Berkshire Historical Society to Present 'Rewritten'

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In partnership with the Berkshire County Historical Society at Herman Melville's Arrowhead and the Berkshire Pulse Center for Creative Arts, dance artists Tom Truss and Matthew Cumbie will present "ReWritten," a performance that explores the relationship between authors Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville. 

"The Berkshire County Historical Society is pleased to be welcoming back Tom Truss and Matthew Cumbie this summer," said Lesley Herzberg, executive director of the Berkshire County Historical Society. "Last year's performances were truly inspiring. And because the events were sold out last year, we are strongly encouraging people to purchase tickets in advance."

Performances take place at Arrowhead, Herman Melville's home where he wrote the epic novel "Moby-Dick," at 7:45 pm on July 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31. Tickets are $10 for BCHS members, $15 for non-members; EBT card holders receive 50 percent off, 12 and under are free.

A special $25 ticket includes both the performance and a tour of Arrowhead at a later date; tours will not be available on performance evenings. Order tickets here.

Drawing on their lives, work, and remaining letters, "ReWritten" examines secrets, social and self-imposed boundaries, and questions what happens when you say no to a dream when you want to say yes.

"Act 1 begins with a self-guided tour of the historic site, sort of scavenger hunt," describes co-creator Tom Truss. "Upon arrival, audiences will be given a map of the property to find five 'scenes' occurring throughout the grounds and home of Herman Melville. Act 2 takes place at the barn where Melville and Hawthorne would sequester themselves to drink Bourbon and smoke cigars. It's truly fantastic to be performing a dance about these men where their relationship actually happened."

Audience members should be prepared to walk short distances around the historic home.

Performer and co-creator Matthew Cumbie said, "Last week we were in Paris presenting parts of 'ReWritten' at the International Melville Society Conference, and now to be at Arrowhead is extraordinary. Being invited back gives us the opportunity to learn from what worked and didn't work last year; to improve some things and make bold changes. This gift of revisiting and reimagining a work of art doesn't happen very often."

Artist Diane Samuels and designer Roma Flowers collaboratively led the visual components for the project including props and projections. Hawthorne and Melville scholar Katherine Stubbs is the academic advisor and dramaturg, and Rudy Ramirez, master of fine arts candidate at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, has helped shape, direct and stage the performance. 

This event is sponsored in part by Lee Bank Foundation and is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

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