Friday: Summer Learning Day

Who doesn't love the last day of school? Celebrate the kick-off of summer vacation at Berkshire Museum! Led by Pittsfield Promise in partnership with Berkshire United Way, this FREE event includes a performance by David Grover, free ice cream, a read-aloud with children's author Ty Allan Jackson of Big Head Books, and more!

Friday, June 21 | 12:30pm | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | FREE

Friday-Monday: Shadow Dancer at Little Cinema

A conspiracy thriller set around an act of betrayal within a tight knit family, the story centers around a single mother  — a Republican living in Belfast with her mother and hardliner IRA brothers. When she is arrested for her part in an aborted IRA bomb plot in London, an MI5 officer offers her a choice: lose everything and go to prison or return to Belfast to spy on her own family.  

Friday-Monday, June 21-24 | Fri-Mon 7pmMon 2pm | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | $5 Members $7.50 Non Members

Friday+: On The Town at Barrington Stage

The raves for On The Town keep pouring in. FromBerkshire On Stage: "On the Town has a story that is as fresh and funny as if it had been written yesterday...The amount of choreography in this production is mind-boggling and the cast executes it all flawlessly and with vigor. If there is a dancer or dance lover in your family you have GOT to take them to see this..."  Set in 1944, On the Town is the story of three sailors on a 24-hour leave in New York City. Squeezed for time, they somehow manage to find love and incredible adventures in the Big Apple.  Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

Through July 13 | Tues & Wed 7pm; Thurs-Sat8pm; Sun 5pm; Wed & Fri matinees 2pm | Barrington Stage Company Main Stage  | 30 Union Street | 413-997-6117 | $20 & up

Friday+: Muckrakers at Barrington Stage

Another world premiere! A young female activist brings an older man—a famous political hacker/journalist—home to her Brooklyn apartment to spend the night. But as they start to expose each other's secrets, personal and political desires collide, testing the limits of privacy in the modern world. 

Through July 6 | Tues-Sat 7:30pm; Sat 4pm; Sun 3pm | Barrington Stage Company | St. Germain Stage | 36 Linden Street | 413-236-8888 | $15-$40

Saturday, Sunday & Wednesday: Pittsfield Suns at Wahconah Park  

The Pittsfield Suns have three home games this week, playing the Titans, the Mavericks and the Rox ! Click here for the full team schedule.

Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday June 22-23 & 26 | Sat 7pm Sun 4pm | Wahconah Park | 143 Wahconah Street | 413-445-7867 | $8

Saturdays: Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market

Every Saturday 20+ farmers and artisans sell fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, meats, cheeses, baked goods, flowers, cutting boards, jewelry, pottery and more. Plus this week you can hoola hoop and/or get your soil tested!

Saturdays through October 26 | 9am-1pm | Parking Lot across from The Common | 120 First Street | 413-443-6501 | FREE

Matuschka: A Body Biography Talk, Booksigning, and Workshop

Pulitzer Prize-nominated photographer Matuschka, whose self-portrait Beauty Out of Damageappeared on the cover of the New York Times Magazine, will discuss the themes of ruin and restoration and her use of her body as a political metaphor. The event is offered in conjunction with the retrospective exhibition of Matuschka's work, on view at Sohn Fine Art in Stockbridge, along with a two day workshop Exploration of Image Making and Personal Expression.

Talk: Saturday, June 22 | 2:30pm-3:30pm | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | FREE with Museum Admission

Workshop: Saturday-Sunday, June 22-23 | Sat9am-12pm Sun 1pm-5pm | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-298-1025 | $225

Saturday: Science in the Park

Lead by science educator, Lisa Provencher, Science in the Parks is a FREE program where kids will learn about water and the environment and why keeping our parks clean is important. All ages are invited.  Discover a fascinating world right in our own Dorothy Amos Park. Parents plan on your kids having fun and getting wet and dirty. We will be testing the pH of the water, identifying water plants, aquatic insects, frogs and turtles. Come on out and play with us and learn some new stuff at the same time.  Click here for more information and the summer schedule.

Saturday, June 22 | 10am | Dorothy Amos Park  | 310 West Street | 413-499-0692 | FREE

Saturday: Read-A-Palooza!

Read-A-Palooza is a literary event where you will meet and greet local children's authors and get their books. Feature authors include Jana Laiz, Ken Duncan, Natasha Powe and Ty Allan Jackson. The amazing KidZone Dance Team will perform & more!

Saturday, June 22 | 10am-2pm | Berkshire Athenaeum | 1 Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9480| FREE

Saturday: Decoupage Workshop at the Lichtenstein

In this workshop, you will learn traditional decoupage techniques as well as more sophisticated approaches to design, taught by full-time artist Jenn Sherr. Decoupage is the art of decorating an object by using special papers. Faux painting will also be included. A fresh take on decoupage, this workshop is for both advanced and beginning students.  All necessary supplies are included in the price of this workshop.

Saturday, June 22 | 11am-1:30pm | Lichtenstein Center for the Arts | 28 Renne Avenue | 617-842-7807 | $95

Saturday: Skate Jam at the Pittsfield Skate Plaza

The rain is gone (for now) and the shredding is just beginning. Join The Garden at the Pittsfield Skate Plaza for another raucous Skate/BMX Jam, where you can show off your chops on the pipes and rails or watch as other talented riders throw down big tricks. For beginners and amateurs, there will be prizes, giveaways and raffles.

Saturday, June 22 | 12pm | Pittsfield Skate Plaza | 300 East Street | 413-442-9088 | $5

Saturday: Faith and Freedom Walk

This one mile walk through history in central Pittsfield commemorates the 150th anniversary of both the Emancipation Proclamation and the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first African-American military units in the Civil War, and their chaplain, the Reverend Samuel Harrison  The Walk and the following program at Second Congregational Church are a signature event of the2013 Lift Ev'ry Voice Festival, celebrating African-American culture and heritage in the Berkshires. All are welcome. Click here for more information.

Saturday, June 22 | 12:45pm | Samuel Harrison House | 82 3rd Street | 413-499-9348 | FREE

Saturday: Ephrata Cloister Chorus at Hancock Shaker Village

The Ephrata Cloister Chorus will be visiting Hancock Shaker Village from Pennsylvania, with a public concert. One of America's earliest religious communities, the Ephrata Cloister was founded in 1732 by German settlers seeking spiritual goals rather than earthly rewards. 

Saturday, June 22 | 3pm | Hancock Shaker Village | 1843 West Housatonic Street | 413-443-0188 | FREE with admission 

Saturday: Danny Whitecotton at Marketplace Cafe

Born and raised in Texas, Danny Whitecotton has been playing his mix of indie rock and alt country to the coffee shop junkies and bar patrons since his independently released first album Go On and Raindebuted in May. Writing songs about life, second chances, ghosts, and murder mysteries; Whitecotton has shown himself as a contemptuous, sorrowful, and talented songwriter that won't shy away from the darkness of the human struggle or the potential light in everyone.

Saturday, June 22 | 6:30pm | The Marketplace Cafe | 53 North St. | 413-358-4777 | NO COVER

Saturday: Live Music at Flavours

Chris Merenda  joins Flavours for a night of rock and roll.  Chris Merenda has made his presence felt on the Berkshire musical scene in various guises, lately leading his five- or six- member band The Wheel.  For adults 21 and over.

Saturday, June 22 | 9:30pm | Flavours of Malaysia | 75 North Street | 413-443-3188 | $5

Sunday: The Man From Earth at the Whitney

Town Players of Pittsfield presents a staged reading ofThe Man From Earth by Jerome Bixby.  After history professor John Oldman unexpectedly resigns from the University, his startled colleagues press him for an explanation. But they're shocked to hear his reason for premature retirement: John claims he must move on because he is immortal, and cannot stay in one place for more than ten years without his secret being discovered. 

Sunday, June 23 | 3pm | Whitney Center for the Arts | 42 Wendell Avenue | 413-443-9279 | $5 

Monday: Great Hollywood Entertainers Series at Knesset Israel

Part three of a three part series at Knesset Israel  about Great Hollywood Entertainers.  Film historian and author Phillip Harwood will delight you with his encyclopedic knowledge and film clips. This week he discusses Eddie Cantor, the American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter.  

Monday, June 24 | 7:30pm | Knesset Israel | 16 Colt Road | 413-445-4872 x10 | $12

Tuesday: Christopher Culpo at First Church

Christopher Culpo will give a solo piano concert at First Church of Christ on Park Square.  Mr. Culpo, a Pittsfield native, lives in France.  The music of Christopher Culpo is unclassifiable, having its place in the world of theater and dance, in clubs and concert halls. As a performer and composer, Culpo lies at the confluence of contemporary classical music, jazz and free improvisation.  Culpo will perform his own compositions along with works by Ellington, Monk, Mingus, Cole Porter, and others.  A freewill offering will be taken with donations going to St Joseph's Kitchen and the artist. 

Tuesday, June 25 | 7pm | First Church |  27 East Street | 413-447-7351 | Free Will Offering 

Tuesday: Mahogany L. Browne at Y Bar

The Cave Canem Alumnae and Poets House Fellow is the author of several books including Swag and DearTwitter: Love Letters Hashed Out Online. She has released five LPs including the live albumSheroshima. As co-founder of the Off Broadway poetry production, Jam On It, and co-producer of NYC's 1st Performance Poetry Festival: SoundBites Poetry Festival, Mahogany bridges the gap between lyrical poets and literary emcee. Click here for more information.

Tuesday, June 25 | 8pm | Y Bar | 391 North Street | No phone | No cover

Wednesday: Free Youth Poetry Workshop with Nikki Giovanni

Acclaimed master poet Nikki Giovanni will present Words are Weapons of the Strong, a spoken word and poetry workshop at Conte Community School. The goal of the free workshop, which is open to youth ages (10-18), is to raise students' awareness and understanding of poetry, both as a vehicle for self-expression and as a language tool.  The workshop will first feature a talk from Giovanni, followed by poetry writing and sharing. 

Wednesday, June 26 | 1pm-4pm | Conte Community School | 200 West Street | 413-448-9660 | FREE

Wednesday: Celebrate the Berkshires!

Join in celebrating the Berkshires and honoring the businesses and individuals who strengthen our economy and help the region grow.  Enjoy appetizers, a silent auction, a cash bar & the Berkshire Trendsetter Awards, recognizing outstanding organizations and individuals whose achievement, innovation and/or commitment has strengthened our economy and helped the Berkshires grow. Click here for more information.

Wednesday, June 26 | 6pm | Spice Dragon | 297 North Street | 413-499-4000 | $50

Wednesday & Thursday: Auditions for Town Players at Whitney

Town Players of Pittsfield is holding auditions for a reading of A Bad Year for Tomatoes, written by John Patrick.  Are you so sick of your neighbors that you'd make up a scary and crazy story about a madwoman in your house, just to keep them away? Well this gal will. Myra Marlowe is an actress who is sick of fame, so decides to settle down in a small New England town and become a writer. She begins to deal with her pressuring agent, annoying neighbors, and other hilarious characters. Need: 4 Women and 3 Men. Also a Narrator (Male or Female) Ages: Late 20's-60's. 

Wednesday & Thursday, June 26 & 27 | 6pm | Whitney Center for the Arts | 42 Wendell Avenue | 413-443-9279 | FREE

Thursday: An Evening with Nikki Giovanni

Spend an unforgettable evening with the legendary poet Nikki Giovanni, winner of the American Book Award & many other honors, in support of the 2013 Lift Ev'ry Voice Festival this Thursday night.MadJacks BBQ will be providing delicious appetizers and a cash bar will be available. All proceeds benefit the signature programs, most of them free to the community, of the 2013 Lift Ev'ry Voice festivalcelebrating African-American heritage and culture in the Berkshires. Click here to visit the website of Lift Ev'ry Voice.

Thursday, June 27 | 7pm | Spice Dragon Upstairs | 42 Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9348 | $25