For Immediate Release
November 10, 2022
CLARK ART INSTITUTE HOSTS WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE AS SPECIAL ADDITION TO DECEMBER 4 FIRST SUNDAYS FREE PROGRAMMING
Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute’s December First Sundays Free programming just got even better with the addition of a special one-time-only production by Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF). On Sunday, December 4, at 2 pm, WTF presents a special performance of Ed Napier’s Music Lessons in the auditorium at the Clark Art Institute as part of the Williamstown Holiday Walk festivities. Admission to Music Lessons is free with general admission seating. Reservations are recommended and can be made directly on Williamstown Theatre Festival’s website at wtfestival.org.
Tracing his years of voice and theater training with two larger-than-life mentors, Ed Napier shares his funny, moving, and revelatory adventures from southern West Virginia to New York institutions like Columbia University, HB Studio, and the Juilliard School. With scenes, stories, and songs in a range of genres, he recounts the process of growing up, becoming an artist, and learning to relish the glory of just being alive. Directed by the late Robert LuPone, Music Lessons also features Lynn Kao on piano and soprano Deborah Lifton.
“We are delighted to welcome our partners from the Williamstown Theatre Festival back to the Clark,” said Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark. “It’s a real treat for both organizations to join together to be a part of our community’s seasonal celebrations. We are very proud that the Holiday Walk weekend will begin with music at the Clark on Friday, December 2 and conclude with live theater on Sunday. What a weekend!”
As part of the Clark’s First Sundays Free program, admission to the galleries and special exhibitions is free on December 4 from 10 am–5 pm, along with a series of special activities offered from 1–4 pm. December’s theme is “Celebration.” The celebration-themed special programs include art-making and other surprises in the Clark Center’s lower level and galleries.
Visitors can take part in making a mirror celebrating whoever is reflected and making a card to share with a friend. Enjoy the Clark’s permanent collection following the In for the Winter self-guide and see the Clark’s newest exhibition, On the Horizon: Art and Atmosphere in the Nineteenth Century. On view in the Eugene V. Thaw Gallery of the Clark’s Manton Research Center, the exhibition chronologically charts the visual response to the ideation, use, and eventual misuse of air in the nineteenth century.
Family programs at the Clark are generously supported by Allen & Company.
On Friday, December 2 at 6 pm, the Holiday Walk weekend kicks off as the Clark hosts a jazz concert featuring the Lao Tizer Quartet featuring Eric Marienthal. Tickets are $28 ($25 members, $20 students with valid ID, and $10 children 10 and under). Reservations required at clarkart.edu/events.
For more information on First Sunday Free, visit clarkart.edu/events. No advance registration required. For more information on Williamstown’s Holiday Walk weekend, visit DestinationWilliamstown.org.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
Use of facemasks is optional for all visitors. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.
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