HILARY SCOTT
Judy Collins at Tanglewood last year.
JUDY COLLINS RETURNS FOR
A TALK
This spring, Judy Collins released her book of poetry, Sometimes It’ s Heaven, that features 107 of 350 poems that she penned several years ago at the urging of her husband, industrial designer Louis Nelson, who passed away in December. The Grammy ® Award-winning singer, songwriter, writer, and poet is returning to the Berkshires nearly a year after she last took the Tanglewood stage. This time, Collins, who turns 86 on May 1, will be at The Mount on August 21, in conversation with André Bernard.“ I’ m not sure what directions our talk will take,” says Bernard,“ but I do want to ask her about her early years in the New York folk scene, sparked by the recent Dylan movie, and also about her ongoing songwriting and touring, which involves some 150 shows a year!”( Read“ Look Forward,” an interview with Judy Collins from the August 2024 issue of Berkshire Magazine, online at berkshiremag. com. And go to page 73 for a full list of The Mount’ s three authors series this summer.)
MICHAEL J. LUTCH
A MUSICAL IN THE MAKING
James Taylor is working hard with a team to create a musical— and he’ s real excited about it. The working title is“ Fire and Rain,” although that could change. Taylor has plenty of other titles to choose from, like " Sweet Baby James," and " Carolina in My Mind." The choices are endless. Needless to say, the musical is inspired by the six-time Grammy ® winner’ s songs. Although there are some parallels to his life,“ it’ s not the James Taylor story,” the man himself says. The main characters are in a band, and the project will feature an original story and book by Tony ®- and Pulitzer-winning playwright Tracy Letts. Tony ® winner David Cromer is directing.“ The musical project is definitely front and center for me,” says Taylor.“ We’ re trying to bring the songs more accessible to anyone who might perform them. That’ s a very interesting process, and I’ m loving it.” Cromer told Taylor that on average, it takes seven years from start to opening night. James is confident it will be sooner— he’ s hoping in three years. How about workshopping it here in the Berkshires, James?“ That would be a wonderful idea,” he says.
1,500
FILMS & COUNTING!
Many consider the Berkshire International Film Festival( BIFF) as the start of the summer cultural season— and we can’ t think of a better way to begin than a four-day festival featuring independent films, panel discussions, and special events! We caught up with Kelley Vickery, BIFF’ s founder and artistic director, to ask her some fun questions. Here they are, in short form.
First film that opened the first BIFF? Robert Altman’ s A Prairie Home Companion to a packed house at The Triplex, and we had the opening night party at Pearl’ s!
Most memorable talkback you’ ve presented at BIFF? That has to be the evening honoring Martin Scorsese. He was so open and generous about his career and shared so many stories. It truly was like a master class in filmmaking.
Biggest surprise? When Mike Nichols came to the very first BIFF to celebrate our honoree Mike Haley! What a thrill!
Biggest challenge every year? Ha! Everything!
Number of movies BIFF has screened, to date? Over 1,500 independent films!
Let’ s say somebody hasn’ t been to a BIFF screening( hard to imagine, but I’ m sure there are people out there). Which movies that you’ ve shown would you recommend they see? There are honestly too many to name, but I suppose any of our opening or closing films like Man on Wire and Twenty Feet from Stardom that won Oscars for Best Documentary, but also Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, Ethel, Meru, Lucky, etc., are all wonderful films.
What’ s new this year? We are excited to use the new Indigo Room in the Firehouse next to the Mahaiwe this year. We will be presenting talks, films, and events in that new space.
BIFF celebrates its 19th anniversary this year, May 29 – June 1. Buy passes at biffma. org.
May / June 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 7