Fridays @ 3 | Mondays at the Festival | More Activities | Past Seasons
Mondays at the Festival
Each Monday night, the spotlight turns from the new productions on the Main, Nikos and Center Stages to other exciting performances and readings, many of which are free.
Monday, June 25: Piano Recital featuring prize-winners of the New York Piano Competition, 7:30, Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, $15. At last year’s Festival recital featuring winners from the competition, one critic was impressed with the “talent, solid training, and rounded musicianship of these young pianists.” The Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall is in the Bernard Music Center at 54 Chapin Hall Dr. on the Williams College Campus.
Monday, July 2: Reading of DON JUAN IN HELL by George Bernard Shaw, 7:30, Nikos Stage, Free. This work (also the third act of Shaw’s MAN AND SUPERMAN) consists of a philosophical debate between Don Juan (a confirmed bachelor) and the Devil, with Doña Ana (persistent in her efforts to get Juan to marry her) and the Statue of Ana's father looking on.
Also on Monday, July 2: The Greylock Theatre Project: One on Ones, 5:00 and 8:00, Studio B-10 at MassMOCA, Free. The Greylock Theatre Project is an outreach program that brings together professional theatre artists with kids from neighboring North Adams to create theatre. In One on Ones, one adult actor form the festival is paired with one kid from North Adams for a mentor ship in performance like no other. These delightful short plays and musicals are always a hit--reservations are highly recommended!
Monday, July 9: Free Theatre Opening Night, WING IT, 7:00, Main Stage. The Festival’s Free Theatre brings vibrant productions to family audiences free of charge. This season, the Festival premieres an imaginative new adaptation of Aristophanes’ THE BIRDS by Gordon Cox, with Music by Kris Kukul, Directed by Suzanne Agins. Free Theatre plays on the Main Stage July 9 – 15 with performances Monday at 7:00 pm, Tuesday through Sunday at 11:00 am.
Monday, July 16: leapFROG Play Opening Night, 8:30, Directing Studio, Free. The Festival’s leapFROG program pairs talented young writers and directors with members of the leapFROG Non-Equity Company to develop an original play during the season. The play runs July 16-18 at 8:30 and 11:00 pm at the Directing Studio.
Monday, July 23: WHAT YOU WILL – AN EVENING BY AND ABOUT THE BARD with Roger Rees at 7:30 on the Main Stage, $25. Roger Rees created and stars in this one-man show celebrating Shakespeare's works. Rees incorporates hysterical, historical, and histrionic observations on the Bard by notable personalities, ranging from David Garrick to George Bernard Shaw to Stevie Wonder. The proceeds from this event benefit the Festival.
Also on Monday, July 23: The Greylock Theatre Project: Teen Ensemble, 5:00, Directing Studio, Free. Greylock Theatre Project teens collaborate with festival professionals on creating new works. Past productions include an ensemble built play and Sonnet Scenes, a project in which the teens write and perform plays based on sonnets by Shakespeare.
Monday, July 30: An Evening with James Naughton at 7:30 on the Nikos Stage, $75. James Naughton, star and director of many celebrated Festival productions, Tony Award winning actor, Broadway director and cabaret favorite, will appear in this special event. James and his band will perform an evening of Broadway classics and standards. Following the concert, there will be a tribute to Ira Lapidus, who recently completed eleven years as President of the Festival's Board of Trustees. After the tribute, there will be a reception in the lobby. The proceeds of this event benefit the Festival’s Commissioned Work Fund which supports the creation of new work receiving its premiere at the Festival.
Monday, August 6: Greylock Theatre Project Playmaking Performance, 7:00, Main Stage, Free. The Greylock Theatre Project is an outreach program that brings together professional theatre artists with kids from neighboring North Adams to create theatre. In Playmaking, kids learn how to write plays during eight weeks of classes. When they have completed the classes, they are paired with a professional dramaturg/director that helps them write a play which is then performed by Festival actors.
Monday, August 13: leapFROG Musical Opening Night, 8:30, Directing Studio, Free. The Festival’s leapFROG program pairs talented young writers, composers and directors with members of the leapFROG Non-Equity Company to develop an original musical during the season. One goal is to create a work that will go on to be performed on other stages. Last season’s leapFROG musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON will be presented by Les Freres Corbusier in New York and CTG’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in L.A. next year. This season’s new musical runs at the Festival August 13-15 at 8:30 and 11:00 pm at Directing Studio at the ’62 Center.
Monday, August 20, Reading of Monet’s Letters at the Clark Art Institute 7:30, $20/$15/$10. Monet often expressed his most private thoughts on his artistic process, financial woes and romantic yearnings in his personal correspondence. In a dramatic reading featuring Roger Rees and others, excerpts from a selection of letters reveal more of the unknown Monet. This event celebrates the Clark’s, “The Unknown Monet: Pastels and Drawings,” the first exhibition to focus on the artist’s graphic works. $20/$15 for Festival and Clark members/$10 for students. Tickets available at the Clark Box Office 413.458.0524.