Pittsfield, MA – Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) and Kate Maguire (Artistic Director, CEO) are pleased to announce the appointment of William “Smitty” Pignatelli as Director of Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Pignatelli will lead BTG’s Save The Playhouse Initiative, a major campaign to renovate and restore The Playhouse, the historic cornerstone of BTG’s Stockbridge campus.
A lifelong Berkshire County resident, Pignatelli brings over four decades of leadership and public service experience to BTG. After serving 22 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 3rd Berkshire District, he retired in January 2025. During his tenure, he held key positions including Vice Chair of the House Rules Committee and membership on committees focused on education, financial services and tourism, arts and cultural development.
Prior to his distinguished career in public office, Pignatelli worked as an entrepreneur and in the banking sector, while maintaining a strong commitment to civic service. He served on the Lenox Planning Board, the Lenox Board of Selectmen (including multiple terms as Chairman) and as a Berkshire County Commissioner. A steadfast supporter of cultural organizations, he holds an honorary doctorate from MCLA and a financial degree from Babson College.
“I am thrilled to join Berkshire Theatre Group at this pivotal moment,” said Pignatelli. “The Playhouse is not only an architectural treasure but a living symbol of Berkshire County’s artistic legacy. I look forward to working closely with the BTG team and the broader community to ensure that this historic venue continues to inspire future generations.”
“We are deeply honored to welcome Smitty to BTG,” said Kate Maguire. “His passion for our community, deep understanding of civic leadership, and long-standing support for the arts make him uniquely suited to guide this critical campaign. The Playhouse has endured for nearly a century, and with Smitty’s leadership, we are confident it will thrive for the next hundred years.”
Built in 1888 and transformed into a theater in 1928, The Playhouse is one of the nation’s oldest regional theatres. BTG’s Save The Playhouse Initiative aims to preserve its rich legacy while ensuring it can serve artists and audiences for the next 100 years.For more information about Berkshire Theatre Group and the Save The Playhouse Initiative, visit www.berkshiretheatre.org.
About Berkshire Theatre Group
Founded in 2010 through the merger of The Colonial Theatre (est. 1903) and the Berkshire Theatre Festival (est. 1928), Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) operates four distinct performance spaces across its historic campuses in Pittsfield and Stockbridge. In 2028, BTG will celebrate a major milestone—100 years of continuous theatre in the Berkshires. Under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, BTG has expanded its programming to include award-winning theatre, music, dance and year-round educational offerings. Each year, BTG engages more than 68,000 patrons and reaches approximately 10,000 students through its BTG PLAYS! education program. In 2020, BTG became the first theatre company in the United States to receive approval from Actors’ Equity Association to produce a musical during the COVID-19 pandemic. That production of Godspell marked a national turning point for live performance. BTG remains committed to preserving and revitalizing its historic venues. The Colonial Theatre, originally opened in 1903 and restored in 2006, continues to serve as a cultural anchor in downtown Pittsfield. Planned improvements to the Stockbridge Playhouse further reflect BTG’s dedication to honoring its storied past while building for the future