This is the last chance to catch the Triple Play: Baseball at the Albany Institute as it closes at the end of the month. This three-pronged exhibit examines America’s favorite pastime from myriad angels. Play Ball! A History of Baseball in the Capital Region shows great local sports moments dating all the way back to the 1860s. Baseball: America’s Game offers an inside look at the game’s history through photographs, letters, and artwork. The Clubhouse: Baseball Memorabilia displays numerous collectible items like a signed Joe DiMaggio ball and a seat from Fenway Park. Thru July 26. $10, $8 seniors & students, $6 children 6-12, under 6 free. Weds., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m-8 p.m, Sun. 12-5 p.m. Albany Institute of History and Art. 125 Washington Ave., Albany. 518-463-4478; www.albanyinstitute.org
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It’s something that was once incredibly popular but is now almost obsolete — radio theater. The productions used to rule the airwaves but have long since been replaced with TV and the Internet. But Valleyites can still see what they were like thanks to Hudson Air Radio Theater. The performance troupe puts on short plays or modern adaptations of classic fiction in the vein of old-time live radio. July 3, 8 p.m. $20, $15 members, $10 students. Performance Spaces for the 21st Century. 2980 Rte. 66, Chatham. 518-392-6121; www.ps21chatham.org
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The acclaimed New York City Ballet heads to its summer home, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (the ensemble was the world’s first ballet institution to have two permanent homes, the first being Lincoln Center). The company performs French works by George Balanchine as well as pieces with American and Danish flair. One hour prior to each performance (for an additional $5), the company presents a talk that gives greater insight into the show. July 7-11, 14-18. Call or visit Web site for schedule and ticket info. 108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs. 518-584-9330; www.spac.org
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You know you’ve made it when you sell more albums than the Beatles. And in 1968 Gary Puckett and The Union Gap did outsell those four gents from Liverpool, becoming the year’s top-selling artist. Puckett also played for Prince Charles and Princess Anne at the White House by special request of the President. The showman hits Middletown this month and performs songs like “Young Girl,” “Over You,” and “Keep the Customer Satisfied.” July 24, 8 p.m. $30-$45. Paramount Theatre. 17 South St., Middletown. 845-346-4195. www.middletownparamount.com
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As you’d expect, the Ulster County Fair — which this year celebrates its 129th birthday — is brimming with top-notch agricultural exhibits and thrilling midway attractions. But the six-day fest also offers several out-of-the-ordinary spectacles, like demonstrations by chainsaw sculptors and the ever-popular racing pigs. This season’s entertainment headliners include country artists Keith Anderson and Caroline Kole. July 28-Aug. 2. Call or visit Web site for exact schedule and ticket information. Ulster County Fairgrounds. 249 Libertyville Rd., New Paltz. 845-255-1380; www.ulstercountyfair.com
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The General, a 1926 silent picture, is considered by many critics as one of the greatest films ever made in that era. Starring Buster Keaton, the comedy concerns an engineer whose fiancée and locomotive are stolen from him and the antics he undertakes to get them back. July 31, 8:30 p.m. Free admission. Performance Spaces for the 21st Century. 2980 Rte. 66, Chatham. 518-392-6121; www.ps21chatham.org
Related: Find a complete list of upcoming events in our calendar
