MCLA Gallery 51 To Show Theatrical Design Works

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MCLA Gallery 51 To Show Theatrical Design Works

NORTH ADAMS, Mass – Beginning next Thursday, MCLA Gallery 51 will showcase theatrical design works from Broadway to the Berkshires in “Beyond the Curtain.”

Curated by Tony Award-winning Broadway lighting designer Brian McDevitt and MCLA Director or Special Programs Jonathan Secor, this exhibition features the work of theatrical designers, including costumes from Broadway shows, interactive sound design installations and photographs and renderings from shows in the Berkshires.

An opening reception will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30, 5-7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Lighting designers whose work will be showcased include McDevitt and Matthew Aedelson, whose lighting design has been seen locally at the Mahaiwe, Jacob’s Pillow, Shakespeare and Company and the Berkshire Theater Festival.

McDevitt won a Tony award for his lighting of “Into the Woods,” and is the lighting designer for “Thirteen,” which just opened on Broadway, and for “Dr. Atomic,” John Adams’ newest opera at the Metropolitan Opera.

The show also will include the work of Andrew Hoar, the lighting and set designer for all of MCLA’s Fine and Performing Arts productions for the past two decades.

Costume designers whose work will be show include MCLA professor Dawn Shamburger and Tony Award-winning designer Susan Hilferty.

Set with lights for "Passing Strange," David KorinsHilferty has designed over 200 productions including the Broadway productions of “Assassins,” “Into the Woods,” “Dirty Blonde,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” starring Matthew Broderick, Elton John’s “Lestat,” and “Wicked,” for which she won a Tony Award.

Set designers featured in “Beyond the Curtain” are Carl Sprague and David Korins. Sprague’s work – including that at Shakespeare and Company, Old Castle Theater and Berkshire Theater Festival – is known throughout the Berkshires and beyond.

Korins’ work can be een on Broadway with “Passing Strange.” Other Broadway credits include “Bridge and Tunnel” and the upcoming revival of “Godspell.”

Not a medium usually seen at a gallery, sound designers will be represented by Erich Bechtel, whose Broadway credits include “Salome” with Marisa Tomei and Brian Young.

“Because the work of these great artists normally is not shown in a gallery, but on a stage, compiling this show has been an intriguing process as we’ve figured out how best to show the work of these great artists,” said Jonathan Secor, director of special programs at MCLA. “This exhibition will include not only wonderful images of the finished product, but also the parts that go into getting them onto the stage – the renderings, draftings, models and sound installations.”                                             

MCLA Gallery 51 is at 51 Main St. in North Adams and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 413-664-8718, or go to www.mcla.edu/Gallery51
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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