The Rogovoy Report: Berkshire & Hudson Valley Cultural Preview

Jul 1-14, 2025

Jul 01, 2025

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With so much going on culturally speaking in our greater Berkshires/Hudson Valley region, this is my highly selective, curated snapshot of some of the most promising upcoming events …

SHAKE IT UP MIXES SHAKESPEARE and ROCK ‘n’ ROLL at SHAKESPEARE & CO.

Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret, a mash-up of modern music and Shakespearean verse, is presented by Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass., from Tuesday, July 1, through Sunday, July 6. The show features Jacob Ming-Trent; Elliot Norton Award-winner Jennifer Apple, Gregory Boover, Raya Malcolm, Merlin McCormick, and Naire Poole, joined by a live band including guitarist/vocalist Johnny Irion, jazz pianist Benny ‘Fingers’ Kohn, drummer Conor Meehan, and others. “Shakespeare and rock ‘n’ roll have been part of the fabric and lifeblood of popular culture for a long time,” said Allyn Burrows, director and co-creator of Shake It Up. “Mashing them together yielded fun and fascinating results, so we’re eager to keep digging.” (Tue, Jul 1-Sun, Jul 6)

ARI’EL STACHEL BRINGS ONE-MAN SHOW to UNICORN THEATRE

Tony Award-winner Ari’el Stachel brings Out of Character, his one-man show, to Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre, opening Wednesday, July 2, at 7pm, and running through Saturday, July 26, at 7pm. In his show, Stachel -- who won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in The Band’s Visit -- brings to life a full ensemble of characters from his past, weaving an expansive autobiographical tale of his Yemeni-Jewish mixed ethnicity, mental health, and success. The Washington Post noted, “Stachel’s performance is both heartfelt and humorous, offering a nuanced portrayal of his personal journey.” (Wed, Jul 2-Sat, Jul 26)

RACHMANINOFF, BEETHOVEN, BARENAKED LADIES on TAP at TANGLEWOOD

Of course, the annual James Taylor concerts at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass., this year taking place on Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4, have long been sold out. But concertgoers have lots more from which to choose over the next few days. The Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Andris Nelsons will present an all-Rachmaninoff program, featuring piano soloist Daniil Trifonov, in the Russian’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Symphonic Dances, on Saturday, July 5, at 8pm. The following evening, Sunday, July 6, pianist Yefim Bronfman will join the BSO for an all-Beethoven program featuring the German’s Leonore Overture No. 2, Piano Concerto No. 3, and Symphony No. 5. And Canadian novelty-rockers Barenaked Ladies bring their quirky blend of pop to the Shed on Tuesday, July 8, at 7pm. (Sat, Jul 5; Sun, Jul 6; Tue, Jul 8)

GABY MORENO BRINGS LATIN-ROCK to THE CLARK

Grammy Award-winning Guatemalan singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno brings her much-lauded blend of soul and Latin rock to the Clark in Williamstown, Mass., on Wednesday, July 9, at 6pm, in a free outdoor concert on the Reflecting Pool Lawn. Over her career, Moreno has shared the international stage with music luminaries such as Tracy Chapman, Nickel Creek, Buena Vista Social Club, Calexico, Los Lobos, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Taj Mahal, and Jackson Browne. Morendo also co-wrote the theme song for the TV series Parks and Recreation. (Wed, Jul 9)

YIDSTOCK PRESENTS WHO’S WHO of KLEZMER and YIDDISH MUSICAL TALENT

The Grammy Award-winning modern klezmer outfit the Klezmatics kick off the 13^th annual Yidstock: The Festival of New Yiddish Music at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Mass., on Thursday, July 10, at 7:30pm. The festival continues throughout the following weekend, including performances by a who’s who of contemporary Yiddish music, featuring vocalists Eleanor Reissa and Joanne Borts, clarinetist/bandleader Michael Winograd, culminating with an all-star group performing “The Great Yiddish-American Songbook,” with Frank London’s Yinglish Orchestra & Singers. The festival also includes workshops, dancing, lectures, and conversations with artists. (Thu, Jul 10-Sun, Jul 13)

ALSO OF NOTE:

Los Angeles-based contemporary dance company BODYTRAFFIC makes it mainstage debut at Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Mass., on Wednesday, July 2, through Sunday, July 6.

West African balafon virtuoso Balla Kouyaté performs music celebrating the history of the Mandé people of Mali, Guinea, and other West African countries in a free outdoor concert at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass., on Wednesday, July 2, at 6pm.

Miss Paula & the Twangbusters bring their honkytonk sounds to the Egremont Barn in South Egremont, Mass., on Thursday, July 3, at 7:30pm

It’s not every day when you can walk into a roadside fried chicken joint and hear tunes spun live by superstar record producer Mark Ronson, but this is exactly what is taking place at Hy’s Fried in South Egremont, Mass., on Friday, July 4, at 8pm. The nine-time Grammy Award-winner is perhaps best known for his work with the late rock-soul singer Amy Winehouse. In 2009, Ronson was voted the most stylish man in the UK by GQ magazine.

Glori Wilder brings her unique blend of soulful folk, rock, and pop to Park Theater in Hudson, N.Y., on Saturday July 5, at 8pm. Wilder often draws comparisons to Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse, and Fiona Apple.

Hometown hero Todd Rundgren plays two shows at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, N.Y., on Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, both at 8pm. Besides being a hitmaker himself with songs including “Hello It’s Me” and “I Saw the Light,” Rundgren worked variously as a producer and engineer with the likes of The Band, Badfinger, Meat Loaf, Grand Funk Railroad, the New York Dolls, and XTC.

The Manhattan Chamber Players, featuring clarinetist Mariam Adam, perform works by Mozart, Russell Platt, and Valerie Coleman-Page at Maverick Concerts in Woodstock, N.Y., on Sunday, July 6, at 4pm.

Two-time Tony Award-winner Jessie Mueller (Carousel, Waitress) will be accompanied by pianist Seth Rudetsky in a cabaret performance at Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, Mass., on Monday, July 7, at 8pm. The concert will feature intimate, funny, behind-the-scenes stories mixed with performances of the songs Mueller has performed on Broadway and beyond.

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