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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Berkshire Theatre Coming Season - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

This week, a look at the coming season at the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, Massachusetts:


THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP:
A PENNY DREADFUL

by Charles Ludlam
directed by Aaron Mark        
featuring Bill Bowers and Tom Hewitt

at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage, Stockbridge
Previews June 24-June 27
Press Opening/Opening Night: June 28
Talk Back: June 30
Closing: July 19
Tickets: Preview: $42
A: $62 B: $52 C: $42  
Two actors take on eight characters in this classic romp of a gothic spoof.

Named one of the best plays of the 20th Century by the New York Times and Time Magazine, Aaron Mark directs Charles Ludlam's campy comedy which tells the pell-mell tale of Lady Enid and Lord Edgar who arrive one stormy night at a haunted and dreary estate to investigate the sudden disappearance of Irma Vep. Sidesplitting antics and mysteries unfold as the two journey from the London manor to the ancient pyramids in Egypt with vampires, werewolves, mummies and more in tow in this satire of Victorian melodrama, Gothic horror and classic films.
 
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
book by Hugh Wheeler
orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
suggested by a film by Ingmar Bergman
originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince
directed by Ethan Heard
music direction by Nathan Dame
choreography by Sam Pinkleton
featuring Kate Baldwin, Gregg Edelman, Penny Fuller, Maureen O'Flynn, and Graham Rowat

at The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield
Previews June 30-July 4
Press Opening/Opening Night: July 5 at 8pm
Talk Back: July 7
Closing: July 19
Tickets: Preview: $50
Tickets: A: $65 B: $45 C: $25
Sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union
Stephen Sondheim beloved and award-winning musical, A Little Night Music explores the witty and farcical tale of unexpected liaisons, relentless desire, and ill-fated heartbreak in the life of acclaimed actress, Desiree Armfeldt. One eventful weekend, Desiree, her former beau and his wife, and Desiree's current lover and his wife all arrive at a Swedish country estate. Long-held passions are soon rekindled in this classic waltz of a musical directed by Ethan Heard (who also directed BTG's 2013 hit murder mystery, The Cat and The Canary)Featuring Sondheim's notable show tune, "Send in the Clowns,” A Little Night Music celebrates love and all the foolhardy particulars it entails.
  
BENEFACTORS
by Michael Frayn
directed by Eric Hill
featuring David Adkins, Corinna May, Barbara Sims, and Walton Wilson 
at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge
The Larry Vaber Stage
Previews July 9-July 11
Press Opening/Opening Night: July 12 at 8pm
Talk Back: July 14
Closing: July 26
Tickets: Preview: $42; A: $48

Directed by Eric Hill, the acrimonious give and take of life sets up the premise for Michael Frayn's (Noises Off and Copenhagen) Tony Award-nominated Benefactors.

In 1960s London, visionary architect David struggles to follow his dream of transforming the slums at Basuto Road into affordable mass-housing projects as his firm pressures him to design McMansion-style apartments instead. He and his wife, Jane are also trying to salvage the troubled marriage of their neighbors Colin a former journalist and Shelia, a hopeless romantic and retired nurse.

Skillfully examining the fragility of human relationships, Benefactors sketches an intricate portrait of 1960s idealism and the toll political and psychological sacrifice has on hope, friendship, and love. 
 
CEDARS
by Erik Tarloff
directed by Keira Naughton
featuring James Naughton
WORLD PREMIERE

at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage, Stockbridge
Previews July 23-July 25
Press Opening/Opening Night: July 26 at 8pm
Talk Back: July 28
Closing: August 9
Tickets: Preview: $42
A: $62 B: $52 C: $42
Sponsored by Natalie and Howard Shawn

Keira Naughton directs the world premiere of  a one-man play, Cedars, a raw and witty exploration of an estranged father-son relationship. Gabe, a 50-ish defense lawyer, finds himself on the more unfortunate side of life and now, by his father's bedside at Cedars Hospital. His many troubles, some self-induced and others thrust upon him, are quickly revealed as he bares all in unbridled, cathartic conversations with his non-responsive father.

A broken marriage, past heartbreak, a dwindling career, family struggles, new relationships, and a slew of mid-life crises take center stage as Gabe tries to find solid ground amid the mess of his world.
DESIGN FOR LIVING
by Nöel Coward
directed by Tom Story
featuring Christopher Geary, Tom Pecinka, and Ariana Venturi
at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge
The Larry Vaber Stage
Previews July 30-August 1
Press Opening/Opening Night: August 2 at 8pm
Talk Back: August 4
Closing: August 16
Tickets: Preview: $42
A: $48

Lovers and friends, friends and lovers, what's the difference when it comes to interior designer Gilda, playwright Leo, and artist Otto? That's the same question they ask themselves in Nöel Coward's ultra-sophisticated romantic comedy.
Design for Living, directed by Tom Story who began his acting career on BTF's Unicorn Stage, now makes his directorial debut on the same stage.

Set in the carefree 1930s, the freewheeling, amoral, modish trio of characters all fall in and out of love with each other and with others while their mutual friend, Ernest tries to be the moral voice of reason. Themes of self-destruction, celebrity, success and outcomes of romantic machinations are explored through this wicked ménage à trois.  
 
A HATFUL OF RAIN
by Michael V. Gazzo
directed by Greg Naughton

at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage, Stockbridge
Previews August 13-August 15
Press Night/Opening Night August 16
Talk Back: July 28
Closing: August 30
Tickets: Preview: $42;
A: $62 B: $52 C: $42

The war fought abroad is just as devastating as the war fought within. This rings devastatingly true for Johnny Pope, a Korean War Veteran who has safely returned home to New York City and now struggles with drug addiction after being heavily medicated during his hospital stay. Greg Naughton, founded and served as Artistic Director of Off-Broadway's Blue Light Theater Company in NYC for six award-winning seasons. He is also James Naughton's son and is making his BTG directorial debut with A Hatful of Rain. He performed at The Colonial Theatre last year with his band, The Sweet Remains.

In A Hatful of Rain, Johnny's battle strangles his daily life and slowly deteriorates the relationship between him and his family as he attempts to hide and support his habit. His brother, Polo tries to help but there's only so much he can do. His pregnant wife, Celia is convinced he's having an affair and tries to hold their faltering marriage together while their father's visit only adds to the tumultuous downturn of Johnny's life. Gazzo's raw, insightful and carefully crafted storytelling depict the demise of an embattled soul and raises social consciousness on issues regarding addiction and the cost of war for our veterans.
 
SEUSSICAL
music by Stephen Flaherty
lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
co-conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Eric Idle
based on the works of Dr. Seuss
directed by Travis G. Daly
music direction by Mark Gionfriddo
choreography by Kathy Jo Grover

9th Annual Children's Theatre Production
at The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield
Opens August 7; Closes August 17
Special Note: As a community production, there is no press night for Seussical
Tickets: Adult A: $30, Child A: $20, Adult B: $25, Child B: $15
Sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union

Seussical is an unforgettable tale of friendship, love, family, and community, The Cat in the Hat narrates a whimsical story of Horton the Elephant who must guard a lonely abandoned egg and protect the Whos from all danger! With flying stunts by the actors, unforgettably fun songs and dance, the musical dives into a fantastic and incredible crazy-quilt adventure exploring the wonderful power of imagination, determination and positive thinking!
 
A Lover's Tale: Scenes by Giuseppe Verdi, Charles Ludlam and Alexandre Dumas
The Lady of the Camellias by
Alexandre Dumas
Camille by Charles Ludlam
La Traviata by Giuseppe Verde
directed by Dustin Wills
operatic direction by Carlos Conde

at The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge
The Larry Vaber Stage
Opens August 23; Closes August 30
Tickets: $30
For one week at The Unicorn Theatre, opera's rising stars perform scenes from the original title piece, Alexandre Dumas' novel The Lady of the Camellias, Giuseppe Verdi's opera La Traviata which was adapted by Dumas' novel, and Charles Ludlam's parody of the novel, Camille. 
For more info, have a look at the Berkshire Theatre Group website here.
 

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