on Hudson series also returns, featuring artists like Alison Brown (July 31) and Brittany & Natalie Haas (August 7). After hours dance parties, curated by Andy Monk of Queer Conspiracy, keep the festivities going late into the night on weekends.

Bard Music Festival: Martinu and His World

August 8–10 & August 14–17. Fisher Center. Now in its 35th year, the Bard Music Festival explores the life and music of Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů through concerts, talks, and discussions.

“Dalibor”

July 25–August 3. Fisher Center. Presented as part of SummerScape, this new production of Bedřich Smetana’s rarely staged opera is conducted by college president Leon Botstein and directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini. It tells a dramatic tale of rebellion and love.

Litchfield Jazz Festival, Washington, CT

July 25–27. The celebrated jazz festival returns with performances from the Emmet Cohen Trio, Anat Cohen Quartetinho, Pasquale Grasso and Frank Vignola, Matt Dwonszyk Sextet, and a jazz brunch finale with the Champian Fulton Trio.

Black Bear Music Fest, Harwinton, CT

August 22–24. Harwinton Fairgrounds More than 50 bands perform across four stages at this genre-spanning festival, which includes rock, folk, bluegrass, and blues—plus camping, food trucks, and family fun.

The Stissing Center, Pine Plains, NY

Twin Flames

June 28, Canadian duo Twin Flames brings a cross-cultural blend of music, comedy, and storytelling to the Stissing Center. With 44 awards and nominations, their performance bridges Indigenous traditions and contemporary styles.

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Millbrook, NY

Bernie Williams: Jazz in the Vineyard

June 28, Legendary New York Yankees centerfielder turned jazz guitarist Bernie Williams returns with a concert that also debuts the latest vintage of Bernie’s Blend—a wine crafted with Millbrook’s winemaker Ian Bearup. The event includes signed prints of the wine label, designed by Williams’s daughter Beatriz.

Sekou McMiller & Friends, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Becket, MA, July 30-August 3.

Dance

(Editor’s note: after the release of this article, The Jacob’s Pillow Board of directors canceled the 2025 Festival season, due to the passing of an employee in a workplace accident. Future events at the site discussed in this article will not take place.)

This summer marks a transformative moment for regional dance with the grand reopening of Jacob’s Pillow’s Doris Duke Theatre. Destroyed by fire in 2020, the theater has been reimagined as a 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the- art venue. The new space features advanced spatial audio systems, infrared camera tracking, and immersive video capabilities—positioning it as one of the most technologically advanced dance venues in the world.

“We envisioned and built the new Doris Duke Theatre grounded in the Indigenous history of the land on which we dance,” says Pamela Tatge, executive and artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow. “At the same time, it is a global hub for innovation, offering tomorrow’s most groundbreaking mixed-reality dance experiences.” As the Doris Duke Theatre returns to the fold, it sets the tone for a summer season across the region, rich in the physical language of emotional expression. Here are some of the highlights.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Becket, MA

Opening Week Celebration

July 6–13. The festival kicks off with Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Annie-B Parson, Shamel Pitts | TRIBE, and the US premiere of “OTMO Live” by the UK-based Alexander Whitley Dance Company, which uses motion-capture technology to connect dancers live across stages.

Ted Shawn Theatre Highlights:

BODYTRAFFIC

July 2–6. The Los Angeles-based company makes its Ted Shawn Theatre debut with a program featuring “Blue Until June,” set to the songs of Etta James, alongside works by Juel D. Lane and Matthew Neenan.

Sekou McMiller & Friends

July 30–August 3. The group’s performance will showcase Afro-Latin dance traditions, highlighting the rich cultural heritage and contemporary expressions of the genre.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

August 20–24. Performing as a full company for the first time at the Pillow since 1963, the theater presents a program that includes audience favorites and new works.

Doris Duke Theatre Highlights:

Andrew Schneider

July 16–20. The popular Obie Award winner premieres “HERE,” a performance exploring technology and intimacy that takes advantage of the capabilities of the new facility.

Eun-Me Ahn

July 30–August 3. Returning to the Pillow after 25 years, the South Korean dancer and choreographer presents a US premiere of work that showcases her vibrant and eclectic style.

Huang Yi

August 20–24. The Taiwanese choreographer debuts a work that fuses robotics and dance, creating a dialogue between human movement and Technology.

Henry J. Leir Stage Highlights:

Almanac Dance Circus Theatre

July 2. A Philadelphia-based ensemble, Almanac merges acrobatics and storytelling, pushing the physical boundaries of movement and narrative.

Ice Theatre of New York

August 7. Skaters perform a world premiere performance on a special danceable ice surface installed specifically for them, combining the artistry of dance with the athleticism of figure skating.

Matthew Rushing’s Sacred Songs

August 21–22. Dancers explore spirituality in a new work led by Matthew Rushing, reflecting on the sacred through movement.

Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Tivoli, NY

2025 Annual Festival

guest curator Michele Steinwald presents four weekends of dance, storytelling, film, and visual art across Kaatsbaan’s Hudson Valley campus.

Week 1: August 30–31

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company

The renowned Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company will premiere “Curriculum III: apatride,” a new work exploring themes of statelessness, displacement, and the human quest for freedom amidst environmental and political upheaval.

Week 2: September 6–7

Nichole Canuso—“Branching Paths: Lunar Retreat”

Choreographer Nichole Canuso presents “Branching Paths: Lunar Retreat,” an immersive, participatory dance performance inspired by the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans.

Week 3: September 12–13

The Porch – Live Storytelling Series

This is a live storytelling series inspired by “The Moth,” where local characters share true stories with an audience of friends and neighbors. This evening of spoken stories offers a refreshing alternative to screen entertainment and has garnered a loyal following among Hudson Valley residents.

Week 4: September 19–21

Ayodele Casel “Freedom… In Progress and New Work”

Award-winning tap dancer and choreographer Ayodele Casel presents two works that blend tap dance with jazz legacies. Directed by longtime collaborator Torya Beard, Casel’s new work examines the transformative ties between tap dance and the dynamism of ‘90s Hip-Hop and R&B music. Kayla Farrish—“DOCILE and A Beast That Came Apart Mid-Air” Choreographer Kayla Farrish debuts two works: “DOCILE” and “A Beast That Came Apart Mid-Air.” Farrish is known for her versatile company and innovative performances that explore themes of identity, power, and transformation through a blend of dance, theater, and film.

PS21, Chatham, NY

PS21’s 2025 summer season presents a diverse and daring slate of dance works, featuring US premieres, legendary repertory, and experimental collaborations between movement and music, all performed in the open-air Pavilion Theater and surrounding grounds.

Kyle Marshall Choreography

July 11 and 12. Choreographed by KyleMarshall and set to Julius Eastman’s radiant 1974 score, “Femenine” is a joy-filled and emotionally charged celebration of queer Black and Brown identity.

Paul Taylor Dance Company

August 7–9. The Paul Taylor Dance Company returns to PS21 with four selections from its celebrated repertory. “Cascade” (1999) features vibrant, shifting choreography set to Bach; “3 Epitaphs” (1956) offers absurdist charm to the tune of early New Orleans jazz; “Tablet” (1960), a rare duet with costumes and set by Ellsworth Kelly, channels surreal minimalism; and “Vespers” (1986), choreographed by Ulysses Dove, is a raw and powerful work for six women set to a pulsing percussive score.

Samantha Shay

August 15 and 16. Making its US premiere at PS21, “Life in This House is Over” is a dance-theater meditation on grief, ritual, and absurdity. Directed by Samantha Shay and developed at Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, the piece is structured like a funeral and wake, fusing physical theater with Chekhovian existentialism.

Hudson Hall Hudson, NY

“Hudson Terminus”

July 18–August 17. This interdisciplinary exhibition by choreographer and visual artist Jon Kinzel, is a month- long installation that combines dance, visual art, and performance, pushing

the boundaries of form and inviting audiences to engage with innovative expressions of movement and space.

Letters, Shakir Hassan Al Said, oil, gesso, cotton, linen, canvas, 1961, from “All Manner of Experiments” at the CCS Bard Hessel Museum. Courtesy Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha.

Art

At MASS MoCA this season, the act of examining our past is helping connect visitors to the present. In her immersive installation, “The Archive of Lost Memories,” artist-in-residence Randi Malkin Steinberger is building a living collage of found photographs, salvaged museum furniture, and hand- assembled display panels that spark nostalgia and longing. “My process is living and working with my art,” she explains, as guests wander into the bright, memory-saturated space. What began as a quiet studio practice, now strewn publicly about a former factory wing, has become one of the museum’s most unexpectedly affecting installations this year.

“Even though they’re memories of people I don’t even know,” says Steinberger, “it’s triggering the audience’s own memories. And, there are kids coming in who have never actually touched a real photograph before.” The show is a reminder that here, art doesn’t just live in galleries—it spills into side rooms, restaurants, homes, and out into fields and forests. Here is just a sample of the exciting visual art exhibitions to see this summer at a few of the region’s most beloved institutions.

MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA

“Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream…”

Through April 5, 2026, Spanning over two decades of Valdez’s work across various media, the exhibition delves into themes of American identity, politics, and collective memory. He addresses subjects such as boxing, the lynching of Mexican Americans, border walls, the Ku Klux Klan, and societal triumphs and failings.

“New York State of Mind”

Opening June 28, Take a trip back to New York from 1969 to 1999 with New York State of Mind, the latest in a series of exhibitions of music photography. Highlights include Bob Gruen’s legendary photographs of the Woodstock Festival, and candid shots from famed venues like Max’s Kansas City, showcasing artists including Johnny Thunders, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Joan Baez, and Bruce Springsteen.

Art Omi, Ghent, NY

“Staging Area: A Barn Raising in Two Parts”

Late July, This summer, Art Omi invites the community to engage in a unique

participatory experience with the second phase of Erin Besler’s Staging Area: “A

Barn Raising in Two Parts.” Building upon the themes explored in the indoor exhibition that concluded on June 8, the upcoming event will feature the physical raising of a barn frame in the sculpture and architecture park. As Besler emphasizes, “Historically, barns were built through oral traditions and hands-on knowledge, practices that architecture, as a field, often overlooks.” This outdoor installation aims to celebrate communal labor and the social dimensions of construction, challenging traditional notions of architectural authority.

“Harold Stevenson: Less RealThan My Routine Fantasy”

June 28–October 26, This is the first institutional solo exhibition of Stevenson’s work in New York. The show offers a comprehensive look at Stevenson’s career, highlighting his exploration of identity, desire, and the human form. Known for his monumental painting The New Adam, Stevenson challenged traditional norms and celebrated queer aesthetics in his art.

Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, MA

“DayDream” and “Sleepwalkers”

June 6–August 11, This summer, Berkshire Botanical Garden invites visitors to immerse themselves in “DayDream,” a curated exhibition by James Salomon that transforms the garden into a realm of artistic imagination. Spanning painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media, the exhibition features works by iconic artists such as Salvador Dalí, Annie Leibovitz, Yoko Ono, Jamie Wyeth, Roz Chast, Will Cotton, Ellsworth Kelly, and Kenny Scharf. Complementing “DayDream,” sculptor Mark Mennin presents Sleepwalkers, an outdoor installation featuring three monumental stone sculptures.

Private Public Gallery, Hudson, NY

“Janet Biggs: Eclipse (Amazon, Sept. 7, 1858)”

July 19–August 24. Private Public Gallery hosts a large-scale video installation by Janet Biggs taking up the entire gallery, which documents the trail of an eclipse through the Amazon in 1858. Biggs is renowned for her immersive video installations that often delve into extreme environments and the limits of human endurance.

Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY

“A Closer Look”

Ongoing. This thoughtfully curated series invites visitors to slow down and engage deeply with select works from Hudson River School of Painting master Frederic Church’s collection, inside his magnificent home.

CCS Bard Hessel Museum, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

“All Manner of Experiments: Legacies of the Baghdad Group for Modern Art”

June 21–October 19. This landmark exhibition offers the first comprehensive US survey of the Baghdad Modern Art Group, founded in 1951. The group sought to synthesize Iraq’s rich artistic heritage with global modernist movements, encapsulated in their guiding principle of istilham al turath—drawing inspiration from tradition. The exhibition features works spanning from 1946 to 2023, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings by artists such as Dia al-Azzawi, Suad Al-Attar, Ismail Fattah, Hanaa Malallah, and Lorna Selim.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center, Spencertown, NY

“Gee’s Bend: The Next Generation”

July 12–August 3. Experience the renowned Gee’s Bend quilts in this special exhibition, featuring talks, workshops, and demonstrations by the quilters, including a special appearance by Willie Joe Pettway, son of legacy quilter Lola Pettway.

Jack Shainman Gallery: The School, Kinderhook, NY

“General Condition”

Through November 25. Featuring over two dozen artists working across various media, the exhibition offers reflections on contemporary social and political climates, exploring ideas of displacement, identity, and systemic structures. Artists include El Anatsui, Gordon Parks, Hayv Kahraman, Richard Mosse, and Rose B. Simpson, who have created works ranging from large-scale installations to the deeply intimate.

The Mount, Lenox, MA

“Movement”

Through September 30. This outdoor sculpture exhibition features25 large-scale, juried works set amidst the estate’s historic gardens and woodlands. Motion, transformation, and change are expressed through kinetic sculptures and pieces reflecting personal and cultural shifts.