Amy Krzanik reports from Pittsfield. Oh, what a beautiful evening it was on Saturday, July 6, as Berkshire Theatre Group opened its production of Oklahoma! with a party at the Colonial Theatre. Guests enjoyed cocktails inside, then a finger-licking barbecue dinner from Soma Catering — complete with pecan pie — under the big tent outside. While the food was definitely a highlight of the night, the cast of Oklahoma! really stole the show with their high-energy rendition of Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical, which had the crowd clapping in their seats. All theatergoers were invited back into the tent post-show for snacks from Mission Bar + Tapas and dancing to the lively hoe-down music of Chris Merenda & The Wheel. Proceeds from the opening night fundraising dinner go toward funding the Group's education programs. (Pictured left: BTG Board President Ruth Blodgett, with her mother Allie Blodgett, and her aunt Kate Flather.)
Gene Dellea and Alan Chartok; OK! Music Director Steve Freeman, Mary-Elizabeth Fenn, and OK! Scenic Designer Brett Banakis.
MaryJane Centeno and Carlo Centeno; Laurie Mick and Angela Corrado.
Randy Shapiro, Dan Ripp, and Barry and Robin Kriesberg pose under the tent.
Jerry and Norma Strassler, who've been patrons of BTG for over 30 years; Joyce Greenberg, with mother Anna Greenberg, and daughter Lena Deutsch.
Debbie Reisner with her parents, BTG Board Member David Auerbach, and Susie Auerbach; Nina Corby and Benno Gerson, who came from Washington, D.C. to see their niece, Tamrin Goldberg, perform in the show.
Board Member Marvin Seline and the lovely Eileen Young; BTG General Manager Liz Zieminski, Board Treasurer Lee Perlman, and Board Member Betsey McKearnan.
Meg Mortimer Lloyd, Dr. Lenora Felderman, Ellen Kennedy, and Massachusetts Representative Smitty Pignatelli.
Joan Callahan, Meredith Nicolaescu, and David Lloyd; Fred Mensch and Andrea Bodine.
Sheila Dowd, with her mother Linda Dowd, whose son Sebastian is in the cast; Gene and Dolly Curletti with Katie Frisina and BTG Board Member Ralph Frisina.
BTG Ticket Office Manager Liz Uchtman, BTG General Manager Liz Zieminski, and BTG Manager of Special Events and Donor Relations Tara Young; Diane Kelly and John Kelly.
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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
