BASIC Berkshires

BIC Know Your Rights Presentation - English
2025-06-26 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Join us on Zoom to learn about essential legal rights
of immigrants, how to handle interactions
with law enforcement or Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE), and resources
to stay informed and prepared.
These presentations empower immigrants,
service providers, and community members
with practical guidance and support.

Board Game Night / Noche de juegos de mesa
2025-07-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Hot Plate Brewing Co, 1 School St, Pittsfield, 01201
Join the library and our friends from Mana Crypt at Hot Plate Brewing Co. for Board Game Night! Mana Crypt and the Berkshire Athenaeum will provide a curated selection of new and favorite games for attendees to choose from and play (you can also bring your own or select a game from Hot Plate’s ongoing supply). Bring friends along to play, or make new ones at this casual game night!

Romeo & Juliet
2025-07-12 19:00 - 2025-08-10 21:00 | Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA, 01240
Presented under the Berkshires’ summer skies this summer, Romeo and Juliet proves that even the ultimate case of love at first sight can lead to… well, chaos.
Meddling families and murderous duels meld to offer an evening of sword fights, swinging soirees, and secret weddings — but the play is also full of exuberant vulgarity, harsh brutality and above all, the tingling, unbearable delight of young love.

August Wilson's The Piano Lesson
2025-07-25 18:30 - 2025-08-24 16:00 | Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA, 01240
Set against the backdrop of 1936 Pittsburgh during the Great Depression, August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning The Piano Lesson explores the lives of the Charles family, and vividly portrays an enduring conflict between siblings.
The family piano at the heart of the argument is an heirloom intricately carved by an enslaved ancestor. Determined sharecropper Boy Willie is eager to sell the piano to purchase land on which his ancestors endured hardship, while his sister Berniece fiercely maintains that the piano is where their heritage lies.
A testament to the complexities of family, history, and legacy, 2025 Elliot Norton Award-winning The Piano Lesson is an explosive and incisive inquiry into the struggle between what we owe to our past and how we build our future.

Puzzle and Game Swap / Intercambio de puzzles y juegos de mesa
2025-07-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA, 012201
Bring your gently used puzzles or board games to donate at the door, then choose some that are new-to-you (up to 3 per household). Donations must be new or gently used, with no missing pieces. Presented with support from the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum.
Have extra time? Stay and connect with your neighbors over a puzzle in our community area.
This event is a part of the Adult Summer Reading Program 2025 and geared toward an adult audience, but families are welcome. To read more about the Berkshire Athenaeum’s Summer Reading Program for adults, click here.
The event will take place on the lower level, in the library’s auditorium.

100 Years of Movies at the Mahaiwe continues with “American Graffiti” (1973) on 8/1!
2025-08-01 19:00 - 21:30 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
George Lucas’ directorial debut features an ensemble cast led by Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard in a coming-of-age tale set in early ‘60s California. (Rated PG, 1h 50min.)
Following last year’s success, the Mahaiwe will continue its “100 Years of Movies” series with film director and educator Deborah Reinisch. Reinisch will introduce each film with a brief lecture at the top of the screening.

FREE magic show at the Mahaiwe on 8/4!
2025-08-04 17:30 - 19:00 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Join in for an event filled with laughter, wonder and endless surprises as renowned magician Bill Blagg presents Family Magic!
With over 60 minutes of non-stop magical fun, Family Magic is specifically designed to entertain and engage audiences of all ages. Bill Blagg’s unique blend of comedy, audience participation, and mind-bending magic will keep you on the edge of your seat eagerly anticipating what’s coming next. Prepare to be amazed as ordinary objects come to life while others vanish in the blink of an eye, and you could even be chosen to float in mid-air!
Family Magic is a unique blend of interactive entertainment and awe-inspiring magic that guarantees an unforgettable adventure for all ages. Join in for this magical family event which is sure to create unforgettable memories with your loved ones!

Immigration Updates with BIC
2025-08-06 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-03 11:00 - 12:00
Join a Berkshire Immigrant Center (BIC) caseworker to learn about the latest immigration policy changes, legal updates, and government announcements. Whether you’re a community member, service provider, or an immigrant, these sessions are a chance to stay informed and ask questions. These online presentations are offered the first Wednesday of each month at 11am.

100 Years of Movies at the Mahaiwe continues with “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” on 8/8!
2025-08-08 19:00 - 21:30 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Sci-fi family favorite ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ is the story of a boy who befriends a lovable alien he dubs E.T. The Steven Spielberg-helmed film became a cultural phenomenon upon its release and has been cherished since. (Rated PG, 2h.)
Following last year’s success, the Mahaiwe will continue its “100 Years of Movies” series with film director and educator Deborah Reinisch. Reinisch will introduce each film with a brief lecture at the top of the screening.

Community Day at The Mount
2025-08-10 11:00 - 17:00 | The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home, 2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA, 01240, United States
Featuring live music, readings and performances, a resource fair, book exchanges, children’s activities, and food trucks, Community Day at The Mount’s celebrates the vibrant, multicultural diversity of the Berkshires.

The Taming of The Shrew
2025-08-14 19:00 - 2025-08-24 21:00 | Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA, 01240
Step into the world of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, with its timeless themes of identity, gender roles, and the clash of wills.
Meet the fiery and fiercely independent Katherine, whose spirited nature meets its match in the cunning Petruchio as they embark on a hilarious and clever exploration of love, power, and transformation.
The Taming of the Shrew offers a compelling – if not at times zany – look at relationships, and social norms, making it a must-see for anyone who loves classic comedy with a bit of bite.

Circus & The Bard
2025-08-21 14:30 - 2025-08-31 16:00 | Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA, 01240
For the kids and the kids in all of us, Shakespeare & Company and Spirit of Circus present an intersection of brilliant, professional circus acts with Shakespeare’s characters. The alchemy of the stunning visual effects of circus and the Bard’s text is an apt and whimsical introduction to both, and when you see them together, something special takes place!
This show is presented in collaboration with Spirit of Circus.

BIC Know Your Rights Presentation - English
2025-08-26 17:00 - 18:00
Learn about essential legal rights of immigrants, how to handle interactions with law enforcement or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and resources to stay informed and prepared. There will be time for questions after the presentation.
These presentations empower immigrants, service providers, and community members with practical guidance and support.
Registration is required for security reasons. BIC does not share your information.

Plays In Process: The Shallows
2025-08-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA, 01240
Experience a play in its early stages when possibilities are endless! Returning for its fourth year, Plays in Process offers a glimpse into the inner workings of play creation as new works are readied for the stage. Many Plays in Process titles have gone on to become fully realized productions; this season, The Victim by Lawrence Goodman – presented as a reading last year – makes its World Premiere.
The Shallows by Jim Frangione, a sequel to his award-winning Flight of the Monarch, presented last season. Directed by Judy Braha.

Plays In Process: Free and Equal
2025-08-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA, 01240
Experience a play in its early stages when possibilities are endless! Returning for its fourth year, Plays in Process offers a glimpse into the inner workings of play creation as new works are readied for the stage. Many Plays in Process titles have gone on to become fully realized productions; this season, The Victim by Lawrence Goodman – presented as a reading last year – makes its World Premiere.
Free and Equal by Kaia Calhoun, directed by Kaia Calhoun and Tina Packer.

Plays In Process: Adults at Play
2025-08-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA, 01240
Experience a play in its early stages when possibilities are endless! Returning for its fourth year, Plays in Process offers a glimpse into the inner workings of play creation as new works are readied for the stage. Many Plays in Process titles have gone on to become fully realized productions; this season, The Victim by Lawrence Goodman – presented as a reading last year – makes its World Premiere.
Adults at Play by Ken Ludwig, whose play Dear Jack, Dear Louise also earned accolades when presented at Shakespeare & Company in 2023. Directed by Ken Ludwig.

MOTHER PLAY: a play in five evictions
2025-08-29 19:00 - 2025-10-05 21:00 | Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA, 01240
With a martini in one hand and biting commentary in the other, matriarch Phyllis – headstrong, but resourceful – runs her household with a mix of tough love and theatrical flair, determined to prepare her kids Carl and Martha for the harsh realities of the world whether they like it or not.
As Carl and Martha navigate their own paths, Phyllis remains an ever-present force, doling out brutal honesty, unsolicited wisdom, and the occasional guilt trip with impeccable timing.
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, Mother Play is a sharp-witted, darkly comedic exploration of family, identity, and survival spanning four decades, five apartments, and many hardships from cockroach infestations to painful conflicts. It premiered on Broadway just last year, earning four Tony nominations, two Drama Desk Awards, and an Outer Critics Circle Award.

100 Years of Movies: “The Big Lebowski”
2025-09-11 19:00 - 21:30 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Cult classic comedy The Big Lebowski is the story of two men with the same name from opposite ends of cultural and financial spectrums caught in the middle of a high stakes mystery. From filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, the movie stars a range of talent including Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Philip Seymour Hoffmann, Tara Reid, Sam Elliott, and more. (Rated R, 1h 57min.)
Following last year’s success, the Mahaiwe will continue its “100 Years of Movies” series with film director and educator Deborah Reinisch. Reinisch will introduce each film with a brief lecture at the top of the screening.

On-farm Botanical Inks Workshop
2025-09-20 10:00 - 16:00
Spend the day foraging seasonal botanicals and learning how to transform them into artist-quality natural inks. The workshop includes a guided farm walk, harvesting from the dye garden, and hands-on ink-making in the barn studio. No prior experience required—perfect for artists, nature lovers, and anyone curious about plant-based color.
Full details and registration: www.farmandfieldny.com/workshops
Where: Farm & Field, a 200-acre farm in Chatham, NY
Contact: jill@farmandfieldny.com
Phone: 973.879.6252

Berkshire Opera Festival 10th Anniversary Concert Rebroadcast Event
2025-09-21 14:00 - 16:00 | K111 Theater, Koussevitzky Center, Berkshire Community College, 1350 West Street, Pittsfield, 01201
Join us for a FREE community event!
Back by popular demand! Join BOF for a free screening of our 10th Anniversary Concert! This spectacular concert features world-class artists from previous and upcoming seasons, joined by the BOF Orchestra and Chorus.
For more Information, contact Sarah Prouty, Community Engagement Officer at sprouty@berkshireoperafestival.org.
Berkshire Opera Festival’s 10th Anniversary Concert is made possible in part by the generous support of Brad Clark, Kenneth & Susan Kramer, Onyx Speciality Papers, and Donald Usher.
The BOF 10th Anniversary Concert rebroadcast event is funded in part by a grant from the Pittsfield Cultural Council; a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

London’s National Theatre in HD: “Inter Alia”
2025-09-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike (‘Gone Girl,’ ‘Saltburn’) is Jessica in the much-anticipated next play from the team behind ‘Prima Facie.’
Jessica Parks is a smart Crown Court Judge at the top of her career. Behind the robe, she is a karaoke fiend, a loving wife and a supportive parent. When an event threatens to throw her life completely off balance, can she hold her family upright?
Writer Suzie Miller and director Justin Martin reunite following their global phenomenon ‘Prima Facie,’ with this searing examination of modern motherhood and masculinity. (Rated R, 2hrs.)

Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater: “Nuttin but a Word”
2025-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Celebrated choreographer Rennie Harris returns to Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center to lay down his three laws of hip-hop—individuality, creativity, innovation. Here to expose the essence of their art form with unmatched subtlety and surprise, the indefatigably disciplined dancers of Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater command the stage with a mixtape of moves from b-boying to Campbell locking to house. Every step tells a story in sync with the rhythm, honoring hip-hop’s roots while raising the bar to new heights. You can try to shout ’em down, but you ain’t said ‘Nuttin’ but a Word.’

Dan Tyminski Band
2025-11-15 20:00 - 22:00 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Throughout his 30+ year career, bluegrass artist Dan Tyminski has left his mark in every corner of modern music. His voice famously accompanies George Clooney’s performance of the Stanley Brothers’ classic song, “I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow,” in the film, ‘Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?’ and his vocal collaboration with Swedish DJ Avicii on the song “Hey Brother” was a global smash, having been streamed more than a billion times to date. His diverse solo projects and years of work with Alison Krauss and Union Station have yielded troves of award-winning music.
Dan has been honored with 14 Grammy Awards and is a four-time Male Vocalist of the Year honoree by the International Bluegrass Music Association. He has also recorded instrumental or vocal harmony contributions for projects by Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Joan Osborne, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Rob Thomas, and Charlie Haden, to name a few.

Shire Stories with Sheela Clary: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
2025-11-23 16:00 - 17:30 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
In honor of Thanksgiving, Shire Stories presents an evening of local storytellers sharing their light-hearted but conflict-ridden stories under the theme of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Sheela Clary, storytelling teacher, workshops stories with storytellers ahead of time and emcees the event.

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
2025-11-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Dorothy and friends traverse the Yellow Brick Road through the land of Oz in this timeless family classic from 1939. The Mahaiwe screens “The Wizard of Oz” every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. (Rated G, 1h 42min.)

ARKAI
2025-12-06 20:00 - 22:00 | Indigo Room, 20 Castle Street, Great Barrington, 01230
ARKAI is an award-winning electro-acoustic duo that has captivated audiences around the world with their creative imagination and cutting-edge string music. Transforming the beautiful tones of the violin and cello into epic soundscapes that resemble a rock band backed by a cinematic orchestra, ARKAI’s signature sound has led them to hundreds of performances around the world including Grammys On The Hill and Carnegie Hall, opening for Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician Jon Batiste, and NBA playoff shows for the LA Lakers. They’ve also collaborated with celebrity photographer David LaChapelle for Milan Design Week, toured with superstar violinist Lindsey Stirling, and released viral hits with piano sensation Tony Ann.

Indigo Comedy Night with Ariel Elias
2025-12-12 20:00 - 21:30 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
With host Thomas Attila Lewis and featured support from Hoodo Hersi.
Ariel Elias is a comedian living in New York City. Growing up, this Kentucky Jew made everyone laugh at her bat mitzvah, and the rest is history. Today, her comedy is a fun mesh of unique, personal stories mixed with witty and wry observations.
Described as “a sly young comic from Kentucky” by ‘The New York Times,’ Ariel has also been featured in ‘Rolling Stone,’ ‘The Washington Post,’’ and on Good Morning America.’ She was named as ‘Paste Magazine’s’ Best Comedians of 2022.
After catching Jimmy Kimmel’s attention with a viral stand-up clip that displayed her cool, calm, and hilarious composure, he invited Ariel to make her late night television debut on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ In 2024, she followed it up with an appearance on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.’

Met Opera Live in HD: Giordano’s “Andrea Chénier”
2025-12-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Giordano’s passionate tragedy stars tenor Piotr Beczała as the virtuous poet who falls victim to the intrigue and violence of the French Revolution. Following their celebrated recent partnership in Giordano’s Fedora in the 2022–23 Live in HD season, Beczała reunites with soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Chénier’s aristocratic lover, Maddalena di Coigny, with baritone Igor Golovatenko as Carlo Gérard, the agent of the Reign of Terror who seals their fates. Met Principal Guest Conductor Daniele Rustioni takes the podium to lead Nicolas Joël’s gripping staging, which will be transmitted live from the Met stage to cinemas on December 13. This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

“Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (1983)
2025-12-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Indigo Room, 20 Castle Street, Great Barrington, 01230
Animated family favorite “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” will play on loop for free at the Mahaiwe’s new Indigo Room during Great Barrington’s Holiday Shop, Sip, and Stroll. Familiar Disney characters retell Charles Dickens’ timeless story of holiday spirit. (Rated G, 26min.)
