Fiona Breslin reports from Pittsfield. Supporters of the RI region’s first-class music, dance, performing arts, education, and more came out Saturday night, November 10, to celebrate youth education programs at Berkshire Theatre Group's "I Own a Theatre" gala. The laid-back fundraiser was hosted at the historic Colonial Theatre, with the majority of the evening taking place on the theatre's mainstage. BTG’s numerous youth education programs help to involve local students and teenagers in all elements of the performing arts, bringing them to theatrical productions, letting them star in performances themselves, and work behind the scenes. The evening was MC’d by local actor Ralph Petillo (above) and featured both live and silent auctions. Performances included those by performer David Grover as well as alumnus and students from BTG's artists-in-residency program and students from this year’s performance of Oliver. BTG artistic director Kate Maguire awarded Angel of the Year to Carole Siegel Ed.D., chair of BTG's Performing Arts For Schools, for her contributions to the group's education programs and for her work with at-risk teens from Pittsfield’s Juvenile Resource Center. The night carried on with music and food catered by Mazzeo’s, Haven, Baba Louie's, and more, and included a dance party at The Garage, aka the lobby of the beautiful Colonial.
Director of development at BTG Craig Smith with singer Natalie Caruncho and Sean Leimbach; Carolyn King, president of the board of trustees at The Colonial Theatre Gary Scarafoni, and Chris King.
Bill Ryan, Lew Steinberg, Margy Steinberg, and Deb Ryan; Jade Carroll and Allegrone Construction's Ian Rasche.
Gala co-chair Alli Sheehan with Missy Scarafoni and Lynne Mazzeo.
Publisher at The Artful Mind Harryet Candee with Bob Candee and Shoshana Candee; BTG programmer Simon Shaw and president of Berkshire Theatre Group board Ruth Blodgett.
Gala co-chairs Shari Haddad and Alli Sheehan with Emma Foley (left), Grace Sheehan, and Alice Sheehan; actresses attired in gold posed on stage in mime the entire night.
The cast of Oliver backstage before their gala performance!
Artists-in-residence with BTG Lilly Edward Christie and Courtney Wood; musicians Kathy Jo Grover and David Grover, who performed during the gala.
The gala committee's Linda Cooper and writer Ann St. Claire; evening honoree Carole Siegel Ed.D and BTG artistic director Kate Maguire.
Designer Arthur Oliver and Betsey McKearnam; Sophie Petillo and BTG administrative director of education Allison Bayles.
Jen Hines, Bill Hines, Matt Scarafoni, Lori Mazzeo, and Rudy Mazzeo.
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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
