Adams Theater Hosts a Dance Residency with NVA and Guests

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ADAMS, Mass. —Nicole von Arx and six dancers will be at The Adams Theater for a residency from September 7-14, ahead of their NYC premiere of "Cry Wolf," a dance-theater production that interlaces the urgency of climate change awareness with the classic narrative of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."

NVA & Guests will present a showing of "Cry Wolf" at the Adams Theater on September 13 at 7:30 p.m. Von Arx said she'll be using the space to explore how dance theater can capture the urgency of the changing environment, blending dynamic choreography, humor, and theatricality to create an emotional landscape that invites audiences into a deeply human experience. 

Through physical storytelling and virtuosic choreography, "Cry Wolf" delves into the complexities of perception, truth, and the consequences of our actions. 

Von Arx, who has been creating under the name NVA and Guests since 2014, has performed and toured with The Norwegian National Company for Contemporary Dance, the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House and worked with companies like Stanford Live and Wolf Trap Opera, alongside guest teaching gigs at universities like NYU's Tisch School of Dance and the Boston Conservatory of Dance at Berkeley.

"My research process for "Cry Wolf" began in early 2024, but the ideas behind it have been evolving for much longer," von Arx said. "This is a piece I've felt compelled to explore in greater depth over time, as the way I approach its themes continues to shift in response to the world around us. The inspiration also stems from conversations with Melissa Gomis, a mentor, former senior officer at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and childhood friend, who often shares that the greatest challenge in addressing environmental issues is not science, but fear."

Von Arx is a 2020 recipient of The Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship at Jacob's Pillow and the 2024-2025 CUNY Dance Initiative Artist in Residence at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College. She has received numerous accolades, including the 2025 Danse Mirage Foundation grant, 2024 Brooklyn Arts Council grant, 2025 and 2023 NYSCA grants.

Reserve tickets and see our full season lineup at www.adamstheater.org/events

The Adams Theater is proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program, in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program, and the Mass Health Connector.

EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free admission to our shows and events by presenting their cards at our Box Office. See the complete list of participating organizations offering EBTWIC, and ConnectorCare discounts.

 

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Cheshire Speed Limits Reduced, Code of Conduct Mulled

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Some streets will soon be slower for cars with the Department of Public Works replacing the speed limit signs in response to community concerns.

The town adopted Chapter 90, Section 17C to reduce some local road speed limits to 25 mph. Twenty-three streets are approved by the state; signs are ordered from the state Department of Transportation and should arrive within a couple weeks.

DPW Director Corey McGrath told the Selectmen at last Tuesday's meeting that the department had received concerns from residents wanting people to be slower on the following streets:

  • Church Street 
  • East Main Street 
  • portions of Wells Road 
  • Main Street 
  • Furnace Hill Road
  • Flaherty Road
  • Pit Road
  • Prospect Street 
  • Dean Street 
  • Richmond Street 
  • School Street 
  • Railroad Street 
  • Depot Street 
  • Richardson Street 
  • 5th Avenue
  • Meadowview Drive 
  • Wood Lane
  • Dean Street Extension 
  • portions of Ingalls Road 
  • Devonshire Drive 
  • Yorkshire Drive
  • Berkshire Drive 
  • Wilshire Drive 

Chair Michelle Francesconi asked McGrath to look into the signs solar-powered "slow down" signs. She also spoke about increasing problems with electric bicycles and similar devices.

Young people are going 30 to 40 mph, often on sidewalks, weaving between cars, cutting through private property and town property and riding in the road, she said, and brought up how other towns are creating bylaws to address these problems. Francesconi thought the board should look into it as well as a matter of public safety.

The state is currently revising related laws, so the board will see what the Legislature passes and then model bylaws on other communities.

Francesconi also said that since there is limited police coverage at night during most of the behavior, she suggested shifting some patrol hours to evenings to address youth riding behavior.

Later in the meeting, Francesconi also brought up code of conduct for town employees as she has been receiving numerous reports regarding professionalism, boundaries, confidentiality, and internal relationships and communication among town hall staff, department heads, and with the public.

She said town counsel has recommended adopting a code of conduct as well as providing training. After some discussion, the board decided to get a catalog of training options and identify mandatory and optional trainings. Members are also thinking of doing them in-person.

In other news, the Fire Department's rescue boat missing from the water because motor is broken and is in the process of being replaced.

There are two applicants in the running for the police chief position who will be doing the assessment center on Aug. 17. The Selectmen will get their resumes afterward and decide on interviews.

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