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A new season has settled here in the Berkshires, and with it a new issue of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center's quarterly Note Exchange. This fall brings reflections on a busy summer, plus enthusiasm for what's ahead.
Read on to learn about recent achievements, meet new faces, discover staff picks for upcoming programming, and more.
Thank you for being a part of the Mahaiwe family. We hope to see you at the historic theater or Indigo Room soon.
—Team Mahaiwe
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Mahaiwe staff with Driving Visitor Engagement award from 1Berkshire. From left, Education and Community Engagement Manager Natalia Bernal, Box Office Manager Jeff Benham, Executive Director Janis Martinson, Director of Advancement Diane Wortis, and Advancement Officer Patricia Pin.
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It has been a rewarding quarter for the Mahaiwe team, with a series of distinctions. Executive Director Janis Martinson was honored through Berkshire Magazine's Berkshire 25 – the outlet's annual selection of dedicated, creative, and influential figures in the county. That momentum continued with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Janis from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network. What's more, the Mahaiwe received a Trendsetter Award for Driving Visitor Engagement from county tourism agency 1Berkshire – an acknowledgment particularly humbling given the fellow nominees. Even the governor's office shared praise!
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Welcome, Elizabeth and Frank!
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Elizabeth Veraldi,
Box Office Assistant
Elizabeth Veraldi comes to the Mahaiwe by way of a career in television, directing the live television divisions at Court TV and the United Nations. A move to the Berkshires inspired a career change and she began working for nonprofits with an intention to make a difference. Before the Mahaiwe, Elizabeth worked at MASS MoCA. She is passionate about the arts and delighted to be part of the Berkshires' creative community.
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Frank Segro,
Director of Finance & Administration
An aspiring autodidact and lifelong arts-enabler, Frank has worked across disciplines to bring inclusive live events and hospitality to the region. He has held leadership roles at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, various theatrical and artistic organizations, and Camp Reimagined, where he developed innovative programs and brought immersive experiences to life. Frank is honored to help steward the Mahaiwe’s continued success and growth as a world-class community asset. When not at the Mahaiwe, he’s likely working on a new creative endeavor: reviving a Renaissance Faire, staging a Shakespeare production in a dairy barn, or diving headfirst into yet another curiously impractical hobby.
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|  | Mahaiwe and community personnel marked the Indigo Room opening with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony. From left, Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Betsy Andrus, Mahaiwe Board Member Carrie Chen, Mahaiwe Executive Director Janis Martinson, Mahaiwe Board Chair Margaret Deutsch, Mahaiwe Board Co-vice Chair Mandy Victor-Pieczarka, and Mahaiwe Board Member Sheila Parekh-Blum. Photo by Marina Dominguez.
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The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has a second venue! The Indigo Room saw its grand opening this month, marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony, complete with a Lion Dance and red envelopes for good luck, and a weekend filled with events. Thank you to everyone who came out to help us celebrate, and particular gratitude to the donors who funded this new dream. Expect regular announcements for upcoming shows, with an immediate schedule already available at mahaiwe.org/indigoroom.
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Calling all writers! Local author Sheela Clary is partnering with the Mahaiwe to present Shire Stories, a series of storytelling events at the Indigo Room. First up, the travel-themed "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" on November 23.
Get in touch to learn more about the series and how to get involved.
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Another Festival Latino is in the books – this time, with a salsa class and dance party hosted at the Indigo Room! Mahaiwe's own Education and Community Engagement Manager Natalia Bernal stepped in to share the floor with instructor Luana Dias David, before DJ RVMBA took over to turn it up a notch.
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DJ RVMBA spun records for a dance party. Photo by Marina Dominguez.
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Mahaiwe Board and SCAN (Spanish-language Community Advisory Network) members volunteering at the festival. From left, SCAN Advisor Martha Escobar, Board Member Nelson Fernandez, Board Member Peter J. Most, and SCAN Advisor Clara Guatta.
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 | Doktor Kaboom performs for schoolchildren at the Mahaiwe. Photo by Hannah Kogut.
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Students from across the county gathered earlier this month for an interative performance from Doktor Kaboom. The show - equal parts physical science and emotional empowerment - had the audience erupting with laughter and awe.
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"After hearing Silkroad Ensemble weave their culture-blending magic, I couldn't wait to recreate the experience at the Mahaiwe. Tabla meets cello, guitar, Chinese flute, and pipa, in this wildly-masterful eight-piece ensemble. Their American Railroad program, inspired by the Native American, African American, Irish, Japanese, and Chinese laborers who built the intercontinental railroad, includes commissioned pieces by Cecile McLorin Salvant, Wu Man, and Layale Chaker, and re-envisioned arrangements of folk songs by Rhiannon Giddens and others."
—Janis Martinson,
Executive Director
Silkroad Ensemble: American Railroad featuring Wu Man
November 8
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"If you like the film Oh Brother Where Art Thou, don’t miss the chance to see the Dan Tyminiski Band in person. His expressive voice matches the way he plays the guitar perfectly. A real treat."
—Hannah Kogut,
Membership and Stewardship Coordinator
Dan Tyminski Band
November 15
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Mahaiwe Merch in the Wild
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We love seeing your Mahaiwe Merch out in the world! Email us your photos or tag us on Instagram @themahaiwe and we will share.
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Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
14 & 20 Castle Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Mahaiwe Box Office Hours:
Wednesday through Saturday from 12pm to 4pm
413-528-0100 | mahaiwe.org
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