There's more than meets the eye when you really pay attention to the cultural institutions that are the backbone of the Rural Intelligence region. They all offer educational programs to children who might not otherwise participate in the arts, which is why Barrington Stage Company is so proud of its ten-year-old Playwright Mentoring Project (PMP), an after-school program where at-risk high school students learn about cooperation and develop self-esteem through workshops with playwrights. Many of the donors who make such programs possible are part-time residents with full-fledged magnanimity such as Barrington Stage trustee Sheila Richman (above right with PMP founder Julianne Boyd), a part-time Berkshires resident from Port Washington, Long Island, who was honored at the gala along with Greylock Federal Credit Union. As the head of BSC's Education Committee, the indefatigable Richman has raised money and awareness for a program that offers a brighter future to teens (mostly from North Adams and Pittsfield) who discover a world of possibilities and a sense of themselves through theater.
State Senator Ben Downing with BSC board president Mary Ann Quinson; real estate broker Barbara Schulman with BSC board members Jonathan Ball and Reba Evenchik.
Playwright Manuel Moreno with BSC director of education Hester Kamin.
Former BSC director of education and Pittsfield High School English teacher Cynthia Quinones with development director Michelle Clarkin; Mission Bar + Tapas owner and Word X Word founder Jim Benson with Berkshire Eagle reporter Jenn Smith.
Adam Richman and Yadey Yawand-Wossen; Arthur Salvadore and Annie Richman.
Kathy & Neil Crisman.
Dr. Norman Boyd and Stephanie Solar; BSC board vice president Richard Solar and retired publisher and artist Bruno Quinson.
Tracy Gardzina and her daughter Ellena Gardzina who is part of the Playwright Mentoring Project; PMP members Katelyn Snow and Jackie Kelly.
Former PMP participant and peer mentor Jerome Spratling with PMP director Frank La Frazia and Samantha Riiska, a PMP graduate who is now a student at Smith College.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
