The season ends with the world premiere of The Yom Kippur Play( September 16 – October 12) by May Treuhaft-Ali and directed by Sivan Battat, on the St. Germain Stage. Centered around a service held outdoors during the pandemic, the play explores what it means not only to be Jewish in today’ s world, but to be a Jewish person of color.( Save the date of July 21, when Barrington Stage holds its gala at the Stationery Factory in Dalton!)
Berkshire Theatre Group( BTG)
The Unicorn Theatre, 6 East St., Stockbridge The Colonial Theatre, 111 South St., Pittsfield berkshiretheatergroup. org 413-997-4444
“ This season is an opportunity to sit back and think about the love in our hearts and in the world,” says CEO and Artistic Director Kate Maguire. Perhaps what she is most excited about this season is Dying is No Excuse( August 7-30) at The Unicorn, written and performed by the legendary Renée Taylor, beloved for her work in The Nanny and her long and incredible career on Broadway and in film. The play is directed by Elaine May, Academy Award ®-nominated filmmaker, Tony Award ®-winning actress, and one of the most influential comedic minds of her generation. Propelled by these two iconic women, Dying Is No Excuse promises humor, heart, and unforgettable storytelling.“ I can’ t wait to see Elaine May and Renée Taylor sitting on the porch of The Red Lion Inn having a drink. A true Berkshire sighting moment,” says Maguire. The first production of the season at BTG is The Elephant Man( May 28 – June 15) by Bernard Pomerance and directed by Eric Hill at The Unicorn Theatre. This 1980s classic is a powerful drama that tells the story of Joseph Merrick, a man with severe physical deformities who challenges society’ s notions of beauty, dignity and humanity.“ The Elephant Man shows us what it means to have a kind heart,” says Maguire. Next on The Unicorn stage is Out of Character( June 30 – July 26), written and performed by Tony Award ®-winner Ari’ el
Stachel and directed by Tony Taccone.“ This solo play dives into identity, mental health, and self-acceptance with raw honesty and humor,” says Maguire.“ It’ s real, it’ s moving, and it’ s got moments that’ ll make you laugh and others that really hit home.”
Agatha Christie’ s The Mousetrap( July 24 – August 17) is directed by Gerry McIntyre and will be on The Colonial stage. The longest-running play in theater history, The Mousetrap adds something fun to the lineup.“ This was on my bucket list,” confesses Maguire,“ and as far as I know, it’ s not been done by Berkshire theaters.” The season ends with Metamorphoses( September 25 – October 26) by Mary Zimmerman and directed by Isadora Wolfe, at The Unicorn. Adapted from Ovid’ s epic poem, this stunning, Tony Award ®-winning play, set around a shimmering pool of water, brings to life ancient myths of transformation, love and loss that feel as poignant and relevant today as they did thousands of years ago.
Chester Theatre 15 Middlefield Rd.( Chester Town Hall) chestertheatre. org 413-354-7771
Christopher Baker and Michelle Ong-Hendrick are diving into their first season as co-artistic directors with a lineup that reaches all corners of the globe.“ Audiences who see all four plays will have traveled— emotionally, spiritually and geographically,” says Ong-Hendrick.“ From a poor home in the Middle East over 2,000 years ago to the North Pole today, the journeys are transformative. Our little stage in Chester becomes a transporter through time and space. And that ' s why people go to the theater, yes? To be transported.”“ There are all kinds of reasons not to come out to a show, but people do,” says Baker.“ It’ s entertainment, but in a deep and serious way. It’ s a way to connect with the community and live action. When you are watching a play, you are in a different mode. You know something is happening, but you also know not to run onstage and interfere. Post-show discussions also help audiences absorb what they saw.” The season opens with Magdalene( June 19-29) by Mark St. Germain and directed by Keira Naughton.“ We are thrilled to have the St. Germain play,” says Baker.“ It’ s not only a perfect fit for Chester, but we are excited for his Berkshire following to visit Chester!”
A Hundred Words for Snow( July 3-13) by British playwright Tatty Hennessy and directed by Ong-Hendrick is an epic Arctic adventure about adolescence, grief, love, and being an explorer in a melting world. After her father ' s unexpected death, 15-year-old Rory discovers that he was planning a trip for the two of them to the North Pole, so she picks up his ashes, her passport, and her mother’ s credit card, and sets out to make good on his plans. Bill Bowers Returns!( July 17-18) is a special event that brings back Broadway veteran Bill Bowers, hailed as the most accomplished mime of his generation and most certainly the Berkshire’ s favorite mime! Chester Theatre audiences saw Bowers in The Making of a Great Moment, which traveled off Broadway, and last season’ s It Goes Without Saying, which toured around the globe. Whatever he brings to Chester this summer, you don’ t want to miss it.
A Case for the Existence of God,( July 24 – August 3) by Samuel D. Hunter, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The Whale, is directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer. Hunter tells the story of Keith, a mortgage broker, and Ryan, a yogurt plant worker, who unexpectedly let each other into their own fragile worlds, plagued by financial insecurity and the precariousness of parenthood. Winner of the 2022 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play, A Case for the Existence of God is a transcendent work that intertwines the lives of two ordinary men with humor and honesty. The season ends with the uplifting MR. JOY( August 7-17) by Daniel Koa Beaty. This poet, playwright, and activist writes about transforming pain into power, understanding, and joy. Mr. Joy is a one-person play about a Harlem community that takes stock when a Chinese immigrant’ s shoe repair shop mysteriously doesn’ t open one morning. From bubbly 11-year-old Clarissa to Bessie, leader of the“ Gansta Grannies,” we learn about the profound impact the shop owner had on each of their lives, and the invisible ties that bind us all.
Great Barrington Public Theater
( GB Public Theater) Daniel Arts Center, on the campus of Bard College at Simon’ s Rock 84 Alford Rd., Great Barrington greatbarringtonpublictheater. org 413-372-1980
“ The productions we’ ve selected for the
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