FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Great Barrington, Mass.—The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center announces plans to reopen for limited-attendance movies, with four titles to start: La La Land (2016), Friday, May 28; Glory (1989), Saturday, May 29; Cool Hand Luke (1967), Friday, June 4; and Hairspray (1988), Saturday, June 5. Each screening is at 7pm.
Audiences will be capped at 75 guests to ensure adequate space between pods. Masks are required while inside the theater, and 6-feet social distancing will be practiced between groups.
In preparation for receiving audiences, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has installed a medical-grade MERV 13 HEPA-filtered and bipolar ionized air management system, established touchless ticketing, conducted thorough cleaning and staff training, and installed directional signage. All Mahaiwe personnel will be fully vaccinated.
“We are excited to welcome back patrons who have been missing the companionship of a movie audience and the joys of a big screen,” says Mahaiwe Executive Director Janis Martinson. “Whether lightly or more seriously, these classic movies take us away and also immerse us in the immediate, from the enchantment and loss of storytelling (in the case of La La Land) to standing up for racial equity (Glory and Hairspray) and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of injustice (Cool Hand Luke).”
The Mahaiwe will screen La La Land (2016) on Friday, May 28 at 7pm. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia’s (Emma Stone) paths cross navigating Los Angeles as a struggling pianist and aspiring actress in this dazzling musical from director Damien Chazelle. Recipient of six Oscars – Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Production Design – La La Land is a spectacle all around. Rated PG-13.
Edward Zwick’s Glory (1989) will screen Saturday, May 29 at 7pm. Glory follows the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment’s fight for the Union and against prejudices – from not only the enemy but also within – as the first African American regiment in the American Civil War. The historical war drama stars Matthew Broderick as Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, and Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, and Cary Elwes as fictional members of the 54th. Rated R.
Cool Hand Luke (1967) will screen Friday, June 4 at 7pm. Paul Newman is the title character in this critically acclaimed prison drama set in the 1950s. Luke, a decorated war veteran, is incarcerated following an intoxicated escapade and resists conforming to the system. Rated PG.
Hairspray (1988) will screen Saturday, June 5 at 7pm. Director John Waters shows even campy comedies can address social issues. It’s 1962, and teenage dancer Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake) has some impact to make on a prejudiced Baltimore. Rated PG.
Mahaiwe Movies are sponsored by Buchwald.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under when applicable. Purchase and print tickets in advance at mahaiwe.org, or present confirmation from a mobile device. Tickets will not be sold at the Box Office at this time. Concessions will not be sold at this time.
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 22,000 students from 73 different schools have benefited from the Mahaiwe’s school-time performances and residencies. For more information, see mahaiwe.org.
Images: