KIDS & FAMILIES

Battenkill Books

Cambridge, N.Y. 518-677-2515

Tuesdays through Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. -- Summer Story Time, for ages 2-6 with caregiver. Free. MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

Aug. 11 at 2 and 7 p.m. -- Slapstick troupe "500 Clown," program to make kids and adults alike giggle uncontrollably by combining the elements of risk, action, and humor

Robert Frost Stone House Museum

Shaftsbury. 802-447-6200.

Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. -- Friends of Robert Frost’s "Sunday Afternoons with Robert Frost" series presents "Robert Frost Comes Alive for Young Readers," and interactive presentation by Pat Gibbons, school teacher at the North Bennington Graded School, in the Little Red Barn on the Museum’s grounds. Free.

Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow

At Wirtes Farm (base of Mt. Greylock)

Lanesboro, Mass. 413-443-2481.

Aug. 11-12 -- "America - Healing Her Spirit!" Annual Native American celebration with entertainment and culture includeing Grammy award winner flutist Joseph FireCrow and "Lord of the Strings" musician Arvel Bird.

Town Hall Concert Series

Bennington. 802-442-9169.

Aug. 3 from 6-8 p.m. -- Music Jam. Free.

Aug. 10 from 6-8 p.m. -- Sam Clement and his Band. Free.

Aug. 17 from 6-8 p.m. -- Greg Van Houten and Friends. Free.

Aug. 24 from 6-8 p.m. -- TBD. Free.

Aug. 31 from 6-8 p.m. -- Through Seasons. Free.

Sept. 8 -- Season finale "Music Festival" at parking lot of TJ’s Fish Fry. Free.

Village Chocolate Shop

Bennington. 802-447-3789.

Aug. 3, continuing through August -- Funtastic Friday.

Walloomsac Farmers Market

Bennington. bccdvt.org.

Aug. 4 (Saturdays through October) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- at Riverwalk at Bennington Station (Depot Street). Free.

Aug. 7 (Tuesdays through October) from 3 to 6 p.m. -- At Greenberg’s home center parking lot downtown. Free.

NIGHTLIFE

(Drive responsibly!)

The Publyk House

Bennington. 802-442-7500.

Each Thursday night -- Live music.

LECTURES/READINGS

Northshire Bookstore

Manchester. 802-362-2200.

Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. -- Jay E. Leutze reads from and signs copies of "Stand Up That Mountain." a story that demonstrates what is possible when local people set their minds to righting a wrong. Free.

Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. -- Bestselling novelist Chris Bohjalian reads from and signs copies of "The Sandcastle Girls." Free.

MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

Aug. 18 at 8 p.m. -- Canadian comedian and storyteller Ophira Eisenberg, a regular on The Moth, a New York City-based nonprofit organization that conducts live storytelling events, and can frequently be found performing stand-up at many of the city’s comedy clubs.

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.

Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. -- Bill Cosby Live! Comedic legend and television star.

Water Street Books

Williamstown, Mass. 413-458-8072.

Aug. 2 at 6:30 p.m. -- Hy Conrad and Jeff Johnson, Pownal residents, read from and sign copies of "Things You Dogs Don’t Want You to Know." Free.

FILM

Cinema7

Bennington. 802-442-8179

Call for regular film schedule.

Hathaway’s Drive-In

North Hoosick, N.Y. 518-659-6098.

Call for regular film schedule.

Images Cinema

Williamstown, Mass. 413-458-5612.

Call for regular film schedule.

VTica

Chester. 802-875-1018.

Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. -- The Vermont Institute of Contemporary Arts (VTica) presents the 30th Anniversary Short Film Concerts.

DANCE

Ballet Mancheter

At Southern Vermont Arts Center

Manchester 802-379-0759.

Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. -- A performance of international ballet stars including principal dancer Charles Askagard, formerly of the New York City Ballet.

Bennington Contra Dance

At the Masonic Lodge

Bennington. 802-447-2173.

Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m. -- Community dance and lessons with callers.

MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. -- Work-in-progress showing of renowned choreographer and dancer Nora Chipaumire’s "Miriam."

MUSIC

Bennington Center for the Arts

Bennington. 802-442-7158.

Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. -- Classical pianist Mackenzie Melemed, young pianist who has performed at the White House and on the PBS television show "From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall."

Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. -- An Evening with Tom Rush, a night of humor and musical entertainment.

Berkshire Choral Festival

Sheffield, Mass. 413-229-8526.

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.

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."

The Clark Art

Williamstown, Mass. 413-458-0524.

Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. -- Chamber Music Series features The Hermitage Piano Trio performing Haydn’s "Piano Trio in F Major," Arensky’s "Trio No. 1 in D Minor," and Tchaikovsky’s "Trio in A Minor."

Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. -- Legendary singer-songwriter Art Garfunkel in a rare concert appearance in support of "The Singer," a new 34-song collection that spans Garfunkel’s entire musical career.

Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. -- Chamber Music Series features The Carpe Diem String Quartet perform Mendelssohn’s "String Quartet," as well as their traditional work and selections associated with the Clark’s "Unearthed exhibition."

Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. -- The Shanghai String Quartet will perform Mozart’s "Hunt" Quartet in B-Flat Major and Smetana’s "From My Life" Quartet, and selections associated with the Clark’s "Unearthed exhibition."

The Colonial Theatre

Pittsfield, Mass. 413-997-4444.

Sept. 29 -- Woody’s Roadhouse Reunion, featuring four acts that performed at the legendary Berkshire nightclub: The Commander Cody Band, Fat, The Spampinato Brothers Band (featuring Joey and Johnny formerly of NRBQ) and Burnt Bacon and The Home Fries.

Jamaica Community Arts

At Jamaica Town Hall

Jamaica. 802-896-6810.

Aug. 2-3 -- Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival, featuring musicians including New York City Ballet concertmaster Kurt Nikkanen. Free. (pikesfallschambermusicfestival.com).

Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. -- John and daughter Ida Mae will provide some fabulous fiddling, as part of Summer Music Series.

Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. -- Blues guitarist and historian, Scott Ainslie , as part of Summer Music Series.

Manchester Music Festival

At SVAC’s Arkell Pavilion

Manchester. 802-362-1956.

Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. -- "Northern Skies and Velvet Tones" concert featuring classical saxophonist Michael Ibrahim playing the music of Antonin Dvorak and Johann Sebastian Bach.

Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. -- "Music Under the Stars" concert: Russian chamber music with violinist Stefan Belinkovich and pianist Daniel Devoe.

Marlboro Music

At Marlboro College

Marlboro. 802-254-2394.

Aug. 3 at 8:30 p.m. -- Annual ‘Thank You" to it’s Vermont community with all proceeds benefiting town organizations.

Aug. 4 at 8:30 p.m. -- Concert of seldom-heard works for mixed instrumentation by Faure, Hindemith and Ravel.

Aug. 5 at 2:30 p.m. -- Concert including Beethoven’s "String Quartet in B-flat Major," to be performed for the first time in Marlboro Music’s history.

MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. -- "Girl Walk//All Day" Dance Party, music from the dance film "All Day."

Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. -- Real Estate, band whose music is called "riffs that resemble R.E.M. (or Built to Spill or even Fleetwood Mac)".

Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. -- Roomful of Teeth performs "vocal experiments’ with innovative guest composer Missy Mazzoli.

Music From Salem

At Hubbard Hall

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

Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. -- "Northern Lights: Brahms/Chardon/Hovhaness/Onslow." The trumpet, rarely heard in mixed chamber music with strings,will be featured. Pay what you can.

Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. -- "Contours: Cage/Debussy/Mozart/Ravel"; program includes Ravel’s "Introduction and Allegro"; pay what you can.

Palace Theatre

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

Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. -- Legendary singer/songwriter John Prine, with very special guest Lucinda Williams.

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.

Changed from Oct. 11; April 4, 2013, at 8 p.m. -- "An Evening with Johnny Mathis."

Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. -- Return of "The Australian Pink Floyd Show" and its "Exposed to the Light" production.

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

Remember America Folk Concert

At Windsor Lake Pavilion

North Adams, Mass. 413-662-5280.

Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. -- The April 4th Coalition, U.S. union supporters, hosts "Remembering America Folk Concert," featuring the music of Wintergreen, a folk trio who performs a mixture of traditional and contemporary music from the British Isles and America, along with their own compositions. Free.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. spac.org.

Through Aug. 14 -- Saratoga Chamber Music Festival.

Aug. 1-18 -- The Philadelphia Orchestra.

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

South Mountain Concerts

At Mass. routes 7 and 20

Pittsfield. Mass. 413-442-2106.

Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. -- Kalichstein, Laredo, Robinson Trio; program includes Beethoven’s "Trio in G Major."

Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. -- American String Quartet; program includes Mozart’s "Trio in E Major Flat."

Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. -- Emerson String Quartet; program includes Dvorak’s "Quartet in F. Major."

Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. -- Brentano String Quartet; program includes world premiere of Eric Moe’s "Of Color Braded All Desire."

Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. -- Saint Lawrence String Quartet; program includes world premiere of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s "Voyage for String Quartet."

South Street Café

Bennington. 802-447-2433.

Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. -- Laura Joy. Free.

Aug. 5 at 5 p.m. -- Brian Dolzani. Free.

Twilight Music

Putney. 802-387-5772.

Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m. -- Twilight On The Tavern Lawn series presents southern Vermont based funk and world beat band Simba.

THEATER

Dorest Playhouse

Dorset. 802-867-2223.

Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m. -- Joint project of Dorset Theatre Festival and Hildene, reading of Norman Corwin’s play, "The Rivalry," a drama based on the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates, with readings by former Gov. Madeleine Kunin and other Vermont civic leaders. Free.

Dorset Theatre Festival

At the Dorset Playhouse

Dorset. 802-867-2223.

Opening Aug 2, through Aug. 11 -- World premire of Pulitzer and Tony award winning actor/playwright Michael Cristofer’s "The Whore and Mrs. Moore," starring Judd Hirsch.

Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. -- New Play Reading Series featuring new works-in-progress by Laura Easib abd Cusi Cram.

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

Fort Salem Cabaret

Salem, N.Y. 518-854-9200.

Opening Aug. 3, through Aug. 12 -- Tour de force one-woman show, "Adorable Me! The Totie Fields Story," starring Nancy Timpanaro-Hogan.

Hubbard Hall Opera Theater

Cambridge, N.Y. 518-488-7733.

Aug. 8-19 -- Mozart’s "The Magic Flute," directed by Paul Houghtaling with music conductor Kelly Crandell.

Aug. 17-18 -- Opera Select Conservatory presents "Cox and Box" and "Trouble in Tahiti," directed by Jason Dolmetsch and musical direction and piano by Elizabeth Bonomo. (Pay what you will.)

Sept. 28-30 -- Guerilla Opera presents "Rojahn, Heart of a Dog," with chamber orchestra. (Pay what you will.)

Oct. 27 (at Dorset Playhouse) and Oct 28 (at University of Albany) -- Puccini’s "La Boheme," piano, reduced version, semi costumed and staged.

Feb. 7-15 -- Verdi’s "La Traviata," fully costumed and staged and sung in Italian, at Proctors Theater in Albany, N.Y.

Oldcastle Theatre Company

At the Vermont Arts Exchange

Bennington. 802-447-0564.

Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. -- A play reading of a new play by Philip Lance which concerns three couples and a tri-city law firm deeply entrenched in Albany politics.

Shakespeare & Company

Lenox, Mass. 413-637-3353.

Through Aug. 19 -- Shakespeare’s "The Tempest," directed by artistic director Tony Simotes, and starring Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis; in Founder’s Theatre; Shakespeare’s "King Lear," directed by Rebecca Holderness, and staged in 1909 Imperial Russia; in Founder’s Theatre.

Through Sept. 1 -- Charles Busch’s "The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife," directed by Johnathan Croy; in Bernstein Theatre.

Through Sept. 2 -- Norman Plotkin’s "Cassandra Speaks," directed by Nicole Ricciardi; in Bernstein Theatre; Mark Robert’s "Parasite Drug," directed by Stephen Rothman; in Bernstein Theatre.

Aug. 22 to Sept.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.

Weston Playhouse

Weston. 802-824-5288.

Opening Aug. 2, through Aug. 25 -- Tony Award winning favorite "Fiddler on the Roof," the unforgetable tale of family and love narrated by the inimitable Tevye.

Williamstown Theatre Festival

Williamstown, Mass. 413-597-3400..

Through Aug. 5 -- "The Elephant Man," by Bernard Pomerance, directed by Scott Ellis, on Nikos Stage.

Opening preview Aug. 2, through Aug. 19 -- "A Month in the Country," by Ivan Turgenev, translated by Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, directed by Richard Nelson, on Main Stage.

Opening Aug. 8, through Aug. 19 -- "WHADDABLOODCLOT!!!" by Katori Hall, directed by May Adrales, on Nikos Stage.

MUSEUMS/GALLERIES

Opening, Closing, Special Events

Canfield Gallery

At the Martha Canfield Library

Arlington. 802-375-6153.

Opening reception Saturday, Aug. 4 from 3-5 p.m., through Aug. 30 -- "Seduced By Color," oil paintints by local artist Lydia Johnston. Free.

Bennington Center for the Arts

Bennington. 802-442-7158.

Closing Aug. 5 -- "Art of the Animal Kingdom XVII," with special guest Artist Greg Beecham and Kim Diment, and more than 65 pieces will be included.

Williams College Museum of Art

Williamstown, Mass. 413-597-3178.

Just opened, through Oct. 21 -- "Power Runs in Many Channels: Diversity in Nigerian Art," an exhibition that explores the rich diversity of cultural and artistic production in traditional African art from Nigeria. Free

Continuing

Bennington Arts Guild

Bennington. benningtonartsguild.com.

Through Aug. 20 -- Joint exhibit of photography by Samantha Ambrose and sculpture by Jami Gras. Free.

Bennington Center for the Arts

Bennington. 802-442-7158.

Opening Aug. 11, through Sept. 23) -- "The Laumeister Fine Art Competition," artists from around the country and the world are invited to submit work to be included in our fourth annual fine art competition, this year juried by Scott Christensen.

Through Sept. 9 -- "Impressions of New England," more than 60 scenes captured in paint and bronze.

Through Sept. 23 -- "California Art Club" presents "Saving Paradise: The Symbiosis of Landscape Painting and Environmental Awareness."

Opening Sept. 29 (through Oct. 27) -- "Oil Painter of American Eastern Regional Exhibition," about 120 pieces will be on view and for sale this fall.

Bennington Museum

Bennington. 802-447-1571.

Through Aug. 11 -- "Decaying Landscapes," photographs by Ian Creitz, in the Regional Artists Gallery. Free.

Through Oct. 30 -- "Rockwell Kent’s Egypt: Shadow and Light in Vermont," the first comprehensive documentation of Kent’s life and work in Vermont.

Berkshire Museum

Pittsfield, Mass. 413-443-7171.

Through Jan. 6, 2012 -- "Rethink! American Indian Art," contemporary and historic art objects.

Chaffee Art Center

Rutland. 802-775-0356.

Through Aug. 18 -- Annual Juried Award Exhibit.

Doll and Toy Museum of Vt.

Bennington. dollhouseandtoymuseumofvermont.com.

Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. -- New exhibit is an assortment of historical puppets and marionettes, with several puppet theaters, on exhibit throught the fall; continuing, "Dolls of the World" collection, featuring baby dolls and baby bottles.

Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Special exhibit of the Bennington Garden Club’s flower show featuring miniature floral arrangements. Admission is free for this exhibit

MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass. 413-663-8548.

Through summer 2012 -- "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.

Through 2012 -- "Sanford Biggers: The Cartographer’s Conundrum," in Building 5; "New Work" by Anna Betbeze.

Permanent -- Sol LeWitt: "A Wall Drawing Retrospective."

Thorugh January 2, 2013 -- With Williams College/Clark Art, "Making Room: The Space Between Two and Three Demensions."

Through Feb. 4, 2013 -- Group show: "Invisible Cities," titled after Italo Calvino’s book which re-imagines Marco Polo’s poetic descriptions of China’s cities.

Through Feb. 4, 2013 -- Anna Betbeze: New Work.

North Adams Artists’ Co-Op Gallery

North Adams, Mass. 413-664-4003.

Through Aug. 27 -- "Out of the Dust ... Back to the Earth," a dialogue in ceramics and oils by Lori St. Pierre and Judith Kniffin. Free.

North Bennington Art Park

And Train Station Gallery

North Bennington. northbennington.org.

Through summer -- 15th Annual North Bennington Art Park, located on the grounds around the North Bennington Post Office and train station including Welling Town House and the Aldrich property next door. With artists including Fred Brownstein, Willard Boepple, Joe Chichirillo, Matthew Perry, sculptors from Salem Art Works; gallery show with the works of Pat Adams, Kevin Bubriski, Susie Cronin, Ann Pibal, Leslie Parke, John Recco, Barbara Sussman and Elaine Witten. Free.

studio21south

North Adams, Mass. 413-652-2141.

Through Aug. 31 -- "Black and White (more or less)," paintings, engravings and drawings by Frank Curran, Bob Lanfond and Karen Walter. Free.

Valley Artisans Market

Cambridge, N.Y. 518-672765.

Through Aug. 14 -- "Beauty’s Where You Find It" photographs by Diana Spencer.

Vermont Arts Exchange

North Bennington. 802-442-5594.

Through Aug. 13 -- "Mark Barry: The Return of the Prodigal Son and Other Tales," colorful paintings of life. Free.

To have items included in Arts Glance send them to knorris@benningtonbanner.com. No attachments please. Check benningtonbanner.com for Arts Glance updates.