What is he doing?   Promoting another Berkshire lodging option?   I guess that could be the end result of this entry, because I do really like everyone I know at the Red Lion Inn, including Nancy Fitzpatrick and Brian Butterworth.   But I am really just trying to promote their nightly music, and if I lose a few potential guests along the way, so be it.

Because there are the large music presenting groups, like Tanglewood, The Berkshire Opera, The Berkshire Choral Festival, etc….and there are night spots that feature music.   For free nightly entertainment, in a very cool low-ceilinged basement environment, try The Lion's Den.   The walls and ceiling are dark red, the fireplace is usually roaring , and you can get Guiness on tap and order food from several menus, ranging from the burgers and clam chowder on the Lion's Den menu to more upscale dinner offerings from the Tavern menu.  The music is usually solo or duo accoustic…although we saw an amplified quartet last weekend that brought the house down.

Down in Great Barrington, the Castle Street Cafe has a jazz bar that features jazz on the weekends.    They showcase Nat King Cole's piano, and the light fixtures are blown glass that look like planets hanging from the ceiling.   On the next block you can experience The Helsinki Cafe, a live music venue that is very small and Bohemian.    They attract the kinds of acts that play the larger Iron Horse in North Hampton.

Because the of seasonality of the Berkshires, there are not a lot of year-round music venues or night clubs featuring music.   But from Spring through October, music springs up in unlikely places:   museums (you can count on MassMoca to offer a lot of music programming, but we'll cover that in a series of museum blogs), restaurants (Asters, Spice, Prime, and many others), even book stores, ski resorts,and public lake beaches are planning music throughout the "season."   For a weekly listing, check out the Berkshire Eagle on-line edition.   They publish a Berkshire Week every Thursday with calendar listings for the next seven days.

So obviously, after a night of enjoying a great meal, a bottle of wine and some live music, you will want to stay in a romantic Berkshires b&b.  Hampton Terrace in Lenox is centrally located to all corners of Berkshire County and is considered one of the top-rated Lenox inns.    About 40 weekends per year are considered "off-season" and many people find our rates to be quite affordable.    Or you could stay with our friends at the Red Lion Inn.   It's okay.

In 1937, when the Depression and taxation caused the gild to come off the Gilded Age, the great mansions and estates of Lenox were largely abandoned.   Many became institutional:   schools, asylums or monasteries, and some spent more than half a century empty.   But luckily, one was donated to the Boston Symphony…and the rest, as they say, is history.

Over the decades, as the audiences who attended concerts at Tanglewood grew, more and more of these great estates and historic "cottages" were able to be put back into service:   Cranwell, Wheatleigh, Blantyre…and even Hampton Terrace, one of the original "Berkshire Cottages."   In fact, most of the Lenox inns are the former second homes of the turn-of-the-century's rich and famous.   Tanglewood itself, one mile down the hill from Lenox town center, consists of multiple performance venues inhabiting a most embracing rural setting.   Lenonard Bernstein, a alum of the affiliated Tanglewood Institute always proclaimed that the Tanglewood property, and the Berkshires in general, had captured his soul.

Tanglewood has become somewhat a creature of habit, with certain shows at certain times becoming "expected."   The Mark Morris Dance Group opens the schedule each year with new works choreographed to classical music.   For the ninth year, Garrison Keillor is broadcasting "Prairie Home Companion" from the Tanglewood Shed.   July 4th always showcases a popular music artist with fireworks.   This year, it is Lenox resident James Taylor.   He does at least one show every summer and occasionally it coincides with the holiday.   The BSO itself appears the weekend after July 4th and it performs every Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.   Although new Tanglewood performers appear every year, you can expect at some point each summer to see Yo-Yo Ma (who has a home in the Berkshires), Renee Fleming, Andre Previn, Peter Serkin, Midori, Garrick Olhsson, Joshua Bell, Emanuel Ax, Pinchas Zukerman, and Itzhak Perlman, as well as several internationally famous conductors who come in each summer to relieve James Levine, now in his 4th year.  John Williams used to conduct multiple concerts each summer but these days, at the least, he conducts one of the most well-attended shows of each summer:  John Williams Movie Night.   Also, Tanglewood on Parade annually showcases the TMC Orchestra, the Boston Pops and the BSO.   This annual must-see always ends in the 1842 Overture with real Civil War cannons and fireworks.   The Boston Pops, with Keith Lockhard does at least two shows each summer as well, usually mid-week.   The final BSO show of each summer is usually Beethoven's 9th Symphony.   And then Labor Day Weekend is the annual Tanglewood Jazz Festival.  

Many people assume Tanglewood is only worth visiting on the weekends…but in fact, there is something going on virtually every night of the week.    If you want to combine a romantic getaway in a Lenox bed and breakfast, consider a mid-week show at Tanglewood and a stay at Hampton Terrace, one of the best reviewed b&bs in the Berkshires.   Save 30% per night mid-week.   Avoid the lines in the shops and restaurants.   A no lose proposition in a history Berkshires bed and breakfast.

I believe I mentioned that theatre in the Berkshires is not limited to Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Shakespeare & Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the stages of the Colonial and Mahaiwe Theaters.  When a guest at Hampton Terrace asks "what is there to do once I get there?" I  find myself almost speechless.   Where do I start?    Or, more often, a guest will start by announcing that they plan to go to Tanglewood on Saturday night and they were wondering if there is something to do on the other two nights of their stay.   This is why everyone who stays at our Lenox inn gets several attachments on their confirmation:   a list of dining options and a list of other activities to consider, including spas, museums, hikes, theater, music, night life, etc.   We also provide links to the Berkshire Visitors Bureau website, the Berkshire Eagle website, the Lenox Chamber of Commerce and other resources to help our guests plan their stay.

But back to the other theater options:   Our bed and breakfast is located in Lenox, but it is possible go just across the border into New York State and find several good theater options:   The Mac-Haydn Theater in Chatham, and The Theater Barn in New Lebanon.  Capital Steps performs nightly during the summer at Cranwell Resort, located about 60 seconds by car down the street from Hampton Terrace.  MassMoca in North Adams is a celebration of "contemporary culture" that goes well beyond modern art, and all year they showcase avante garde theater.   In Great Barrington, a festival of new local and national works called Berkshire Fringe Festival will be held on the campus of Simon's Rock July 16 to August 4.

Finally, Ventfort Hall, the "Museum to the Gilded Age" presents performances throughout the year (usually in partnership with Shakespeare & Company) that showcase themes relevent to the house, the Berkshires or the Gilded Age.  This year, they are bringing back a popular show from past years:  "Colors of War:  A Story of Love and Courage," which is a staged reading of letters and diary entries from and to Annie Haggerty Shaw, the wife of Colonial Shaw, the Civil War commander who took the first black regiment into South Carolina…the basis of the true story "Glory."   Annie Haggerty lived in the original Ventfort Hall on this property…a building which was replaced by the Morgans in the 1980s.

When considering a theatre experience in the Berkshires, combine it with a New England getaway in a romantic b&b, such as Hampton Terrace, a top-rated bed and breakfast in Lenox.   You will not find any Berkshire lodging more centrally located to Berkshire attractions and theater.   And speaking of Berkshire theater, the quality of our shows offically qualify our productions as "off-Broadway."   So combine the highest possible level of live theater with a visit to the "country."

Next, a series of entries called:  "Music in the Berkshires."

Is this theater?   You betcha.   One thing you have to understand about the Berkshires:   museums present theater, restaurants present theater, historic house museums present theater (tomorrow's blog) and Tanglewood presents theater. 

Nine years ago, Garrison Keillor hosted his first "Prairie Home Companion" at Tanglewood  - a show stuffed with local references and talent.   I guess it went over well because Keillor has now made Tanglewood the traditional closing show of each radio season.   No lack of local color to fill the annual bill.   Last year featured Lenoxite (or is it Lenoxonian) James Taylor.   This is a great opportunity to load up the picnic basket, pick out your favorite wine, and relax in a lawn chair with your eyes closed.   Of course, you could do that in your living room with the radio on…but there is something special about participating in a group "listen."   And though there will be 10,000 people at the show, you will be able to hear a pin drop as Keillor unwinds his tales.

Tanglewood is less than a one minute drive from Hampton Terrace, a top rated bed and breakfast in Lenox.   We happen to have a couple rooms still left for the June 28th weekend:  one for just Saturday night the 28th and another for two nights.   Unlike most Berkshire lodging, we feature an outdoor heated pool and a full breakfast buffet.   So if you plan to attend "A Prairie Home Companion" at Tanglewood, and need a Berkshire bed and breakfast, call 800-203-0656.

 For purposes of this column, I am lumping Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the "theatre" category, although it differs greatly from Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Shakespeare & Company and Williamstown Theatre Festival.   The latter groups all stage their own productions wheras Jacob's Pillow serves as a "host" to dozens of the most influential dance companies in the world.   On any given week between June 14th and August 24th, at least two companies will perform daily on several stages, sprinkling in lectures, demonstrations, master classes and community interaction.   For Jacob's Pillow is as concerned with dance education as it is with performance, and it stands alone as the oldest and most prestigious dance festival in the world.

Daresay any major dance organization who is not approached by Jacob's Pillow had better question its world standing.    Begun in 1933 by Ted Shawn as a retreat to train male dancers, his intent was to show that dancing could be an honorable male occupation as he strove to end stereotypes by emphasizing strong masculine roles for his dancers.   Over the years, the original buildings from this 1800s farm were converted into performance and rehearsal spaces…and that is the feel that is carried up to this day.   A visit to Jacob's Pillow is a vicseral experience that begins with the fact that it is 20 minutes from any visible civilization.   It is really you, the dancers and nature.  Even the largest venue, the Ted Shawn Theater has the option of opening doors behind the stage to reveal distant mountain views.    For a complete list of performances see www.jacobspillow.org.

One of the great things about Jacob's Pillow is that their performances occur all week, meaning you can combine a mid-week discount, a romantic getaway and Jacob's Pillow by staying at Hampton Terrace, one of the top rated Berkshire inns.   A Lenox inn since 1937, Hampton Terrace is located about 20 minutes from Jacob's Pillow, but as stated before, there are not many Berkshire bed and breakfasts within a 20 minute drive anyway.   But since you will probably combine your dance evening with several other evenings of theater and dining, you will be hard pressed to find a Berkshires lodging option more centrally located, within walking distance of Lenox's heralded restaurants and shops.

Recently having earned a Tony Award for the best regional theater in the country, Williamstown Theater Festival in 2008 is again presenting an impressive array of classic and new plays on its Main, Nikos and Center Stages, Free Theatre, Late-Night Cabaret, and readings, workshops, and other special events.  

WTF has historically wowed Berkshire audiences, and guests of Hampton Terrace, with notable names, most recently Emmy Rossum (pictured), Elizabeth Banks, Dianne Weist, Blythe Danner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Burton, James Naughton, Jean Smart, Olympia Dukakis and Bebe Neuwirth.  This year's performances include "Beyond Therapy," "The Athiest," "She Loves Me," "Broke-ology," "Three Sisters," "The Understudy," "A Flea in Her Ear," " Not Waiving," and "Home."  

Combine a romantic getaway to one of the highest rated bed and breakfasts in Lenox by visiting Hampton Terrace and seeing a show at Williamstown Theater Festival.   Hampton Terrace is uniquely positioned compared to much Berkshire lodging, by being centrally located in Lenox.   We are just 5 minutes north of the Mass Pike…but 20 minutes from Great Barrington, 10 minutes from Stockbridge, 15 minutes from Pittsfield and about 30 minutes from Williamstown.   All Lenox shops and restaurants are less than a 2 block walk from us, and Tanglewood is one mile.  When considering a romantic b&b and a New England getaway, click here:   www.hamptonterrace.com.

Many people remember the Barrington Stage Company bravely mounting their seasons at a local high school in South County.   Julianne Boyd had a pedigree, and all knew it was just a matter of time before this theatre company earned its break….

And the break came from an unlikely place…an improvisational theater lab that quickly moved from Barrington Stage to Broadway and now to leading cities of the world, while picking up two Tony Awards along the way.  The success of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" led to Barrington Stage's purchase and renovation of a 1912 playhouse in downtown Pittsfield.  Julie Boyd's vision of having a stage capable of handling the large productions she loved was fulfilled.   This year marks a return of "Spelling Bee" to its creator, and other offerings include "The Violet Hour", "Private Lives" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."   And that is just the Main Stage.   There are a dozen other options through the summer, including the very workshops that might spawn the next Tony Award- winning play or musical.  

Barrington Stage Company joins Shakespeare & Company, Williamstown Theater Festival, Berkshire Theatre Festival and other important theater companies within minutes of Hampton Terrace, a well-reviewed bed and breakfast in Lenox.  Top rated among Berkshire lodging, Hampton Terrace features 14 rooms with private baths and is located within steps of Lenox's heralded shops and restaurants.  When considering a Lenox inn while visiting theater in the Berkshires, check out www.hamptonterrace.com.

80 Years!   If that is not sustainability, what is?   The Berkshire Theatre Festival is the lone presenting organization that matches Tanglewood's tenure, and its stage has featured some of the most important actors of the century.   The 2008 schedule includes "Candida," opening next week and showcasing Jayne Atkinson, most recently famous for playing CTU Director Karen Hayes on 24. 

Other important offerings on the Main Stage include "The Book Club Play," "A Man for All Seasons," "Noel Coward in Two Keys," "Oliver!,"  and six plays in the Unicorn Theater.   BTF will feature "A Christmas Carol" in December….what a great opportunity for a Romantic Getaway at a Berkshire inn, such as Hampton Terrace, which is located just a ten minute drive from Stockbridge and the Berkshire Theatre Festival.   TripAdvisor.com ranks Hampton Terrace among the top two Lenox inns based on unsolicited guest reviews.

Unquestionably Tanglewood is the most internationally known attraction in the Berkshires, but our theater offerings are an embarrassment of riches:   Shakespeare & Company, Barrington Stage Company, Williamstown Theater Festival, Jacob's Pillow and many others.   This column will feature a different theatre company each day, and while attending shows and considering Berkshires lodging, check out Hampton Terrace, located just steps from Lenox's heralded restaurants and shops.  

Tanglewood fills the Berkshires every weekend during the summer.   If you want to avoid the large crowds and enjoy a wide range of theater offerings while staying in a romantic b&b, consider a mid-week visit and save 30% compared to our normal room rates.

When considering Lenox or the Berkshires, many people think Tanglewood and the Boston Symphony.   But of equal stature (and actually exceeding Tanglewood in total audience) are the local theater companies, including Shakespeare and Company, Berkshire Theater Festival, Williamstown Theater Festival, Jacob's Pillow (dance), Barrington Stage Company, and many others.   All are kicking off their seasons this week and next.

Shakespeare & Company, founded by Tina Packer, is in its 31st season, and is located just one block from Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast.   Their large campus includes multiple theater options, including their main stage, The Founder's Theater.   This year, they are opening with "The Ladies Man," a French farce that we saw last Thursday night.   It was GREAT!   At our Lenox bed and breakfast, we get feedback every morning at breakfast about what our guests did the night before, where they ate, etc.   At least eight of our guests have now seen "The Ladies Man" and agree with us.   It has all the things you would expect from this genre:   double entrendres, mistaken identities and maniacal (and I mean really maniacal) action.   I was exhausted from the energy on stage…no daily gym workouts needed for these actors.   "The Ladies Man" is being performed all summer, alternating with other significant productions including "Othello," "All's Well that Ends Well," "The Goatwoman of Corvis County," "The Canterville Ghost," "Bad Dates," and numerous free presentations on their outdoor stage.   You can see, this industrious group is not limited to Shakespeare.   Importantly, they are opening a new venue, The Elayne Bernstein Stage in August.    So for those of you who are looking to avoid the weekend crowds associated with Tanglewood, consider coming to the Berkshires Sunday to Thursday and entertaining yourselves with these exciting theater options.

And as always, combine at visit to Shakespeare and Company with a fine bed and breakfast experience by staying at Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast……located just one block from Shakespeare and Company.   Stay multiple nights mid-week and save up to 30%.

In our last entry, I waxed endlessly about the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield.   Not to be overlooked or minimized is an equal accomplishment in South County.   The Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, although not totally abandoned like the Colonial, had for many decades hosted re-run movies and local productions.  Earlier in the decade the Berkshire Opera bought it and enbarked on a campaign to turn it into its full-time permanent home, but in the difficult era of fundraising that followed 9/11, the opera turned its attention to its own needs and turned the Mahaiwe over to a citizens group dedicted purely to its restoration.   And it is now completely done and has become the centerpiece of Great Barrington's cultural offerings, with programming ranging from HD simulcasts of the Metropolitan Opera to Paul Taylor's Dance Company, Judy Collins and documentary films.   To see their listings, click on www.mahaiwe.org and stay at Hampton Terrace, www.hamptonterrace.com