LENOX, MASS.
SEASON 2025
Dear FrienDs,
Five years ago at this time an unprecedented pandemic forced us to close down for the first time in Shakespeare & Company’s storied history. We improvised, because our imperative was to keep sharing stories of the human condition. And so, here we are. When words escape us, Shakespeare gives us language: a salve for the anxiety that comes from not knowing what’s next. We take heart that Shakespeare, with dogged curiosity, examined what makes us not just human but humane.
In hopes the pen might just be mightier than the sword, we bring you an array of stories rich in language.
The Victim, a world premiere by Lawrence Goodman that came to our attention through our Plays in Process reading series last summer, is a searing portrait of three women that asks some very pointed and revealing questions in this hurly burly world. We pivot into irreverence with Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret, where Shakespeare meets rock ’n‘ roll and creates a rollicking alchemy with an amazing band live on stage. For our outdoor mainstage production at the Arthur S. Waldstein Amphitheatre, we bring you the soaring and oft-quoted classic Romeo & Juliet, a piercing commentary on how our youth must be sacrificed in order to overcome what divides us. We’ll also bring you the rock ’em sock ’em comedy of misunderstanding The Taming of the Shrew this season, a sure bet to surprise and delight at the Tina Packer Playhouse. Keeping our foot on the gas, we offer you the tremendous August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, in association with our good friends from Actors’ Shakespeare Project in Boston. At the end of the summer, things keep popping with a collaboration with our new friends from Spirit of Circus and an exploration of what happens when you combine Shakespeare text and stunning circus
As fall arrives, we present a new work by Paula Vogel, Mother Play, fresh off a successful run in New York. That will be followed by Celebrating Jewish Plays, a wonderful weekend of staged readings. As we wrap up the year, our traditional Winter Show offers an adapted Jane Austen favorite Sense and Sensibility, by Kate Hamill. Come by for Free Community Day on Saturday, May 24, and stay for months. We’ll be right here.
The Summer Season of 2025 at Shakespeare & Company is most generously sponsored by Scott and Roxanne Bok.
Allyn Burrows Artistic Director
On the Cover: Company Artist “ranney” celebrates his fifth season with Shakespeare & Company as Wining Boy in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson. Photo by Gregory Cherin
COMMUNITY DAY
SATURDAY, MAY 24
11 am – 4 pm
Join us for a broadsword lesson. Sit back with a story hour. Listen to music at an outdoor venue, or just stroll the grounds at our second-annual free Community Day on Memorial Day Weekend! This event features live demonstrations and performances presented by our Education Program and Center for Actor Training, as well as scavenger hunts, film screenings, food trucks with lunches and snacks for purchase, and much more. We hope to welcome you as we gather with dozens of other local nonprofits, sharing the many ways we all serve the Berkshires – and beyond.
Learn more about what’s happening at Community Day at shakespeare.org!
The 2025 Community Day is made possible through the generous support of Greylock FCU, Berkshire Bank, and Berkshire Law Group.
Community Day, 2024.
Photo by Katie McKellick.
CHAIM WEIZMANN AND THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION WITH JEHUDA REINHARZ, PHD
Friday, May 30, 2 pm
Tina Packer Playhouse
The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and Shakespeare & Company present Jehuda Reinharz, PhD to lead a discussion of the life of Chaim Weizmann.
Co-author of Chaim Weizmann: A Biography, President Emeritus of Brandeis University, and recipient of the President of Israel Prize (1990 and 2024), Reinharz and co-author Motti Golani show how Weizmann, a leader of the World Zionist Organization who became the first president of Israel, advocated for a Jewish state.
This event is free, but tickets are required. Visit shakespeare.org for more information, or scan the QR code.
THE VICTIM
by Lawrence Goodman
Directed by Daniel Gidron
with Stephanie Clayman, Yvette King, and Annette Miller
JUNE 19 – JULY 20
Opening Saturday, June 21
Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
A successful New York doctor whose racial diversity training has gone horribly wrong. A health aide grappling with racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Holocaust survivor facing her own horror, and finding her way back to love and healing. Three women, three interconnected monologues. Who gets to call herself a victim? Who is the perpetrator? Presented originally at Shakespeare & Company as a reading in the 2024 Plays in Process series, The Victim is about identity, our blindness to others, and the human capacity for cruelty and compassion.
POST-SHOW TALKBACKS
• Wednesday, July 2 with director Daniel Gidron at 2 pm
• Wednesday, July 9 with Shulamit Reinharz, Founding Director of the Women’s Studies Research Center and Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at Brandeis University at 7 pm
• Thursday, July 10 with director, critic, and HRC Showcase Theatre’s Artistic Director Barbara Waldinger at 7 pm
• Wednesday, July 16 with Annette Miller at 2 pm
Check shakespeare.org for new talkbacks as they are added!
Photo: Annette Miller
SHAKE IT UP: A SHAKESPEARE CABARET POPULARBACKBYDEMAND!
Created by
Allyn
Burrows & Jacob Ming-Trent
Directed by Allyn Burrows
with Jennifer Apple, Gregory Boover, Benny ‘Fingers’ Kohn, Johnny Irion, Jennie M. Jadow, Jim ‘Chetz’ Keegan, Raya Malcolm, Merlin McCormick, Conor Meehan, Jacob Ming-Trent, and Jaclyn C. Stevenson
JULY 1 – 6
Tina Packer Playhouse
Following its smash, premiere run last season, the Tina Packer Playhouse transforms once again into the Elephant Lounge to host Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret! This mash-up of modern music and Shakespeare’s verse is where Will meets rock and roll, bringing a live band onstage to take the roof off. With all tunes inspired by the Bard, this rockin’ evening will leave you vibrating and shouting for more!
This production is generously supported by Jim Cochran and Fran Pilato.
“...there's a whole lotta something going on at the Tina Packer Playhouse.” – The Berkshire Eagle
“Brilliant…Play on!” – 518 Theatre Artists
ROMEO AND JULIET
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Kevin G. Coleman & Jonathan Epstein
with Jonathan Epstein, Rory Hammond, Luke Haskell, John Leggett, Madeleine Rose Maggio, Ashley McCauley Moore, Erin O’Connor, Timothy Oh, Caitlin Rose, and Rickey Watson, Jr.
JULY 12 – AUGUST 10
Opening Friday, July 18
Outdoors at the Arthur S. Waldstein Amphitheatre
Presented under the Berkshires’ summer skies, Romeo and Juliet proves that even the ultimate case of love at first sight can lead to – well, chaos.
Meddling families and murderous duels meld to offer an evening of sword fights, swinging soirees, and secret weddings — but the play is also full of exuberant vulgarity, harsh brutality, and above all the tingling, unbearable delight of young love.
COME EARLY FOR A PRE-SHOW PICNIC!
Arrive early to enjoy our grounds with a picnic of your own, food and beverages from our concessions stand, and a full bar at Josie’s Place! Local food trucks will be onsite on select evenings, and picnic tables with umbrellas and ample lawn space are available. Visit shakespeare.org for more information.
AUGUST WILSON’S
THE PIANO LESSON
Directed by Christopher V. Edwards with Anthony T. Goss, Jade Guerra, Jonathan Kitt, Brittani J. McBride, Ariel Phillips, “ranney”, Daniel Rios Jr., and Omar Robinson
JULY 25 – AUGUST 24
Opening Sunday, July 27
Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
Set against the backdrop of 1936 Pittsburgh during the Great Depression, August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning The Piano Lesson explores the lives of the Charles family, and vividly portrays an enduring conflict between siblings.
The family piano at the heart of the argument is an heirloom intricately carved by an enslaved ancestor. Determined sharecropper Boy Willie is eager to sell the piano to purchase land on which his ancestors endured hardship, while his sister Berniece fiercely maintains that the piano is where their heritage lies.
A testament to the complexities of family, history, and legacy, The Piano Lesson is an explosive and incisive inquiry into the struggle between what we owe to our past and how we build our future.
This show is presented in collaboration with Actors’ Shakespeare Project.
“A highlight of the current theater season!”
– The Boston Globe
“The best of what’s now onstage!” – Joyce Kulhaiwik
413.637.3353
Cast of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson at Actors’ Shakespeare Project, 2025. Photo by Nile Scott Studios.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Nicole Ricciardi
with Sheila Bandyopadhyay, MaConnia Chesser, Rory Hammond, Jamal James, Dennis Trainor, Jr., and Ryan Winkles
AUGUST 14 – 24
Opening Saturday, August 16
Tina Packer Playhouse
Step into the world of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, with its timeless themes of identity, gender roles, and the clash of wills.
Meet the fiery and fiercely independent Katherine, whose spirited nature meets its match in the cunning Petruchio as they embark on a hilarious and clever exploration of love, power, and transformation.
The Taming of the Shrew offers a compelling – and if not at times zany – look at relationships and social norms, making it a mustsee for anyone who loves classic comedy with a bit of bite.
This production is generously supported by
COME EARLY FOR PRE-SHOW PICNICS!
Speaking of bite, arrive early to enjoy our grounds with a picnic of your own, food and beverages from our concessions stand and a full bar at Josie’s Place! Local food trucks will be onsite on select evenings, and picnic tables with umbrellas and ample lawn space are available. Visit shakespeare.org to learn more!
CIRCUS & THE BARD
with Chris Allison, Spencer Androli, Zoe Isadora, Shena Tschofen, Karoly & Anita Zeman, and Artem Zhaunenka
AUGUST 21 – 31
Tina Packer Playhouse
For the kids and the kids in all of us, Shakespeare & Company and Spirit of Circus present an intersection of brilliant, professional circus acts with Shakespeare’s characters. The alchemy of the stunning visual effects of circus and the Bard’s text is an apt and whimsical introduction to both, and when you see them together, something special takes place!
This show is presented in collaboration with Spirit of Circus.
PLAYS
An Introduction to New Works in Process
AUGUST 26 – 28
Outdoors at the tented Rose Footprint Theatre
Experience a play in its early stages when possibilities are endless! Returning for its fourth year, Plays in Process offers a glimpse into the inner workings of play creation as new works are readied for the stage.
Many Plays in Process titles have gone on to become fully realized productions; this season, The Victim by Lawrence Goodman – presented as a reading last year – makes its World Premiere.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, August 26, 7 pm, The Shallows by Jim Frangione, directed by Judy Braha
Wednesday, August 27, 7 pm, Free and Equal by Kaia Calhoun, directed by Kaia Calhoun and Tina Packer
Thursday, August 28, 7 pm, Adults at Play by Ken Ludwig, directed by Ken Ludwig
Visit shakespeare.org for more information as new titles are added.
MOTHER PLAY A PLAY IN FIVE EVICTIONS
by Paula Vogel
Directed by Ariel Bock
with Tamara Hickey, Zoya Martin, and Eddie Shields
AUGUST 29 – OCTOBER 5
Opening Sunday, August 31
Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
With a martini in one hand and biting commentary in the other, matriarch Phyllis – headstrong, but resourceful –runs her household with a mix of tough love and theatrical flair, determined to prepare her kids Carl and Martha for the harsh realities of the world whether they like it or not.
As Carl and Martha navigate their own paths, Phyllis remains an ever-present force, doling out brutal honesty, unsolicited wisdom, and the occasional guilt trip with impeccable timing.
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, Mother Play is a sharp-witted, darkly comedic exploration of family, identity, and survival spanning four decades, five apartments, and many hardships from cockroach infestations to painful conflicts. It premiered on Broadway just last year, earning four Tony nominations, two Drama Desk Awards, and an Outer Critics Circle Award.
This production is generously supported by Howard and Natalie Shawn.
CELEBRATING JEWISH PLAYS
AN IMMERSIVE WEEKEND OF
STAGED READINGS
with Tony-nominee John Douglas Thompson
OCTOBER
10 – 12
Tina Packer Playhouse & Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
This fall, Shakespeare & Company introduces its first-ever weekend of Jewish plays and playwrights, offering an exciting slate of performances and events.
Four enhanced readings will be staged Friday through Sunday – The Price by Arthur Miller, The Sisters Rosensweig by Wendy Wasserstein, the off-Broadway hit Here There Are Blueberries by Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich, and Roz and Ray by Karen Hartman, featuring Tony-nominee John Douglas Thompson and directed by Daniela Varon.
SCHEDULE
Friday, October 10, 7 pm, The Price by Arthur Miller
Saturday, October 11, 2 pm, The Sisters Rosensweig by Wendy Wasserstein
Saturday, October 11, 7 pm, Here There Are Blueberries by Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich
Sunday, October 12, 2 pm, Roz & Ray by Karen Hartman, with John Douglas Thompson
The Sisters Rosensweig is generously supported by Beverly Hyman and Larry Birnbach.
POST-SHOW TALKBACK
Join us on Sunday, October 12 following the reading of Roz and Ray, and check shakespeare.org as new talkbacks are added!
Sunday, October 12, 4:30 pm an invitation-only event and reception will be held with Rachel Kadish, author of the National Jewish Book Award-winning The Weight of Ink. Rachel will talk about her novel followed by excerpts of a theatrical adaptation in development by Kate Kohler Amory and Tamara Hickey. Both the event and reception are open to A+ ticket holders to any of the weekend’s shows!
A Lively, Costumed Reading SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
by Kate Hamill
Based on the novel by Jane Austen
Directed by Ariel Bock
DECEMBER 12 –
14
Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
Our family-friendly Winter Show returns this year with Sense and Sensibility: a fast-paced, staged reading wherein the wit and romance of Jane Austen’s classic tale come to life.
Sense and Sensibility follows the fortunes, and misfortunes, of the Dashwood sisters — sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne — after their father’s sudden death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable.
Set in late 18th-century England, the play is full of humor, emotional depth, and bold theatricality. Sense and Sensibility examines our reactions, both reasonable and ridiculous, to societal pressures. When reputation is everything, how do you follow your heart?
THE EDUCATION PROGRAM
Shakespeare & Company’s Education Program has created one of the most extensive theater-in-education initiatives in the Northeast. Starting as young as age seven, more than 30,000 students and educators are introduced to Shakespeare each year through the Northeast Regional Tour, Riotous Youth programs for young actors, the Fall Festival of Shakespeare, In-School Residencies, Professional Development workshops, and more.
Learn about our free performances this spring and summer, as well as the 37th Annual Fall Festival of Shakespeare this November:
Shakespeare & Young Company’s Spring Performance: Love Gods
Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, 7 pm
Tina Packer Playhouse
Working in ensemble, high school aged actors are led through text and theater exercises to discover the themes, characters, and stories that resonate with them, culminating in a Shakespeare compilation performance. Riotous Youth Final Performances
Fridays, July 11, July 25, August 8 and August 15, 10 am Outdoors at the Rose Footprint Theatre
These “greatest hits” performances of selected Shakespeare plays, performed by actors ages 7–15, are shared with family and friends at the close of each session.
July 11 – The Taming of the Shrew
July 25 – Romeo and Juliet
August 8 – Henry IV, Part 1
August 15 – Monsters, Magic & Mischief: The Tempest Riotous Company Final Performance (ages 14–18)
Friday, August 15, 12 pm Outdoors at the Rose Footprint Theatre
The 37th Fall Festival of Shakespeare Thursday, November 20 – Sunday, November 23
Tina Packer Playhouse
Are you an alum of the Education Program?
Register with our alumni network or update your information at shakespeare.org/ education, and join us for Education Alumni Night on Friday, August 8 at 3:30 pm!
Visit shakespeare.org/education for more information, or scan the QR code.
TALKS & TOURS
FREE BEHIND THE CURTAIN TALKS
Our Behind the Curtain talks feature directors, cast, and other creative team members exploring various themes of Season 2025 productions throughout the summer. All Behind the Curtain talks are hosted by Shakespeare scholar Ann Berman, and held on Saturdays at the tented Rose Footprint Theatre. These events are free to all, but tickets are required.
SCHEDULE
June 21, 10:30 am – The Victim with Director Daniel Gidron
July 5, 10:30 am – Romeo and Juliet with Directors Kevin G. Coleman and Jonathan Epstein
July 19, 10:30 am – The Piano Lesson with Director Christopher V. Edwards
August 2, 10:30 am – The Taming of the Shrew with Director Nicole Ricciardi
August 16, 10:30 am – Mother Play with Director Ariel Bock
MERRY WANDERERS’ GUIDED TOURS
Shakespeare & Company’s General Manager Steve Ball and his canine companion Willie lead weekly walking tours on Thursday mornings at 10:30 am, July 3 through August 28. These two-hour experiences offer a peek at what it takes to make theater happen, from the costume and prop shops to the armory and beyond. Tickets are $15, or $8 for students.
For more information, visit shakespeare.org/talks-tours or scan the QR code!
Left to Right Ann Berman and Tina Packer, 2024. Photo by Eran Zelixon.
THE CENTER FOR ACTOR TRAINING
Theater artists from around the world seek out Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training not only to train their voices and bodies, but also to delve deeply into their own imaginations, intellects, and emotional lives. Join us for free performances by participants of the Summer Shakespeare Intensive and see what’s in store for workshops and intensives this summer and fall!
SUMMER & FALL PROGRAMMING
Summer Shakespeare Intensive Final Scenes
Sunday, June 22, 11:30 am and 2 pm
Tina Packer Playhouse
See our 2025 Summer Shakespeare Intensive participants in action, performing excerpts from Shakespeare plays at the close of a transformative, four-week actor-training experience. This event is free and open to the public.
9-Day Intensive Open Showcase
Sunday, August 29, 3 pm
Outdoors at the tented Rose Footprint Theatre Designed for mid-career professionals who want to reinvigorate their skills through integrated voice, movement, and text work, this intensive is an immersion into acting Shakespeare, held at the height of our summer season. At the close of the intensive, participants present a showcase performance of Shakespeare’s sonnets, monologues, and dances. This event is free and open to the public.
PLUS:
Weekend Intensives, Select Cities
Held across the country, Weekend Intensives are open to anyone seeking to deepen their connection with Shakespeare in a digestible but rigorous format. Visit shakespeare.org/ actor-training for the latest listing of locations.
Are you an alum of the Center for Actor Training, having completed the Month-long Intensive, Summer Shakespeare Intensive, or Conservatory programs? Register with our alumni network or update your information at shakespeare. org/actor-training, and join us for The Center for Actor Training’s Alumni Night on Friday, July 25 at 4 pm!
To learn more about the Center for Actor Training, visit shakespeare.org/actor-training, or scan the QR code.
EVER THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Patrons, performers, parents, and friends: since 1978, you’ve supported Shakespeare & Company in its mission to offer world-class productions, life-changing education programs, and inspiring actor-training opportunities.
In thanks, we are pleased to offer a variety of benefits designed to bring our supporters closer to the work, including invitations to special events, early access to season tickets, opportunities to meet the artists, and more.
NEW THIS YEAR!
Friday Receptions in June and July Outdoors at the tented Roman Garden Theatre
We welcome you to attend one of our new public receptions this summer! On four Fridays – July 11, July 25, August 8, and August 15 – afternoon receptions will follow the day’s final performance of the Riotous Youth theater program, now celebrating its 25th year. Shows conclude at approximately 1 pm, and these events are a great way to learn more about our work, meet some of the people behind the scenes, and spend time with members of our Berkshires community.
To contribute online, visit shakespeare.org/donate or scan the QR code.
You may also mail a check to: Shakespeare & Company Attn. Development 70 Kemble Street Lenox, MA 01240
To make a gift of stock, or to include Shakespeare & Company in your estate planning, email Liam Castellan, Development Operations and Database Manager, at lcastellan@shakespeare.org, or call 413.637.1199 ext. 145. DONATE ONLINE
413.637.3353
Photo by Eran Zelixon.
VOLUNTEERS THE STARS OF THE SHOW!
The Volunteer Company supports our work year-round, impacting the lives of thousands. You’ll see our merry band ushering at shows, tending to the gardens, staffing the gift shop, cultivating the Oral History and Archive Project, and beyond. In thanks, we offer a wide range of benefits to our volunteers, including free tickets! To learn more, email volunteers@shakespeare.org.
Photo by Eran Zelixon.
OUR THEATERS
ARTHUR S. WALDSTEIN
AMPHITHEATRE
ELAYNE P. BERNSTEIN THEATRE
The Victim, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Mother Play, Celebrating Jewish Plays
All Shakespeare & Company theaters provide free, paved, and well-lit parking adjacent to the Box Office, and are wheelchair accessible. All of our indoor theaters are climate controlled, and assistive listening devices are available upon request. For more information about our amenities, visit shakespeare.org/our-theaters.
For more information about Ways to Save at Shakespeare & Company, visit shakespeare.org/ways-to-save or scan the QR code!
413.637.3353
Romeo and Juliet
2025 CALENDAR
2025 CALENDAR
