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Since 2005, Bazaar Productions/The Berkshire Fringe has hosted more than 200 emerging artists including theater companies, dance ensembles and music groups from across the country and around the corner. Hailed as ‘sassy and experimental’ by the New York Times, Bazaar Productions will once again present a diverse cross-section of original, high-quality, inter-disciplinary theater, dance and music—all at affordable prices.??In 2010, each show will once again kick off with the ragingly popular “pick your own price” opening nights. Make us an offer we can’t refuse or pay what you can for each of the eight opening night performances throughout the festival. This great offer provides affordable culture to all of Berkshire county.
For the adventurous Fringe connoisseur, a “Full Fix Season’s Pass” to all eight shows is available at a discounted rate of only $95. A “Mini-Fix See3 Pass” is also available for an unbelievable $39. Individual tickets are $15.
The season lineup is as follows:??
Monday, July 26 – The 2010 Berkshire Fringe Gala
- PRESCRIPTED! Use only as directed
- by Berkshire Fringe co-Artistic Director Timothy Ryan Olson
- Tickets: $100, $50 or Pay Your Age
PRESCRIPTED! Use only as directed – Exploring artistic innovation and collaboration across disciplines, Prescriped! doses out an extraordinary evening of world premiere dance, film, theater and works of visual art all inspired by one identical script written by Berkshire Fringe co-Artistic Director Timothy Ryan Olson. Featuring cocktails, hor ‘d oeuvres, silent auction, DJ/Dancing. 7pm/8pm Tickets: $100, $50 or Pay Your Age.
MONSTER
Created and Choreographed by Rebecca Pappas
AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
At once beautiful and grotesque, awkward and delicate, Rebecca Pappas’ Monster immerses you unapologetically into a world that questions identity and shame, and what it means to be a victim and victimizer, where the fine line between human and monster grows increasingly thin.
Using four highly skilled dancers, haunting narration and an original score, Monster’s otherworldly nervous-tick creatures, high-energy choreography, and pseudo-folk dances collide to form a compelling portrait of the Jewish body.
Hailed as “compelling” and “mesmerizing” by the Los Angeles Times.
Wed Jul 28 at 8pm, Thu Jul 29 at 9pm, Fri Jul 30 at 7pm, Sat Jul 31 at 7pm, and Sun Aug 1 at 4pm.
PI CLOWNS – AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
This San Francisco based company of brilliant and quirky physical comedians delivers a giant wallop of buffoonery that will have audiences of all ages rolling on the floor.
With feats of incredible strength and acts of transcendental stupidity, the Pi Clowns take on the big questions of life (and death!) Using acrobatics, juggling, eccentric dance, live music, improvisation, and puppetry, these performers rely on the physical virtuosity of their bodies to tell their stories.
Thu Jul 29 at 7pm, Fri Jul 30 at 9pm, Sat Jul 31 at 4pm, Sun Aug 1 6:00, and Mon Aug 2 at 8pm
QUAKE: A CLOSET LOVE STORY – AT MIXED COMPANY
A new musical about love and earthquakes, and the similarities between them
Created and Performed by Tyler Olsen and Zuzka Sabata
AT MIXED COMPANY
Joe and Hannah just broke up. Now they have to divide up years’ worth of collective belongings. But when a huge earthquake hits, they find themselves trapped in a storage closet. Can being confined to such a small space help mend the rift between them?
Part musical, part comedy and all high drama, Quake reveals the exhilaration and horror of being caught by something as powerful as love and as unpredictable as an earthquake.
Thu Jul 29 at 8pm, Fri Jul 30 at 4pm, Sat Jul 31 at 9pm, Sun Aug 1 at 8pm, and Mon Aug 2 at 6pm
GIVE US BREAD – AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
Created and Performed by The Anthropologists, Directed by Melissa Fendell Moschitto
AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
New York, February 1917: prices for basic food items rise dramatically. Unable and unwilling to pay prices that have skyrocketed, six ordinary women band together to enforce neighborhood boycotts that soon erupt into full-scale riots.
Mixing elements of realism with stylized movement, New York based theater ensemble, The Anthropologists, presents a vivid portrait of immigrant families in the tenements of the Lower East Side. Grounded in eyewitness accounts of the riots, Give Us Bread illuminates our contemporary global hunger crisis, through the lens of our not-too-distant past.
Wed Aug 4 at 8pm, Thu Aug 5 at 9pm, Fri Aug 6 at 7pm, Sat Aug 7 at 7pm, and Sun Aug 8 at 4pm.
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VIVA LA EVOLUCION – AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
Created and Performed by Diana Yanez, Directed by Marjorie Duffield
AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
First generation Cuban performer/writer Diana Yanez (Margaret Cho’s The Sensuous Woman, Spanish For Your Nanny) makes ‘mojitos out of the limones’ of her life in this outrageous comedy of chaos, love and growing up queer and Cuban in Miami.
Yanez creates a myriad of characters, deftly portraying her mother, brother, and countless relatives, friends and neighbors.
Thu Aug 5 at 7pm, Fri Aug 6 at 9pm, Sat Aug 7 at 4pm, Sun Aug 8 at 6pm, and Mon Aug 9 at 8pm
IT OR HER – AT MIXED COMPANY
Written by Alena Smith, Directed by Jessi D. Hill
Featuring Brian McManamon
AT MIXED COMPANY
In the basement of a home somewhere in suburbia, Andrew has devoted himself unconditionally to his incredible collection of figurines. Suffering the loss of ‘the red one” he seeks to uncover “the ultimate arrangement”, before his hideout is invaded.
A provocative dark comedy about the personal reality of a man whose repression turns to total obsession, IT or HER unfolds to reveal Andrew’s darkest secret.
Thu Aug 5 at 8pm, Fri Aug 6 at 4pm, Sat Aug 7 at 9pm, Sun Aug 8 at 8pm, and Mon Aug 9 at 6pm
DRAW THE CIRCLE – AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
Written and Performed by Deen, Directed by Chay Yew.
AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
Draw The Circle is an intimate portrait of a traditional immigrant family’s struggle with a child who continually defies their most basic expectations of what it means to have a daughter…and one woman’s commitment to unconditional love.
This unique solo show is a heartbreaking and uplifting tale of the tenacity of love. The story is told by Deen himself, but through the eyes of his family, friends and partner as they struggle to come to terms with the evolution of a transgendered child/friend/lover. This new work comes directly from The Public Theater’s Emerging Writers Group.
Wed Aug 11 at 8pm, Thu Aug 12 at 9pm, Fri Aug 13 at 7pm, Sat Aug 14 at 9pm, and Sun Aug 15 at 7pm
RIDGEFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL TALENT NITE – AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
Created and Performed by Jo Firestone and Dylan Marron
AT THE DANIEL ARTS CENTER
Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite offers a comedic tribute of pre-pubescent proportions to the time-honored tradition of intolerable amateur talent presentations. In these hilariously sketched talent ‘acts’, 17 brave Ridgefield citizens (all played by Jo Firestone and Dylan Marron) emerge from awkward obscurity to find their rightful place in the spotlight.
Anyone who has ever been a middle-schooler is sure to recognize their best friends and worst enemies in this wild cast of brashly rendered characters trying to make their lifelong dreams come true!
Thu Aug 12 at 7pm, Fri Aug 13 at 9pm, Sat Aug 14 at 7pm, Sun Aug 15 at 9pm, and Mon Aug 16 at 8pm.
SPECIAL STAGED READING EVENT
BIRD OF PARADISE: A Staged Reading event to benefit the
TADD GERO FUND FOR EMERGING WRITERS at The Berkshire Fringe
Bird of Paradise is a full-length play written by Berkshire native Tadd Gero shortly before his death in August of 2009. A small ensemble of his collaborators and friends from across the United States gather to bring his work to the stage for the first time. All proceeds benefit the Tadd Gero Fund for Emerging writers, a scholarship established by Tadd’s family and The Berkshire Fringe dedicated to nurturing the talents of emerging playwrights in the Berkshire region. 1pm. Sliding scale admission. $10-$110. The Daniel Arts Center, Simon’s Rock, 84 Alford Rd, Great Barrington. For more information, call (413) 320-4175 or visit Berkshire Fringe.
Berkshire Fringe – Free programs
EarlyStages playwright mentorship program
On Sunday, August 15th at 12, 1:30 and 3pm participants in the EarlyStages playwright mentorship program will present staged readings of new works. Be the first to hear these new American voices presented as three fresh, insightful and exciting world premiere staged readings. This is the culmination of a two-week residency where emerging local writers develop scripts under the guidance of Award winning writer Laura Maria Censabella. Readings directed by Keith Bulla. This event is free and will be followed by a discussion with the artists.
30 LIVE! – Free music series featuring an eclectic mix of new music, emerging composers and sonic innovators from throughout the North East. Please check website for a full line-up of bi-weekly events throughout the festival.
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS – All workshops are FREE and take place on Saturday July 31, Monday, August 2, Saturday August 7 and Saturday August 14 at 1:30 pm in the Daniel Arts Center. Each workshop is taught by Berkshire Fringe festival artists and is open to participants of all backgrounds and levels of experience ages 16-96! Space is limited and early registration is strongly recommended. Please call 413-320-4175 for more information.
Hotels Great Barrington, MA
- Great Barrington Days Inn
- Comfort Inn & Suites
- Great Barrington MA Travelodge
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Great Barrington, Ma
- Stonegate Mansion
All Berkshire Fringe performances, events and workshops take place at The Daniel Arts Center, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, 84 Alford Road in Great Barrington, MA unless otherwise noted. Performances of Quake and IT or HER will take place at Mixed Company, 37 Rossetter Street in Great Barrington. Tickets are $15 to all main events and $ Pick your Own Price for all opening night performances. Ask our box office about a Season’s Pass – See all eight shows for only $95 or choose any three shows for $39. All workshops, :30 Live! performances and EarlyStages readings are free. For directions, tickets, workshop registration, and all other information please call (413) 320-4175, e-mail us at info@berkshirefringe.org or visit Berkshire Fringe.