Berkshires Beat: Adams Native Stars in ‘Peppa Pig’ Stage Show
Pigging out: Adams native Evan M. Pinsonnault is an actor with Peppa Pig's first-ever U.S. theatrical tour, "Peppa Pig's Big Splash." The show splashes down in Springfield for the final performance in its spring 2017 tour (peppapigliveus.com). The show will be at Symphony Hall on Sunday, May 7, at 2 p.m.
Pinsonnault, stage name Evan Michael, plays the roles of Daddy Pig, Mr. Bull and Danny Dog in the live show. Springfield is one of more than 30 cities in the United States and Canada on the spring tour. Pinsonnault also played the roles of Daddy Pig, Mr. Bull and Danny Dog in the 2015-2016 tour, which visited more than 90 cities.
Pinsonnault is a 2001 graduate of Hoosac Valley High School, where he performed in a number of theatrical productions. A resident of Los Angeles, he is an actor, comedian, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, host, performer, and writer. He is the son and stepson of Bernie Pinsonnault and Dianne Cutillo of Adams and Jan Charbonneau and Stan Spencer of Lenox.
Peppa Pig is star of Entertainment One's (eOne) top-rated TV series, which airs on Nick Jr. Peppa Pig's Big Splash is an action-packed live show based on the series and designed to deliver to preschoolers and young fans an unforgettable first live theater experience. The show is a fully immersive musical production featuring a dozen familiar and original songs, as well as an interactive sing-along.
The television show follows the adventures of Peppa Pig, an exuberant piggy who lives with her brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Peppa's favorite things include playing games, dressing up, spending days outdoors, and jumping in muddy puddles. Peppa Pig episodes are available on DVD, and for download on iTunes and Amazon.
Armed with a message: Berkshire Children and Families, the Berkshire Museum and Miss Hall's School have teamed up to curate the exhibit "Through the Lens," a story-based portrait series featuring youth in the Pittsfield community from Herberg and Reid Middle Schools and based on the "Dear World Project."
Mikala L'Hote (a senior at Miss Hall's from Pittsfield and intern at the Berkshire Museum) and Gabriela Keator (also an MHS senior from Lenox and an intern at Berkshire Children and Families) worked with students at Herberg and Reid, asking them the question: "What do you want your message to the world to be?"
Students then were photographed, with their message painted on their arms.
This exhibit will be on display through Friday, May 12, when a closing celebration will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The reception is free.
Fluffing the Pillow: Jacob's Pillow Dance has received a $100,000 grant from the Barr Foundation to expand and create new programs engaging local Berkshire County residents, organizations, and businesses. The funding will also allow the Pillow to plan and implement dance field convenings in 2017 and 2018, offering new and necessary resources to the larger arts community.
Funding from the Barr Foundation enables Jacob's Pillow Dance to expand its free offerings for community members and create opportunities for Berkshire residents to connect with Pillow artists in both onsite and offsite performances, workshops, classes, and other participatory events. In addition, the funding helps to launch new programs at the Pillow including the Dancing Berkshires Fund, which offers discounted Festival performance tickets to students enrolled in schools and dance studios in Berkshire County. Based on its successful Curriculum in Motion program offered in Berkshire County schools, the Pillow will pilot a program in kinesthetic learning for adults working in medical settings in partnership with Berkshire Medical Center, Volunteers in Medicine, and dance educators.
Funding from the Barr Foundation will also allow the Pillow to host three new convenings, creating a space for growth and development for the wider dance community. Beginning this fall, the Pillow will develop and host regional and national convenings, including a gathering of New England choreographers in fall 2017. In summer 2018, the Pillow also plans to revive the Dance Presenters' Forum with the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Dance/USA, and New England Foundation for the Arts — a program with a long and successful track record dating back to the 1990s.
Happy birthday, Israel: Temple Anshe Amunim invites the community to join in a weekend of celebration for Israel's 69th birthday. On Friday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m., the Religious School will hold a special Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day) student-led Shabbat service, followed by a multi-generational seder and dinner. The seder will feature traditional Israeli foods, including hummus, tahini and more, along with readings and a short video presentation. The cost for the seder and dinner is $10 per person for members ($30 maximum for families) and $15 per person for non-members ($45 maximum for families). There is no charge to attend services.
On Saturday, May 6, the community is invited to take a tasting tour of Israeli wine-making regions, as Temple Anshe Amunim continues its weekend of celebration. The event will begin at 6 p.m., with a tasting of Israeli wines, offered by Spirited of Lenox, accompanied by a buffet of traditional Israeli foods. Spirited will also be providing wine for purchase. Participants will then take a virtual tour of Israel's beautiful vineyards through a video presentation. The cost for attending the wine and food tasting is $18 per person for members and $27 per person for non-members.
All events will take place at Temple Anshe Amunim, 26 Broad St., Pittsfield. For more information: 413-442-5910 or eba@ansheamunim.org.
Learn Chinese: A Thursday evening Chinese language and culture program at the North Adams Public Library will offer a 30-minute instruction to children from K-4th grade. Siblings are welcome. The aim is for children to acquire some basic knowledge of Chinese language through a fun learning process. Children will learn how to read and write some Chinese characters, sing songs, and do projects. The program will also integrate Chinese cultural components along with the language.
Instructor Ms. Wan is a Chinese language teacher. She has been teaching Chinese to children from pre-K to elementary school for more than 10 years. The spring program will run for five weeks on Thursday evenings from May 4t-June 1 from 6 to 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Services Department. This is a drop-in program.
