First phase of restoration complete, Mahaiwe will begin hosting various activities

By Jack GuilletPrint Story | Email Story
The century-old Mahaiwe Theatre in Great Barrington is on the verge of having the first phase of its restoration work entirely finished. Now known as the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, the historic theatre, which opened in 1905, is being restored to its former grandeur, while being updated with modern amenities and being made safer. Although there is still much work to be done, the completion of phase I represents the completion of enough work to open the theatre to activities, like a film series, a lecture series, comedy nights, theater, dance, community projects, and children's and young people's programs, according to Lola Jaffe, the president and chair of the board of directors of The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Inc., which is the nonprofit group that is overseeing and fund raising for the restoration project. To celebrate the completion of phase I, a "construction cocktail party" is slated for Saturday, May 31, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the theatre, which is located at 14 Castle St. The agenda for phase I, which Jaffe said will be done by May 30 if not a couple of days sooner, was forced to be changed when an unforeseen accident occurred around Christmastime last year. A small portion of the theatre's ceiling fell because leaks in the roof damaged it, and the damage was neglected, she said. The installation of a new ceiling and roof replaced the installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, collectively known as HVAC, as the priority of phase I. The contractor is Pittsfield-based Allegrone Construction Co. The ceiling and middle roof - there are three altogether - were replaced, and work was done to get the theatre entirely up to code, Jaffe said. During the new ceiling installation, ducts were installed for the HVAC. At the request of the Fire Department, a new fire alarm system was installed, she said. In addition a sprinkler system and handicapped-accessible bathroom were installed, as well as high-output lighting. Although the 700-seat theatre is not yet equipped with air conditioning, it is much safer, Jaffe said. Furthermore phase I, which has cost $500,000, included the construction of a second staircase onto the stage, allowing a "quick egress" for actors and people below the stage if ever there was an emergency, Jaffe said. The first phase also included the full restoration of painting and scroll work under the paint within the theatre, she said. The concession stand in the theatre's lobby was removed, so now the Mahaiwe "looks like a theatre, not a movie house," she said. The second phase of the project comprises the installation of the HVAC and additional restoration work, she said. Since the theatre's nonprofit group is still in the process of raising money for that phase, Jaffe said it's still unclear as to when it'll begin; she said she and her group hope to secure the pledges they need in the next few months. Although it's unclear as to when phase II will start, further work to the theatre is quite possible this summer, Jaffe said. The theatre's other two roofs might be replaced this summer; minor work to the theatre's infrastructure is also a possibility, she said. Despite the current uncertainties, the HVAC work is slated to begin right after Labor Day, Jaffe said. Because prices and bids are still in the works, it is also unclear at this point how much the second phase will cost. "It's hard to say at this point," she said. The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center became a nonprofit group on Jan. 24, when Great Barrington-based Berkshire Opera Co. signed the theatre over to the group. To the company, the theatre had become too much of a financial and managerial burden, said Jaffe, who left a company chair position to be president and chair of the new nonprofit. It was "best for both entities to survive," she said. According to the web site of the group and the theatre, http://www.mahaiwe.org, which was put online last week, the theatre, one-and-one-half years ago, was designated as an official project of "Save America's Treasures," which is a "millennium" project of then First Lady, now U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, of New York, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In being named such a project the theatre was allocated a $250,000 federal grant, which is going to be spent on the restoration work of phase II when the time comes, Jaffe said. One of the conditions of the grant is that each step of the restoration has to be approved by the Massachusetts Historical Commission before it can be executed, she said. The restoration work is approved by a state agency because, even though the grant is federal, it's administered by the state, she said. U.S. Rep. John Olver, D-Amherst, secured the grant, she said. A couple of summer events are scheduled for the Mahaiwe thus far. The Boston Early Music Festival is slated to perform a Baroque opera called Ariadne on three days: June 20 and June 21, both at 7 p.m., and June 22 at 2:30 p.m. On Thursday, June 26, the Berkshire Opera is slated to do a semistaged performance of Verdi's La Traviata. Boston Early Music, Jaffe said, is a group from Boston, and its festival comprises a large production with elaborate costumes and scenery. During the production, which is going to be performed in Europe following the Berkshire dates, Boston Early Music members use "old instruments," the tones of which are different than modern instruments, Jaffe said. She said Close Encounters With Music plans on doing events at the Mahaiwe in the fall and winter, and a film group plans on having a film festival at the theatre in the fall.
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North County Welcomes New Veterans Agent

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has appointed Kurtis Durocher as its new veterans agent, and he hopes to connect with as many veterans as possible.
 
"I have been deployed five times, and so I can speak on that level. I can speak on the disability level. I can speak on many levels that these guys coming in here can relate to," he said. "Whether it's the vent or just to let somebody hear their voice. I definitely gravitate towards that, and I let them know that I have been in their shoes."
 
Durocher, a retired master sergeant with 20 years of military experience, assumed the role in February, succeeding former agent Mitchell Keil. He was most recently director of learning and employee development at BFAIR.
 
His military career includes multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and his decorations include the Purple Heart and bronze star medals among others.
 
"I joined the Army in 2001. My first day was actually the day the towers fell," he said. "So I did 20 years as an infantryman and retired as a master sergeant in 2021."
 
Durocher, originally from Williamstown, said he has settled into the position but is still learning. He said he is familiar with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system.
 
"I understand the VA portion of it really well, Chapter 115," he said. "So it's just kind of one of those muscle memory, repetitive things. I love it. It's great. It's kind of what I wanted to do when I got out so it's perfect."
 
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