FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Great Barrington, Mass.—The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has added a variety of new shows to its year-round schedule: family program Captain Nemo’s Adventure Academy on July 6, jazz band The Hot Sardines on July 17, Ailey II on October 25 and 26, and folk trio The Wailin’ Jennys on November 23.
Captain Nemo’s Adventure Academy
Performer David Engel will return to the Mahaiwe on Saturday, July 6 at 4 p.m. with his children’s show Captain Nemo’s Adventure Academy: 20,000 Laughs Under the Sea.
Audiences are encouraged to dive into this madcap homage to Jules Verne’s famous maritime hero! Captain Nemo himself will entertain, inspire, and challenge little guppies’ brains while quenching their thirst for knowledge of the Wonders of the Deep. The cantankerous and ever-curious Captain Nemo lives to excite kids about our watery-blue planet with tales of the Giant Squid, the elusive Angler fish and even how whale poop is part of the Cycle of Life!
This engaging theatrical experience features beautiful sound effects, hilarious slapstick hijinks, magic, bubble-play and full-audience participation.
Engel performed Pirate School last year to an audience of enthusiastic children and guardians alike.
Tickets are $12 or $8 for ages 12 and under.
The Hot Sardines
Swing group The Hot Sardines will perform at the Mahaiwe on Wednesday, July 17 at 8 p.m.
Fueled by the belief that classic jazz feeds the heart and soul, The Hot Sardines are on a mission to make old sounds new again and prove that joyful music can bring people together in a disconnected world.
Founded in 2011 by Elizabeth Bougerol and Evan Palazzo over a mutual love of Fats Waller, The Hot Sardines skyrocketed from the wild underground parties of Brooklyn. Described by The New York Times as “potent and assured” and The Times of London as “simply phenomenal,” the Sardines have been touring their brand of reinvigorated classic jazz worldwide behind a string of celebrated albums and over 60 million digital streams, across platforms.
The Hot Sardines have been featured at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival, sold out NYC venues from Joe’s Pub to Bowery Ballroom and more than 150 tour dates from Chicago to London, and released music to critical raves and a No. 1 slot on the iTunes Jazz chart.
Tickets are $34 to $54, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and individuals ages 30 and under.
Ailey II
Ailey II will perform at the Mahaiwe on Friday, October 25 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, October 26 at 3 p.m. The performances will be co-presented with the Du Bois Freedom Center.
This year, Ailey II – The Next Generation of Dance – marks its 50th anniversary of merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1974, this universally renowned company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Under the leadership of Sylvia Waters, who served as artistic director for 38 seasons, Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. Today, with Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, she brings fresh perspectives to Mr. Ailey’s legacy, while nurturing new creative voices and propelling the company forward.
Tickets are $36 to $76, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and individuals ages 30 and under.
The Wailin’ Jennys
Folk group The Wailin’ Jennys will perform at the theater on Saturday, November 23 at 8 p.m.
The Wailin’ Jennys are Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse — three distinct voices that together make an achingly perfect vocal sound.
Starting as a happy accident of solo singer/songwriters getting together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Wailin’ Jennys have grown over the years into one of today’s most beloved international folk acts. Founding members Moody and Mehta along with New York-based Masse continue to create some of the most exciting music on the folk-roots scene, stepping up their musical game with each critically lauded recording, and thrilling audiences with their renowned live performances.
The Wailin’ Jennys’ first full-length album, 40 Days (2004), won a Juno Award and launched the trio into the roots music scene, bolstered by frequent appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. The follow-up, Firecracker (2006), received a Folk Alliance Award. After 2009’s Live at Mauch Chunk Opera House spent a year on the Billboard bluegrass charts, 2011’s Bright Morning Stars netted the group a second Juno Award. Their latest album, Fifteen (2017), commemorated The Wailin’ Jennys’ fifteenth anniversary and earned the band another Juno nomination.
Currently on tour, the Jennys are road-testing new songs for an upcoming studio album.
Tickets are $43 to $79, with discounts for Mahaiwe Members and individuals ages 30 and under.
Tickets
Tickets go on sale to Mahaiwe Members on Wednesday, May 15 at noon, and to the public on Friday, May 17 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 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 26,000 students from 75 different schools have benefited from the Mahaiwe’s school-time performances and residencies. For more information, see mahaiwe.org.
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