Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Close Encounters With Music: Romance of the Romani!—Ravel, Bartók, Liszt, Haydn, and Brahms Piano Quartet
2026-06-14 16:00 (America/New_York) | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
TICKETS

$35 Balcony / $60 Orchestra
Mahaiwe Member Discount Event

Mahaiwe Member Sale:
Friday, September 5 at noon
Public Sale:
Wednesday, September 10 at noon
Mahaiwe Members receive $5 off each ticket
The season closes with the irresistible fire and passion of music shaped by Romani traditions, which left an indelible mark on European composers. The romance, longing, and sense of freedom in these melodies found their way into some of the most beloved works of the repertoire. Haydn’s Piano Trio No. 39, with its famous “Gypsy” Rondo, dazzles in Hungarian style, while Brahms unleashes unbridled intensity in the torrential finale of his Piano Quartet No. 1. Ravel (Tzigane), Bartók (Romanian Dances), and Liszt (Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2) add their voices to this vibrant tradition. After the performance, join us for a festive reception—complete with a fortune teller to offer a lighthearted glimpse into your future. Our prediction: a brilliant season finale filled with inspired music and extraordinary performers.
Max Levinson, piano; Giora Schmidt, violin; Helena Baillie, viola; Yehuda Hanani, cello; Laura Melnicoff, cello

Tab Benoit
2026-07-12 20:00 - 21:30
TICKETS

$35 – $55
Mahaiwe Member & Youth Discount Event
Member Sale:
Wednesday, January 28 at noon
Public Sale:
Friday, January 30 at noon
$35 Reserved
$45 Preferred
$55 Premium
Members receive $5 off each ticket
$15 ages 30 and under (visit the Box Office or call 413-528-0100, Wed – Sat, 12-4pm)
Join us for an exhilarating evening as the legendary multi-Grammy nominee and wetlands activist Tab Benoit brings his high-energy Soul of the Swamp Tour 2026 to stages across America. Known for his passionate performances and deep-rooted connection to the swamp, Tab Benoit is a true master of his craft, boasting over 20 releases that showcase his unique artistry.
With iconic radio hits like “Nice and Warm” and “Cross the Line” from his 90s recordings, critics have often described Benoit’s voice as “Otis Redding-ish,” while his guitar playing is celebrated for its originality and distinctive style. In 2024, he made a triumphant return with his first recording in 13 years, I Hear Thunder, signaling that his best work is yet to come.
On the Soul of the Swamp Tour, Tab will take you on a musical journey, performing songs from his vast catalog and digging deep into the rich tones and storytelling lyrics that have made him a n admired figure in the music world. True to his authentic style, Tab performs without effects—just a guitar, a cord, and an amp—allowing the magic of his music to shine through his hands , fingers, and his band.
Opening Act: Sgt. Splendor
Photo by Jean Frank Photography

Tom Papa: Grateful Bread Tour
2026-07-18 19:00
TICKETS

$40 – $89
Mahaiwe Member & Youth Discount Event
$40 Limited Upper Balcony
$49 Reserved
$69 Preferred
$89 Premium
Members receive $5 off each ticket
$15 ages 30 and under (visit the Box Office or call 413-528-0100, Wed – Sat, 12-4pm)
With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country, finding success as an actor, host, and author, in film, TV, radio and podcasts as well as on the live stage.
The comedian has had 5 highly rated stand-up specials over the years, and he has recently released his 6th stand-up special, Tom Papa: Home Free as a Netflix Original on October 29, 2024. Papa holds nothing back in his third Netflix special as his kids are finally out of the house and it’s just him, his wife, and a bunch of animals ready to return to their glory days. Tom has seen a lot over the years from close calls with a pachinko ball to late night 7-Eleven runs and he’s sharing all his thoughts as he parties on into the next stage of life. His other critically acclaimed specials include What A Day!, Tom Papa: You’re Doing Great!, Human Mule, Freaked Out, and Tom Papa Live in New York City, two of which were directed by Rob Zombie.
On June 6, 2023, Tom released his highly anticipated third book, We’re All In This Together… So Make Some Room. The book compiles comedic essays that aim to unite us through our stupidity. Every mistake has already been made, and this should bring us great comfort as we join together in our fight for survival, or at least in our attempt to get through the day. Whether we like it or not, we’re all in this together.
In 2020, Tom released his second book, You’re Doing Great! – And Other Reasons To Stay Alive, which was the follow-up to Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas both released by St. Martin’s Press, making “Summer Must Read” lists from Parade Magazine to The New York Post. Tom is also a contributing writer to The New Yorker magazine.
Tom’s highly rated podcast, Breaking Bread with Tom Papa, features Tom and his guest eating, drinking, and celebrating the true meaning of breaking bread with insightful, revealing, and always funny conversations. He also hosts the popular daily Netflix radio show, What A Joke With Papa And Fortune, on Sirius XM Channel 93 and the monthly show, Come To Papa Live, on Channel 94.
Tom has starred in many fan-favorite films including Paper Spiders where he starred opposite Lili Taylor, The Informant! opposite Matt Damon, Analyze That opposite Robert De Niro, and The Haunted World of El Superbeasto opposite Paul Giamatti, where Tom voiced the title character. He can also be seen alongside Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in the HBO film, Behind the Candelabra, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh and won 11 Emmys.
On TV, Tom hosted the NBC series, The Marriage Ref, which ran for two seasons and had a recurring role opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the CBS series, The New Adventures of Old Christine.

Berkshire Opera Festival: Lucia di Lammermoor
2026-08-22 13:00 - 15:45, 2026-08-25 19:30 - 22:15, 2026-08-28 19:30 - 22:15
TICKETS

Tickets start at $20
BOF Donor & Mahaiwe Member Sale:
Wednesday, December 3 at noon
Public Sale:
Saturday, December 13 at noon
Join dramaturg Cori Ellison for a free pre-show lecture on Saturday, August 22 at 12pm. (Admission included with a ticket to that performance.)
Lucia di Lammermoor reigns as the crown jewel of bel canto opera! Set amid the foggy moors and ancient castles of Scotland, Donizetti’s masterpiece tells the tragic story of Lucia, whose forbidden love for her family’s sworn enemy drives her to the brink of madness. When her brother forces her into a loveless marriage, Lucia’s heart—and mind—shatter in one of opera’s most unforgettable scenes. Renowned for its breathtaking drama and virtuosic singing, Lucia di Lammermoor remains one of the most celebrated works in the operatic canon, a timeless showcase of the full power and passion of the human voice.
Duration: 2h, 45min. (Including one intermission.)
Sung in Italian with projected English translations
Cast
Christine Lyons – Lucia
Terrence Chin-Loy – Edgardo
Dean Murphy – Enrico
Stefan Egerstrom – Raimondo
Jordan Costa – Arturo
Featuring the BOF Orchestra and Chorus
Creative Team
Brian Garman – Conductor
Jonathon Loy – Stage Director
