The 2026 Berkshire Theatre Awards
Winners of the Tenth Annual Berkies
By: Berkies - Nov 10, 2026
The 2026 Berkshire Theatre Awards, colloquially known as The Berkies, were presented on the evening of Monday, November 9, 2026, at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse in Lenox, MA. This is the tenth time the awards were presented to honor and celebrate the excellence and diversity of theatre in the greater Berkshire region.
The award for Outstanding Production of a Play went to Shakespeare & Company for "Frankie and Johnny at the Claire de Lune" and Outstanding Production of a Musical went to Barrington Stage Company for "A Chorus Line."
The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater will be presented to the Ancram Center for the Arts for their innovative storytelling programs Real People Real Stories in the community and Writing on Your Feet in the schools, and for the Plein Air Plays, site-specific new plays performed throughout the community.
Playwright Thomas Kee was awarded the Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for World Premiere of a New Play for "iBoss" which premiered at Great Barrington Public Theater.
In the directing category, Alan Paul, Artistic Director at Barrington Stage, was received the award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for "A Chorus Line." The Outstanding Direction of a Play category saw a tie between two Shakespeare & Company artists: Ariel Bok, for her direction of "Hamlet", and Kate Kohler Amory, for "Twelfth Night."
Berkshire favorites David Adkins and Jennie M. Jadow took home Outstanding Supporting Actor/Actress in a Play awards for their roles in Berkshire Theatre Group's "The Legend of Georgia McBride" and WAM Theatre's "Rooted" respectively. Rafa Pepén and Tzintli Cerda were honored as Outstanding Supporting Actor/Actress in a Musical for their roles in "A Chorus Line" at Barrington Stage and "Newsies" at the Mac-Haydn. Shannon Lamb won Outstanding Solo Performance for "Fannie: The Life and Music of Fannie Lou Hamer" at the Chester Theatre Company.
Outstanding Actress in a Play went to Roxanne Fay in "Happy Days" at Bridge Street Theatre. Outstanding Actor in a Play was awarded to David Gow, for his portrayal of the title role in "Hamlet." Hannah Shankman took home Outstanding Actress in a Musical for “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at the Mac-Haydn. Danny Binstock won Outstanding Actor in a Musical for “A Chorus Line.”
The cast of Shakespeare & Company's "Twelfth Night" won Best Ensemble Performance; and the Mac-Haydn's production of "Daddy Long Legs" was recognized as the Outstanding Production with Fewer Than Six Performances.
Technical awards went to Andrew Koch for his set design for "The Zionsts" at Barrington Stage; Amy Avila for her costumes for "The Legend of Georgia McBride at the Berkshire Theatre Group; Andrew Gmoser for his lighting design for "The Addams Family" at the Mac-Haydn Theatre; and Gage Baker for his sound design for "iBoss" at Great Barrington Public Theater. Parker Esse won Outstanding Choreography for his work on "A Chorus Line" at Barrington Stage.
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play:
Jennie M. Jadow, “Rooted,” WAM Theatre
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play:
David Adkins, “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” Berkshire Theatre Group
- Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play or Musical:
Adam Koch, “The Zionists,” Barrington Stage Company
- Outstanding Choreography:
Parker Esse, “A Chorus Line,” Barrington Stage Company
- Outstanding Direction of a Musical:
Alan Paul, “A Chorus Line,” Barrington Stage Company
- Outstanding Costume Design of a Play or Musical:
Amy Avila, “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” Berkshire Theatre Group
- Outstanding Solo Performance:
Shannon Lamb, “Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer,” Chester Theatre Company
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical:
Tzintli Cerda, “Newsies,” Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play or Musical:
Andrew Gmoser, “The Addams Family,” Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical:
Rafa Pepén, “A Chorus Line,” Barrington Stage Company
- Outstanding Direction of a Play - TIE
Ariel Bock, “Hamlet,” Shakespeare & Company
Kate Kohler Amory, “Twelfth Night,” Shakespeare & Company
- Outstanding Sound Design of a Play or Musical:
Gage Baker, “iBoss,” Great Barrington Public Theater
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:
Hannah Shankman, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical:
Danny Binstock, “A Chorus Line,” Barrington Stage Company
- Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
“Twelfth Night,” Shakespeare & Company
- Outstanding Production with Fewer Than Six Performances:
“Daddy Long Legs,” Mac-Haydn Theatre
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play:
David Gow, “Hamlet,” Shakespeare & Company
- Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for World Premiere of a NEW Play:
“iBoss” by Thomas Kee, Great Barrington Public Theater
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play:
Roxanne Fay, “Happy Days,” Bridge Street Theatre
- The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater:
The Ancram Center for the Arts – Jeffrey Mousseau and Paul Ricciardi, Directors
- Outstanding Production of a Musical:
“A Chorus Line,” Barrington Stage Company
- Outstanding Production of a Play:
“Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” Shakespeare & Company