Great Barrington Public Theater unpacks summer season. Set to stage three premieres, running May 31-August 11, in two theaters at the Daniel Arts Center, Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
Recognized for consistently bringing top-flight new theater to the Berkshires, this summer Great Barrington Public Theater will stage three brand-new works, from a day in the park that rescues the possibility of love, to a speakeasy cabaret that introduces Berkshire audiences to a powerhouse singer with an amazing stage presence.
“We’ve put together a fantastic lineup of brand-new shows,” GBPT Artistic Director Jim Frangione says. “We want to offer audiences an array of choices with a range of programming, from heartfelt drama to rousing cabaret and comedy. We’re, of course, once again working with and showcasing tremendously talented artists and crews that call the Berkshires and neighboring towns home. This is going to be a season for everyone who loves great stories, great theater and high entertainment.”
The season opens with the world premiere of Dog People(May 31-June16), in the Liebowitz black box theater. It’s a meaningful, affective story by respected actor-playwright Leigh Strimbeck, who developed the script as a member of Berkshire Voices, the playwriting cohort affiliated with GB Public. Dog People is about two people, two dogs, one day in the park. The dogs are rescues and the people need rescuing. Who rescues who? GBPT Associate Artistic Director Judy Braha will direct. The two-person cast is Sheila Bandyopadhyay playing Jesse and Betty the dog and Chris Tucci as Avery and Atila the dog.
Next, opening on the McConnell Theater mainstage, comes the American premiere of Survival of the Unfit(July 6-July 21) It’s an honest, take-no-prisoners parlor dramedy by Oren Safdie. A recent hit at the Moscow Theater of The Modern Play, Survival of the Unfit takes audiences to a mercilessly comic meet-the-parents dinner party where honesty is dished up, along with just desserts. Touching on themes of love, loss, loyalty, and acceptance of others shortcomings, it redefines what family means. Matt Penn will direct the four-person cast.
GBPT’s final show of the high summer weeks, Night at the Speakeasy (July 26-Aug. 11), is the premiere of an alluring new, full-stage cabaret show spotlighting Janelle Farias Sando, whose performance at GBPT’s 2023 gala at St. James Place rattled the rafters and brought the audience to its feet.
A wonderful actor and singer, flagged by American Theater Magazine as a name to watch, and most recently in performance at the March 2024 Broadway Cares benefit, Janelle Farias Sando brings electrifying presence and vocal range to her stage roles. Under the direction of Wendy Welch, plans are to seat the audience on the stage in the mix of an after-hours, bootleg club, for a saucy performance of Broadway show tunes, all-time classics from the American songbook and some surprising genre crossovers.
Audiences will get a preview of Night at the Speakeasy at the GB Public benefit bash, 6pm, June 7, in the Daniel Arts Center, Bard College at Simon’s Rock. The evening will include hors d’oeuvres and cocktail reception before a first look at the late-night club show.
The company performs at the Liebowitz and McConnell Theaters in the Daniel Arts Center, five minutes from downtown Great Barrington, on the campus of Bard College at Simon’s Rock, 84 Alford Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Tickets to the new season and June 7 benefit go on sale April 12 on the GBPT website and by phone 413-372-1980 or email GBPTboxoffice@gmail.com.
The coming summer also brings together a production of Shakespeare & Company in association with GB Public. Flight of the Monarch, written by Jim Frangione, directed by Judy Braha and featuring Allyn Burrows and Corrina May will play Aug. 3-25 in Shakespeare & Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theater. This dark comedy set on Cape Cod explores how two siblings’ lifelong connections unravels when one loses her way and makes a bold request. Tickets to Flight of the Monarch are available on the Shakespeare & Company site and box office (413) 637-3353.
Also on the calendar, coming April 11, 5pm at the Triplex Cinema, Great Barrington, a one-time-only screening of Freud’s Last Session to benefit GBPT and the Triplex. Based on Mark St. Germain’s award-winning play, the film stars Anthony Hopkins and Matthew Goode. There’s a talkback with Mark St. Germain after the screening and a post-show lobby reception featuring food and wine. Tickets to this special event are available on the Triplex website.
Leading into summer, GBPT invites all theater lovers to a continuing series of FREE events, presented at St. James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington
Tuesday, April 30th, 7pm
FREE reading of a varied selection of brand new, 10-minute short plays from Berkshire Voices. Co-directed by Liam Castellan and Joshua Briggs, the play titles and casts will be named soon.
Thursday, May 1st, 7pm
FREE reading of latest version of Anne Undeland’s marvelous new play Madame Mozart, The Lacrymosa, featuring actors Tara Franklin and Ryan Winkles, with Larry Wallach playing excerpts on piano. Directed by GB Public Associate Artistic Director Judy Braha.
Tuesday, May 14th, 7pm
FREE reading of a new full-length play from Berkshire Voices
Title, playwright, director and cast will be named soon.
Great Barrington Public Theater was founded by Jim Frangione and Deann Simmons Halper to create opportunities for theater artists in the Berkshires and neighboring regions. Great Barrington Public Theater recognizes the many excellent playwrights, actors, directors, designers, administrators and technicians living in the Berkshires and surrounding areas. Our objective is to bring a mix of new plays to the stage in a variety of formats; to generate and foster creative and rigorous opportunity for local theater artists, while engaging our theatergoing public with new and contemporary readings, workshops, and fully-staged productions, involving local talent as often as possible and keeping ticket prices affordable.