With mixed emotions, the lucky ticketholders filed into the Mahawie theater in Great Barrington on Friday, January 22, for the first of James Taylor’s two benefit concerts for Partners in Health which does important relief work around the world. These die-hard JT fans—who made the concert a sell-out in 90 minutes—were quite aware that they were there only because the people of Haiti are suffering after a devastating earthquake. The legendary musician, who lives in Lenox, was introduced by Governor Deval Patrick who, judging from the thunderous applause he received, is a rock star himself. But you could hear a pin drop when author Tracy Kidder, who wrote the book Mountains Beyond Mountain about Partners in Health founder Paul Farmer, explained why PIH is such worthy organization and how it needs financial support to save lives in Haiti and around the world. So far, the concerts have raised $580,000 for PIH.
Eric & Sarah Aasheim with their daughter, Sabrina; Donna & Gene Messenger from North Adams who were second row center and confided that they went online at 8:53 a.m. to buy thier tickets even though they did not officially go on sale until 9 a.m.
WAMC scion Jonas Chartock, executive director of the SUNY Charter Schools Insitute, with his mother, professor Roselle Chartock.
Realtor Nancy Kalodner with Doug Shufelt; Blythe McGowan and Stephen Koshland.
Tom Levin of Tom's Toys and his wife, Susan Engel, a senior lecturer in psychology at Williams College.
Gina Hyams and Karin Watkins who were part of the team who organized the benefit concerts in only five days; long-time Mahaiwe volunteer ushers Dot Schellhammer and Paula Schutzmann got the plum assignment of handing out programs and got to watch the concert from the back of the theater.
Vicki Bonnington & David Schecker.
Leslie Myers, Anna Winters and Brian Schwab; Hilary Somers Deely, who's appearing in the Berkshire Fringe's production of The Waypoint at MASS MoCA on February 6, and Philip Deely.
James Taylor & Company played before a giant flag of Haiti, which was produced by GHI Sign of Canaan, CT.
