OLLI at Berkshire Community College

So many fall lectures coming up - berkshirecc.edu/events - but two free talks on the courts and democracy may be of particular interest here on bsky - Steve Vladeck and Tom Gerety on 10/20 (berkshireolli.org/event-6378076) and Tom again with Aziz Huq on 10/28 (berkshireolli.org/event-6378108)!

Come to the Annual Nancy Vale Memorial Lecture with the Amazing Kate Maguire - The Vision and Reality of Making Theater in the Berkshires! This Thursday, Sept 11 at 4 p.m. berkshireolli.org/event-6279330

Our Fall classes start next week and there is still time to sign up! berkshirecc.edu/Fall2025!

Lots of great lectures coming up this summer! this week - Friday - Dr. Maud Montgomery and Dr. Tom Gerety on higher education and Saturday - Jeremy Yudkin on the upcoming Tanglewood season! berkshireolli.org/events

SUMMER 2025 Movement Classes Musical Theatre Dance: A Participatory Dance Workshop with George Pinney (In-person in Lee) Wednesdays - Five sessions beginning June 4 -10:30 a.m. - Noon Fitness and Better Health Through Basic Self-Defense Training for Everyone with Andrew Weiss (In-person at BCC) Mondays - Five sessions beginning June 2 - 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Imagination Is Ageless with Sally Filkins (In-person at BCC) Tuesdays - Eight sessions beginning July 8 - 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. International Folk Dancing with Elaine Sohn (In-person in Lee) Wednesdays - Six sessions beginning July 9 - 9:30 - 11:15 a.m. Practical Self Defense with Laycolaion Freeman (In-person in Pittsfield, MA) Thursdays - Four sessions beginning July 10 - 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. African Rooted Dance with Noel Staples Freeman (In-person in Pittsfield, MA) Thursdays - Four sessions beginning July 10 - 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Come join in some great movement classes this summer at OLLI at BCC! berkshireolli.org/summer2025

OLLI at Berkshire Community College Historical Celebration: 250 Years Since the American Revolution Summer Courses American Painting in the Revolutionary War Period with Ralph Pearson (Online) Mondays - Four sessions beginning June 2 - 3:30 - 5 p.m. Thomas Paine's Unique Life, Times, and Writing with Douglas Cooper (In-person in Great Barrington) Tuesdays - Six sessions beginning June 3 -1:30 - 3 p.m. The Legacy of Lafayette with Genet Jeanjean, Aliki Braine, Polly Lyman, Alan Hoffman, Trudy Hammer, and Phil Deely (Online) Wednesdays - Four sessions beginning June 4 - 9:30 - 11 a.m. The American Revolution in the South: Where the War Was Won with Richard Eason (Online) Mondays - Six sessions beginning July 7 - 3:30 - 5 p.m. The Pursuit of Happiness: Where Are We Now? with Michael Forbes Wilcox (Online) Tuesdays - Six sessions beginning July 8 - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. OLLI at Berkshire Community College offers non-credit programs including courses, lectures, special events and trips, shared interest groups, and more -- online and in-person! For the joy of learning! OLLI Berkshires250 programming info at berkshireolli.org/Rev250

OLLI at Berkshire Community College Historical Celebration: 250 Years Since the American Revolution - Summer Courses - Online and in-person! (berkshireolli.org/summer2025)
For the joy of learning!
OLLI Berkshires250 programming info at berkshireolli.org/Rev250

OLLI’s Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture presents: Chris Whipple RESERVE FREE, General Admission  Reservations Required  Mahaiwe Member Resgistration: Wednesday, April 23 at noon Public Registration (if tickets remain): Wednesday, April 30 at noon OLLI, the O...

This Saturday at the Mahaiwe Theater!

Tickets: mahaiwe.org/event/ollis-...

Watch or read the interview with Chris Whipple:
www.berkshireeagle.com/uncharted-ch...

Come for the wild story, stay for the history!
Tickets: berkshireolli.org/event-6162274
Prof. Stephen R. Platt on his book:
The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II
Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom

book cover with biden, harris, and trump

2025 Mona Sherman Mem. Lecture with Chris Whipple - May 24, 5:00 p.m.
At the Mahaiwe in Gt. Barrington, MA
Free, but tickets required
Tickets for OLLI members: berkshireolli.org/event-6093100
Registration opens to the public on Wednesday, April 30 at noon. mahaiwe.org/.../ollis-mo...

Arts Beat: two major Hartford theatres to come together Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Stephen Sondheim’s landmark musical, will bring two major Hartford theatres together in their first partnership.

Great shout out for our upcoming Berkshire Previews class, and a wonderful story about some upcoming shows in the area: www.masslive.com/westfieldnew...

YouTube video by OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College An Unchecked Presidency? A Dialogue Between Constitutional Lawyers Tom Gerety and Peter Shane

If you missed the talk last night with Tom Gerety and Peter Shane on the presidency and separation of powers, it is up on the OLLI at BCC YouTube page: youtu.be/ynEclhsYXbs

Coming next week!

I am bringing my jazz diplomacy talk to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, Tuesday, March 11, 1 PM. See link for registration details.

berkshireolli.org/event-6013547

YouTube video by OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College Karen Curlee

Spring Course Spotlight:
youtu.be/Gx7Mp3RUhJU

Movie Musicals - 1930s to Now with Broadway Stars Karen Curlee and Wayne Bryan!
Mondays - 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Six Sessions - 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12
on Zoom
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/M105MovieMus...

courtroom image from scopes trial. men in suits standing and talking

Spring Course Spotlight!
The Scopes Monkey Trial 100 Years Later: What Happened Then and Why Should We Care Now? with Doug Mishkin
Six Sessions - 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Hybrid - Zoom and in-person in Great Barrington
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/T101ScopesMo...

Peter shane in blue suit and glasses

An Unchecked Presidency? Trump’s Attack on the Laws and the Constitution: A Dialogue Between Constitutional Lawyers Tom Gerety and Peter Shane
Monday, Mar 10 at 7 p.m. ET, via Zoom
Free & open to all - www.berkshireolli.org/event-6090045

Prof. Joel Wolfe in a brown sweater, wearing glasses

Need a break from the news? Join us for:
The OLLI Distinguished Speakers Series presents:
Football: The Real American Pastime
with Professor Joel Wolfe, UMass Amherst
Monday, March 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET Online via Zoom
Learn more and register: berkshireolli.org/event-6043447

open house spring 2025

Meet our spring instructors and join us for a Spring Open House on March 4 at 10:30 a.m. at BCC!
Register here: berkshireolli.org/event-6029820

YouTube video by OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College Ukraine-Russia War in the Era of Trump 2.0 with James Brooke

If you missed Jim Brooke's update on Ukraine - it is up on our YouTube - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVn2...

YouTube video by OLLI: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College The Trump Executive Orders and the Constitution with Dr. Tom Gerety

If you missed the lecture with Dr. Tom Gerety last night on the Trump admin executive orders, it is now up on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Ox...

James Brooke headshot, black jacket, white shirt

Free and Open to the Public on Zoom - Ukraine-Russia War in the Era of Trump 2.0 with James Brooke, former New York Times foreign correspondent and former Ukraine reporter.

Tuesday, February 4 at 7 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom - Free & open to all
Register here! berkshireolli.org/event-6007382

Dr. Tom Gerety headshot

OLLI at Berkshire Community College has a new free and open to the public lecture on the newly signed Executive Orders - with Dr. Tom Gerety, Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. ET. Register today! berkshireolli.org/event-6041858