Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced its 2024 season, the final season with Jenny Gerstein at the helm. The theater is returning to fully staged productions, which include Sara Porkalob’s “Dragon Mama — Part II” and the world premiere of David Ives’ “Pamela Palmer,” staged by Walter Bobbie (“Chicago”). “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” creator and star Rachel Bloom will come to the MainStage Theater with her self-penned musical comedy “Death, Let Me Do My Show” from July 5 through 14. Bloom performed the show off-Broadway earlier this season, first at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, followed by an encore run at the Orpheum Theatre. Seth Barrish directs. There will be a cabaret series. For details: wtfestival.org.
Tanglewood’s popular artist series brings luminaries to the Berkshires this summer, including Brandi Carlisle, Jon Batiste, Roger Daltry, John Fogerty and George Thorogood, Kool and the Gang and Jason Mraz with the Boston Pops. For details: www.tanglewood.org.
Patti LuPone, Broadway legend and three-time Tony Award winner, brings her new show, “A Life in Notes,” to The Bushnell on May 19. A cavalcade of songs from her illustrious Broadway career have been shaped into a concert by Scott Wittman from Broadway’s “Hairspray” and “Some Like It Hot.” Music direction and arrangements are by Joseph Thalken, and the concert is written by Jeffrey Richman with Brad Phillips as string instrumentalist. LuPone, who most recently starred in the Broadway revival of Sondheim’s “Company,” has won accolades for her performances in “Evita,” “Anything Goes” and “Gypsy.” For details: www.bushnell.org.
“Sanctuary City,” a new play from Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok, comes to TheaterWorks Hartford, March 28 to April 25. It’s the theater’s first co-production with New Haven’s esteemed Long Wharf Theatre, and Long Wharf’s Artistic Director Jacob Padrón co-directs with filmmaker Pedro Bermúdez. The Obie Award-winner tells the story of two teens, young “Dreamers,” who are trying to establish themselves in America, the only place they know. This production marks the first time that Padrón and Bermúdez have partnered on a production. The cast for “Sanctuary City” features Sara Gutierrez as G, Edward Montoya as B, and Mishka Yarovoy as Henry. For details: www.twhartford.org.
Samara Joy, the three-time Grammy Award-winning jazz singer, will headline a gala performance for Great Barrington’s Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Aug. 1. The 24-year-old vocalist makes her case to join the likes of Sarah, Ella and Billie as the next mononymous jazz-singing sensation recorded by the venerable Verve Records. The Mahaiwe will bring Lyle Lovett and Lisa Loeb to Great Barrington on May 10, roots rock band BoDeans on May 25, blues guitarist and vocalist Keb’ Mo on June 15, power pop singer and pianist Ben Folds on June 22, and Suzanne Vega on Oct. 5. For details on their late spring and early summer programming: www.mahaiwe.org.
The Adams Theater has announced an expanded 2024 season in the Berkshires merging music, comedy, poetry and drag. Poet-folksinger Will Carlisle brings his “Critterland” show to Adams to open the season May 24, followed by comic Liz Glazer on May 26. The Majesty of the Berkshires Drag Pageant celebrates Pride on May 31, followed by Gordon Clapp’s portrayal of Robert Frost in “This Verse Business” June 1-2. Tiny Glass Tavern performs on June 7, and Harvest & Rush: The Neil Young Experience performs June 8. The Misty Blues Roadhouse Revival Gospel Blues performs June 15, and father-son duo Marty and Charlie Nadler bring their comedy act on June 16. For details: www.adamstheater.org.
“Unpacking,” stop.time dance theater’s annual showcase, performs at Playhouse on Park, where it is the resident dance company, March 13-24. Darle Zoller directs and choreographs For details: www.playhouseonpark.org.
“Dirty Laundry,” a staged reading of a play written by Mathilde Dratwa, and directed by Hal Brooks, will launch a new works series partnered by Berkshire Theatre Group and Roundabout Theatre Company at the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge on March 24. For details: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theater at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He has worked for arts organizations nationwide and reported on the arts for print and broadcast. Mark produces and hosts “ArtsBeat,” “Athenaeum Spotlight” and “On the Mark” for WCPC, Channel 15 in Westfield, and WSKB 89.5 FM. His “Arts Beat” column appears Mondays in The Westfield News. He’s a regular contributor to Pioneer Valley Radio and a member of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association.