WE ARE WOMEN Comes to the Colonial Theatre, 8/9-12

Jamie Bernstein, daughter of Leonard Bernstein, brings We are Women: A Bernstein Cabaret to The Colonial Theatre August 9-12. Sponsored by Stuart M. Fischman Esq. and Lee Bank.

Tickets to We are Women: A Bernstein Cabaret are $20-$40. Contact the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield by calling 413-997-4444 or the Stockbridge Campus Ticket Office at 83 East Main Street, by calling 413-298-5576. Tickets can also be bought online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org. Ticket Offices are open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm or on any performance day from 10am until curtain. All plays, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change.

From Jamie Bernstein and Michael Barrett comes We are Women: A Bernstein Cabaret. Devised from many of Bernstein's songs for or about women, evolves the story of a mother and daughter who navigate the tricky terrain of their love lives, and, along the way, learn to accept themselves and delight in the love of others.

Rather than telling the story in a fully fleshed-out manner, the narrative unfolds in a more abstract, universal way through a narration, while letting Bernstein's music fill the space between the lines. Because Bernstein's music has such emotional depth and color, this material readily lends itself to this structure.

Leonard Bernstein's choice of lyricists over the years also gave the creators a rich trove to choose from. Comden and Green's lyrics for Wonderful Town and On the Town are witty and acerbic, yet always leave room for subtext. Stephen Sondheim's lyrics for the love songs in West Side Story are among the most ardent in the genre, and therefore were ideal for conveying those emotions in the women of this story. And Leonard Bernstein himself was a superb lyricist in his own right. In the latter work, Bernstein created some of the most heartbreakingly articulate words and music to be found anywhere, describing the anguish of an intimate relationship in decline, while creating the perfect palate with which to paint a beautiful musical.

An impressive cast of Broadway veterans performs this array of Bernstein songs, including tunes from his hits On the Town, Candide and West Side Story, with music direction by Michael Barrett of Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. This evening of humor, heart and memorable melody brings the glorious sounds of Leonard Bernstein back to his beloved Berkshires.

Featured songs include "We Are Women” from Candide, "Tonight” from West Side Story, "Who Am I” from Peter Pan, "Conversation Piece” from Wonderful Town, "The Winner” from Trouble in Tahiti and "I Can Cook Too” from On the Town.

The cast includes Jamie Bernstein, narrator, Michael Barrett, music director & pianist, Philip Cutlip, baritone, John Feeney, contrabass, Alan R. Kay, clarinet, Jeffrey Picon, tenor, Elizabeth Shammash, soprano and Lauren Worsham, soprano.