MCLA Presents 'Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance'

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The History and Political Science Department at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will present "Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance" a virtual musical theatre event, at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5, via Zoom.  
 
This event is free and open to the public. Register at https://zoom.us/webinar/85908275667
 
This chamber music production showcases work conceived and performed by The Core Ensemble: Ju-Young Lee, Mikael Darmani, and Michael Parola, featuring actor Draclyn Blount. It celebrates African American poets: Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay, as seen through the eyes of painter and muralist Aaron Douglas. 
 
Featuring a solo actor with cello, piano, and percussion, the musical score is drawn from great composers of the Jazz Age (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Jelly Roll Morton) and African American composers of classical music.  
 
According to a press release, since 1993, The Core Ensemble has produced and performed new music theatre works based on multicultural, feminist, and humanistic topics, bringing their productions to all 50 U.S. states. Their goals are to promote intercultural understanding, to explore social justice issues through artistic interpretation, to provide education programs for young people and adults, and to offer emotionally impactful cultural experiences that spark conversation and inspire actions that make a difference in promoting equality for all. 
 
 
 
 

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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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