Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
 Front of Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center | |
| Website | mahaiwe.org |
|---|---|
| Location | 14 Castle St., Great Barrington, MA |
| Built | 1905 |
| Non-profit active | 2005 - present |
| Founder | Lola Jaffe |
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (/məˈheɪwi/) is a major performance space in the town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.[1] The theater's name comes from the indigenous Mahican term for "the place downstream" in relation to the Housatonic River.[2] The theater itself has hosted events for the Berkshire County community since it was built in 1905[3] and as the performing arts center since 2005, with offerings ranging from movies to live music, dance, drama, and comedy.
History
[edit]Construction of the Mahaiwe Block building that houses the theater began in 1904, led by architect Joseph McArthur Vance.[4] The Mahaiwe Theater first opened its doors on September 26, 1905, with the musical comedy Happyland as the main performance.[5] The theater offered silent films, vaudeville acts, big bands, and later on “talkies” in 1929.[5] Several notable figures visited the Mahaiwe in its early years, including John Philip Sousa, who performed with his band in 1912;[5] and later Pauline Kael, who frequently rented out the theater to critique movies sent for her to review.[6]
In 2002, philanthropist Lola Jaffe founded a nonprofit organization to restore and run the theater.[7] Jaffe raised and invested over $9 million with the help of a board of directors.[8] Hugh Hardy, an American architect known for reviving theaters and other public spaces, led the restoration project.[9] The theater re-opened officially as the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on May 29, 2005. The nonprofit organization is a part of the Downtown Great Barrington Cultural District.[10]
Recent performers of note since the restoration include Whoopi Goldberg,[11] Leslie Odom Jr.,[12] John Mulaney,[13] and Jane Lynch[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "ArtsHub of Western Mass | Western Mass Artists & Arts Resources". www.artshubwma.org. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
- ^ s2mahaiwe. "History". Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Eagle, Tony Dobrowolski, The Berkshire. "Executive Spotlight: Janis Martinson/Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Our Story". Berkshire Theatre Group. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
- ^ a b c Drew, Bernard (1989). The History of the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Attic Revivals Press. pp. 16–21. ISBN 0-941583-15-5.
- ^ Kelly, David A. (2003-10-31). "HAVENS; Weekender | Great Barrington, Mass". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
- ^ "First phase of restoration complete, Mahaiwe will begin hosting various activities". www.iberkshires.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
- ^ Eagle, Heather Bellow, The Berkshire. "An 'unimaginable' absence: Mahaiwe founder Lola Jaffe dies at 95". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Scott, Mackay Hugh Baillie, (1865–10 Feb. 1945), architect", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, retrieved 2022-06-09
- ^ Eagle, Kristin Palpini, The Berkshire. "State deems Great Barrington downtown a cultural district". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2022-08-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Garl, Mike. "Whoopi Coming To Mahaiwe". WSBS 860AM, 94.1FM. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
- ^ Staff, Edge (2021-10-15). "Singer-actor Leslie Odom Jr. helps The Mahaiwe celebrate its 2021 gala". The Berkshire Edge. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
- ^ "Comedian John Mulaney Had the Crowd at the Mahaiwe Theater's Annual Gala in Stitches". Vogue. 2019-08-12. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
- ^ correspondent, Sharon Smullen, Eagle. "Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery are swingin' by the Mahaiwe to sing some Christmas tunes". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)