BTG PLAYS presents 'Magic Tree House' Musical

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Theatre Group will present the BTG PLAYS 2019-2020 Touring Show, "Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon," based on the book "Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon" by Mary Pope Osborne, at The Colonial Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m., as part of the 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival.

There will be a book signing with Mary Pope Osborne from 1 to 1:45 p.m. in The Colonial Theatre lobby prior to the performance. Books will be available for purchase, provided by The Bookstore in Lenox.

This musical features a book by Jenny Laird and Will Osborne, lyrics by Randy Courts and Will Osborne and music by Randy Courts, with direction by Travis Daly. "Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon" is an adaptation of the fourth of Pope Osborne's award-winning fantasy adventure books from the "Magic Tree House" book series, which has sold more than 100 million copies and is available in more than a hundred countries around the world.

The two siblings return to visit the magic tree house on a dreary, rainy day. They find a book where the sun is shining and the waves are crashing, so they wish to travel to this tropical place. They realize that they are in the 18th-century Caribbean—the time of pirates! The siblings meet Captain Bones, a mean old pirate who captures the two and forces them to help him find buried treasure. It's up to Jack and Annie to find their way back to the tree house and make their way home.

BTG PLAYS Touring Show is a part of Berkshire Theatre Group's year-round education program, which reaches 13,000 school children annually. Beginning in October and running through the school year, this production is appropriate for elementary and middle school aged children and family audiences, and is designed to introduce students to the excitement of live theatre. The tour travels to schools and venues all throughout Berkshire County and surrounding towns with a local company of artists, and a question and answer session with the actors follows each performance.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.