TheatreFest: A Weekend Of Dramatic Collaboration
At TheatreFest@SaintJamesPlace, three local companies will present new works by local and emerging playwrights.
A Berkshire Voices reading in the Great Hall at Saint James Place
Most of us are aware that we live among an extraordinary theater community, home to playwrights, directors, actors and production people. What’s even more remarkable is that these same artists and numerous local theater companies will collaborate in the inaugural TheatreFest@SaintJamesPlace May 2-4. But maybe that shouldn’t be surprising: It’s a manifestation of the Rural Intelligence attitude all rolled into one stimulating weekend.
Hosted by Saint James Place, the Great Barrington church-turned-arts venue, TheatreFest will present Berkshire Playwrights Lab/Berkshire Voices, GhostLit Repertory Theatre Company and New Stage Performing Arts in three exciting days of new, original works and works-in-progress from local playwrights and emerging companies. Each presentation will feature staged readings, followed by interactive Q&A sessions with the creative teams.
Michael Brady, architect of TheatreFest (and playwright responsible for the critically acclaimed “To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday,” presented on New York stages and produced as a film) started Berkshire Voices, a writers group, and was always looking for an opportunity for the writers to get exposure and feedback from audiences.
“This is a thriving community of theater people all year round,” he said. “I envisioned a festival to celebrate that community.”
He approached Fred and Sally Harris — who rescued the historic church building and turned it into a multi-use cultural and education center — about sponsoring a festival, and they embraced the idea.
The festival will feature original plays, most of which are Berkshire premieres, including works-in-progress performed by emerging artists. These are staged readings, Brady stressed, but there may be some props and costumes, and other elements of theater. The three-day event includes more than 10 new works by as many local playwrights. A taste of the lineup includes Nicky Silver’s zany farce, “Dial It Back," about a divorcing couple’s rivalry to win control of their failing theater; Anne Undeland’s “The Sisterhood,” a darkly hopeful comedy; and, by Brady himself, “Lunch with Dad,” in which a trip home threatens painful consequences for an aspiring singer and her devoted high school music teacher.
“We’ve had a tremendous response among the theater community,” Brady said. “There are close to 30 actors and many directors involved.”
TheatreFest@SaintJamesPlace is a terrific opportunity to bask in a variety of new and original works by local playwrights, and a chance to get to know the smaller companies doing great work.
TheatreFest@SaintJamesPlace
352 Main St., Great Barrington, MA
Thursday, May 2 — Saturday, May 4
Tickets are free with a suggested $10 donation. Seating is limited. RSVP to guarantee seats.
