5 QUESTIONS WITH DEVANTE OWENS

THE NEW SPRUCE THEATRE: SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE BERKSHIRE SKIES

For many years, the sounds of Shakespeare echoed through the trees at The Mount, Edith Wharton’s iconic Berkshire estate. Now, more than four decades after its founding, Shakespeare & Company has reimagined its legacy of outdoor performance with the creation of The New Spruce Theatre: a 500-seat amphitheater set beneath a towering shelter of trees. Not unlike the scaffold-and-canvas Tina Packer Playhouse inspired by Elizabethan theaters-inthe-round, Artistic Director Allyn Burrows said The New Spruce Theatre was designed with history in mind. “We’re thrilled that this venue can serve present and future generations of theater-lovers,” he said, noting that the stage pays homage to both Greek amphitheaters and the Company’s own history at The Mount. “Now, Shakespeare’s words resonate among these spruce trees, as they have in the pines at The Mount, and the lilacs of our Roman Garden Theatre.” Constructed in the spring of 2021, The New Spruce Theatre is the newest performance space on Shakespeare & Company’s 33-acre grounds. Our production of Shakespeare’s King Lear, featuring the incomparable Christopher Lloyd as the legendary Leir of Britain, christened its stage on July 2nd; fittingly, also the 20th anniversary of the final production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Mainstage at The Mount. The time from ground-breaking to opening night was only a matter of a few months, a speed Burrows attributes to the Company’s many supporters who recognized outdoortheater venues as one of the only ways to welcome audiences to in-person performances in a pandemic-paused world. As such, 2022 will mark The New Spruce Theatre’s first full season in operation, as well as the beginning of a new period of growth, focused on making theater as accessible for all as possible. “Outdoor performances in the summer have had profound resonance for our audiences and actors alike,” added Burrows. “We want everyone to feel welcome here—as if our venue is their backyard in the Berkshires.” As we enter our second Season at our newest venue, we continue to develop this unique space with additional beautifications and plans to enhance the patron experience while enjoying theater under the stars. We invite you to join us in supporting this one-of-a-kind venue built expressly to appreciate Shakespeare & Company’s artistry, and to continue to celebrate our 45th year of performances in the Berkshires. ■

Thank you for helping to make our dreams come true.

As we celebrate our 45th season, our dreams are in fact coming true with the realization of The New Spruce Theatre. This 500-seat venue will continue the Company’s tradition of performing outdoors under the Berkshire stars. Shakespeare & Company extends its deepest gratitude to the following donors who have made generous gifts to The New Spruce Theatre Campaign from 2021-2022 (gifts and pledges as of April 26, 2022).

Leaders ($25,000+)

Jerry and Honie Berko The Bok Family Foundation The Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick Trust Dr. Gerald and Roberta Friedman Dr. Donald and Phoebe L. Giddon Michael S. and Ricki Tigert Helfer Bev Hyman and Larry Birnbach Karen A. Kowgios and Robert Fried Greg Lipper and Kate Kohler Amory Michael A. and Annette Miller Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund Claudia K. Perles Family Foundation Jenifer and Mark Salzberg Anonymous

Sustainers ($10,000–24,999)

Helene Berger David and Jane Cohen Linda Benedict Colvin Ranny Cooper and David A. Smith Timothy and Lisa Kent Barri Marks Deborah and Bill Ryan Robert and Toni Strassler Rhea and Ken Werner

We invite you to join this list of donors by lending your support to The New Spruce Theatre Campaign. For more information on making a gift, please call Director of Development Bonnie Stevens at (413) 637-1199, ext. 180.

Supporters (under $10,000)

Henry Baker and Jerry Arko Sandy Bourgeois and Sarah Lytle Mary and Robert Cohen Nancy Edman Feldman Anita F. Heller Jeff Konowitch and Wendy Laurin Bruce Miller and Valeska O’Leary Deborah Miller and Adam Strickberger Helga S. Orthofer Melinda and Andy Rothstein Myra Sallet Barry and Marjorie Shapiro/

Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation Howard and Natalie Shawn John Douglas Thompson Dorothy and Stephen Weber Andrew B. Weinberger and Meredith Sue Willis Leone T. Young

Bryce Michael Wood, King Lear, 2021. Photo by Nile Scott Studios. Photo by Ogden Gigli, 2021.

Left to Right: Ryan Winkles, Christopher Lloyd, and Jonathan Epstein, King Lear, 2021. Photo by Nile Scott Studios.

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH COMPANY ARTIST DEVANTE OWENS

Since 2016, Devante Owens has immersed themselves in the Shakespeare & Company culture. They’ve seen our Mission and Vision at play as a Company Artist, Education Artist, member of the IDEA Committe, and a Specialized Workshop Teacher with The Center for Actor Training. They first performed with the Shakespeare & Young Company Summer Conservatory as a college student, and essentially never left, appearing in shows throughout college at Shakespeare & Company as well as The Mount, performing with the Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare, and later featuring on our main stages. Just last year, Devante appeared as Burgundy in King Lear – our first production on The New Spruce Theatre stage – alongside Christopher Lloyd in the title role. Having recently notched their New York City debut at The Tank, a non-profit venue in Manhattan that serves emerging artists, Devante returns to Shakespeare & Company this Season in the role of Conrad in Much Ado About Nothing. A true veteran of the Company, Devante has become an integral part of the culture that first drew them to us – and, we believe, just one of the keys to our future. To learn more about Devante, we asked them five questions.

Left to Right: Devante Owens, Madeleine Rose Maggio, David Bertoldi, and Rylan Morsbach, Love Labor's Lost, 2018. Photo by Eloy Garcia.