Pittsfield, MA – Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) and Kate Maguire (Artistic Director, CEO) are excited to announce the 2022 winter and spring season at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. There is something for everyone in this line up of national performing acts, local and regional bands and the return of our ever popular youth production featuring middle and high school students from Berkshire County.
Programmer Tor Krautter says: “It’s very exciting to be back programming concerts in the Colonial again. We have a great winter/spring season of live music in store with a wonderful lineup of local, regional and national artists.”
National performing acts at The Colonial Theatre include: four seasoned comedians in The Irish Comedy Tour (3/18) and legendary country-pop crossover band Lonestar (4/1).
Concerts at The Colonial Theatre include: The Machine Performs Pink Floyd (2/5); The Guthrie Brothers – Scarborough (2/12); Moondance – The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Concert (3/12); USAF Heritage Band (3/15) and Rev Tor’s 10th Annual Dead of Winter Jam featuring Dead Man’s Waltz and Friends (3/26).
For their third annual spring production, BTG is thrilled to present Footloose, based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford, music by Tom Snow, lyrics by Dean Pitchford, stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie and additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman. This production will feature 26 Berkshire middle and high school students, with direction by Kathy Jo Grover, music direction by Erin M. White and choreography by Kathy Jo Grover and Avital Asuleen. Footloose will run at The Colonial Theatre on Friday, February 25 at 7pm, Saturday, February 26 at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday, February 27 at 2pm.
Director and choreographer Kathy Jo Grover says: “It’s been a while since our older kids have been able to be on stage together and I wanted them to have something they could really sink their teeth into while still having fun. I love Footloose because, while the music is undeniably joyful and nostalgic, the story has real world issues to deal with. At the beginning of the pandemic many people had to leave the cities and go back to places where they often encountered a world that had very different sensibilities than the place they left. Many people experienced loss and grief. At its heart, Footloose is a story about the ways we deal with change and loss. In this case, it is indeed the young people who motivate forward movement in the wake of that loss and ultimately prove there can be hope, joy and…well, dancing.”
BTG is offering a 10% discount on tickets for all front line workers. To purchase tickets, visit www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org or contact the Colonial Ticket Office by calling 413-997-4444. The ticket office is open Tuesday through Sunday 12pm-5pm or on any performance day from 12pm until curtain. For the month of January 2022 ticket office services are remote with hours Tuesday through Saturday 12pm-5pm. All concerts, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change.
National Touring Acts
At The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield
The Irish Comedy Tour
at The Colonial Theatre
Friday, March 18, 2022 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25 (plus applicable fees) This event is appropriate for patrons ages 16+.
The Irish Comedy Tour is a fast-paced, raucous ride across America with four joke-slinging entertainers who know how to party and have a great night. This high energy show takes the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub and combines it with a boisterous, belly-laugh band of hooligans. The comedians, whose ancestors hail from the Emerald Isle, include Detroit native Derek Richards; Boston-born Mike McCarthy; Nova Scotia’s Damon Leibert; and from Inchicore, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland’s Derrick Keane. Don’t miss these hilarious Irish-American comedians as they tear apart, as well as validate, all of the Irish myths and stereotypes.
DERRICK KEANE
Originally from Inchicore, Derrick first distinguished himself musically when the duo in which he sang and played swept The All Ireland Talent Show. His band, Inchicore, sets the gold standard for the Irish music scene in New England and across North America. He’s shared the stage with greats such as: Willie Nelson, The Wolfe Tones, The Furey Brothers and The Dublin City Ramblers.
DAMON LEIBERT
Damon Leibert’s unique and energetic style of fiddle playing lies somewhere between the driving dance beat of Cape Breton, and the lyrical music of Ireland. He has performed innumerable concerts and festivals across North America and Europe, and has worked in various theater, film and recording projects.
MIKE McCARTHY
Mike McCarthy’s no-holds-barred humor has landed him on Comedy Central and Showtime. The “comedy barbarian,” as he calls himself, takes no prisoners when it comes to poking fun at society’s most sensitive topics.
DEREK RICHARDS
Audiences howl at Richards’ tales about his Irish-Catholic upbringing, divorce and his childfree existence. He has appeared on The Bob & Tom Show, SiriusXM and The Weather Channel’s Top 10.
Lonestar
With Special Guests Whiskey City
at The Colonial Theatre
Friday, April 1, 2022 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $55 (plus applicable fees)
Known for merging country roots with strong melodies and rich vocals, Lonestar has sold in excess of ten million albums. They have achieved ten #1 country hits including “No News,” “Come Crying To Me,” and their crossover global smash “Amazed,” which was also #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won an Academy of Country Music (ACM) Single of The Year.
The band has won many of music’s top honors, including ACM New Vocal Group, ACM Single and Song of the Year and ACM Humanitarian Of The Year. They also won Country Music Association’s (CMA) Vocal Group of the Year and CMA International Artist Achievement.
The band’s quadruple platinum album Lonely Grill spawned four No. 1 hits, including “Amazed,” and established Lonestar as music’s preeminent pop-country band. Now working on a new album, the forthcoming TEN to 1 record, Lonestar—Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitarist, background vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums) and Drew Womack (lead vocals, guitar)—are taking a fresh look at all 10 of their chart-topping country songs. With these re-recordings, the band members were mindful of striking a balance between preserving the sonic elements fans were familiar with—and not repeating them. Fittingly, TEN to 1 reflects the ways Lonestar’s hits have evolved over the years during the band’s rousing, high-energy concerts.
With the release of TEN to 1 record, the band members are full of gratitude for what they’ve accomplished already, and excited about what the future holds. “It’s amazing that we’re still standing and putting on great shows after all these years,” Sams says. “The fans are still coming out to our shows night after night, to see us and hear our music. That’s almost 30 years of touring, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am—and I’ve never once taken it for granted.”
Produced By Berkshire Theatre Group
At The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield
Footloose
Based Upon the Original Screenplay by Dean Pitchford
Music by Tom Snow
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Additional Music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman
Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie
at The Colonial Theatre
Performance Dates: February 25 at 7pm; Saturday, February 26 at 2pm & 7pm and Sunday, February 27 at 2pm
Tickets: Adult: $25, Child (16 and Under): $10
Directed by Kathy Jo Grover
Music Direction by Erin M. White
Choreography by Kathy Jo Grover and Avital Asuleen
Featuring youth actors from the Berkshire community
Tonight I gotta cut loose… Footloose! Kick off your Sunday shoes—the music will make you want to get up and dance! With a stage full of youth actors ages 12 through 19 from Berkshire County and pop-rock hits from the 1980’s including “Almost Paradise,” “Let’s Hear It For the Boy,” “Holding Out For a Hero” and the ever popular title song “Footloose,” this show is pure fun!
A heartwarming musical comedy about possibilities and the power of the human spirit, Footloose tells the story of a rebellious teenager who moves to a small middle-American town where dance is forbidden and encourages his classmates to defy the local pastor and call for a rock’n’roll prom. This high energy movie musical bursts onto the stage with its Oscar and Tony-nominated score and celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind.
Concerts at The Colonial
At The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield
The Machine Performs Pink Floyd
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 8pm
Tickets: $39 (plus applicable fees)
The Machine, America’s top Pink Floyd show, has forged a 30-year reputation of excellence, extending the legacy of Pink Floyd, while creating another legacy all their own. Over the years, The Machine has touched the hearts and souls of many, selling out theaters, premier rock clubs and casinos across North and Central America, Europe and Asia. They have also appeared at renowned music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Riverbend, Gathering of the Vibes, Buffalo’s Artpark and Germany’s Rock of Ages.
The New York based band focuses on making every show an authentic Floydian experience for their fans. Known for performing a diverse mix of The Floyd’s extensive 16-album repertoire, complete with faithful renditions of popular hits as well as obscure gems, The Machine’s stellar musicianship, dramatic lighting and video and their passionate delivery sets them above and beyond the rest.
In the classic tradition, The Machine explores collective improvisation paralleling early 1970s Pink Floyd. Their use of theatrical elements and elaborate stage displays continues in the spirit of the later Floyd lineups of the 1980s. The band is also known for recreating entire albums as a part of their show, accepting requests from fans and for taking an A to Z approach in which one song is played for every letter of the alphabet.
The members of The Machine include founding members Joe Pascarell (guitar, vocals) and Tahrah Cohen (drums), long time stagemate Scott Chasolen (keys, vocals) and the newest addition to the band, Dylan Kelehan (bass, vocals).
The Guthrie Brothers – Scarborough Fair
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25 (plus applicable fees)
Prepare to fall in love again with the music of Simon & Garfunkel. From their first startlingly authentic rendition of “Sound of Silence” to their playful version of “Cecilia,” Jeb Guthrie and Jock Guthrie will have every audience member smiling and singing along.
Through songs, stories, trivia and humor, Jeb and Jock pay homage to the music of Simon & Garfunkel, playfully engaging the audience along the way. The show highlights the brothers’ deep spiritual connection to this music and to the 1960s, the period that made it all happen.
Moondance
The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Concert
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25 (plus applicable fees)
Rock and roll doesn’t get any better than Van Morrison. Van has done it all—from classic rock songs like “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Domino,” to legendary tunes like “Tupelo Honey” and “Into The Mystic,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has never failed to impress music lovers around the globe.
Moondance: The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Concert is packed with favorite tunes, including: “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Moondance,” “It Stoned Me,” “Wild Night,” “Caravan” and many more!
USAF Heritage Brass
at The Colonial Theatre
Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 7pm
Tickets: FREE, reserved seating (maximum 6 tickets per transaction)
The United States Air Force Heritage of America Band has a rich history of inspiring hearts and minds, building and sustaining American patriotism and enhancing esprit de corps in the United States Air Force. It was one of the original Army Air Corps bands, created by order of the Secretary of War on October 1, 1941 and assigned to Barksdale Field, Louisiana. In June 1946, after a short stay at Brooks Field, Texas, the band arrived at Langley Field, now Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA, its current home.
For over 75 years, the band has represented the Air Force with musical and military distinction. Members bring music to the mid-Atlantic in live concerts and to the nation in televised events such as The Today Show and the DESERT STORM National Victory Parade and presidential inaugural events. The Heritage of America Band has performed ceremonies for U.S presidents and foreign heads of state, including the Queen of England and the President of France. Using today’s technology, the band reaches a world wide audience through its website, social media and audio recordings. Additionally, the band travels more than 150,000 miles to perform hundreds of concerts for listeners across a fifteen-state region from Maine to South Carolina.
In recent years, the mission of Air Force Bands has become an expeditionary one. The Blue Aces were among the first groups to tour Southwest Asia and the Horn of Africa to support coalition and Joint forces serving in the Global War on Terrorism.
The USAF Heritage of America Band’s exceptional musicianship has earned international critical acclaim and numerous honors: eight Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, five Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards, four Colonel George S. Howard Citations of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Band, North Carolina’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine and countless state and municipal proclamations. The USAF Heritage of America Band remains at the forefront of preserving and enriching America’s musical heritage in the 21st century.
Rev Tor’s 10th Annual Dead of Winter Jam
Featuring: Dead Man’s Waltz and Friends
at The Colonial Theatre
Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 8pm
Tickets: $25 (plus applicable fees)
Hosted by Rev Tor’s Dead Man’s Waltz (formerly Steal Your Peach), this annual mid-winter celebration honors 57 years of Grateful Dead music and includes a slew of special guests, including Dennis Christiano of Aruka/New Motif, Mike Wood of Rebel Alliance, Gina Coleman of Misty Blues, Garrett Lechowski of Harvest & Rust and Tom Corrigan plus more to be announced. Dead Man’s Waltz is an all-star collective from the Northeast festival scene and features top-notch musicianship and offers a refreshing twist while staying true to the spirit of the music of The Grateful Dead.
Patrons are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to a local food pantry.
Full Event Calendar of 2022 Winter & Spring Shows (in Calendar Order)
The Machine Performs Pink Floyd at The Colonial Theatre ● Saturday, February 5 at 8pm ● Tickets: $39
The Guthrie Brothers – Scarborough Fair at The Colonial Theatre ● Saturday, February 12 at 7:30pm ● Tickets: $25
Footloose at The Colonial Theatre ● Friday─Sunday, February 25─27 ● Tickets: Child $10, Adults $25
Moondance – The Ultimate Van Morrison Experience at The Colonial Theatre ● Saturday, March 12 at 7:30pm ● Tickets: $25
USAF Heritage Band at The Colonial Theatre ● Tuesday, March 15 at 7pm ● Tickets: Free
The Irish Comedy Tour at The Colonial Theatre ● Friday, March 18 at 7:30pm ● Tickets $25 ● This event is appropriate for patrons ages 16+
Rev Tor’s 10th Annual Dead of Winter Jam featuring Dead Man’s Waltz and Friends at The Colonial Theatre ● Saturday, March 26 at 8pm ● Tickets: $25
Lonestar with Special Guests Whiskey City at The Colonial Theatre ● Friday, April 1 at 7:30pm ● Tickets: $55
Safety Protocols
Patrons must be fully vaccinated in order to attend all events. Patrons must present a photograph or physical vaccination card upon arrival to the theatre. Children ages 11 and under who are not fully vaccinated must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance start time. At home tests WILL NOT be accepted. This policy will be evaluated as recommendations are made by the CDC. If this policy changes patrons will be notified.
Masks are mandatory for all indoor events for all patrons regardless of age (unless eating or drinking in specified areas). Free-standing hand sanitizer stations will be placed at various locations throughout the spaces. Seating and surface areas are sanitized frequently using an electrostatic sprayer. Theatres have upgraded HVAC filters, added ozone-free NPB ionization and otherwise comply with all local and state safety requirements. A doctor/nurse will be on duty for all performances. Patrons who are not feeling well should contact BTG’s box office to discuss rescheduling options.
About Berkshire Theatre Group
The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. In 2010, under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, the two organizations merged to form Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG). Berkshire Theatre Group’s mission is to support wide ranging artistic exploration and acclaimed performances in theatre, dance, music and entertainment. Every year, BTG produces and presents performances to over 68,000 attendees and, through our Educational Program, serves over 11,000 Berkshire County school children annually. In July
2020, Berkshire Theatre was the first company in the United States to earn approval from
Actors’ Equity Association to produce a musical (Godspell) in the wake of the COVID-19
Pandemic.