The Berkshires offer an interesting variety of entertainment during December 2012, from A Christmas Carol at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, to the venerable The Temptations in concert at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Gt. Barrington, to the Festival of Trees at the Berkshire Museum, The Santaland Diaries at Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, and the Berkshire Bach Society’s annual New Year’s Eve concert in Great Barrington.

Christmas in the Berkshires

Some Berkshires towns and organizations schedule special events during the Christmas and holiday season, including:

• Nov. 17 – Jan. 2, 2013 – Berkshire Museum Festival of Trees 2012: Myths & Magic
• 23rd annual Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas, November 30, December 1 & 2, 2012 – featuring Caroling & Luminaria Walk; Holiday Concert featuring the Berkshire Lyric Chorus and the Blafield Children’s Chorus at the First Congregational Church; Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas Recreation of Norman Rockwell painting.
• Dec. 7 – 9 – Lenox Caroling Festival Weekend.

Barrington Stage Company presents Vincent Dec. 14 – 30, 2012

Vincent is a one-man play about Vincent van Gogh, using his own words and those of his brother Theo. Leonard Nimoy, who wrote and originally performed Vincent, did years of painstaking research on the hundreds of letters between Vincent and Theo. Most of the story is told by Theo, but at times, the actor becomes Vincent and embodies the loving, passionate, combative, fierce, stubborn, outrageous, exasperating, moody, amazing, and brilliant man so cherished by his brother. This play is not simply a biographical work, but one filled with drama, conflict, humor and beauty. Written by Leonard Nimoy; Directed by Brant Pope; Performed by James Briggs.

Barrington Stage Company tickets contact information

• Mainstage: 30 Union Street – Blatt PAC: 36 Linden Street
• Box Office: 413-236-8888 – Administration: 413-499-5446
• Website: barringtonstage.org

Berkshire Museum Dec. 2012 schedule

• Through Jan. 2, 2013 – Festival of Trees 2012: Myths & Magic

Berkshire Museum tickets contact information

• 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
• 413-443-7171
• Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;Sun. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Closed Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day
• Berkshire Museum

Berkshire Theatre Festival – Unicorn Theatre Stockbridge

• David Grover and Grover’s Gang – Dec. 27 and 28 – 11am

Berkshire Theatre Festival tickets contact information

• PO Box 797, Stockbridge, MA 01262
• Box Office – 413-298-5576 ext. 33
• website: BerkshireTheatre.org

Clark Art Institute schedule

• A Rita Coolidge Christmas – Friday, November 30, 2012 – 8:00 pm
• The Met: Live in HD – La Clemenza di Tito- Saturday, December 1, 2012 – 12:55 pm
• The Met: Live in HD – Un Ballo in Maschera – Saturday, December 8, 2012 – 12:55 pm
• The Met: Live in HD – Aida – Saturday, December 15, 2012 – 12:55 pm

Clark Art Institute tickets contact information

• 225 South Street – Williamstown, MA 01267
• 413-458-2303
• Galleries open daily – Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• web: clarkart.edu

Colonial Theatre – Pittsfield – Dec. 2012 schedule

• Dec. 1 – 2pm and 7pm- Christmas At the Colonial-Mary Verdi and Tony Lee Thomas Band
• Dec. 8 – 2:30 & 7pm – Albany Berkshire Ballet, The Nutcracker
• Dec. 9 – 1:30 & 4:30pm – Albany Berkshire Ballet, The Nutcracker
• Dec. 15 – 30 – A Christmas Carol
  • Saturday, December 15 at 7:30pm (Opening Night)
  • Sunday, December 16 at 2pm
  • Thursday, December 20 at 7:30pm
  • Friday, December 21 at 7:30pm
  • Saturday, December 22 at 2pm and 7:30pm
  • Sunday, December 23 at 2pm
  • Thursday, December 27 at 7:30pm
  • Friday, December 28 at 7:30pm
  • Saturday, December 29 at 2pm and 7:30pm
  • Sunday, December 30 at 2pm

The Colonial Theatre tickets contact information

• 111 South St. – Pittsfield, Mass 01201
• 413-997-4444
• TheColonialTheatre.org

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Dec. 2012 live performance schedule

• Dec. 2 – 2pm – Close Encounters With Music: Tragicomedia; A Baroque Holiday Celebration
• Dec. 31 – 6pm – Berkshire Bach Society Presents Bach at New Year’s: Brandenburgs PLUS

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center tickets contact information

• 14 Castle Street – Great Barrington, MA 01230
• Box Office: 413-528-0100
• Mahaiwe.org

MASS MoCA Dec. 2012 schedule

• Tim Crouch: My Arm – Saturday, December 1, 2012, 8:00 pm
• Seagull (Thinking of you) – Saturday, December 15, 2012, 7:30 pm
• Kidspace Vacation Art Workshops – December 26, 27, & 28 at 9:00 AM

MASS MoCA tickets contact information

• 87 Marshall St.; North Adams, MA 01247
• Fall, Winter, Spring Hours: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. closed Tuesday
• Phone: 413.MoCA.111
• Web: massmoca.org

Shakespeare & Company presents The Santaland Diaries Dec. 2012

The Santaland Diaries, by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello, directed by Tony Simotes, featuring David Josef Hansen runs weekends through Dec. 30, 2012.

Shakespeare & Company tickets contact information

• 70 Kemble Street
• Lenox, MA 01240
• phone: 413-637-1199
• www.shakespeare.org