At Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast in Lenox, MA,  we attempt to make every guest happy for every night they stay with us.   Since 1999, when we bought the inn, that represents 26,300 opportunities to meet or fall short of expectations.

Let us start by saying that we KNOW we cannot please all of the people all of the time….although we try very hard.   It is especially difficult to do that in a 110-year-old historic home, where every room is different and expectations are hard to manage.   For those who are looking for the uniformity and guarantees of a cookie-cutter hotel chain, they may not be prepared for what they find in an inn….a place where such guarantees are replaced by distinct experiences, authenticity and the warm embrace of an innkeeper hoping to earn a repeat guest. More on Hampton Terrace #1 in Lenox, TripAdvisor.com

Is this theater?   You betcha.   One thing you have to understand about the Berkshires:   museums present theater, restaurants present theater, historic house museums present theater (tomorrow's blog) and Tanglewood presents theater. 

Nine years ago, Garrison Keillor hosted his first "Prairie Home Companion" at Tanglewood  - a show stuffed with local references and talent.   I guess it went over well because Keillor has now made Tanglewood the traditional closing show of each radio season.   No lack of local color to fill the annual bill.   Last year featured Lenoxite (or is it Lenoxonian) James Taylor.   This is a great opportunity to load up the picnic basket, pick out your favorite wine, and relax in a lawn chair with your eyes closed.   Of course, you could do that in your living room with the radio on…but there is something special about participating in a group "listen."   And though there will be 10,000 people at the show, you will be able to hear a pin drop as Keillor unwinds his tales.

Tanglewood is less than a one minute drive from Hampton Terrace, a top rated bed and breakfast in Lenox.   We happen to have a couple rooms still left for the June 28th weekend:  one for just Saturday night the 28th and another for two nights.   Unlike most Berkshire lodging, we feature an outdoor heated pool and a full breakfast buffet.   So if you plan to attend "A Prairie Home Companion" at Tanglewood, and need a Berkshire bed and breakfast, call 800-203-0656.

 For purposes of this column, I am lumping Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the "theatre" category, although it differs greatly from Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Shakespeare & Company and Williamstown Theatre Festival.   The latter groups all stage their own productions wheras Jacob's Pillow serves as a "host" to dozens of the most influential dance companies in the world.   On any given week between June 14th and August 24th, at least two companies will perform daily on several stages, sprinkling in lectures, demonstrations, master classes and community interaction.   For Jacob's Pillow is as concerned with dance education as it is with performance, and it stands alone as the oldest and most prestigious dance festival in the world.

Daresay any major dance organization who is not approached by Jacob's Pillow had better question its world standing.    Begun in 1933 by Ted Shawn as a retreat to train male dancers, his intent was to show that dancing could be an honorable male occupation as he strove to end stereotypes by emphasizing strong masculine roles for his dancers.   Over the years, the original buildings from this 1800s farm were converted into performance and rehearsal spaces…and that is the feel that is carried up to this day.   A visit to Jacob's Pillow is a vicseral experience that begins with the fact that it is 20 minutes from any visible civilization.   It is really you, the dancers and nature.  Even the largest venue, the Ted Shawn Theater has the option of opening doors behind the stage to reveal distant mountain views.    For a complete list of performances see www.jacobspillow.org.

One of the great things about Jacob's Pillow is that their performances occur all week, meaning you can combine a mid-week discount, a romantic getaway and Jacob's Pillow by staying at Hampton Terrace, one of the top rated Berkshire inns.   A Lenox inn since 1937, Hampton Terrace is located about 20 minutes from Jacob's Pillow, but as stated before, there are not many Berkshire bed and breakfasts within a 20 minute drive anyway.   But since you will probably combine your dance evening with several other evenings of theater and dining, you will be hard pressed to find a Berkshires lodging option more centrally located, within walking distance of Lenox's heralded restaurants and shops.

Many people remember the Barrington Stage Company bravely mounting their seasons at a local high school in South County.   Julianne Boyd had a pedigree, and all knew it was just a matter of time before this theatre company earned its break….

And the break came from an unlikely place…an improvisational theater lab that quickly moved from Barrington Stage to Broadway and now to leading cities of the world, while picking up two Tony Awards along the way.  The success of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" led to Barrington Stage's purchase and renovation of a 1912 playhouse in downtown Pittsfield.  Julie Boyd's vision of having a stage capable of handling the large productions she loved was fulfilled.   This year marks a return of "Spelling Bee" to its creator, and other offerings include "The Violet Hour", "Private Lives" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."   And that is just the Main Stage.   There are a dozen other options through the summer, including the very workshops that might spawn the next Tony Award- winning play or musical.  

Barrington Stage Company joins Shakespeare & Company, Williamstown Theater Festival, Berkshire Theatre Festival and other important theater companies within minutes of Hampton Terrace, a well-reviewed bed and breakfast in Lenox.  Top rated among Berkshire lodging, Hampton Terrace features 14 rooms with private baths and is located within steps of Lenox's heralded shops and restaurants.  When considering a Lenox inn while visiting theater in the Berkshires, check out www.hamptonterrace.com.

When considering Lenox or the Berkshires, many people think Tanglewood and the Boston Symphony.   But of equal stature (and actually exceeding Tanglewood in total audience) are the local theater companies, including Shakespeare and Company, Berkshire Theater Festival, Williamstown Theater Festival, Jacob's Pillow (dance), Barrington Stage Company, and many others.   All are kicking off their seasons this week and next.

Shakespeare & Company, founded by Tina Packer, is in its 31st season, and is located just one block from Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast.   Their large campus includes multiple theater options, including their main stage, The Founder's Theater.   This year, they are opening with "The Ladies Man," a French farce that we saw last Thursday night.   It was GREAT!   At our Lenox bed and breakfast, we get feedback every morning at breakfast about what our guests did the night before, where they ate, etc.   At least eight of our guests have now seen "The Ladies Man" and agree with us.   It has all the things you would expect from this genre:   double entrendres, mistaken identities and maniacal (and I mean really maniacal) action.   I was exhausted from the energy on stage…no daily gym workouts needed for these actors.   "The Ladies Man" is being performed all summer, alternating with other significant productions including "Othello," "All's Well that Ends Well," "The Goatwoman of Corvis County," "The Canterville Ghost," "Bad Dates," and numerous free presentations on their outdoor stage.   You can see, this industrious group is not limited to Shakespeare.   Importantly, they are opening a new venue, The Elayne Bernstein Stage in August.    So for those of you who are looking to avoid the weekend crowds associated with Tanglewood, consider coming to the Berkshires Sunday to Thursday and entertaining yourselves with these exciting theater options.

And as always, combine at visit to Shakespeare and Company with a fine bed and breakfast experience by staying at Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast……located just one block from Shakespeare and Company.   Stay multiple nights mid-week and save up to 30%.

As you fill your car tank this week and consider your Spring and Summer plans…we have a suggestion. If you live in the Northeast, consider a Berkshire b&b. Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast is located in Lenox, MA, the vortex of the Berkshires. We are about 2 hours from Boston, 2 1/2 hours from the Greater New York City area, and less than 2 hours from most points in Connecticut. Hampton Terrace is a 14 room Berkshire bed and breakfast which features fireplaces in virtually all rooms and Jacuzzis in most. Several of the rooms have antique claw-foot tubs or walk-in showers. Full breakfast included, and as of tomorrow, our outdoor heated pool will be open. If you mention our "Tanks a Lot" promotion and stay 2 or more nights during our "off-season," we'll give you $30 for your gas. 800-203-0656 CLICK HERE