The 2024 Berkshire Theatre Critics Awards, aka The Berkies, were presented on Monday, November 11 in the Zion Lutheran Church Community Room, on First Street in Pittsfield MA. Presenters included J. Peter Bergman, Paul Sugarman, Mark G. Auerbach, and Berkshire on Stage critics Macey G. Levin, Barbara Waldinger, and Paula Kaplan-Reiss. The ceremony opened this year with a special opening number written and performed by Paula Kaplan-Reiss, with Gary P. Kaplan at the piano. Patrick White, local actor, director, and founder of Harbinger Theatre, announced plans for The Capital Region Festival of Theatre, scheduled for June of 2025.
Once again, Pittsfield-based Barrington Stage Company (BSC) was the big winner of the evening with their productions of Next to Normal, La Cage Aux Folles, Primary Trust, and Boeing, Boeing taking home many top prizes. The Mac-Haydn Theatre, in Chatham, NY, tied with BSC artists in the categories of Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Direction of a Musical, and with artists from the Berkshire Theatre Festival for Outstanding Sound Design.
Easthampton resident Jay Sefton was awarded the Berkie for Outstanding Solor Performance and the Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for World Premiere of a NEW Play for Unreconciled, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill that was presented by the Chester Theatre Company last summer. The Sugarmans’ son, Paul, was on hand to present the award to Sefton.
Stage manager Hope Rose Kelly was honored with a special award in memory of Robert J. Bruyr, a stage manager by profession and a founding member of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association who passed away in April. His widower, J. Peter Bergman, presented the award.
The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater was presented to the Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, CT, for their community and education efforts.
Nominated twice in the lighting design category, John Sowle of the Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, NY, took home that award for his work on The Glass Menagerie. Leigh Strimbeck won Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Play for her performance as Amanda Wingfield in that production.
The Berkshire Opera Festival’s production of Faust by Charles Gounod won the Berkie for the Outstanding Production with Fewer Than Six Performances.
For the first time Westfield Community Programming livestreamed the awards ceremony. It was broadcast on westfieldtv.org, and is currently posted to YouTube on WSKB Community Radio‘s platform.
1. Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play:
WINNER: Kate MacCluggage, Boeing Boeing – Barrington Stage Company
A. Abby Bums, Uncle Vanya – Bridge Street Theatre
B. Etta Grover, Steel Magnolias – Sharon Playhouse
C. Sarah Keyes; Survival of the Unfit – Great Barrington Public Theater
E. Hilary Ward, Primary Trust – Barrington Stage Company
2. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play:
Winner: Kyle Haden, Primary Trust, – Barrington Stage Company
A. Brandon Dial, Lincoln #1, Abe Lincoln in Illinois – Berkshire Theatre Group
B. Abuzar Farrukh, Big Big Sky – Chester Theatre Company
D. Tony Pallone, August, Osage County – Schenectady Civic Playhouse
E. Bill Shein, All My Sons – Ghent Playhouse
3. Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play or Musical:
WINNER: Christopher and Justin Swader, The Beauty Queem of Leenane – Dorset Theatre Festival
A Mike Billings, Young Frankenstein – Berkshire Theatre Group
B. Wilson Chin and Nick Hussong, Next to Normal – Barrington Stage Company
C. Peter Colao, The Play That Goes Wrong – Majestic Theater
D. Afsoon Pajoufar, English – Barrington Stage Company
E. Brian Prather, Seared – theRep
4. Outstanding Choreography:
WINNER (TIE): Paul McGill, La Cage Aux Folles – Barrington Stage Company
WINNER (TIE): Mandy Modic, Something Rotten – Mac-Haydn Theatre
A. Bryan Knowlton, West Side Story – Mac-Haydn Theatre
B. Shannon Lewis, Rock of Ages – Sharon Playhouse
E. Krystyna Resav, The Prom – Sharon Playhouse
F. Andrew Turtletaub, All Shook Up – Mac-Haydn Theatre
5. Outstanding Direction of a Musical:
WINNER (TIE): Alan Paul, Next to Normal – Barrington Stage Company
WINNER (TIE): John Saunders, The Fantasticks – Mac-Haydn Theatre
A. Carl Andress, The Prom – Sharon Playhouse
B. Mike Donahue, La Cage Aux Folles – Barrington Stage Company
E. John Saunders, Something Rotten – Mac-Haydn Theatre
6. Outstanding Costume Design of a Play or Musical:
WINNER (TIE): Govane Lohbauer, The Comedy of Errors – Shakespeare and Company
WINNER (TIE): Rodrigo Munoz/Benjamin Weigel, La Cage Aux Folles, Barrington Stage Company
A. Barbara Erin Dalo. Young Frankenstein – Berkshire Theatre Group
B. Kathleen Deangelis, Rock of Ages – Sharon Playhouse
C. Cynthia Flynt, Amor and Psyche – Living Room Theatre
7. Outstanding Solo Performance:
WINNER: Jay Sefton, Unreconciled – Chester Theatre Company
A. Lena Kaminsky, 2.5 Minute Ride – Hartford Stage
B. Elizabeth Ward Land. Moondance – Mac-Haydn Theatre
C. Kelly McAndrew, Sidekicked – Dorset Theatre Festival
D. Janelle Farias Sando, Night at the Speakeasy – Great Barrington Public Theater
8. Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical:
WINNER: Madison McBride, Next to Normal – Barrington Stage Company
A. Veanne Cox, Young Frankenstein – Berkshire Theatre Group
C. Michele Ragusa, La Cage aux Folles – Barrington Stage Company
D. Savannah Stevenson, The Prom – Sharon Playhouse
E. Monica M. Wemitt, Sister Act – Mac-Haydn Theatre
9. Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play or Musical:
WINNER: John Sowle, Glass Menagerie – Bridge Street Theatre
A. Evan Anderson, Constellations – Ancram Center for the Arts
B. Andrew Gmoser, Something Rotten – Mac-Haydn Theatre
C. Hailey O’Leary, The Lifespan of a Fact – Sharon Playhouse
D. Cory Pattak, Next to Normal – Barrington Stage Company
F. John Sowle, Griswold – Bridge Street Theatre
10. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical:
WINNER: Adante Carter, Next To Normal – Barrington Stage Company
A. Gabe Belyeu, The Fantasticks – Mac-Haydn Theatre
C. Danny Drewes, The Prom – Sharon Playhouse
D. Xander James Tsunodo, Something Rotten – Mac-Haydn Theatre
E. Kevin Weldon, Something Rotten – Mac-Haydn Theatre
11. Outstanding Direction of a Play:
WINNER: Jennifer Chang, Primary Trust – Barrington Stage Company
A. Julianne Boyd, Boeing, Boeing – Barrington Stage Company
C. Michelle Joyner, True Art – Dorset Theatre Festival
D. Regge Life, The Islanders – Shakespeare & Company
E. Matthew Penn, Survival of the Unfit – Great Barrington Public Theater
F. James Warwick. A Body of Water – Shakespeare & Company
12. Outstanding Sound Design of a Play or Musical:
WINNER (TIE): Sean McGinley, West Side Story – Mac-Haydn Theatre
WINNER (TIE): Joanna Lynn Staub, Young Frankenstein – Berkshire Theatre Group
A. Scott Killian, The Weir – Berkshire Theatre Group
C. Jane Shaw, True Art – Dorset Theatre Festival
E. Ken Travis, Next to Normal – Barrington Stage Company
13. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:
WINNER: Natalie Joy Johnson, Next to Normal – Barrington Stage Company
A. Kate Baldwin, The Prom – Sharon Playhouse
B. Paula Gaudier, West Side Story – Mac-Haydn Theatre
D. Madison Stratton, Something Rotten – Mac-Haydn Theatre
14. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical:
WINNER: Alex Michaels, La Cage aux Folles – Barrington Stage Company
A. Alan H. Green, Next to Normal – Barrington Stage Company
B. Tristan Caldwell, The Fantasticks – Mac-Haydn Theatre
C. Andrew Burton Kelley, Something Rotten – Mac-Haydn Theatre
E. John Scherer, The Prom – Sharon Playhouse
15. Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
WINNER: Boeing Boeing – Barrington Stage Company
B. ChipandGus – Bridge Street Theatre
C. The Comedy of Errors – Shakespeare & Company
D. Forgiveness – Barrington Stage Company
E. Griswold – Bridge Street Theatre
F. Something Rotten – Mac-Haydn Theatre
G. You’re a Good Man,Charlie Brown – Sharon Playhouse
16. Outstanding Production with Fewer Than Six Performances:
WINNER: Gounod’s Faust, Directed by Jonathon Loy – Berkshire Opera Festival
B. Moondance with Elizabeth Ward Land – Mac-Haydn Theatre
SPECIAL AWARD in memory of Robert J. Bruyr
Stage Manager: Hope Rose Kelly
17. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play:
WINNER: Justin Weaks, Primary Trust – Barrington Stage Company
A. Allyn Burrows, Flight of the Monarch – Shakespeare & Company
B. Mark H. Dold, Boeing Boeing – Barrington Stage Company
C. Drew Ledbetter, Constellations – Ancram Center for the Arts
D. Brett Mack, The Glass Menagerie – Bridge Street Theatre
E. Robert G. McKay, Abe Lincoln in Illinois – Berkshire Theatre Group
F. “ranney”, The Islanders – Shakespeare & Company
18. Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for World Premiere of a NEW Play:
WINNER: Unreconciled by Jay Sefton and Mark Basquill – Chester Theatre Company
A. Amor and Psyche, by Randolyn Zinn – Living Room Theatre
B. Dog People, by Leigh Strimbeck – Great Barrington Public Theater
C. Flight of the Monarch, by James Frangione – Shakespeare & Company
D. True Art, by Jessica Provenz – Dorset Theatre Festival
19. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play:
WINNER: Leigh Strimbeck, The Glass Menagerie – Bridge Street Theatre
A. Jayne Atkinson, True Art – Dorset Theatre Festival
B. Kathleen Carey, Mrs. Packard – Harbinger Theatre
C. Bella Merlin, A Body of Water – Shakespeare & Company
D. Kristine Nielsen, The Beauty Queen of Leenane – Dorset Theatre Festival
E. Debra Jo Rupp, Boeing, Boeing – Barrington Stage Company
G. Peggy Pharr Wilson, Forgiveness – Barrington Stage Company
20. The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater was presented to the Sharon Playhouse for their community and education efforts.
21. Outstanding Production of a Musical:
WINNER: Next to Normal, Book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, Music by Tom Kitt. Directed by Alan Paul. Barrington Stage Company
A. The Fantasticks, book and lyrics by Tom Jones. Music by Harvey Schmidt. Directed by John Saunders, Mac-Haydn Theatre
C. The Prom, Book by Bob Martin & Chad Beguel, Lyrics by Chad Beguel, Music by Matthew Sklar. Directed by Carl Andress. Sharon Playhouse
D. Something Rotten, Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Music and Lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick, Directed by Amy Griffin. Mac-Haydn Theatre
E. West Side Story, Bool by Arthur Laurents, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Music by Leonard Bernstein, based on a concept by Jerome Robbins, based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Directed and choreographed by Bryan Knowlton. Mac-Haydn Theatre
F. Young Frankenstein, Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Songs by Mel Brooks. Directed and choreographed by Gerry McIntyre. Berkshire Theatre Group
22. Outstanding Production of a Play:
WINNER: Boeing, Boeing, by Marc Camelotti, translated by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans. Directed by Julianne Boyd. Barrington Stage Company
B. Flight of the Monarch, by Jim Frangione. Directed by Judy Braha Shakespeare & Co. a co-production with Great Barrington Public Theater
C. The Islanders, by Carey Crim. Directed by Reggie Life. Shakespeare & Company
D. True Art, by Jessica Provenz. Directed by Michelle Joyner. Dorset Theatre Festival
E. The Play That Goes Wrong, by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer, Directed by Stephen Petit. Majestic Theater
F. Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Conor McPherson. Directed by John Sowle. Bridge Street Theatre
G. Unreconciled, by Jay Sefton and Mark Basquill. Directed by James Barry. Chester Theatre Company