Arts Glance

KIDS & FAMILIES

Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival

Cambridge, N.Y. 518-677-0887.

June 1-3 -- 12th Annual Balloon Festival, including four launches of 10 hot air balloons on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday mornings. Mayfest Arts & Crafts Festival

Bennington. 802-442-5758.

May 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -- Downtown Bennington's 27th annual Mayfest Arts & Craft Festival; entertainment highlights include Ben Mackin, Christina & Anna on violin, Hill Hollow Band, Buzzsaw, Wild Country Cloggers, Schatzsi Performing Arts, Invisible Jams, Immune Friction, Mom's School of Baton, Eric K. Auld comedic accordionist, Wild Wood and Through Seasons. Free.

Sanctuary for Independent Media

Troy, N.Y. 518-272-2390.

June 16 from noon to 6 p.m. -- Juneteenth (the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.) with Shokazoba, an Afrobeat big band outdoors in Freedom Square (101st Street at the intersection of 5th and 6th avenues). Free.

Second Congregational Church

Bennington. 802-442-6442.

May 27 t 6 p.m. -- Family concert with Tim Janis, a composer, musician, conductor and arranger "with a deep belief in the power of creating music that can heal and bring peace on a global level." A special benefit concert for the Monument Elementary School community. This concert will feature special guest Amy Petty and NYC dance performers Elizabeth Demmer and Lars Haglund.

Vermont Open Studio Weekend

Regional. vermontcrafts.com.

May 26-27 -- As part of the 20th annual Vermont Crafts Council's Open Studio Tour artists in southern Vermont will welcome visitors to their studios. Free.

Walloomsac Farmers Market

Bennington. bccdvt.org.

May 26 (Saturdays through Oct. 27) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- at Riverwalk at Bennington Station (Depot Street). Free.

Opening June 5 (Tuesdays through October) from 3 to 6 p.m. -- At Greenberg's home center parking lot downtown. Free.

NIGHTLIFE

(Drive responsibly!)

Bennington Museum

Bennington. 802-447-1571.

June 9 from 7-9 p.m. -- Members Opening reception of "Rockwell Kent's ‘Egypt": Shadow and Light in Vermont" with music of the Roaring ‘20s and themed eats and drinks. (Egypt was Kent's property in Arlington.)

Carmody's

Bennington. 802-447-5748.

May 26 at 8:30 p.m. -- Live music with Dennis D'Asaro and his Old Time Rock and Roll.

The Clark Art Institute

Williamstown, Mass. 413-458-0524.

June 15 from 7-10 p.m. -- "Expedition Clark," opening party for exhibits "Unearthed: Recent Archaeological Discoveries from Northern China" and "Through Shén-kan: Sterling Clark in China."

Doug's On Main

Bennington. 802-447-0045.

May 24 -- Local band Through Seasons, 9-midnight.

May 25 -- DJ Brian, 9-close.

May 26 -- Boston's Stephie Coplan and the Pedestrians, 9-10 p.m.; DJ KIDO, 10 to close.

June 9 -- Paranoid Social Club; with Albany, N.Y.'s Playing with Sound (ticketed event).

June 234? -- New York City's Black Taxi; Saratoga, N.Y.'s Wild Adriatic; and Bring it to the Fire. (ticketed event).

Kevin's Pub and Resturant

North Bennington. 802-442-0122.

May 25 -- OCD John and Artie.

May 26 -- Double Dare.

The Publyk House

Bennington. 802-442-7500.

May 25 from 9-midnight -- Immune Friction hosts Open Mic.

LECTURES/READINGS

Northshire Bookstore

Manchester Center. 802-362-2200.

May 24 at 6 p.m. -- An interactive evening of discussion on the history and future of Vermont's own Sustainability Conference & Music Festival, SolarFest. Free.

May 25 at 7 p.m. -- Tim Weiner reading from and signing copies of his new book "Enemies." Free.

May 26 at 7 p.m. -- John Fox reading from and signing copies of his new book "The Ball." Free.

May 29 at 7 p.m. -- Geraldine Brooks reading from and signing copies of her new book "Caleb's Crossing." Free.

Palace Theatre

Albany, N.Y. 518-465-3335.

Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. -- Theresa Caputo, "Long Island Medium," from TLC's television show.

Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. -- Comedy show with Gabriel Iglesias, "Stand Up Revolution" Tour.

FILM

Cinema7

Bennington. 802-442-8179

Call for regular film schedule.

The Clark Art Institute

Williamstown, Mass. 413-458-0524.

Images Cinema

Williamstown, Mass. 413-458-5612.

Call for regular film schedule.

June 9 at 3:30 p.m. -- Special Williams College reunion weekend films: "Return," Indie twist on returning veteran films as vet is female.

June 9 at 6 p.m. -- Special Williams College reunion weekend films: "The Lorax," animation feature for kids and families.

June 9 at 7:30 p.m. -- Special Williams College reunion weekend films: "The Princess Bride," classic funny film with classic lines like "Have fun storming the castle!"

MASS MoCA

at Harriman-West Airport

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

July 3 at 7 p.m. -- "Red Tails," executive producer George Lucas's film featuring vivid World War II flying sequences; starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Terrence Howard; outside, under the stars, on the largest movie screen in New England; seating will be on the tarmac and patrons should bring their own chairs and blankets.

DANCE

Bennington Contra Dance

At the Masonic Lodge

Bennington. 802-447-2173.

June 1 at 7:30 p.m. -- Community dance and lessons with callers.

MUSIC

Aston Magna Music Festival

At Ozawa Hall, Tanglewood

Great Barrington, Mass. 800-875-7156.

June 9 at 6 p.m. -- Gala Concert for 40th Anniversary. Reception to follow at Cranwell in Lenox, Mass.

Bennington County Choral Society

Bennington. 802-442-6275.

June 16 at 8 p.m., and June 17, at 3 p.m. -- "The Brothers Gershwin," songs by composer George Gershwin and lyricist Ira Gershwin.

Berkshire Choral Festival

Sheffield, Mass. 413-229-8526.

July 14 -- Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis," in Latin.

July 17 -- Verdi's "Defiant Requiem," with chorus, actors, orchestra and video projections.

July 28 -- "A Night at the Opera," with scenes from works by Puccini, Bizet and Verdi.

Aug. 4 -- Schubert's "Mass in A-flat" and Hayden's "Lord Nelson Mass," both in Latin.

Carriage Barn Concerts

at Park-McCullough House

North Bennington. 802-442-5441.

Reception after each concert.

June 24 at 4 p.m. -- Manchester Music Festival program includes Mozart's "Piano Quartet in G Minor," Rebecca Clarke's "Piano Trio" (1921), and Schumann's "Piano Quartet in Eb Major."

July 8 at 4 p.m. -- Music From Salem program includes Schumann's "Fantasy Pieces for cello and piano," John Cage's Melody 4 from "6 Melodies for Violin and Piano," Amy Beach's "Piano Quintet," Mark O'Connor's "Brave Wolfe" for violin and viola, and JS Bach "Brandenburg Concerto No. 6."

July 15 at 4 p.m. -- Percussionist Jay Sager and Friends program includes works by Stephen Dankner, Scott Interrante, Casey Cangelosi, Philip Glass, George H. Green, and others.

Aug. 5 at 4 p.m. -- Bennington Cellos (Michael Finckel, Marc Humburg, Perry Morris, Maxine Neuman, Nat Parke, William Peck, Steven Reid, and Jared Shapiro) program includes works by Bach, Shawn, Calabro, Nowak, and Villa Lobos.

Aug. 19 at 4 p.n. -- Brahms with George Lopez, Andrea Schultz, and Michael Finckel, program includes Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes and "Piano Trio in B Major."

Center Street Alley

Rutland. 802-235-2766.

June 2 at 9:30 p.m. -- Jim Gilmore Band in concert.

Manchester Music Festival

At SVAC's Arkell Pavilion

Manchester. 802-362-1956.

July 5 at 7:30 p.m. -- Chamber music trio with pianist Joseph Kalichstein, violinist Jamie Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson with works by Mendelssohn, Haydn and Schumann.

July 12 at 7:30 p.m. -- Guest guitarist Oren Fader as part of quintet for guitar and strings, part of the "Hills Alive" regional arts event.

July 26 at 7:30 p.m. -- Orchestral concert featuring works by Beethoven with soloists Joana Genova on violin, cellist Benjamin Katz and pianist Julio Elizard.

Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. -- Trio of piano works by Dvorak.

Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. -- Russian chamber music with violinist Stefan Belinkovich and pianist Daniel Devoe.

MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

June 16 at 11:30 a.m. -- The Jimmies, "kindie" (kid-friendly Indie) concert.

May 26 at 9 p.m. -- Brendan Canning, of Toronto-based indie rock band Broken Social Scene, leads a DJ dance party in conjunction with opening of "Oh, Canada" exhibits.

Musicians of Ma'alwyck

Albany/Schenectady, N.Y. 518-377-3623.

May 30 at noon -- Preview of "Musical Travelogue," at Grace Lutheran Church, Schenectady. Free.

June 1 at 7 p.m. -- "Musical Travelogue," with works for mezzo-soprano and strings of Berwald, Handel, and Respighi, at First Reformed Church, Schenectady.

Old Songs Festival

At Altamont Fairgrounds

Altamont, N.Y. oldsongs.org.

June 22-24 -- Music with Roots: Festival of Folk, Celtic and World Music.

Palace Theatre

Albany, N.Y. 518-465-3335.

Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. -- Sandy Hackett's "Rat Pack Show," with music by impersonators of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop, with voice overs by the late comedian Buddy Hackett.

Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. -- "An Evening with Johnny Mathis."

Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. -- Straight No Chaser," male a cappella group that is neither straight laced or straight faced.

Sanctuary for Independent Media

Troy, N.Y. 518-272-2390.

June 1 at 7 p.m. -- Guitarist Tisziji Muñoz in concert; like a saxophonist, Muñoz plays only one note at a time, yet he can play with such velocity that the notes blur, akin to Coltrane's "sheets of sound." Donation asked.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. spac.org.

June 30 to July 1 -- Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival.

July 10-21 -- New York City Ballet.

July 29 to Aug. 14 -- Saratoga Chamber Music Festival.

Aug. 1-18 -- The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Aug. 19-28 -- Live from the Algonquin at SPAC, cabaret series.

Stratton

Stratton Mountain. stratton.com/events

May 27 from 4-7 p.m. -- A Concert for Vermont, an all-ages show on the golf course, featuring Trevor Hall, Cas Haley and Justin Young.

Times-Union Center

Abany, N.Y. Ticketmaster.com

June 29 -- Aerosmith on band's Global Warming tour.

Vermont Arts Exchange

North Bennington. 802-442-5594.

May 26 at 7 p.m. -- "7 Women, 4 Ukuleles and 1 Great Cause," a concert to benefit VAE friend Carol Adinolfi, in support of her journey to overcome non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, featuring singer/songwriter Bernice Lewis, at Sage Street Mill.

June 22 at 8 p.m. -- Basement Music Series: San Francisco's rockers Con Brio, funky, acoustic jazz-blues-soul-folk fusion, at Sage Street Mill.

July 7 -- Basement Music Series: Fishtank Ensemble return engagement, at Sage Street Mill.

THEATER

Dorset Players

At the Dorset Playhouse

Dorset. 802-867-5777.

May 25-27 -- Final production of 84th season with "Oliver!", the award-winning musical adapted from Charles Dickens's classic novel, "Oliver Twist."

Dorest Theater Festival

At the Dorset Playhouse

Dorset. 802-867-2223.

June 12 to July 28 -- Pulitzer and Tony award winner David Lindsay's "Good People," directed by Giovanni Sardelli.

June 26, July 17 and Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. -- New Play Reading Series featuring new works-in-progress by Sherry Kramer, Laura Easib abd Cusi Cram.

July 12 to July 28 -- Mark Camoletti's French farce "Boeing-Boeing," directed by Jenn Thompson.

Aug 2-11 -- World Premire of Pulitzer and Tony award winning actor/playwright Michael Cristofer's "The Whore and Mrs. Moore."

Aug. 16 to Sept. 1 -- Murder and Mayhem Series presents Ira Levin's "Deathtrap," directed by Givoanni Sardelli.

Hubbard Hall

Cambridge, N.Y. 518-677-2495.

May 25-27 -- Hubbard Hall Theater Company's Mainstage production of Peter Shaffer's Tony Award-winning "Amadeus," directed by Jeannine Haas and featuring Hubbard Hall artistic director John Hadden in the role of Antonio Salieri.

MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

June 21-24 -- In partnership with Williamstown Theatre Festival, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's "Here Lies Love," directed by Alex Timbers, the story of Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos set among the backdrop of disco dnce clubs; workshop performances after work-in-progress residency.

Proctors Theatre

Schenectady, N.Y. 518-346-6204.

Through May 27 -- Capital Repertory Theatre presents: "God of Carnage."

Shakespeare & Company

Lenox, Mass. 413-637-3353.

May 25 to September 2 -- Norman Plotkin's "Cassandra Speaks," directed by Nicole Ricciardi; in Bernstein Theatre.

June 12 to September 1 -- Charles Busch's "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife," directed by Johnathan Croy; in Bernstein Theatre.

June 16 to August 19 -- Shakespeare's "King Lear," directed by Rebecca Holderness, and staged in 1909 Imperial Russia; in Founder's Theatre.

June 20 to September 2 -- Mark Robert's "Parasite Drug," directed by Stephen Rothman; in Bernstein Theatre.

June 28 to July 15 -- Split Knuckle Theatre presents "Endurance," dedicated to Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackelton; in Founder's Theatre.

July 19 to August 19 -- Shakespeare's "The Tempest," directed by artistic director Tony Simotes, and starring Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis; in Founder's Theatre.

August 22 to September 16 -- New England premire of Terry Teachout's "Satchmo at the Waldorf," directed by Gordon Edelstein, and starring John Douglas Thompson; in Founder's Theatre.

Williamstown Theatre Festival

Williamstown, Mass. 413-597-3400.

July 25 to Aug. 5 -- The Elephant Man," directed by Scott Ellis, on Nikos Stage.

MUSEUMS/GALLERIES

Opening, closing, special events

North Main Street Gallery

Salem, N.Y. 518-854-3406.

May 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Art Party Open House featuring new work by David O'Keefe. Free.

MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

May 27 (members only opening May 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.) -- Public opening of "Oh Canada," billed as the first comprehensive survey of Canadian contemporary art in decades, features more than 100 works by 62 artists, including more than a dozen major new commissions.

The Dorset School

Dorset. 802-362-2606

Opening June 4 at 6 p.m. -- First Annual Art Show, in memory of art teacher Diane Levitz, by current and former students of The Dorset School. Benefit for the Levitz family.

Bennington College

At Usdan Gallery

Bennington. 802-379-5116.

Through June 2 -- Senior Art Show, with works of 32 graduating seniors.

Community College of Vermont

At the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bennington

Bennington. 802-447-2361.

Through June 30 -- "Artists of CCV" show featuring the works of Pat Hall, Ashley Bump, Zach Herring, Hollye Johnson, Jolene Dooley, Nathan Jeandell and Chris Dayton; as part of Portfolio Development class of Valerie Carrigan. Free.