FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Great Barrington, Mass.—The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center announces four new live shows added to its year-round schedule: “Odyssey,” a new play by Lisa Peterson, on October 14 and 15; the dance company BODYTRAFFIC on November 10 and 11; Mat Kearney with an acoustic trio on November 17; and comedian Samantha Bee on November 18.
“This run of programming, which joins the previously-scheduled appearance by Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro in October, is a great example of the span of genres the Mahaiwe brings to the Berkshires,” says Mahaiwe Executive Director Janis Martinson. “Fans of contemporary drama will be eager to see the latest from Lisa Peterson, a feminine companion to the play An Iliad that she developed with Denis O’Hare a decade ago, while dance audiences will want to see BODYTRAFFIC’s latest innovations. Mat Kearney will satisfy the folk-pop crowd, throwing in some hip-hop beats for good measure, and Samantha Bee will draw anyone who wants their laughter with a little wit.”
The Acting Company, a theatrical company out of New York City, will perform “Odyssey” live on stage, Saturday, October 14 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m. Written and directed by two-time Obie Award-winner Lisa Peterson, this adaption of The Odyssey brings new life to an ancient epic. Four young women trapped in the limbo of a refugee camp retell Odysseus’ adventures as they struggle with their own search for a home. A production based on the revelatory new translation by Emily Wilson, its bold theatricality brings new humor and grace to a story we all think we know. Tickets are $25 to $60 with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and ages 30 and under.
Los Angeles-based dance company BODYTRAFFIC will make its Mahaiwe debut on Friday, November 10 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, November 11 at 3 p.m. BODYTRAFFIC has made waves from coast to coast with its far-reaching appeal. Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett leads a masterful troupe, all nimble interpreters of each choreographers’ distinct vision. This absorbing, thought-provoking, and vividly theatrical company assures an “absolutely joyous and oh-so-entertaining” evening of dance. Surprising and unforgettable, BODYTRAFFIC is “one of the most talked-about companies nationwide,” says the Los Angeles Times. Tickets are $35 to $65, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and ages 30 and under. These performances are sponsored by Blue Q.
Nashville-based, Oregon-born musician Mat Kearney will perform live with a trio on Friday, November 17 at 8 p.m. in support of his newest album, January Flower. Written between an isolated retreat in Joshua Tree and his home studio, January Flower sees Kearney in his rawest form, distilling the songwriting process and rediscovering the joy of making music. Over his career, Kearney has released five studio albums, claimed the #1 spot on iTunes, topped multiple Billboard charts, made four entries into the Hot 100, amassed over 577MM on demand streams and over 2.5 billion global streams. Kearney, a Multi-Platinum songwriter and producer, has performed live on Today Show, Ellen, The Tonight Show, Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live! and has garnered raves from USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, People, Billboard, Parade and Marie Claire. He also has an incredible touring history, sharing the road with everyone from John Mayer to Needtobreathe as well as headlining numerous tours of his own. Tickets are $35 to $75, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and ages 30 and under. VIP packages are $125.
Two-time Emmy Award-winning comedian and former host of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Samantha Bee, is bringing her new live show, “Your Favorite Woman,” to the Mahaiwe on Saturday, November 18 at 8 p.m. This obscene vanity project promises to “remind you women are inherently magical beings despite what six Supreme Court justices and your Instagram feed wants you to believe.” “Many of the best segments we did on Full Frontal focused on making complex issues more accessible,” says Bee. “And I am called to do that once again. Not sure why. Nothing much is happening in the world of women’s bodily autonomy, so I am taking it upon myself to teach the parts of Sex Ed that should’ve been taught by your gym teacher.” The live show will feature Bee’s signature comedy, memorable visual aids, and debunked myths that have been drilled into our heads since the dawn of recorded history. Tickets are $45 to $85, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and ages 30 and under. VIP packages are $185. WAMC Northeast Public Radio is partnering with the Mahaiwe as a media sponsor for this performance.
Tickets
Tickets go on sale to Mahaiwe Members on Wednesday, July 26 at noon, and the public on Friday, July 28 at noon (Samantha Bee tickets will be available online early, at 10 a.m.). 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 bhull@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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