(Pittsfield, MA – June 28, 2021) – Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Founder/Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, is pleased to announce extensions for the first four productions of the theatre’s 2021 season: Who Could Ask for Anything More? The Songs of George Gershwin, Chester Bailey, Eleanor and Boca.
“What a pleasure to open two theatre spaces, with the joyous Who Could Ask for Anything More? in our outdoor tent and the hauntingly beautiful Chester Bailey at our Boyd-Quinson Stage, and watch audiences leap to their feet nightly with each one. And even before opening, Eleanor and Boca have extended their runs to meet audience demand. We are thrilled to witness the true return of live theatre to the Berkshires, safely and responsibly, after so many months of uncertainty,” said Artistic Director Julianne Boyd.
Who Could Ask for Anything More? The Songs of George Gershwin, a concert celebrating the work of one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century which also earned raves from critics and audiences across the board, has been extended for an additional week through Saturday, July 10 at an outdoor tent at the BSC Production Center (34 Laurel Street). The production stars Allison Blackwell (BSC: Ragtime; Broadway: Porgy & Bess); Britney Coleman (Broadway: Company, Sunset Boulevard), Alan H. Green (BSC: Holiday Getaway, The Hills Are Alive…, Broadway Bounty Hunter, American Underground; Broadway: School of Rock, Sister Act); Jacob Tischler (Regional: Catch Me If You Can, Singin’ in the Rain); and Alysha Umphress (BSC: Holiday Getaway, The Hills Are Alive…, On the Town; Broadway: On the Town, American Idiot). Conceived by Ms. Boyd and Darren R. Cohen (BSC: On the Town, Sweeney Todd, Follies), with musical direction by Cohen and choreography by Jeffrey L. Page (BSC: Company, Broadway Bounty Hunter), Who Could Ask for Anything More? features some of the most-beloved songs in the Gershwin songbook, including “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You” and “Summertime,” among many others.
Chester Bailey, which opened last week to raves at BSC’s indoor Boyd-Quinson Stage (30 Union Stage), was originally scheduled to play through Saturday, July 3. The production, a NY Times Critic’s Pick, will now play through Friday, July 9. Added performances are Tuesday, July 6-Thursday, July 8 at 7:30 pm, and Friday, July 9 at 7:30 pm. Chester Bailey is written by Emmy Award winner Joseph Dougherty (“thirtysomething,” “Pretty Little Liars”), and stars the father-and-son duo of Tony Award winner Reed Birney (The Humans, “House of Cards”) and Ephraim Birney (“Gotham,” “The Americans”) as doctor and patient in a potent World War II drama, directed by Ron Lagomarsino (Driving Miss Daisy, “Picket Fences,” “Ally McBeal”).
Eleanor, a new play by BSC Associate Artist and playwright Mark St. Germain (BSC and Off-Broadway: Freud’s Last Session), starring Tony Award winner Harriet Harris (BSC: Sweeney Todd, The Royal Family of Broadway; Broadway: Thoroughly Modern Millie) and directed by Henry Stram (Broadway: Network, Junk), will now play an extra week through Saturday, August 7 indoors at the Boyd-Quinson Stage (30 Union Street). The production comes to the stage after a virtual reading of the play was a hit with BSC audiences last year. Eleanor brings to life Eleanor Roosevelt, the most influential First Lady the world has ever seen. From her “Ugly Duckling” upbringing to her unorthodox marriage to Franklin, Eleanor puts her controversial life, loves and passions on the stage. The production marks Ms. Harris’ fourth time playing the character of Eleanor Roosevelt, after previously portraying her on stage (Paul Rudnick’s Rude Entertainment) and screen (TV’s “Hollywood” and “Atlantic Crossing”).
Finally, Boca, the world premiere play by Jessica Provenz, and directed by Ms. Boyd, will play an additional week through Sunday, August 29 at the BSC Production Center (34 Laurel Street). In Boca, we’ll travel to the Sunshine State for a night of short comedies that follow a group of retirees who, between rounds of golf, bridge and Botox, can be found bickering, gossiping, and living it up like they’re teenagers all over again. The production will star Debra Jo Rupp (BSC: The Cake; Dr. Ruth, All The Way), and beloved veterans of BSC’s 10×10 New Play Festival, Kenneth Tigar, Peggy Pharr Wilson and Robert Zukerman, with additional casting to be announced.
BSC’s 2021 season on the Boyd-Quinson stage also features the world premiere of Sister Sorry (August 12-29), a new play by The New Yorker writer Alec Wilkinson, loosely based on a stunning true crime confession, and directed by Richard Hamburger (Japanoir, Curse of the Starving Class); and the world premiere of A Crossing (September 23-October 17), a timely new dance musical co-conceived by BSC Associate Artist Joshua Bergasse (BSC: The Royal Family of Broadway, On the Town; Broadway: On the Town) and Mark St. Germain, with book by St. Germain, music and lyrics by award-winning songwriter Zoe Sarnak (Secret Soldiers, Empire Records), created in association with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company and directed and choreographed by Bergasse.
The outdoor tent also features the following concerts by a stunning array of Broadway stars:
- Elizabeth Stanley in Concert (June 28): Come hear the glorious sounds of Grammy Award winner and 2020 Tony Award nominee Elizabeth Stanley (BSC: On the Town, Kiss Me, Kate; Broadway: Jagged Little Pill, On the Town), in a special one-night–only concert.
- I Promise You a Happy Ending (July 24): Broadway vet and BSC leading man Jeff McCarthy(BSC: Mack & Mabel, Man of La Mancha, Sweeney Todd; Broadway: Beauty and the Beast), will sing some of the most popular and beloved songs he’s performed throughout his years in the theatre.
- Joshua Henry Live (August 16): Join three-time Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry (Carousel, The Scottsboro Boys, Violet) for a soulful evening of music from Broadway to Motown.
- Legally Bound (August 23): Broadway’s Orfeh and Andy Karl (Broadway: Legally Blonde, Pretty Woman, Saturday Night Fever) have had an impressively long run a one of Broadway’s best couples. The sexy, funny and enormously talented duo will tear through an eclectic mix of pop, rock, rhythm and blues, and showtunes that is sure to delight.
TICKET INFORMATION
Pricing for the 2021 summer season is $35–$85 for the outdoor venue productions, $35–$79 for the Boyd-Quinson Stage, $150–$275 for Aaron Tveit Live and $35–$100 for all other concerts. Bundles of tickets (three or more) can be purchased at a 20–25% discount. Single tickets can be purchased by calling 413-236-8888 or emailing boxoffice@barringtonstageco.org.
ABOUT BARRINGTON STAGE COMPANY
Barrington Stage Company (BSC) is an award-winning theatre located in Pittsfield, MA, in the heart of the Berkshires. Co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, BSC’s mission is to present top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to find fresh, bold ways of bringing new audiences into the theatre.
BSC attracts over 60,000 patrons annually and has gained national recognition for its superior-quality productions and comprehensive educational programming, including the award-winning Playwright Mentoring Project, the Musical Theatre Conservatory, Youth Theatre, KidsAct! and other initiatives. The company has become integral to the economic revitalization of downtown Pittsfield.
BSC’s reputation for excellence began with a smash revival of Cabaret that moved to Boston in 1997 for an extended run. The theatre’s prominence grew with the world premiere of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin (BSC 2004; Broadway 2005-2008, winner of two Tony Awards). Other notable productions include the world premiere of Christopher Demos-Brown’s American Son (BSC 2016; Broadway 2018); Mark St. Germain’s Freud’s Last Session (BSC 2009; Off Broadway 2010-2012); Leonard Bernstein, Comden & Green’s On the Town (BSC 2013; Broadway 2014, four Tony Award nominations); Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company, starring Aaron Tveit (BSC 2017); and West Side Story in honor of Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins’ centenaries (BSC 2018).
BSC develops and commissions new work with two programs: PlayWorks, which supports the creation of new plays, and the Musical Theatre Lab, which develops new musicals. Since 1995, BSC has produced 36 new works, 19 of which have moved to New York and major US regional theatres.
Following the industry-wide shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, BSC was the first Equity theatre in the US to return to live performance with its critically acclaimed production of Harry Clarke, starring BSC Associate Artist Mark H. Dold and directed by Ms. Boyd. The season also included the acclaimed concerts, The Hills Are Alive with Rodgers & Hammerstein and Leslie Kritzer: Is It Over Yet?, the virtual benefit reading of Rob Ulin’s new play Judgment Day, a virtual staged reading of the new play Eleanor by BSC Associate Artist Mark St. Germain, a reading of Three Viewings by Jeffrey Hatcher, a reading of St. Germain’s Typhoid Mary, and BSC’s Holiday Getaway. This year, the company’s streaming productions also have included the critically acclaimed 10th anniversary 10×10 New Play Festival, and upcoming readings of the commissioned work Mother’s Day (April 9-11) by Bekah Brunstetter and the Barrington Stage Company’s Youth Theatre’s production of The Laramie Project (April 23-25).