Triplex Cinema Receives Grant from Fitzpatrick Trust

10:58AM / Tuesday, October 31, 2023Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass — The Triplex Cinema was awarded a grant of $150,000 from the Jane & Jack Fitzpatrick Trust.

With this grant, The Triplex Cinema Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, joins a group of Berkshire County non-profits that have received major support from the Trust over the years, including Construct, Inc., IS 183 Art School (now the Berkshire Art Center), Jacob's Pillow, the Pittsfield Y and the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative.

According to a press release, the Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick Trust is a private charitable foundation established in 2004 by its namesake founders, who were known for their tradition of generosity and involvement within Berkshire County.

In issuing the grant, the Foundation said: "The grant was approved knowing how important the Triplex is as an anchor in the community."

"That is exactly how we feel about the Triplex," Nicki Wilson, President of the Board of Triplex Cinema, Inc., said. "That it is an irreplaceable resource to the town of Great Barrington and all of the Berkshires. This grant serves as a major boost toward ensuring the November 17 th re-opening of two of our four theaters and bringing the Triplex back to life. We cannot thank the Trust's decision-makers enough."

Wilson indicated that there will be a "soft" opening of the two theaters at the Triplex on Friday, November 17, with showings of "The Holdovers," Alexander Payne's new movie starring Paul Giamatti, with the new "Trolls" movie opening on Nov. 22.

A third Triplex theater will open in mid-December just in time for the holidays. "Maestro" is scheduled to debut in that theater on Dec. 15 and there will be a talkback after the movie on Dec. 17 with Leonard Bernstein's daughter Nina interviewed by Stephen Wadsworth, a former collaborator of her father's and currently Director of Opera Studies at Juilliard.

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Berkshire Bach Society Announces Two Organ Recitals

11:46AM / Friday, January 30, 2026

GREAT BARINNGINTON, Mass. — The Berkshire Bach Society (BBS) announces two organ recitals on historic organs in Housatonic and Great Barrington as part of its Organ Masters series.

The recitals take place on Feb. 7, 2pm, at the UU Meeting House in Housatonic, and on May 2, 3pm, at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington with master organists Renée Anne Louprette and Peter Sykes.

"We celebrate Bach and his circle in our Organ Masters series and give our audience a chance to hear two of today's most distinguished organists bring the repertoire to life on important organs in our region," said Terrill McDade, Executive Director of the Berkshire Bach Society. "For good reason we've called the 1893 Johnson Organ at the UU Meeting House in Housatonic a hidden gem and the 1883 great Roosevelt organ at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington a remarkable and innovative instrument that defies comparison. Both organs have escaped modernization and kept their original voices. They sound very much the way they did when new—and that provides a unique musical experience. Combine the authenticity of the instruments, the virtuosity of the organists, and interesting repertoire and we have a recipe for two very special events."

According to a press release:

On Feb. 7, Renée Anne Louprette presents The Baroque Dance Masters with works by Bach, Georg Böhm, Dieterich Buxtehude, and Élisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre, one of the most remarkable composers of the Baroque era. To enrich the audience experience, Louprette provides commentary during the program, demonstrates thematic material, and conducts a Q&A session after the recital. Notably, her program includes the Chaconne in G minor that was one of two pieces recently attributed to a young J.S. Bach and added to the catalog as BWV 1179. The work dates from 1705 when J.S. Bach was 20 and is one of the earliest finished works by him to survive. It dates from the same year that he traveled to Lübeck to hear Buxtehude perform, which had a profound impact on his compositional style. Berkshire Bach is pleased to give our audience an opportunity to hear the work live.

Renée Anne Louprette is Assistant Professor of Music and College Organist at Bard College where she directs the Bard Baroque Ensemble. She has performed on important organs throughout the world and in 2022-2023 received a Fulbright research grant to document the restoration of historic organs in Romania.

On May 2, Peter Sykes returns to play the great Roosevelt Organ in a mixed program of French organ music. Beloved by many, the Roosevelt was the most important organ in America at installation in 1883 and is the largest example that survives in largely its original form by innovative organ builder Hilborne Roosevelt. Cousin to presidents Teddy and Franklin, Hilborne Roosevelt established Roosevelt Pipe Organ Builders in 1870 and built many of the largest organs in America in the period. He introduced electricity into the workings of his instruments and coincidentally contributed to aspects of the early telephone, including inventing the automatic switch hook. His Great Barrington organ remains a sophisticated and expressive example of his craft that, in the hands of master organist Peter Sykes, inspires awe and can literally shake the rafters with its majesty, power, and beauty.

Join Berkshire Bach for The Organ Masters at 2pm on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the UU Meeting House in Housatonic and 3pm on Saturday, May 2 at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington. Tickets: $45 Nonmembers | $40 Berkshire Bach Members | $85 Two-concert package | $10 Card to Culture. Children and Students under 25 with valid ID are admitted free. Visit www.berkshirebach.org/events for more information, including tickets and specific venue information.

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