Slavic Easter Egg Decorating Workshop at Ventfort Hall

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LENOX, Mass.— Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft.  
 
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum will offer its annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional workshops on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 am to noon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and Monday through Thursday, April 14 – 17 from 2 pm to 4 pm.  The workshops will take place at the mansion's former gatehouse at 55 Kemble St., Lenox. The number of seats available at each session is limited.
 
This Eastern European tradition of creating decorated eggs has been passed down for generations.  Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague, who will again lead the workshop, learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother, Maria Krofta.
 
The technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) which have a residue-free shell surface.  Attendees may also bring their own unwashed eggs. The Slavic Easter egg is a wax resistant technique which employs aniline dye later in the process. The decorating begins with drawing on the egg with wax, followed by immersion in the dye, with repeated wax drawing and dying as desired.  The eggs are uncooked and are “blown” out after the decorating has been completed.  The eggs may be displayed, when stored carefully, for an indefinite number of years.
 
The fee for each workshop, which includes all materials, is $40. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Children should be at least 12 years of age. All tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation for an event.  For reservations please visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call at (413) 637-3206.

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Lenox Library to Host Performance of 'Saving Jazzy' by Nutshell Playhouse

LENOX, Mass. — The Lenox Library will present "Saving Jazzy," a musical and visual eco-fantasy performance by Nutshell Playhouse, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 10:30 AM.

The performance follows the characters Mambo and Nemonee as they search for ingredients to save the endangered Floratius Serendipitus. The production incorporates masks, movement, live music, and puppetry to explore themes related to Earth's environment and the balance of nature.

"Saving Jazzy" is performed by actors Alexia Trainer and Stefanie Weber, with live musical accompaniment by Don Jordan. The performance is described as suitable for children of all ages and their adult companions, with a particular appeal to children aged 2-10.

Nutshell Playhouse, led by Don Jordan, is identified as a company of artists focused on creating engaging live performances for family audiences. Their productions aim to be accessible to children of various ages and abilities, while also appealing to adults. The company seeks to bring theater to communities in Western Massachusetts by performing at local venues.

As a non-profit organization, Nutshell Playhouse aims to keep performances affordable while supporting local performers. The program at Lenox Library is free and open to the public, with support provided in part by a grant from the Lenox Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Further information can be found at https://lenoxlib.org or by calling the Library at 413-637-0197.

 

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