Actress Jill Tanner joins James Warwick for Historical Society Gala

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Jill Tanner, star of last summer’s surprise “hit” play, The Road From Moscow, directed by James Warwick for the Miniature Theater of Chester and transferred to Pittsfield’s Berkshire Music Hall - soon to be the site for Barrington Stage Company - joins her director for a very special presentation of Gilded Age plays at the Berkshire Historical Society’s Gala evening, beginning at 6:00pm at the Crane Family Model Farm in Dalton on Saturday May 20. A celebration for the opening of Becoming Pittsfield: the Gilded Age, the Gala features the acting pair in four scenes from three famous plays of the period: East Lynne by Mrs. Henry Wood, A Trip to Chinatown by Charles Hale Hoyt, and The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, all of which were seen in Pittsfield during the early part of the 20th century. East Lynne was the most popular melodrama of the period. Based on the 1861 novel by Mrs. Henry Wood, it was purchased outright for $100 by twenty-year old actress/manager Lucille Western who toured in it until her death in 1877. The play was first performed in the Berkshires at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield on February 22, 1907. As it had been everywhere for more than forty years, the play was successful and returned in 1908 and 1909. The 1916 film starred Theda Bara as the straying countess, Isabel, a role taken in the Academy Award nominated 1931 movie by Ann Harding. The team will perform two scenes from A Trip to Chinatown (1890) which played the Colonial several times during its extended national tour which ran until 1913. During its lengthy run in New York (650 performances) it spawned three musical hits still heard today, After the Ball, Reuben, Reuben and The Bowery. Filmed in 1926 it featured Charles Farrell and Anna May Wong. Oscar Wilde’s most successful play enjoyed a highly entertaining revival starring Carol Shelley by Barrington Stage a season ago in Sheffield. It is currently a hit, again, in New York with Lynn Redgrave in the same role of Lady Bracknell, the part taken for the gala by Ms. Tanner. The Thespians, forereunners of today’s The Town Players, presented this play at the Colonial Theater on September 11, 1906. Dinner for the Gala is being catered by Lynne and Christian Urbaine of From ketchup to Caviar. There will be a multitude of delectable choices for attendees. Music is being provided by the Scheherezadian Quartet. Tickets for this most unusual evening are $125, proceeds to go to the Berkshire Historical Society to help fund this and future exhibitions. At one o’clock on May 20 the BHS will formally cut the ribbon on their new exhibit in the reconceived red barn at Arrowhead, formerly the gift shop. Attendees will be able to get a first look at the Historical Society’s first major exhibition from the collection in advance of the general public. Admission to the exhibition will be $12. Invitations have been sent, but anyone interested in attending the Gala may respond by telephone to 413-442-1793, ext. 11. The summer will be filled with additional events at Arrowhead including a Victorian Ice Cream Social on Sunday, August 5, three Gilded Age cemetery walks on July 8, August 4 and September 8 and ten special Three ‘T’ Teas comprised of a Talk on the Gilded Age in Pittsfield by Dr. Carole Owens, a special Tea and a private Tour of the exhibition. Most of the teas take place on Thursday afternoons and the cost for this special package is $25. There is limited seating, so reservations are requested. For more information, call 413-442-1793, ext. 11, or check our website at www.berkshirehistory.org
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Select Board Candidate Forum Set Thursday

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — iBerkshires.com is hosting a Select Board candidate forum at the Senior Center on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m. 
 
Pittsfield Bureau Chief Brittany Polito will ask the candidates questions curated from voter submissions. 
 
The number of questions will be limited by the 90-minute time limit. Each candidate will begin with a two-minute opening statement. Following this, Polito will ask questions. 
 
For every question, the candidates will each have up to 1 1/2 minutes to answer, followed by 30 seconds each to rebut or follow up. The moderator can allow for further debate on a particular question if needed. 
 
At the conclusion of the event, each candidate will have up to 90 seconds to deliver a closing statement.  
 
The event is also being livestreamed on the iBerkshiresTV YouTube channel and broadcast on Dalton Community Cable Association's Channel 1301 in Dalton.  
 
The election is at the Senior Center, located at 40 Field St., on May 12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Don’t forget to also attend the town meeting on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School. 
 
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