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Donna McKechnie Helps MCLA Celebrate 115th Anniversary

NORTH ADAMS, MA-Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts celebrates its 115th anniversary Friday, November 13, with a dinner, silent auction, and performance by legendary Broadway singer and dancer Donna McKechnie. The concert is at 8 p.m. in the Church Street Center auditorium. Due to increased attendance, the venue for the dinner and silent auction at 5:30 p.m. was changed to the Amsler Campus Center gymnasium. All proceeds benefit scholarships at MCLA.

"Truly a Broadway star, from her debut as Cassie in the original A Chorus Line to her roles in Company and others, to have that caliber of talent is indeed an honor," says Jonathan Secor, director of special programs at MCLA, of McKechnie. "To have an intimate evening of just her and a pianist, telling us through song and dance her history on and off Broadway, is not only an honor, but
guaranteed to be a delight."

The Tony Award-winning McKechnie is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's foremost dancing and singing leading ladies. Her Broadway credits include How to Succeed in Business Without Really
Trying, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N, Sondheim: A Musical Tribute (which she also choreographed), On The Town, Promises-Promises, Company, and State Fair, for which she received the Fred Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer for
the 1996 season.

She also starred in numerous productions in London's West End, including Promises-Promises, Company, No Way to Tell a Lady (which she also choreographed), Cole Porter's Can-Can, and Steven Sondheim's Follies. Bob Fosse invited McKechnie to play the lead in his last production, a
National tour of Sweet Charity, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. Her regional credits include Irma La Douce, Cabaret, The Imaginary Invalid, The Goodbye Girl, Follies, A Little Night Music, Mack and Mabel, Gypsy, I Do I Do!, Misalliance, Come Back Little Sheba, The Glass Menagerie, Stepping Out, Girl's Room, and Inside the Music, her one-woman musical with text by Christopher Durang. McKechnie has also performed extensively on the concert stage, in cabaret, and with symphony orchestras.

In 2005 the New York Times said, "Gypsy in My Soul equaled her to legends Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon as a brass knuckled trouper with a heart of gold in a breezy, happy-to-be-here celebration."

McKechnie made her opera debut in 1996, guest starring in the San Francisco Opera's production of Die Fledermaus. Her recently released memoir, Time Steps: My Musical Comedy Life, was published by Simon and Schuster. McKechnie will sign copies of the book at Church Street Center November 13.

Tickets for the show only are $25, $15 for MCLA faculty and staff and
non-MCLA students, and free for MCLA students. Visit www.mcla.edu/115 for information on the pre-show dinner.

For tickets and more information about the 115th anniversary celebration call MCLA Conference Coordinator Ashley Berridge at (413) 662-5185 or Ashley.Berridge@mcla.edu

Event sponsors are MountainOne Financial Partners, which include Hoosac Bank, Williamstown Savings Bank, Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins, and True North; Berkshire Living; and the Porches Inn.

Distinguished Poet Richard Wilbur to Read November 8

Williamstown, MA - Richard Wilbur, one of America’s most beloved poets, will read from his works at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, in St. John’s Episcopal Church, Williamstown.  The public is invited to this event, which will also feature Nathaniel Parke, artist associate in cello at Williams College and instructor of cello at Bennington College, playing interludes of Bach’s compositions for unaccompanied cello.

Richard Wilbur has served as Poet Laureate of the United States.  His other honors include the National Book Award, two Pulitzer Prizes, and the Bollingen Translation Prize.  He is a member of the American Institute of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Academy of American Poets.  In addition to his poetry and his translations of the great verse plays of Molière and Racine, he has published three books for children and collections of prose pieces.

Nathaniel Parke is a member of the Bennington String Quartet and is principal cello of the Berkshire Symphony.            

A free will offering will benefit the Western MA Food Bank.

St. John’s Church is located at 35 Park Street and is wheel chair accessible.  Information: 413-458-8144.

 

Inkberry and Papyri Books present Wordplay with Poets from Slate Roof Press

NORTH ADAMS, MA- Saturday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. Wordplay, a monthly reading series co-sponsored by Inkberry and Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street, will present poets Janet MacFadyen, Susan Middleton, Susie Patlove, and Paula Sayword, who will read from their work. All four poets are members of Slate Roof, a member-run press committed to publishing Franklin County poets.

Janet MacFadyen is author of two books of poetry, A Newfoundland Journal (Killick Press, 2009) and In Defense of Stones (Heatherstone Press,  1996). Her poems have appeared in Poetry, The Atlantic Monthly, Yankee Magazine, The Atlanta Review, and Rosebud. She is also the recipient of an Academy of American Poets Award. Janet grew up in Williamstown and now lives in Shutesbury with her husband and dog.

Susan Middleton lives in Ashfield, where she works as a freelance editor of science books. Her poems have appeared in The Berkshire Review, Peregrine, Sanctuary: The Magazine of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and The Comstock Review, among others, as well as the anthology 5-Minute Pieces (Arms Library, Shelburne Falls, MA, 1998). Passions besides writing include tutoring adults in English as a Second Language, leading hikes for the Appalachian Mountain Club, and exploring the woods, fields, and mountains of western New England.

Susie Patlove's poems have been heard on NPR's A Writers Almanac. They have appeared in The Atlanta Review, Monkscript, and Sanctuary, and are forthcoming in Ted Kooser's national newspaper column American Life in Poetry. Her first poetry collection, Quickening, was published by Slate Roof in 2007. Her work also was included in Crossing Paths: An Anthology of Poems by Women (Mad River Press, 2002) Susie lives with her husband, Les, in  Charlemont where they have raised three boys and countless organic vegetables.

Paula Sayword has been writing poetry for forty years and recently retired from working in public housing to dedicate her time to that art. Her poems have appeared in Sanctuary Magazine, and she is a Poet Seat Contest winner. Her first collection, What Sleeps Inside Us, is forthcoming from Slate Roof in 2010. When not dreaming of the southwest, Paula lives on a small farm in Leyden with her longtime woman partner and gardens.

Gail Burns of Williamstown will host the event for Inkberry. After the reading there will be a brief intermission, followed by the popular Wordplay open mic. Refreshments will be available.  The event is free and open to the public.

For additional information regarding Inkberry or these readings, contact Inkberry by phone at (413) 664-0775 or visit www.inkberry.org.

About Inkberry- Inkberry promotes the literary arts in the Berkshires with events and community partnerships that celebrate and support writing and reading. Inkberry is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Hopkins calls North Adams mayor election for Alcombright

1. "I'm almost speechless," Hopkins. "This is quite a result and you should note at 7:30 the city of North Adams' history changed."#namayor1 minute ago from TweetDeckTotals: 3,046 votes for challenger Richard Alcombright 2,166 votes total cast 5,212 votes for Mayor John Barrett according to Hopkins' reading of the city tallies. #namayor
   

   
   

   
   WATCH VIDEO OF ALCOMBRIGHT'S VICTORY SPEECHWach video of Alcombright's victory speech:<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/52mj7ypQbuc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/52mj7ypQbuc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>valleyparade Downtown is a MASS of car horns! #namayor #a4m3 minutes ago from txt

2. VIEW VIDEO OF ALCOMBRIGHT'S VICTORY SPEECH

   Rich Taskin calls this victory for Martha Coakley -- she endorsed opponent Alcombright to 13-term incumbent Barrett -- and won. #namayor"I thought it would have been closer than this," says Hopkins. #namayor

   2 minutes ago from TweetDeck
3. "Based on these numbers, Dick Alcombright is the next mayor of North Adams," Hopkins says at 7:27 p.m. #namayor2 minutes ago from TweetDeck

4. Rich Taskin says this should free up the North Adams Transcript "to go out and cover the city." #namayor

   "Dick Alcombright is carrying the night right now with four of five wards reporting," says Paul Hopkins on WilliNet Channel 17 #namayor

   3 minutes ago from TweetDeck
5. On WilliNet some returns now from North Adams election -- Channel 17#namayor12 minutes ago from TweetDeck
6. We'll be using the twitter hash tag #namayor tomorrow night to pass along news and commentary about the North Adams, Mass., mayoral race.about 22 hours ago from web

NAPL Children's Department Presents November Programs

North Adams, MA - The children’s department at the North Adams Public Library presents programs such as pre-school story time (with a craft or activity) and toddler time. These programs will be presented on weekdays throughout November. For details, call Youth Services Librarian Kim DiLego, 413.662.3133 or natlib@yahoo.com

Veterans' Day Parade November 11 in North Adams

North Adams, MA - On Wednesday November 11 a Veterans Day march will be held. Parade begins at the American Legion Home, moves east on Main and north on Eagle Street to the Veterans Memorial where a ceremony will take place. Call the American Legion at 413.664.9004.

Bengsons Present Raucous Vaudevillian Cabaret November 7 at MoCA

North Adams, MA - Abigail Nessen Bengson and Shaun McClain Bengson present “Ain’t That Good News” a raucous vaudevillian cabaret on Saturday November 7 at 8 pm in MASS MoCA Club B-10. Call 413.662.2111.

VNA & Hospice Hold Annual Bazaar November 7

North Adams, MA - The Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice will hold their third annual bazaar on Saturday, November 7, from 9-3 pm at the VNA/Hospice Community Room, 535 Curran Highway. Call 413.664.4536.

Baked Ham Dinner to Benefit Camp Ashmere November 6

North Adams, MA - First Friday dinner at the First Baptist Church North Adams will be held to benefit Camp Ashmere, Friday November 6 from 5-7 pm. Baked Ham, Baked Potato Bar, Squash, Desserts, beverages. Please use Eagle Street Entrance. For information, call 413.663.3780.

Comedy Open Mic November 5 at The Alley

North Adams, MA - Get downtown and have a laugh! Come see the only open mic comedy night in the Berkshires at the Alley,

23 Eagle Street

on Thursday, November 5 at 8:30 pm. No cover charge. Call 413-662.2223 for information.