Cultural Pittsfield TV: Season 2!

Are you interested in being a big star on the small screen?
What about working behind it?
We’re bringing back Cultural Pittsfield TV – and we need you to be a part of it.

Our new AmeriCorps VISTA, Jenn Gomez, is putting together a crew for a new season of Cultural Pittsfield, and she needs your help! We need people working in the studio and people working out in the field!
If you love Letterman or Leno and think your hosting talents are up to par – sign up!
If you want to get to know the people of Pittsfield and tell their stories – sign up!
If you’re interested in working with cameras, lights, soundboards and switchers – sign up!
But most of all – we need people who love to have fun!

Email your name, phone number, and a brief description of what you’d like to do and what you’d like to see this season to cpontv@gmail.com
Once we figure out what we have to work with – we’ll set up a meeting date for everyone to get together and talk about getting this ball rolling!

Cultures will come alive during this year's Ethnic Fair!

Pittsfield Ethnic Fair Features Music, Dance, Food, and Craft From Around the World

It’s a day to celebrate the vibrant cultures right here in Pittsfield! Come out for this year’s Ethnic Fair, Sunday, August 8th. It’s a free event that brings food, drinks, and crafts from around the world right here to Pittsfield. There will also be live entertainment and musical acts and performances on two stages, including the Raptor Project Birds of Prey. The first two blocks of North Street in downtown Pittsfield will be closed to street traffic so dozens of food and craft vendors can show off their wares; plus there’s plenty of free parking.

Sunday, August 8, 12 noon to 6pm rain or shine (in case of rain performances move indoors to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at 67 East Street.)

For more information:
Yvonne Pearson, Executive Director, Downtown Inc.
413.443.6501; downtown@rnetworx.com

Megan Whilden, Director of Cultural Development, City of Pittsfield
413.499.9348; mwhilden@pittsfieldch.com

Performance Schedule:

North St Stage (near Park Square)

12:15pm Opening ceremony & bagpipers

12:30pm Women of Joy Gospel Trio

1pm Youth Alive Step Dance & Drum Line

1:30-3:30pm Rakish Paddy Celtic Band

3:30pm Akwaaba African Ensemble

4:30pm Veronica Robles Mariachi Group

Palace Park Stage & Dance Floor (North St near Fenn St)

12:30-2pm Berkshire Bateria

2pm-5pm Mark VI Polka Band

Puppetry, Performance and Legend Converge at Springside Park Next Weekend

The Mettawee River Theatre Company will be performing their latest production, The Woman Who Fell From the Sky, at Springside Park on July 25th at 8pm.


Their outdoor production for the summer of 2010 is The Woman Who Fell from the Sky, originally produced by Mettawee Co. in 1997. It is drawn from the Iroquois creation tale in which the Sky Woman falls from the spirit world and lands on the back of a turtle. Water animals bring up mud from the bottom of the sea so the earth can grow. The character Sapling creates all the earth's delightful things; his brother Flint brings us mosquitoes and thorns and sharp rocks. The abrupt arrival of Hodu'i, a whimsical crack-pot who claims to have created it all, spells the readiness of the earth for the arrival of human beings. The production will incorporate many puppets representing the spirits and creatures of this young world.

Mettawee Co. is taking their production on the road, so if you can't catch it here in Pittsfield, check their online schedule of performances.

The Mettawee River Theatre Company, founded in 1975, creates original theater productions which incorporate masks, giant figures, puppets and other visual elements with live music, movement and text, drawing on myths, legends and folklore of the world's many cultures for its material. The company is committed to bringing theater to people who have little or no access to live professional theater. Each year Mettawee presents outdoor performances in rural communities of upstate New York and New England as well as performing in the New York City area.

For more information about The Mettawee River Theatre Company, visit their website at http://www.mettawee.org/.

July 3rd Thursday Preview: Arty Party!

This Thursday, July 15th is the third 3rd Thursdays of 2010 and the theme this month is Arty Party, celebrating arts of all kinds! With more live music than ever, art openings and receptions along with a live drawing session, be ready to get your art on. North Street will once again be closed from Park Square to Maplewood & Linden Streets. Build a fantastic sandcastle on the North Street Beach, at Carr Hardware this year, try your hand at some figure drawing at Miss Rosie’s En Plein Air Drawing Soiree located in front of Pittsfield’s newest gallery, a part of Pittsfield Contemporary, at 305 North Street. Put on your Glitz and Glam and head down to City Stage for the INDASHIO open call for fashion models!

Bisque Beads and Beyond kicks off their Grand opening weekend celebration! Buy in the Berkshires Bags on sale for just $5.99, each includes a mystery coupon ranging from a few dollars off to 50% off to free items. Don’t miss the finished jewelry and pottery out front or the ribbon cutting this Saturday! At Emporium, Pittsfield jewelry artist Jemdrop will hold a trunk sale featuring her exclusive jewelry and blowout sale items. The Berkshire MADE Artisan Market makes their move down to Crowne Plaza where you can peruse wonderful things made by local artisans including ALJ Designs, Jewelry by Mary L, The Puzzle Guy, Molto Carina Jewelry, Novel Idea, Rimay Cachumel (handwoven cotton clothing).

Don't miss the openings and fresh art on view all over downtown. At the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts the Pittsfield Art Show Invitational is on display as a prelude to this weekend’s art show, featuring over 70 artists from all over the Northeast. At the Intermodal BCC Gallery catch the artist reception for BCC alum Greg Sacchetti. Gallery 25 on Union Street opens Inspired by Nature, new work by Annie Laurie, with a reception from 5:30-8:30. Art on No features their monthly open studios along with an exhibition in their gallery at 311 North Street. Plus, The Ferrin Gallery continues to show Couples, a group show with pairs of artists and Susan Mikula’s photography, American Vale, There's no place artier than Berkshire Museum, with exhibitions featuring the work of Nancy Graves, Ven Voisey, Joe Wheaton, and Susan Rodgers, plus Wrapped! Search for the Essential Mummy. The Berkshire Museum has extended hours every 3rd Thursday, with free admission for members and Berkshire County residents.

The newest face of downtown Pittsfield, The Pittsfield Contemporary Storefront, is being created to import fresh, new styles of affordable art to the community as well as to serve as a meeting place. They are searching the country for artists creating work primarily sold under $100. Affordable art achieves their goal of bringing culture and inspiration to any demographic. Art is not limited to those with expansive budgets.
In the store, the Pittsfield Contemporary will be showcasing silkscreened posters, original photographs, wood block mounted images, embroidery and more. Art will rotate frequently so visitors are insured the opportunity to see new work with every visit. The space will also be available for workshops and meet-ups, and studio/co-working possibilities, in order create a lively environment that promotes activity and community. And they are kicking it off with an evening of figure drawing!
Come join us at 305 North Street, where the Pittsfield Contemporary will be hosting a preview party! Peruse their fresh, affordable art and find out more about their workshops, studios and co-working space. While you’re there, take part in Miss Rosie’s En Plein Air Drawing Soiree. Participants are encouraged to bring their own drawing and/or collage materials and enthusiasm. In return they will be a part of a very spicy yet family friendly drawing event. The event runs from 6-8pm, allowing everyone time to sit and draw, pop in and out and see all there is to see at 3T. Bella’s Bartok will be providing musical and visual entertainment. All participants are challenged to capture their image and energy on paper.

Indashio, Pittsfield native and fashion designer extraordinaire, is back in town! If you think you have what it takes to model for Indashio, Put on your best and come down to City Stage on St. Joe’s Lawn at 5:40pm to be a part of his Open Call. Indashio, Vh1’s ‘Glam God’ winner, presents new “RED CARPET” Collection on Friday July 16. 2010. “I am so excited to share my ‘Red Carpet’ collection with my hometown. I drew my inspiration from all of the glamorous and beautiful red carpet events that I have attended and I want my audience to experience the glitz and glamour associated with Red Carpet events.” said INDASHIO.
The INDASHIO Fall 2010 Collection debuts on Friday, July 16, 2010 at 8:00pm at Elk’s Club 27 Union Street,(Across from Barrington Stage Company) Pittsfield, MA. Door opens at 8pm with after party to follow. Entry is $10.00, VIP front row is $20.00.

Sink your toes into the sand at the annual North Street Beach! Carr Hardware hosts the summer 3rd Thursday classic this year. The beach party continues at Carr hardware, check out the Berkshire County Debut of the “ Big Kahuna”. This is Carr’s incredible, cutting edge and new 15’ water slide, arriving from the factory just in time for hot summer rentals. The party continues with killer whale bargains on beach chairs, coolers, tiki torches, citronella candles, portable canopies even suntan lotion will be on sale.

Be ready to rock, jam, dance and wiggle with all the live music and performers at this month’s 3rd Thursday. Indoors & outdoors from North to South Street, catch Marka Music at The BCC Intermodal Center from 6-8pm, the cast of Barrington Stage Co. Youth Theater’s Into the Woods offers a preview live, starting at 5:15pm at the City Stage on St. Joe’s lawn. Also on City Stage are performers Ecstatic, a hip-hop dance troupe at 5:30pm, followed up by HuDost, performing alternative folk from 6:15-8pm. Palace Park hosts The Dance Cancer, playing high energy rock. Afterwards catch pop punk with Just Say So plus Grown Up Noise, a Boston indie rock group at 7:30pm. Outdoors at the Crowne Plaza enjoy The Floyd Patterson Band, voted best party band by the Valley Advocate, into the evening from 7-10pm. Plus, Berkshire Music School showcases the Byrne Trio, from 5:15 - 6:30, made up of father Tom and his two young daughters, Cate and Savannah doing a mix of classical, fiddle and pop; fllowed up by teen pop rockers Christopher Considine, on guitar, and Blake Poore, on bass guitar, performing from 6:30 - 7 pm at The Colonial Theatre.

July 3rd Thursday features all kinds of sweet treats and great eats. Baba Louies, a south county favorite, is now in Pittsfield on Depot Street. They’re celebrating their move with $1 slices from 6-8pm. The Sidewalk Café at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge is open, with no reservations required. Mission Bar and Tapas offers their great selection of Spanish wines, craft ales and tapas inside and on their patio, The Lantern Bar and Grill serves up the county’s best burgers and hand squeezed lemonade available inside and in their outdoor seating. The Market, neighborhood favorite grocer and deli celebrates 3rd.Thursdays with free samples and cupcake decorating for just 1 dollar. Brix Wine Bar and Restaurant offers their excellent selection of wine and more with crepes available on the sidewalk. Plus other great choices throughout downtown Pittsfield!

NEW STAGE Theatre Company is pleased to announce its latest production A Thousand Clowns by Herb Gardner. The show will open July 15 and run through August 1st, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 P.M. and Sundays at 4 P.M. A Thousand Clowns is the hilarious and touching Tony Award winning play that was later adapted into an Academy Award winning film starring Jason Robards. It is the story of an unemployed television writer trying to adapt his cantankerous worldview in order to find work and retain custody of his 12-year-old nephew.

NEW STAGE is located on the second floor of The Beacon at 55 North St. in Pittsfield, MA. Tickets are $20 dollars. For more information or reservations, call the box office, 413 418 0999, order online from https://webmail.massart.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=07bf14810a32438caaf00160b74aff40&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.thebeaconcinema.com%2f%3chttp%3a%2f%2fwww.thebeaconcinema.com%2for or visit our website, newstageperformingarts.org.

Barrington Stage Company also opens two new shows! On Stage II Pool Boy, a world premiere musical about a young songwriter striving to make his big break by hobnobbing with the big shots through his day job at the Hotel Bel Air, is presented Tuesday-Friday & Sundays at 7:30pm and 4pm & 8pm on Saturdays, from July 13th through August 8th. BSC’s Youth Theatre opens their production of Into the Woods, a musical that is a brilliant, fractured retelling of several fairy tales, will be performed Wednesday-Saturday at 7pm and Sunday and Monday at 2pm from July 14th through August 8th at St. Joe’s High School, 28 Maplewood Ave.

You can purchase tickets by calling the Barrington Stage Co. Box office at 413-236-8888 or online.

Another great line up this month for 3rd Thursdays’ 8pm and Beyond. For free musical entertainment, head down to Patrick’s Pub where Rakish Paddy begins playing traditional Celtic music at 8; or head up to Mission Bar + Tapas for Billy Keane and the Misdemeanor Outlaws also at 8pm. Over at Flavours Malaysian Restaurant see and hear BOB for a suggested donation of $3 at 8pm. As always, The Beacon Cinema offers matinee prices for all showings at 8pm or later where you can enjoy a fine film, some wine or beer and comfy seats! One of the last few performances of Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street this 3rd Thursday at 8pm, catch it while you can. Then at 10pm put on your dancing shoes and travel to the Underground Pub for DJ BFG and DJ Jerrid Coty, spinning great dance music all night.