The annual Tanglewood Jazz Festival is shaping up to be a weekend of outstanding music for jazz lovers (see our Aug 7 blog).  In addition to the Jazz Festival there are lots of things do in the Berkshires.  Here are some of them…

Barrington Stage Company (10 minutes from Brook Farm Inn in Pittsfield) is doing…

SONGS BY RIDICULOUSLY TALENTED
composers and lyricists you probably don’t know, but should… (summer finale—year 3)

Narrated by William Finn and sung by a cast of four, this is a Labor Day weekend celebration of extraordinary new songs and favorite Musical Theatre Lab numbers. Finn shares with the audience what makes a good lyric, why some work and others don’t—you’ll feel as if you’re in a master class in songwriting taught by the master himself. Two nights only—don’t miss out!

Berkshire Theater Festival (5 minutes away from brook Farm Inn)

Noël Coward in Two Keys(1966) was British playwright Noël Coward’s final stage work. It is composed of a pair of intriguing one-act comedies, Come into the Garden, Maud and A Song at Twilight, both of which are set in a Swiss hotel suite. Living life dishonestly takes its toll on Coward’s pithy, sophisticated characters. Vivian Matalon directed the esteemed author himself in the work’s London premiere, as well as the 1974 Broadway version that featured BTF alums Thom Christopher, Hume Cronyn, and Jessica Tandy.

and…

Eleanor: Her Secret Journey is a poignant and thoughtful one-woman play about Eleanor Roosevelt. This intimate portrait of the First Lady reveals her private struggles and offers a distinctly feminine look at politics, power, and war. She and her husband changed America forever. They lifted our society at a time when all appeared hopeless. It seems fitting to add her voice to the conversation during election season.

Shakespeare & Company (around the corner from brook Farm Inn)

Othello This season, for the first time fully produced on the main stage,  Shakespeare’s magnificent allegory that is so enduringly beautiful it has been called “the Othello music”. It is some of theatre’s most resounding language, and a story as startling, chilling and timely today as when it was written over 400 years ago.

The Ladies Man Set in Paris at the turn of the century, it’s about a suave doctor whose young wife and fire-breathing mother-in-law suspect him of infidelity, and who gets deeper into his own soup the more he tries to prove his innocence. The razor fine, saucy language exemplifies how Feydeau’s ear for words and eye for situations influenced today’s comedy. This convoluted story and whip-smart dialogue show where Noel Coward found his zing and the Marx brothers their zaniness. If you liked last season’s Rough Crossing, you’ll love this

All’s Well That Ends Well  One of Shakespeare’s “festive” comedies, written soon after Othello, it’s the topsy-turvy tale of an orphan bride in a self-brokered marriage who can’t get her husband to take her love—or her virginity. As all girls know, losing virginity is as important as keeping it. But no fear; “Girls just wanna have fun,” and Helena is a girl with a plan.

Additionally, there is a craft fair in Lilac Park and the Capitol Steps at the Cranwell, both here in Lenox.  We have availability call now! Brook Farm Inn 800 285 7638

The company that for many years produced the “News In Review” in the Berkshires is opening “Parenting 101, the Musical” Friday at the Kimmel Center’s Innovation Theater in Philadelphia and runs through Sept. 14.  Sketches and musical paradies are performed by a cast of four actors.  Nancy Holson and Jay Falzone, who wrote “The News In Review” also collaborated on this project and have been touring the country with Patenting 101 for three years.

The ”News in Review” did not perform this year in the Berkshires.  They are missed in an election year.  The Capitol Steps has been performing at the Cranwell.  They are talented and funny, however, their material is not as timely as the Holson/Falzone written sketches.   Brook Farm Inn guests enjoyed Capitol Steps last nite but commented that not a word was said about John Edwards.  That would never have happened with “News In Review”.

This Labor Day weekend the Tanglewood Jazz Festival will kick off on August 29th at 8:00PM with Colombian harpist, Edmar Castaneda, and his trio featuring vibraphonist, Joe Locke.  Pianist Eliane Elias will follow performing material from her highly acclaimed CD, “Something For You,” a tribute to Bill Evans.

On Saturday, August 30, at 2 p.m., Marian McPartlandcelebrates her 90th birthday in the seventh annual live taping of “Piano Jazz” for NPR. Joining Marian McParland will be Nnenna Freelon and Spencer Day, and pianist, Mulgrew Miller.

Saturday, August 30, at 8 p.m., pianist and composer, Donal Fox, will perform his Scarlatti Jazz Suite Project with special guest, trumpeter, Christian Scott.  Renowned vocalist Dianne Reeves takes the stage in the second half of the concert.

The Sunday afternoon concert on August 31 will open at 2 p.m. with clarinetist and saxophonist, Eddie Daniels, and his quartet.  The concert continues with violinist, Mark O’Connor, with special guest jazz vocalist Jane Monheit in a show titled “Hot Swing.”

Closing the festival on Sunday, August 31, at 8 p.m.will be a Tanglewood exclusive—a very special concert by trumpeter and composer, Terence Blanchard, with a 30-piece orchestra performing the material from this year’s Grammy winning CD, “A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina).”

Brook Farm Inn has some availability and we are just down the street from all the great music. 

The Lenox Library Association presents the stories behind America’s premier musical performance place:

Now through August 31st the Cranwell Resort in Lenox Massachusetts Presents the Capitol Steps.  The Capitol Steps was created by a former group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them.   For more than twenty-five years, the Capitol Steps have recorded albums and appeared on “Good Morning America,” the “Today Show,” “20/20,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Nightline,” CNN’s “Inside Politics,” and dozens of times on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”

 Many of the the guests at Brook Farm Inn have already seen it and loved it.  Even Republicans from Oklahoma liked it!  We have our tickets for this coming Wednesday.  Performances are at 8:00pm Nightly, except Tuesday.  Call the box office  at (413) 881-1636 or email capstep@cranwell.com. 

The Mass Audubon Society and the Housatonic Valley Association are offering free guided educational canoe trips down the Housatonic River.  The route begins at the Mary Decker boat launch in Lenox MA and goes to Woods Pond.  The three hour trip will be a good way for novice paddler to be introduced to the beauty and nature of the area.  You may encounter many types of birds, deer, moose, muskrats, and an occasional black bear.  Canoes, paddles and life vests are provided.  For more information call 413 637 0320.  Dates and times of the trips are:

9 am to noon       July 12,13,19, and 26

                            Aug. 4,11,17,23,25 and 30

2 to 5 pm            July 14 and 28

Noon to 3 pm      Aug. 3 and 9

Colors of War:

A Story of Love and Courage

produced by Ventfort Hall in cooperation with Shakespeare & Company

Written and Directed by Mary Guzzy

Susannah Melone returns as Annie Haggerty

June 26 - Aug 31, Thurs & Fri 7:30pm, Sat 4pm, Sun 10am

Tickets $25

Reservations 413-637-3206

The moving story of Civil War hero Col. Robert Gould Shaw (subject of the film Gloryand leader of the first all-African American regiment in the North) lovingly told by his wife Annie Haggerty of the original Vent Fort.

VENTFORT HALL

MANSION AND GILDED AGE MUSEUM

104 Walker Street

Lenox, MA  01240

413-637-3206

www.GildedAge.org

Ventfort Hall is a short walk from Brook Farm Inn and we highly recommend this production.

 The Selectmen in the town of Lenox have proclaimed 

The Barrington Stage Company, which is located in a beautiful theater in Pittsfield, is welcoming back The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  Originally created and developed by BSC in 2004 the Tony Award winning play is returning home.  It is an absolute delight and a must see.  We saw it last week.  The cast is incredibly talented and 4 members of the audience got to compete in the spelling bee.  They may select you. 

Performances are every day accept Monday.  There are even some 2PM matinees.  Check their schedule on http://barringtonstageco.org or call 4134995446.  Avoid the weekend crowds and come mid week.  The Berkshire Theater Festival is also performing on weekdays.  More on them in a future blog.

Book your room at Brook Farm Inn in Lenox Massachusetts and enjoy great theater only minutes away.

“I just wanted to let you know how much I (and my friends and co-workers) LOVE the Blueberry Morning Glory!!  I took it to work and after my department devored it, I put it in the breakroom (a great place to empty a dish) and I had 5 requests for the receipe–I am sure there would have been more request but it was gone too fast!
 
I am serving it tomorrow morning for Father’s Day, I switched the blueberries for cherries–my family happen to be cherry fanatics! 
 
It was so easy and seems so complicated!!  It is wonderful to have access to recipes that make you look like a star!!! ”

This quote is from an email we were delighted to receive. Blueberry Morning Glory is one of our favorite recipes; it’s been published in some cookbooks, such as New England Bed & Breakfast Cookbook , Great Country Inns Cookbook,and also online.  We’re always glad when guests enjoy our breakfast entrees, and are happy to share the recipes. Looking forward to welcoming you to our inn in Lenox Massachusetts. Click on About Us on our website, and you’ll see a link there for Fabulous Food and for Recipes.