04 Apr Everyday People, CATA’s Annual Performance Weekend & Gala to take place May 13 & 14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 4, 2017
Contact: Sarah Carpenter
(413) 528-5485
Images available on request
GREAT BARRINGTON — Community Access to the Arts (CATA) presents “Everyday People,” CATA’s Annual Performance & Gala on Saturday, May 13 & Sunday, May 14, 2017 at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse in Lenox.
The Annual Performance is the culmination of hundreds of performing arts workshops which CATA provides to 600 people with disabilities across Berkshire & Columbia County. CATA artists hone their talents throughout the year, then share them with the community through this joyful performance weekend that includes a Gala evening, CATA’s largest fundraising event.
“Everyday People” features CATA’s performing artists with disabilities in a powerful showcase of talent in theatre, dance, music and more. Saturday’s Gala festivities begin at 5 p.m., with a performance at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing. The Sunday matinee begins at 1 p.m. Tickets for both performances are available online at CATAarts.org or by calling CATA at (413) 528-5485.
Each September, a new program year begins at CATA–and with it, a new theme to inspire CATA’s faculty and artists with disabilities. This year, we explore the theme “Everyday People,”asking:
- Who are you every day?
- What is your everyday?
- How is your everyday different from any other human being’s?
No matter who we are, where we live, or what we look like, our everyday includes many of the same routines. In between all our similarities lie morsels of difference; these differences define us as unique beings. CATA artistry is the perfect vehicle to create together amidst our differences and to consider ourselves part of one whole.
The annual performance is attended by nearly 800 people from the Berkshire community and beyond. CATA’s performing arts workshops for people with disabilities and the culminating performance are made possible by many generous individuals, businesses, and foundations, including:
LEAD UNDERWRITERS: The Feigenbaum Foundation, UNDERWRITERS: Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation, Blue Q, Coolidge Hill Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Ann & Weston Hicks, Joan & Jim Hunter, MountainOne, Mary Pope Osborne & Will Osborne, Claudia Perles, Emily Rechnitz & John Paladino, Leslie & Stephen Shatz, Dr. Robert C. & Tina Sohn Foundation, PRODUCERS: Sandra Baron & Gregory Diskant, Merit, Kate & Joel Millonzi, Liz & Mark Williams, SPONSORS: Annie Selke Companies, Lisa Atkin & Tony Kiser, Berkshire Co-op Market, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Canyon Ranch, Kathleen & Neil Chrisman, Domaney’s Liquors and Fine Wines, Dr. & Mrs. John George, Eve & Brett Goldberg, Ira & Jami Grossman, Heather Wells Heim & Matthew Heim, Hillcrest Educational Foundation, Beverly & David Hosokawa, Marisa Labozzetta & Marty Wohl, Lee Bank, Joyce Linde, Eleanor Lord & Margaret Wheeler, Mahaiwe Tent Company, Elizabeth A. Maher, Hillery & Neal Maxymillian, David & Julie McCarthy, Sharon & Matthew Mozian, Dr. William O’Donnell, Park Square Financial Advisors of Raymond James, Elaine Radiss & Rich Petrino, Linda & Frank Russell, Deborah & Bill Ryan, Martha Sauer & David Rosenthal, Anne Schnesel, Ben & Elaine Silberstein, Maria Sirois, Ana & Tim Suffish
About Community Access to the Arts:
Community Access to the Arts nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities through shared experiences in the visual and performing arts.
CATA provides innovative arts workshops to people with disabilities in a wide range of genres—painting, drawing, dance, theater, singing, drumming, juggling, yoga, and creative writing—and then shares their artistic creations with the community through our annual performance and year-round art shows. These public events shine a light on the talents of our CATA artists, drawing attention to the ability within disability.
CATA is based on a few groundbreaking ideas: that the arts can transcend difference, that creativity can be embraced by all of us, that tiny moments of connection can lead to tidal transformations.