PITTSFIELD, MA—Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) has been named Best Live Theatre in The Berkshire Eagle’s 2026 Best of the Berkshires—and after a season like this one, BTG is taking a well-earned bow.
Bold plays. Exceptional artists. Performances that brought audiences to laughter, tears and everything in between. From the intimate power of The Unicorn Theatre to the exuberance of The Colonial Theatre, BTG’s 2026 season has given audiences—and critics—plenty to talk about. Now, voters have added the title: Best Live Theatre.
“Our artists, our staff and everyone who makes this work possible have delivered an extraordinary season,” said Kate Maguire, BTG’s Artistic Director, CEO. “The ambition, the talent, the sheer force of what has happened on our stages deserves to be celebrated. We’re proud of this company. We’re proud of this season. And we are absolutely proud to be named Best Live Theatre.”
The season makes a compelling case.
At The Unicorn Theatre, John & Jen set the bar early, showcasing Samantha Gershman and Jake Bentley Young in a musical that Berkshire Fine Arts called “unique, remarkable and rare.” Berkshire on Stage put it plainly: “What a superb way to begin the 2026 season!”
The regional premiere of Chess Jakobs’ The American Five, directed by Gerry McIntyre, brought urgency, wit and formidable performances to the story of the people behind the 1963 March on Washington. Berkshire on Stage called it “a passionate and compelling piece of theatre with humanity and wit,” praising McIntyre’s “pinpoint direction and choreography.”
Then came Lovesong. Directed by Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn and featuring Karen Allen, David Garrison, Rebecca Brooksher and Shawn Fagan, Abi Morgan’s portrait of a marriage demonstrated just how much theatrical power four extraordinary actors can generate. Demand extended the production’s run before it even opened. The Times Union described it as “the play equivalent of an exquisite composition for a string quartet.” The Theater Mirror praised its “breathtakingly affecting ending” and delivered a succinct verdict: “Highly recommended.”
At The Colonial Theatre, Matthew López’s The Legend of Georgia McBride, directed and choreographed by Isadora Wolfe, turned up the volume, the glamour and the comic firepower. Michael Wartella and Kyle Taylor Parker led a company that brought drag, transformation and unapologetic theatrical exuberance to the Colonial stage. Berkshire on Stage hailed it as “Such an uplifting and enjoyable production—a tour de force by an outstanding cast and an unparalleled design team.” The Berkshire Edge declared: “The fine cast and director deliver every moment of the play in a perfect way.”
And 1776, directed by David Adkins, brought artists from the surrounding community together on the Colonial stage for a musical about the arguments, ambitions and contradictions behind the founding of a nation.
Intimate musicals, powerful dramas, spectacular comedy and a community coming together onstage: this season had range.
The victory lap is still live onstage.
Now playing through October 31, David Auburn’s Summer, 1976, directed by Isadora Wolfe and featuring two-time Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and accomplished stage and screen actor Jennifer Van Dyck, is bringing the season another round of rave reviews.
The Berkshire Eagle praised its “two enormously skilled actors,” describing the production as “in intelligent and feeling hands.” And iBerkshires delivered the kind of assessment that deserves its own spotlight: “a magnificent masterpiece.”
Best Live Theatre is an audience verdict. This season’s reviews supply a formidable supporting argument.
BTG intends to keep giving people something to applaud.
Tickets to Summer, 1976, running through October 31 on The Larry Vaber Stage at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, are available at BerkshireTheatreGroup.org or by calling 413-997-4444.
