Bess Hochstein reports from Lenox.Rebellion and Revolution may be the themes of Shakespeare & Company’s 35th anniversary season, but royalty was out in force for the gala on Saturday, June 30. There was political royalty, in the form two Massachusetts governors: current – Governor Deval Patrick – and past – Michael Dukakis (in photo, flanked by his wife Kitty, left, and his sister, Olympia) And there was theatrical royalty, including Olympia Dukakis and John Douglas Thompson. Per tradition there were cocktails before a performance, and a surprise, as Founders’ Theatre was renamed the Tina Packer Playhouse. And then there was a lovely walk down the campus’ grassy slope to an enormous tent where dinner was served (catered by The Marketplace) and unbridled dancing ensued late into the night.
Bridget Ford Hughes and Vicki Bonnington; attorney David Schecker with actor Ariel Bock.
Dennis Krausnick and Tina Packer; Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick.
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Elizabeth Aspenlieder, John Douglas Thompson, and Kelley Vickery; Robert Serrell and Catherine Taylor-Williams.
Linda Caffin Puma, actors James Read and Wendy Kilbourne, and Shakespeare & Co. managing director Nicholas J. Puma Jr.; Shakespeare & Co. board chair Richard Mescon, Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick, and Shakespeare & Co. artistic director Tony Simotes.
Eric Roozenkrans, Anna Chitinksy, and Scott Vighi; Shakespeare & Co. actors Jason Asprey and Casey McShain.
Rebecca Milikowsky and Nathan Milikowsky; Mary Garnish with Alan Bauman of CompuWorks.
Up in the balcony: Shakespeare & Co. actor Douglas Seldin and Heather MacKenzie; under the tent: Wall Street Journal drama critic Terry Teachout, whose play Satchmo at the Waldorf ends the 35th season, with actor Jonathan Epstein.
Colin Gold with Arthur Oliver; actor Stephanie Hedges, mineral cosmetics entrepreneur Jane Iredale, and CarolAnn Patterson.
Tina Packer was visibly moved when Founders' Theatre was renamed in her honor.
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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
