By Amy Krzanik
This year's Made in the Berkshires Festival (running October 11-13) is practically overflowing, with over 30 works of original live theater, music, dance, and literary readings, but co-curator Hilary Somers Deely swears that “it's actually streamlined this year." Created three years ago by local actress, director, and producer Deely and artistic co-conspirator, actress and director Barbara Sims (shown L to R: Sims and Deely), the Festival includes performances at Berkshire Theatre Group's Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield and Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge. The opening night extravaganza, which, at $50, Deely calls the “best deal in town," will be held at the Colonial and features some of Berkshire County's most talented dancers, writers, composers, and filmmakers. Three dance troupes, Berkshire Pulse, Community Access to the Arts' (CATA's) The Moving Company, and Heather Fisch and the Androgynes will offer three very distinct visions of what dance can be. Fisch (shown below), self-described accordion tamer and entertainer, is fresh off her cabaret musical success, La Belle Epoque, which ran at the Mahaiwe in August. The Moving Company, under the choreography of Dawn Lane, will perform Common Ground, a piece that works as “a metaphor for noticing similarities and accepting differences, and establishes the stage as a place for humor, poignancy and democracy." No matter what CATA does, it always brings the house down, so it's fitting that the troupe's performance will be the evening's finale.
The night's short films include Patrick Toole'sFat Boy Needs Energy; Ben Hillman's time lapse view of Bartholomew’s Cobble through a year of slowly changing seasons; and Sam Handel'sThe River, starring wife Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Adam Driver (Girls), and Michael C. Hall (Dexter) as “The Guru." Filmed locally, the movie tells the story of a pregnant woman working at the co-op in Great Barrington, who tries desperately to leave work and make it to the river for a swim. Poet CD Nelsen will read "Dragon Breath," while a Gregory Crewdson photograph, taken in Pittsfield, is shown behind her. Local author Kevin O'Hara will read a short story from his forthcoming book, Memoirs of a Bearded Nurse. The piece, "A Night in the Heavens," tells the story of a night nurse at Berkshire Medical Center's Jones II Ward who brings six patients on a trip to an observatory. One highlight of the night that both Sims and Deely are especially excited about is the premiere of Gerard McBurney's original composition, Cherry Cottage - Five Variants for Piano, performed by pianist John Goodwin. The work is inspired by the movie Cherry Cottage: The Story of an American House directed by Dave Simonds and written by Hans Morris. The film tells the story of a small cottage in Stockbridge, built in 1782 and home to many notable inhabitants, including former Williams College President Mark Hopkins, Charles McBurney (Gerard McBurney's great grandfather), and current inhabitant Hans Morris. A visual montage by Dave Simonds will be shown during the performance, and old letters found in the home will be read aloud by Mac Morris, Walton Wilson, and both Deely and Sims. Come early for an art show in the lobby curated by Suky Werman, and featuring work by ten local artists including Roselle Chartock, Jane McWhorter, Sean Riley, and Rebecca Weinman. And stay late for a Taste of the Berkshires, a sampling of local food and drinks.
The second day of Made in the Berkshires features readings of short stories and short plays at the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge. Four short plays and two short stories will be followed by a reading of acclaimed playwright Chris Newbound's new full-length play, Old Family Friends, directed by Barbara Sims, and starring Kevin O'Rourke, (Boardwalk Empire). Sims describes the work as a story that centers around a woman in her twenties who has moved back to her suburban home to look after her terminally ill mother. “There are secrets long kept, and tensions to be worked out," she says. “Chris has a very good ear for dialogue and the characters in the play speak to each other in a very real, human way without sentimentalizing the characters or the situation." Day three of the Festival finds us back at The Colonial for a day of short films and dance. Berkshire Dance Theatre (shown above), under choreographer Chuck Paquette, will make its Festival debut, and there will also be pieces by Berkshire Pulse, and another performance by The Moving Company. “Everyone knows about Jacob's Pillow, but we're showcasing some fantastic dance you don't usually get to see, and we've got some great dance here," says Deely. The finale of the weekend festival will be an “improvisational experiment and musical conversation" by singer Vikki True and her large back-up band. “It's a fun way to wrap up the festival," says Deely. Sims adds, “Vikki True is truly a Berkshire treasure. She performed with her ensemble in the Unicorn last year and the audience literally didn't want the concert to end."
Sims and Deely wanted to make all of this great art affordable to everyone, so single events are only $15, and an All-Access pass is $100. The pass gets you entry to all three days of festival activity, a free lunch on Saturday from Elm Street Market in Stockbridge, and a 10% off “Backstage Pass" to do your own shopping there all day on Saturday, courtesy of The Red Lion Inn. “The Inn is holding a Made in the Berkshires Weekend," says Sarah Eustis, Red Lion's Director of Business Development, promoting the festival to their guests and serving a special Made in the Berkshires Cocktail (shown above) using Berkshire Mountain Distillers New England Corn Whiskey, ginger beer, and Hilltop Orchards apple cider. Eustis partnered with The Festival because she thinks what they are doing is important. “We're committed to things made here in the area, including local food, but the talent we have in the Berkshires is not a product you can put on the shelf."
