Pittsfield, MA – Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) and Kate Maguire (Artistic Director, CEO) are excited to announce casting for the upcoming production of Conor McPherson’s The Weir, a haunting tale of Irish folklore and revelation.
At The Unicorn Theatre
The Weir
written by Conor McPherson
directed by Eric Hill
movement direction by Isadora Wolfe
scenic design by Randall Parsons
costume design by Amy Avila
lighting design by Matthew E. Adelson
composition and sound design by Scott Killian
casting by Kelly Gillespie and Caparelliotis Casting
on The Larry Vaber Stage
at The Unicorn Theatre
Previews: Thursday, September 26 at 7pm and Friday, September 27 at 7pm
Opening & Press Night: Saturday, September 28 at 7pm
Closing: Sunday, October 27 at 2pm
Tickets: Preview $50
Tickets: $58
Recommended for ages 14 and up.
ABOUT
Step into a windswept County Leitrim pub in rural Ireland where the chill in the air isn’t just from the storm outside. Tony Award-nominated playwright Conor McPherson’s celebrated play The Weir unfolds as a captivating and evocative evening set in a small, remote pub, drawing audiences into a world where tales of folklore and the supernatural weave an enchanting, yet eerie, atmosphere.
As the night unfolds amidst the howling wind and crackling fire, Finbar, Jack and Jim captivate the newcomer, Valerie, with their ghostly anecdotes. The atmosphere thickens with suspense and hints of the supernatural, each story woven intricately into the rich fabric of Ireland’s haunting traditions. Yet, when Valerie, a recent arrival from Dublin, unveils her own poignant tale, the mood shifts dramatically, leaving the men spellbound by her revelation.
The play unfolds as a tapestry of supernatural narratives interwoven with personal tragedies, showcasing the haunting power of storytelling that binds individuals together in unexpected ways. McPherson’s deft touch and the raw emotions brought forth by the characters create an unforgettable theatrical experience that lingers long after the curtain falls.
The Weir promises an unforgettable exploration of human connection, the echoes of personal haunting, and the mystical allure of Ireland’s folklore, captivating audiences with its hauntingly evocative storytelling.
This production will be directed by Eric Hill and feature Sean Bridgers as Jack; Joey Collins as Jim; Stephanie Jean Lane as Valerie; Harry Smith as Finbar and Philip Themio Stoddard as Brendan.
The Weir ‘s creative team consists of direction by Eric Hill, movement direction by Isadora Wolfe, scenic design by Randall Parsons, costume design by Amy Avila, lighting design by Matthew E. Adelson, composition and sound design by Scott Killian, dialect coaching by Jennifer Scapetis, stage management by Caroline Ragland, assistant to the director Haas Regen, production assistant Victoria Coulter and casting direction by Kelly Gillespie, CSA and David Caparelliotis/Caparelliotis Casting.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Sean Bridgers (Jack) is happily returning to the stage after decades of work in front of the camera. His last stage appearance was in the original adaptation of Michael Ondaatje’s The Collected Works of Billy the Kid at La Jolla Playhouse, directed by Des McAnuff. In television, Sean starred in Elmore Leonard’s series Get Shorty, opposite Chris O’Dowd and Ray Romano. He is often known for his Series Regular roles in HBO’s award-winning western Deadwood and in Sundance TV’s southern gothic drama Rectify. Sean also starred opposite Renée Zellweger in NBC’s limited series The Thing About Pam. Next up, Sean recurs in Apple TV+’s Government Cheese, a parabolic comedy series set in the 1960s, starring David Oyelowo. In film, Sean starred opposite Oscar Winner Brie Larson in A24’s psychological thriller Room (Oscar Nominee, Best Picture). He worked with acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino in Bones and All, and Sean reprised his role in HBO’s feature Deadwood: The Movie. Additional film work includes The Magnificent Seven, Free State of Jones, Trumbo, The Best of Me and Sweet Home Alabama. Sean will next appear in Robert Kryzkowski’s feature Grendel alongside Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliott and Bryan Cranston. Sean is represented by Innovative and Trademark Talent.
Joey Collins (Jim) BTG: At Home at the Zoo (BTCA Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play), The Homecoming (BTCA Nomination), The Petrified Forest. Broadway: The Glass Menagerie, Rock n’ Roll, The Lonesome West. National Tour: To Kill A Mockingbird. Off-Broadway: Galileo; alice, Alice, ALICE!; 1599; The Good Soul of Setzuan; Straight Faced Lies; St. Joan of the Stockyards; Vieux Carré; Bug; Beasley’s Christmas Party; Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde; Apartment 3A; and The Antigone Project. Recent world premiere: Mark St. Germain’s Forgiveness at Barrington Stage. Regional theatre: Contemporary American Theater Festival, Playmakers Rep., Indiana Rep., Rep. Theatre of St. Louis, Berkeley Rep., Yale Rep., Pioneer Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, The Old Globe, Cape Playhouse, A.C.T. in San Francisco, Merrimack Rep., Cincinnati Playhouse & others. Film: There Is A Monster, Dottie’s Thanksgiving Pickle with Olympia Dukakis, There You Are, Enough Is Enough, Bittersweet, Chest Candy. Television: Luke Cage, Law and Order, Kidnapped, All My Children, Guiding Light, As the World Turns. www.joeycollins.net @MrJoeyCollins
Stephanie Jean Lane (Valerie) Berkshire Theatre Group debut. Theater: Boeing Boeing (Barrington Stage Company), King Lear (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Sleep No More (Off-Broadway), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Elm Shakespeare), Concrete Orange (Guthrie Theater), workshops at Lincoln Center & The Public. TV/Film: Law & Order (NBC), Elementary (CBS), After This Death, Enloquecer, Undecided and Dish. Stephanie creates original work for stage and film and is a member of Society Theatre collective. Her first short film, Fort Trumbull, starring her dad, Colin Lane, won Best Narrative Short at the Mystic Film Festival.
Harry Smith (Finbar) Berkshire Theatre Group: Copenhagen. Broadway: King Charles III; Hangmen. Off-Broadway: Robert Icke’s Hamlet and Oresteia (Park Avenue Armory); Plough and the Stars; Juno and the Paycock; Shadow of a Gunman (Irish Rep). Regional: The Tempest (Guthrie); King Charles III (ACT, Seattle Rep, Shakespeare Theatre DC); Dancing at Lughnasa (Two River); The Explorer’s Club (Delaware Theatre Co); Body of an American; The Real Thing; Rapture, Blister, Burn (Wilma Theater); The Mousetrap; An Ideal Husband (Walnut Street Theatre). UK: The Merchant of Venice (Edinburgh Royal Lyceum); Twelfth Night; Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Bristol Old Vic). Television: DOC, The Gilded Age , Sprung, Blacklist, Elementary, Jessica Jones, The Good Wife, Crossbones Film: Freedom; The Goldfinch. Training: Bristol Old Vic; Cambridge University. Thanks to BWA & Ann Kelly.
Philip Themio Stoddard (Brendan) Broadway: Camelot (LCT). New York/Regional: The Extinctionist (Heartbeat Opera), P.Y.G. (NYTW), Sabina (Portland Stage), Don Giovanni (Chautauqua Opera), Oklahoma! (Weston Playhouse), Children of Eden (Phoenix Theater), Father Comes Home from the Wars: Parts 1, 2, & 3 (Juilliard), The Tempest (Oregon Symphony). TV: The Gilded Age. Film: Target, Winner of the Lotte Lenya Vocal Competition. Training: Juilliard.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
Eric Hill (Director) directed Berkshire Theatre Group’s productions of A Christmas Carol; Copenhagen; Edward Albee’s Seascape; Shirley Valentine; Holiday Memories; The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?; Naked; At Home at the Zoo (The Zoo Story); The Homecoming; Thoreau or, Return to Walden; Poe; Benefactors; A Christmas Carol; Oklahoma!; A Chorus Line; The Who’s Tommy as well as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Neil Ellenoff Stage at the Mount. Additional BTG directing credits include: Macbeth, Endgame, Faith Healer, The Einstein Project, Amadeus, The Glass Menagerie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Caretaker. Previous acting credits include: Deathtrap, A Man for All Seasons, Dimetos, The Father and Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (2006–2019).
Isadora Wolfe (Movement Director) has created movement for many BTG productions including this season’s Abe Lincoln in Illinois and Pipe Dream, A Christmas Carol, The Einstein Project, Holiday Memories, The Importance of Being Earnest, Macbeth, Once, Dracula, Edward Albee’s Seascape, and Skin of Our Teeth. She has worked with choreographers and directors such as Johannes Wieland, Martha Clarke, Mark Dendy, Maxine Doyle and Richard Jones. Isadora is now an Artistic Associate for Punchdrunk (UK), after her post as Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director for the NYC production of Sleep No More. Isadora is adjunct faculty at The Juilliard School. www.isadoramovementarts.com
Randall Parsons (Scenic Designer) Past seasons at BTG: Songs For A New World, dir: Gerry McIntyre; Footloose, dir: Kathy Jo Grover; Godspell, dir: Alan Filderman; What the Jews Believe, dir: Mark Harelik; What We May Be, Coming Back Like a Song!, Arsenic and Old Lace, and White Christmas, dir: Gregg Edelman; Tarzan and Shrek The Musical, dir: Travis Daly; Copenhagen, Edward Albee’s Seascape, Shirley Valentine, Holiday Memories, The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?, Naked and At Home at the Zoo, dir: Eric Hill; Lost Lake, dir: Daisy Walker; Finnian’s Rainbow, A Thousand Clowns and Same Time, Next Year, dir: Kyle Fabel; The Mystery of Irma Vep and Deathtrap, dir: Aaron Mark. Other recent designs include: Pride and Prejudice, dir: Jason O’Connell, Playhouse on Park; Tinker to Evers to Chance and Home of the Brave, dir: Sean Daniels, Merrimack Repertory Theatre; A Little Night Music, dir: Clayton Phillips, The Barnstormers Theatre; The Bridges of Madison County, Sweeney Todd, Nine, Jekyll and Hyde, A Christmas Carol, Big River and Saturday Night Fever, dir: Jeffrey Sanzel, Theatre Three (as resident designer). Art Direction: Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style (Bravo), The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) and Mike Birbiglia’s Thank God for Jokes (Netflix). MFA: NYU Tisch. Proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, IATSE.
Amy Avila (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be designing another show at BTG! Previous BTG credits include: A Christmas Carol, Disney’s Frozen Jr., Disney’s Moana Jr., The Secret Garden: Spring Version, Footloose, and four shows from The Magic Treehouse series. Other previous design credits include: The Addams Family Musical, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, and Almost, Maine. She has worked for various organizations across the country, including Sarasota Opera, Gulfshore Playhouse, and Nebraska Repertory Theatre. MFA, Florida State University.
Matthew E. Adelson (Lighting Designer) Previously for BTG: Copenhagen, Edward Albee’s Seascape, Once, White Christmas, Shirley Valentine, Nina Simone: Four Women,The Wizard of Oz, Holiday Memories, Godspell, A Christmas Carol (2006 to 2019), Shrek The Musical, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, Naked, Tarzan, The Music Man, Fiorello! (Stockbridge and New York), Thoreau, Poe, Tommy, Babes in Arms, Red Remembers, The Einstein Project, Broadway By The Year, A Man for All Seasons, Caretaker, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Glass Menagerie, Amadeus, Rat in the Skull, The Misanthrope, Floyd Collins, Talley’s Folly, A Saint She Ain’t (Stockbridge and Westport), Miss Julie, Dream Play, Love’s Fire, Secret Lives of the Sexists and Life’s A Dream. He has also designed extensively throughout the Berkshires, for Great Barrington Public Theater (including The Stones and Just Another Day this season), Barrington Stage, Chester Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Berkshire Opera, Jacob’s Pillow and Williams College, among others. Previously this fall: Savage/Love & Tongues (Bardavon at the Woodstock Playhouse). Matthew is the Production Manager for Five College Dance, in the Pioneer Valley (Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith colleges and UMass Amherst) and was the Director of Production for the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center from 2005 to 2014. MFA: Yale Drama School.
Scott Killian (Composer & Sound Designer) Scott is happy to be working once again with director Eric Hill, marking their 6th collaboration. As BTG’s Resident Sound Designer, Scott has designed over 50 productions. NYC venues include: Primary Stages (Final Follies), Manhattan Theatre Club (Sarah, Sarah; Five by Tenn; A Picasso (Lucille Lortel nom.); The Other Side), Red Bull Theatre (Volpone, Duchess of Malfi, Women Beware Women, Edward the Second), Rattlestick Theatre (Steve and Idi, Miss Julie), MCC (Side Effects), New York Theater Workshop (A Forest in Arden), The Public Theater (Lenny and the Heartbreakers), Westside Theatre (Clever Little Lies). Many regional theaters, including: George Street Playhouse (over 25 productions), The Alley Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre (DC), Huntington Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse, Baltimore’s Center Stage, Vancouver Playhouse, Theatre Calgary, et al. Original music for dance: Zvi Gotheiner (Resident Composer), Shapiro and Smith Dance (Resident Composer), Cherylyn Lavagnino (Artistic Associate), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Nikolais-Louis Dance, The Jose Limon Company.
Jennifer Scapetis (Resident Dialect Coach) Jennifer’s coaching credits for Berkshire Theatre Group include: Photograph 51, On Cedar St, Dracula, Once, Shirley Valentine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Holiday Memories, What the Jews Believe, Outside Mullingar, Church & State and A Christmas Carol. Other coaching credits include work for Goodspeed Musicals, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Bated Breath Theatre at 59E59 NYC, Bay Street Theater, Playhouse on Park West Hartford, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, The Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Saratoga Shakespeare Company, Dirty Pretty Theatre at 45 Downstairs (Melbourne, Australia), The Rose Theatre Bankside (London), Oval Theatre (London) and the short film: Crime Wave. Jennifer teaches on the MFA and BFA Acting programs at University of Connecticut and coaches for the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. She holds an MFA in Voice Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and trained as an Actor at ArtsEd, London. Jennifer has performed in theatre, film, TV and audio drama/narration. www.jenniferscapetis.com
Caroline Ragland (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at Berkshire Theatre Group this fall for The Weir! Previous stage management credits include: Copenhagen (BTG); Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (ZACH); Candida (Gingold Theatrical); Goldie, Max & Milk (59e59); Golem Owned a Tropical Smoothie (54 Below); As You Like It (Shakespeare on the Sound); Housewives of Secaucus, Metamorphosis (Actors Temple Theatre); Rearview Mirror (Theatre Center); Fourscore and Seven Years Ago, My Heart in a Suitcase & Judy Moody and Stink (ArtsPower); Nine, Pippin, Head Over Heels & Ubu Rock (New Studio on Broadway); The Little Mermaid Jr., A Peter Rabbit Tale & Next to Normal (Mill Mountain Theatre); All Hallow’s Eve (Connelly Theatre, Dir. Martin P. Robinson); The Notebook (Developmental Workshop) & Short Shakespeare! Macbeth (Chicago Shakespeare). A graduate of CCPA at Roosevelt University, she holds a BFA in Musical Theatre.
David Caparelliotis/Caparelliotis Casting (Casting Director) Select Broadway: Mary Jane, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Grey House, Ohio State Murders, Cost of Living, Macbeth, The Minutes, Skeleton Crew, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, King Lear, The Waverly Gallery, The Boys in the Band, A Doll’s House, Part 2, Jitney, The Glass Menagerie. Additional theater includes: MTC, The Old Globe, Signature Theatre Company, Atlantic Theater Company. TV/Film: New Amsterdam (NBC), The Boys in the Band for Netflix (Original Casting).
Kelly Gillespie, CSA (Casting Director) has been on the casting staff at Manhattan Theatre Club for 17 seasons. Favorite MTC projects include Prayer for French Republic (Broadway and Off-Broadway), Mary Jane, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, The Best We Could, Skeleton Crew, Ink, Choir Boy and The Explorers Club. Other credits include Bite Me, Sancocho, Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, What We’re Up Against, Sundown Yellow Moon and Ironbound (WP Theater); Melancholy Play, A Map of Virtue, The Zero Hour and Monstrosity (13P); Good Person of Szechwan (Foundry and Public Theater); Photograph 51 (Ensemble Studio Theatre); Exclusion and POTUS (Arena Stage); Age of Innocence and Trouble In Mind (The Old Globe); Two Sisters and a Piano (Two River Theater); and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America, Residence, Seven Guitars, 4000 Miles, Dot, The Roommate and Eat Your Heart Out (Actors Theatre of Louisville). Gillespie also was resident casting director for several seasons for the Off-Broadway companies TACT and Keen Company. She holds a BA from the University of Michigan.
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Season Discounts & Ticket Information
BTGY (Young Adult)
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 can purchase one ticket to any BTG produced show for $30 (fees included). This offer is available by phone or in person only. Additionally, one BTG presented show ticket may be purchased for 10% off the single ticket price (rental events not included).
EBT Card to Culture Program
The EBT Card to Culture program in partnership with the Mass Cultural Council and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Department of Transitional Assistance, is available to anyone with EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare Insurance. This offer includes four tickets for performances or events at The Colonial Theatre and two tickets for performances at The Unicorn Theatre per household at the rate of $5 each. All additional fees are waived. Tickets are subject to availability as seating is limited. This offer is available by phone or in person only.
Berkshire Resident
Full-time Berkshire residents receive a 25% discount to any Friday BTG produced show. Limit two tickets per patron per performance. Exclusions include previews, openings and special events. Tickets must be purchased by phone or in person at our box office. A valid Berkshire County driver’s license is required when picking up tickets.
Massachusetts Teachers Association
Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) members are eligible for a discount of 20% off orders to any BTG show. Education is a core value of BTG, and we appreciate those who are doing the work in our community. To redeem this discount, mention it while ordering over the phone at 413-997-4444, or in person at our box office.
Military Personnel
U.S military personnel, veterans and their immediate families are eligible for a discount of 20% off orders to any BTG show to extend our gratitude to those who have served or are currently serving our country in the US armed forces. To redeem this discount, mention it while ordering over the phone at 413-997-4444, or in person at our box office.
AAA
AAA members are eligible for 10% off on orders to any BTG show. To redeem this discount, mention it while ordering over the phone at 413-997-4444, or in person at our box office.
Tickets for all of BTG’s exciting productions are on sale now. All plays, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change. To purchase tickets, visit www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org or contact the Colonial Box Office by calling 413-997-4444.
The Box Office is open Tuesday through Sunday 12pm-5pm or on any performance day from 12pm until curtain. BTG’s Pittsfield Campus is located at 111 South Street, (The Colonial Theatre) Pittsfield, MA. BTG’s Stockbridge Campus is located at 6 East Street, (The Unicorn Theatre) Stockbridge, MA.
Safety Protocols
For safety protocols, please visit BTG’s COVID-19 information page:
www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/covid-19-information/
About Berkshire Theatre Group
The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. In 2010, under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, the two organizations merged to form Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG). Berkshire Theatre Group’s mission is to support wide ranging artistic exploration and acclaimed performances in theatre, dance, music and entertainment. Every year, BTG produces and presents performances to over 68,000 attendees and, through our Educational Program, serves over 10,000 Berkshire County school children annually. In July
2020, Berkshire Theatre was the first company in the United States to earn approval from
Actors’ Equity Association to produce a musical (Godspell) in the wake of the COVID-19
Pandemic.