Abby's Mix

Berkshire’s summer theater and music concert schedule

As published in Berkshire Magazine, June 2015

With a marathon summer lineup of sensational live music, dance, and theater, arts enthusiasts may need to resort to flipping a coin when making weekend plans.

Shakespeare & Company runs The How and the Why, a drama by House of Cards writer Sarah Treem, through July 26, 2015. From July 30 to September 6, it presents the world premiere of Mother of the Maid, a dark comedy starring Tina Packer. The Williamstown Theatre Festival  has Off the Main Road (June 30-July 19) by Pulitzer Prize-winner William Inge, and Kinship (July 15-25), starring Emmy and Tony Award–winning actress Cynthia Nixon. The Berkshire Theatre Group premieres I Saw My Neighbor on the Train and I Didn’t Even Smile on July 18. Barrington Stage Company presents musicals Man of La Mancha (June 10-July 11) and Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers (July 16-August 1). And Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park’s Romeo & Juliet (July 16-August 2) is family-friendly.

Music lovers have a wide selection, from the Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (June 30) and Festival of Contemporary Music (July 20-27) at Tanglewood, to Don McLean (August 8) and Graham Nash (August 15) at the Mahaiwe. Festival-goers can enjoy both Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival (June 26-28) and the Bang on a Can Marathon (August 1) at MASS MoCA.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival has scheduled unique dance presentations, including a collaboration between radio host Ira Glass and Two Dancers (June 13-14), Big Dance Theater (July 8-12), and the young, all-male company MADboots (August 26-30).