FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Great Barrington, Mass.—The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center will welcome back veteran performers to its stage this December — jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, with a trio, on December 16, and Celtic-folk family act Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, with A Celtic Family Christmas, on December 17.
The theater will also present The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) on December 15, and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), December 22, on its movie screen.
“As we move toward cooler months, thoughts turn to family, and each of these December shows reflects that theme,” says Mahaiwe Executive Director Janis Martinson. “John Pizzarelli, who played for years with his late father, has frequently shared the Mahaiwe stage with Jessica Molaskey and their daughter Madeleine Pizzarelli. The MacMaster-Leahy clan, with two generations of talent, is cut from a similar cloth, passing along musical tradition and a generous spirit of joyful performance. Adding to the mix, the classic films remind us of the importance of those we love. Any or all will be a great way to spend a night – or four – on the shortest days of the year.”
John Pizzarelli
Mahaiwe’s seasonal audience favorite John Pizzarelli returns on Saturday, December 16 at 8 p.m. with a trio performance titled “Stage & Screen.”
Pizzarelli’s newest show, with Michael Karn on bass and Isaiah J. Thompson on piano, focuses on music from the Broadway stage and the silver screen. The program fully encompasses almost every decade from the ‘20s to today, providing a musical discovery for audience members at every concert, all performed by an impeccable trio that has thrilled the world over with their singular brand of swinging jazz.
Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” Established as one of the prime contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Pizzarelli has expanded that repertoire by including the music of Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and the Beatles. In addition to being a bandleader and solo performer, Pizzarelli has been a special guest on recordings for major pop names such as Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones and Dave Van Ronk, as well as leading jazz artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen and, of course, his father Bucky Pizzarelli. He won a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category as co-producer of James Taylor’s American Standard in 2021. A radio personality who got his start in the medium in 1984, Pizzarelli is co-host, alongside wife Jessica Molaskey, of Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli. He has performed on America’s most popular national television shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and Great Performances, as well as the talk shows of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis Philbin and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Tickets are $39 to $89, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and individuals ages 30 and under.
This performance is sponsored by Dr. Beth B. and Jeffery N. Cohen.
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy
Irish-Canadian power couple Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy return to the Mahaiwe with their show A Celtic Family Christmas on Sunday, December 17 at 7 p.m., having last performed at the theater in 2017.
Natalie MacMaster is a Canadian folk musician who started playing the fiddle at the age of 9, has toured with various artists and bands, and has released a few albums with her husband, Donnell Leahy. One of Cape Breton’s most important exports and a superstar in the Celtic music world (though she’s far too humble to admit it), fiddler and step-dancer MacMaster has built a sterling, multi-decade career on electrifying playing and must-see live performances.
Donnell Leahy is known as one of the best fiddlers in the world. He has been playing and performing for most of his life, and his skills as an instrumentalist are unmatched. His Irish/Cape Breton heritage contributes to the unique sound of his music. Alongside his wife and musical collaborator, Leahy has cemented his reputation as a peerless instrumentalist able to synthesize traditional influences with more contemporary Celtic/folk sensibilities.
The pair realized early on that being on the road without their kids was infinitely harder than touring with them. That the children were already being home-schooled (MacMaster has a teaching degree), made enacting that decision easier. “Initially we were reluctant to let the kids perform. We worried the expectations might be too much,” Leahy says. “But then one night we put Mary Frances on stage. Soon after that Michael wanted to play. And you must reward practice.”
“Christmas is where the whole concept started, and we are very excited to be traveling as a family again,” he continues. “It’s a perfect time to travel with the children and bring light and happiness to families and fans across the country.”
Tickets are $34 to $79, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and individuals ages 30 and under.
Movies
The Mahaiwe will present The Muppet Christmas Carol from 1992 on Friday, December 15 at 7 p.m. Jim Henson’s Muppets take on the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol in this beloved adaptation starring Michael Caine as Scrooge, alongside franchise favorites Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, and many more. Rated G. Tickets are $8 or $5 for ages 12 and under. Tickets for this film are available now.
Following an annual Mahaiwe tradition, the theater will screen Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life from 1946, for free, on Friday, December 22 at 7 p.m. Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, a troubled soul visited by his guardian angel to help George see his impact in life. Rated PG. It will be screened in English with Spanish subtitles. No reservations; first-come, first-served.
Mahaiwe Movies are sponsored by BUCHWALD.
Tickets
John Pizzarelli and MacMaster-Leahy tickets go on sale to Mahaiwe Members on Wednesday, September 13 at noon, and the public on Friday, September 15 at noon. Tickets can be purchased online at mahaiwe.org, or by calling or visiting the Box Office, 413-528-0100, on Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
To learn more about Mahaiwe Membership, contact Brenna Hull at 413-644-9040 x107 or brenna@mahaiwe.org, or visit mahaiwe.org/membership.
Individuals ages 30 and under are eligible for $15 youth tickets. Visit the Box Office or call 413-528-0100 during open hours, Wednesday through Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m.
About the Mahaiwe
Located in downtown Great Barrington, Mass., the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is the year-round presenter of world-class music, dance, theater, classic films, Live in HD broadcasts, and arts education programs for the southern Berkshires and neighboring regions. The intimate jewel box of a theater opened in 1905. Since 2005, the performing arts center has hosted over 1,500 events and welcomed over half a million people through its doors. More than 25,700 students from 73 different schools have benefited from the Mahaiwe’s school-time performances and residencies. For more information, see mahaiwe.org.
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