Happening this Week
ELIZABETH FREEMAN: A LASTING LEGACY
IN PERSON & VIRTUAL
August 19th - 21st, Friday - Sunday, times vary
This weekend the town of Sheffield MA will host a series of events celebrating the 241st Anniversary of Elizabeth Freeman’s historic court case that led to the abolishment of slavery in Massachusetts, culminating in the unveiling of a bronze statue of Freeman that will stand on the Sheffield Green. On Friday there is a roundtable discussion on the life and legacy of Elizabeth Freeman in which a group of prominent historians will engage with the realities of Freeman’s complex story and use it as an entryway into a larger conversation about stories, silences and the ethics of African American public history. Saturday’s main event will be a performance of the play Meet Elizabeth Freeman starring local legend Wanda Houston. On Sunday there will be a commemorative walk starting at Ashley House where Freeman was enslaved before the unveiling ceremony on the Green.
Friday: Dewey Memorial Hall. 91 Main Street. Sheffield MA.
Saturday: Old Parish Church. 125 Main Street. Sheffield MA.
Sunday: Ashley House. 117 Cooper Hill Road. Sheffield MA.
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THE ART OF BREWING FESTIVAL: AN ARTFUL TASTING
IN PERSON
August 20th, Saturday, 1-4PM
The Norman Rockwell Museum is thrilled to be hosting the 4th Annual Art of Brewing Festival—celebrating the craft and creativity both within and on the beer cans themselves. Spend the afternoon sampling some of the best local brews and local food taking inspiration from the illustrated art in the galleries and on the beer cans. Special Guest Artist Keever—commercial illustrator in both the craft beer and skateboarding industries—will be there sharing his original brew art for a number of popular breweries. $20 Norman Rockwell Museum Members, $35 General Public.
Norman Rockwell Museum. 9 Glendale Road/Rte. 183. Stockbridge MA. 413.298.4100.
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BERKSHIRE OPERA FESTIVAL PRESENTS DON GIOVANNI
IN PERSON
August 20th, Saturday, 1PM
August 23rd and 26th, Tuesday and Friday, 7:30PM
A predator. A charming aristocrat. A murderer. A womanizer whose exploits number in the thousands. Don Giovanni is the original antihero and while he will stop at nothing to satisfy his lust, his crimes demand the ultimate punishment. Mozart and librettist Lorenzo da Ponte blend comedy, tragedy, and the supernatural to thrilling effect in this opera—one of the greatest ever composed. Enjoy a masterful performance of this iconic opera with the talented artists of the Berkshire Opera Festival. Sung in Italian with projected English translations. $20 - $120.
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. 14 Castle Street. Great Barrington MA. 413.528.0100.
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IS SOCIAL MEDIA THE END OF CIVILIZATION?
IN PERSON & VIRTUAL
August 21st, Sunday, 3PM
The Rothschilds hired Charles Darwin to devise his theory of evolution as part of a plot to dominate the world. The US government is run by a cabal of child molesters. Up is down and down is up; the winner is the loser and the loser is anyone you don’t like. Ben Franklin always told us “never argue with anyone who buys ink by the barrel.” But in the age of computers, social media gives everyone a bottomless inkwell and the nuttier the idea, the more currency it gains. In its fifth program of the season, Common Ground examines how the democratization of media has ironically become a threat to democracy and the pressing clash between free speech and social peace. $45 In Person, $25 Virtual, Free for Students & Educators.
Wamogo Regional High School. 98 Wamogo Road. Litchfield CT.
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A WALK IN THE WOODS: ARM IN ARMS
IN PERSON
Now through September 4th
Two superpower arms negotiators, a Russian and an American, meet informally in the pleasant woods on the outskirts of Geneva. The Russian, Botvinnik, is urbane and humorous but also seasoned and cynical. His American counterpart, Honeyman, is inquisitive and determined, fervently hopeful about what can—and must—be achieved to maintain peace. They continue their informal meetings as the seasons change and through these conversations, develop a friendship that belies the antagonisms of the world order. Lee Blessing’s complex, nuanced exploration of these two protagonists is expertly brought to life by theatre greats Allyn Burrows and Jonathan Epstein. $22 - 72.
Shakespeare & Company. Roman Garden Theatre. 70 Kemble Street. Lenox MA. 413.637.3353.
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