Scott Baldinger reports from Great BarringtonTwo of the best — and hardest working — stars of the Broadway stage gave it their all for the audience attending the sold out gala benefiting that invaluable (and beautifully restored) resource, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington on Sunday, October 14. The show, 90 minutes long, was Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin at their gung ho best, the performers so involved with their repertoire that they barely followed the program, adding songs from the Sondheim catalog (from Anyone Can Whistle and Evening Primrose, for example) that this reporter thought he was the only one who hummed to himself. No doubt exhausted, they dropped by the after party at Fiori restaurant, Patinkin explaining to everyone that the Mahaiwe deserved all their energy, it being that rare stage that “just embraces you." (Most of the photos below by Christina Lane.)
Mandy Patinkin and Patti Lupone performing at the Mahaiwe; attendees Tim and Sarah Eustis.
Mahaiwe's founding president and chair Lola Jaffe and the theater's restoration architect Hugh Hardy; board vice chair Maggie Buchwald; gala committee members Paula Kurman and Mary Ann Norris with realtor Nancy Kalodner.
Board and gala committee member Susan Grausman and her daughter, singer/actor Deborah Grausman; Mahaiwe executive director Beryl Jolly and Broadway producer, honorary co-chair Michael David.
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Danny and Sue Lipson; Barbro and son Daniel Nilsson of DA/BA restaurant in Hudson.
Appy Stookey, Ruth Houghton, and John Hoyt Stookey, the evening's honoree; Craig and Rosalie Berger, board member.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
