Barrington Stage Company

Musical Theatre Lab Artistic Producer, William Finn of Barrington Stage Company is committed to developing musicals by emerging writers and composers. They are given modest productions in workshop settings before live audiences. Right now Mormons Mothers and Monsters shows promise but has a long way to go to be ready for an Off Broadway production.

When Rocco Landesman, the head of the NEA, suggested that there are too many arts organizations with supply outweighing demand there was a response of outrage in the arts community. Here in the Berkshires it begs the question of sufficient audience and patrons to support four major theatre companies. It also begs the question of the role of critics? Are we just providers of consumer information for ticket buyers?

Tommy sold out at the Colonial for the VIP opening on Saturday night. The reviews are staggering in, partly because some critics opted for an offer of better seats on Monday night. That doesn't give much time to promote an expensive show with a short run that ends on Saturday. We asked artistic director, Kate Maguire, about that during the opening night party.

In the Williamstown Theatre Festival's production of Tennessee Williams's 1947 American classic, Jessica Hecht as Blanche, and Sam Rockwell, as Stanley, offer fresh and very different interpretations than the paradigms for the roles set by Elia Kazan's great 1951 film version starring Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando. This reinterpretation of an American standard gives an unique twist to the experimental Nikos Stage under new artistic director Jenny Gersten.

In 1950, as a little shaver, Mom took me to the original Broadway production of the then five time Tony winning musical Guys and Dolls. Now, decades later, be still dear heart, the production at Barrington Stage evokes a thrilling rush of childhood memories. I was enchanted then and just as ecstatic now. This is the smash hit and sure sell out that launches a fabulous new Berkshire season.

Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield has jump started the Berkshire season with a smash hit. Bravo. On every level Jim Brochu is just immense in the one man show he has written and stars in Zero Hour. For ninety riveting minutes he channels the immense and complex comic genius and notorious SOB the fabulous Zero Mostel. This show is selling out fast on Barrington's intimate Stage Two.

Barrington Stage Company presents Zero Hour Jim Brochu’s acclaimed play about the life of theatre legend Zero Mostel. Zero Hour kicks off the season from May 18 through June 5, 2011 at BSC Stage 2, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield, MA. | .

In the current political turmoil in the Middle East we have seen how Facebook, e mail, and social networking have resulted in resistance and regime changes. Developments in information technologies have eroded the dominance of traditional media systems. Today with access to the internet and web sites anyone can be a critic or journalist. Murray and Giuliano explore the implications and their role in covering the arts.

Jessica Stone met her husband, actor Christopher Fitzgerald, some years ago, at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Last summer she made her debut as a director with the smash hit of Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Last night she was back in Williamstown for a reading of Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Yesterday we caught up with her in the lobby of the Williams Inn.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC) and Knesset Israel (KI) continue the “Live from NY’s 92nd Street Y” Simulcasts at Barrington Stage with seven programs for winter/spring 2011. The popular satellite broadcast series brings lectures, interviews and readings from nationally and internationally recognized political figures, entertainers, newsmakers and authors to communities across the U.S. and Canada.

A long term acting associate of Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Christopher Innvar, received rave reviews last year for directing The Whipping Man. He will direct again during the fall season with a production of William Golding's classic novel Lord of the Flies.

The Barrington Stage season will be launched on June 21 in Pittsfield with Guys and Dolls. There will be another Main Stage musical the period piece The Game. Barrington is the first Berkshire theatre company to announce its plans for the coming season.

There is a domino impact for the arts in the Berkshires with the merger, over the next year, of the Colonial Theatre and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. A more dynamic Colonial increases the critical mass and leadership of Pittsfield as the matrix and hub of the arts and cultural economy. It is equidistant from the boundaries of the region that represent more than an hour to drive from one end to the other. Strengthening the thriving arts community in Pittsfield changes the paradigm for the region. It increases the potential for synergy or competition.

With a $21.6 million renovation the 107-year-old Colonial Theater reopened in Pittsfield in 2006. Running with an average of just under half a house, with too many dark nights, the Colonial has yet to live up to its potential. In a bold move it may partner with the venerable Berkshire Theatre Festival, as early as June, 2011 to produce what are likely to be popular musicals with bankable stars.

To kick off the “Live from NY’s 92nd Street Y” series, Barrington Stage Company is excited to host “Steve Martin with Deborah Solomon” on Monday, November 29 at 8pm.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, will present the musicals Guys and Dolls and a new production of The Game as part of its summer 2011 Mainstage Season.

In the best sense of community theatre Barrington Stage has created a dialogue for the Pittsfield Schools by staging Arthur Miller's The Crucible. The iconic American masterpiece is currently being taught. BSC has created unique access for students and special programming to fully explore the play. The production combines a superb production and magnificent acting with an insightful educational mandate.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Producing Director Richard M. Parison, Jr., concludes the 2010 Mainstage season with Arthur Miller’s American classic The Crucible, with performances beginning October 6 and running through October 24.

With three days of programming the arts and the creative community were underplayed in the recent Berkshire Forum. Although the arts are a major employer and drive the economy of the Berkshires just one session was devoted to this essential agenda. The too few seats at the table excluded any representatives from the four major theatre companies, or even Jacob's Pillow. Mass MoCA director Joe Thompson was included in another panel where he commented on the important Wilco Festival this summer.

The grim theme of Alzheimer's disease and its devastating impact on an estranged Jewish mother and her daughter moved back home is an unlikely inspiration for a musical. No less. This new work by the young team of Sara Cooper and Zach Redler tries really hard to please and entertain. It is their first fully staged affort.

Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield exits laughing with its final Main Stage production a British Comedy Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn. This past season his Norman Conquests was revived on Broadway leading to more regional productions of his plays. If you need a few laughs check out this zesty madcap farce.

This summer Campbell Scott has anchored a star studded cast in Nicholas Martin's production of Thornton Wilder's classic Our Town. This is his fifth season of participating in the Williamstown Theatre Festival. He has just wrapped shooting the upcoming season of the TV drama series Damages. In an in depth interview Scott discussed wanting to do more writing and directing. As well his productive and challenging life in theatre.

Since its 1995 Parisian premiere Art by Yasmina Reza has been translated into 30 languages and performed all around he world. On Broadway Reza has won Tonys for Art as well as God of Carnage. Art was presented as a staged reading at the Clark in collaboration with Williamstown Theatre Festival several months ago. It is presented at Barrington Stage Company this summer. There will be a free staged reading at Mass MoCA on August 4. We wonder why this play is so universally admired?

The much anticipated world premiere of a musical Pool Boy by Nikos Tsakalakos and Janet Allard ended up drowning at Barrington Stage. It is slated for intensive care and an extreme makeover if it hopes to have legs beyond this ambitious, zesty but messy production in Pittsfield. With a lot of work there may yet be life after this D.O.A. debut.

Compared to Sweeney Todd the second production of the season at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield is as different as black and white. Well, more white on white actually. The Tony Award winning play by Yazmina Reza, Art, focuses on the divisive responses of two friends to a collector's acquisition of a minimalist painting. The evening of theater brings out the worst in everyone. To the amused delight of audiences.