World-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Ailey II performs on Sunday, March 21 at 3pm and Monday, March 22 at 10 am (school field trip performance). In 1974, legendary dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey created the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble from the most promising scholarship students in his namesake school. Today, as Ailey II, the troupe has become one of the most popular dance companies in the country. Combining the ideals of African-American cultural expression and the American modern dance tradition, Ailey II is known for merging the spirit and energy of the country's best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today's most outstanding emerging choreographers. Ailey II's Mahaiwe program will include Echoes (Thang Dao), Essence (Christopher Huggins), Proximity (Carlos dos Santos, Jr.), and Divining (Judith Jamison).

Sunday Program includes: Echoes Essence Proximity Divining

Special Monday AM Education Field Trip: Echoes (Solo Section) Divining (Solo Section) Proximity (2nd Section) Revelations

http://www.alvinailey.org/
www.alvinailey.org

Paul Taylor Dance Company returns to the Mahaiwe over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate Paul Taylor's 80th birthday with two performances. The programs include Mr. Taylor's two newest dances, Also Playing and Brief Encounters. On Saturday, May 29 at 8pm, the program features the satiric Public Domain, the erotic Brief Encounters, and Taylor's red-hot look at the culture of tango, Piazzolla Caldera. On Sunday, May 30 at 3pm, the program includes the blissful Brandenburgs, the comic Vaudeville tribute Also Playing, and Piazzolla Caldera. The New York Times says, "There is no other choreographer today whose imaginative range looks so large or so multilayered."

http://www.ptdc.org
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Tony Award-winning singer and actress Patti LuPone brings her powerhouse talent to Great Barrington on Sunday, July 11 at 7pm. Fresh off her rapturously received, role-defining stint as Mama Rose in Gypsy, Broadway star LuPone - the original Evita - takes us on a high-spirited tour of her favorite songs. Her recent stage credits include her debut with the Los Angeles Opera in Weill-Brecht's Mahagonny, the world premiere of Jake Heggie's new opera To Hell and Back with San Francisco's Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Mrs. Lovett in John Doyle's award winning Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations - Best Actress in a Musical; Drama League Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre), the title role in Marc Blitzstein's Regina, a musical version of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, and a critically acclaimed performance as Fosca in a concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Passion, which was also broadcast on PBS' Live From Lincoln Center.

MUSICAL COMEDY BECOMES MUSICAL THEATER

In the 1950s the musical play was the thing! The '50s was the fourth decade of the musical's Golden Age when the story musical with songs that advanced the plot overtook the comedy revue. THE FABULOUS FIFTIES, directed by Charlotte Kaufman, features songs from many of the great '50s STORY MUSICALS: Guys and Dolls, The Most Happy Fella, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Bells Are Ringing, Gypsy and some others, lesser-known but truly worth remembering. The great composers were Bernstein, Lerner & Loewe, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Loesser, Styne and Berlin. Some of the big stars were Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Alfred Drake, Gwen Verdon, Yul Brynner. Don't miss this stunning show by the same group who thrilled you with Fly Me To The Moon, and Thou Swell, Thou Witty here at the Mahaiwe. HEAR GREAT MUSIC PERFORMED BY GREAT VOICES: Mara Bonde, soprano, David Ripley, bass-baritone, with guest, Jennifer Sheehan, soprano, and introducing Mark DiCampo, tenor. ENJOY the BMT JAZZ TRIO; Dan Loschen, piano, Rich Appleman, bass, Bertram Lehmann, drums, and their guest, Allen Bonde, piano.