Follow the Fold: Barrington Stage Company's 2011 Gala

The gym at St Joseph's Central High School is where Barrington Stage Company always holds its season-opening gala, and it feels like a homecoming dance. It's become a ritual for the audience to parade up North Street from the theatre to the school, and last Saturday night the rains held off for this promenade. The young cast members from the sensational production of Guys & Dolls mingled and dined side by side with the big-pocket donors—most notably the evening's honorees Sydelle & Lee Blatt— who have supported Barrington Stage's 17-year-long metamorphosis from a summer stock theater at a public high school in Sheffield to a year-round regional theater that has become a pillar of Pittsfield's cultural community. And Dan Mathieu's MAX Ultimate catered a meal that was visually exciting and delectably delicious, too.

Laura & Jeff Roudabush of Barrington Stage; Ian & Madeline Hooper who are both trustees of the Berkshire Botanical Garden.

Lyn & Bob Petricca; Jessie & Bernard Wolfson

Deane Halper of the Aglet Theatre Company and Clover Bell-Devaney; branding guru Kevin Sprague and architect Kristine Sprague.

WAMC's Alan Chartock and MCLA's Roselle Chartock; Terry & Art Wasser.

Since Guys & Dolls premiered in 1950, the gala invitation suggested dressing "fifties," and one group of friends came in outfits from another period musical (Grease.)

Peggy Pharr Wilson, who plays General Cartwright in Guys & Dolls, with Alison Sneider; Guys & Dolls cast members Nicky Venditti and Sharona D'Ornellas.

Mary Jo Herman and her son Matthew Risch, who plays Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls, with Linda Brown.

Karen and Bob Youdelman, who is a Barrington Stage trustee; Barrington Stage artistic director Julianne Boyd with Daniel Marcus, who plays Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls.