Will Call

A Talk with Beryl Jolly You’re listening to 52 of Will Call, released on a brilliant and beautiful Saturday, November 19, 2016. I’m your host, Jason Velázquez, and I thank you so much for joining us. We just heard a snippet of Ghost Town Girl from the eponymous new release from California-based Roots band, Echo Sparks. Not because we’re featuring them on this show, but because I recently recorded a video interview with them and I’ve got that tune stuck in my head. Go to greylockglass.com and sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when that

Pittsfield, Mass.—The Board of Trustees of Hancock Shaker Village announced Wednesday, September 14 the appointment of Jennifer Trainer Thompson as president and chief executive officer. Ms. Thompson will assume her new role at the end of the year from her current post as senior vice president of partnerships and external affairs at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). Ms. Thompson has over 28 years of experience in arts administration and culture in the Berkshires. One of a small team that developed MASS MoCA beginning in 1988, she has been integral to the evolution of the museum, having organized

LENOX, Mass. — If you’ve ever wanted to see Hillary Clinton belt a show tune, Donald Trump sing a rock song, or New Jersey Governor Chris Christie perform a classical ballet, The Capitol Steps might just be the show for you. We were lucky enough to catch up with Capitol Steps (website, Facebook) writer and performer Bari Biern, who revealed the origins of the Capitol Steps , yet somehow managed to keep her own party affiliation a mystery (even off mic!). Turns out, Biern is a woman of many, many talents who’s voice you have probably heard before, even if you’ve

William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” brings together some very talented local flotsam. In this episode, we were lucky enough to catch Enrico Spada, founder and artistic director of Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park, with a little time to to talk about the 2016 presentation of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Considering that today is the opening of the run, that’s no mean feat. Now in its third season, Shakespeare in the Park, is expected to draw an audience of 5,000 before it closes on August 7. I hope you enjoy this great conversation about one of the Berkshires’ newest great traditions. “The

Governor Charlie Baker issued a budget veto on July 8 that would slash funding for the arts, humanities, and sciences through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) by more than half. The cut would exceed the value of MCC’s two largest grant programs, reducing state cultural funding to levels not seen since 1994. In this episode, we speak with Van Shields, executive director of the Berkshire Museum, about some of the ways that programs supported by the MCC have had an impact on the lives of residents across the county and state. Shields points out the now universally understood link between

Governor Charlie Baker issued a budget veto on July 8 that would slash funding for the arts, humanities, and sciences through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) by more than half. The cut would exceed the value of MCC’s two largest grant programs, reducing state cultural funding to levels not seen since 1994. In this episode, we speak with Matt Wilson, exectuive director of MASSCreative, about the precarious fate of arts, culture, science, and humanities programs across the state. Wilson points out impacts of the arts on communities way beyond the aesthetic. Programs supported by the MCC have been shown to

Like Summer itself, “Orpheus in the Berkshires” enters the scene with a flourish. A wildflower bouquet of textures and colors, the piece immediately charms, providing just the right touch at this season’s picnic of theatre offerings. In its creation, the production of “Orpheus,” from the Williamstown Theatre Festival, redefines the phrase, “community theatre.” Reframing the concept as an artistic mission to embrace an entire community as both inspiration and raw material, playwright Lucy Thurber and director Laura Savia create a fantastical world that is as familiar in its faces, strengths, and  problems as the whole of the Berkshires itself. We

A Whimsical Fantasy Celebrating the Arts The Berkshire Mountain Faerie Festival makes its debut in Adams, June 25, with activities, music, arts, and magic for believers of all ages. aaa When: June 25th, 2016 10:00am to 10:00pm Where:Bowe Field, Adams, Mass. (Adams Aggie Fair Grounds) Cost: $5 admission, children under 12 FREE Visit their Facebook page for more details.   Presented by: The Adams Arts Advisory Board with the Adams Agricultural Fair (non-profit 501c) being their fiscal agent Proceeds to: Public Art and Community Based Art within our region, including schools and libraries Activities Performances throughout the day on the

We celebrate the Summer Solstice with one of the Summery-est passages we know. Enjoy!   The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Full text available at Project Gutenberg) VII. THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN The Willow-Wren was twittering his thin little song, hidden himself in the dark selvedge of the river bank. Though it was past ten o’clock at night, the sky still clung to and retained some lingering skirts of light from the departed day; and the sullen heats of the torrid afternoon broke up and rolled away at the dispersing touch of the cool fingers

FIGMENT, a free, family-friendly participatory arts event held in multiple cities and attracting tens of thousands of participants each year, has announced their inaugural North Adams event. FIGMENT is an explosion of creative energy, a celebration of participatory art and culture where everything is possible. For one day, attendees will transform Windsor Lake into a large-scale collaborative artwork — and then it’s gone. Visit their website to learn about it’s mission, principals, and to check out great photos and videos of past events. FIGMENT North Adams Windsor Lake April 30, 2016; 3:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. FREE In this episode, we speak