Shakespeare & Company Welcomes New Members to Board of Trustees

Shakespeare & Company announced today that Kenneth E. Werner has been elected Board Chair and Treasurer, and Jeffery Konowitch has been elected Vice Chair and Clerk. Mr. Werner has been a Shakespeare & Company Board Member since 2010, and served on the Company's Advisory Board for two years prior to his appointment. Mr. Konowitch has been a board member for the past eight years, and prior to his appointment worked with Shakespeare & Company in various management positions. The new slate of officers follows the recent announcement of the new management triumvirate of Steve Ball, Interim Managing Director, and Ariel Bock and Jonathan Croy, Interim Co-Artistic Directors.

"I am thrilled and honored to have been elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Shakespeare & Company," said Mr. Werner. "I have had the pleasure of attending performances by the Company for over 25 years, and it has been my pleasure to have served on the Board for the past five years. I look forward to continuing to work with Ariel, Jonathan and Steve in their new roles, as they draw on their combined experience in acting, directing, teaching, producing and theater management to keep Shakespeare & Company running smoothly."

"I have been involved with Shakespeare & Company practically since its inception," said Mr. Konowitch. "The first couple of years just as an admirer and patron, and then for several years as a staff member in many different positions. Now as a board member my love for the work that I have seen on the stage and with students of all ages has never wavered. Even when times have been difficult financially we have always come though the other side and usually better than before. I have confidence in the team we have to get us to the next level."

The announcement comes as the Company prepares to open their Summer Season. Interim Managing Director Steve Ball says pre-season sales are strong. "Our patrons have great confidence in our programs - the first 5 weeks of sales are up 58% from the same time last year."

The Company also received word of two key grants that have been awarded to the organization, from The Hearst Foundation and the Town of Lenox. "It's all good news," said Interim Artistic Director Ariel Bock. "We deeply appreciate the Hearst Foundation's renewed support for The Fall Festival of Shakespeare, and are especially grateful for the town of Lenox Community Preservation Committee for recommending Shakespeare & Company for a grant. It's a real vote of support from our local community and very meaningful to us."

"We have a terrific season planned, and the artists and staff are in place to make it a memorable one for our audiences and the community," said Mr. Werner. "The Board is committed to continuing to work on a long-range plan to ensure that the Company remains a vital and integral part of the cultural economy in the Berkshires- providing excellent performance, training and education programs as it has done for nearly four decades."

Kenneth E. Werner has been a Shakespeare & Company Board Member since 2010, and served on the Company's Advisory Board for two years prior to his appointment. He is a partner in the New York office of Richards, Kibbe & Orbe LLP, where he focuses on federal income taxation issues arising in domestic and cross-border business transactions, including acquisitions, financings, joint ventures and use of pass-through entities. Mr. Werner also advises corporations and limited liability companies regarding equity compensation plans for employees and service providers. Mr. Werner attended Amherst College and Yale Law School. He is a member of the Firm's Executive Committee and is admitted to practice in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and South Carolina.

Jeff Konowitch has been a Shakespeare & Company Board Member since 2007, previously he worked for the company in various positions including; House Management, Box Office, Stage Management and Company Management. He currently works as the Senior Business Systems Analyst at Canyon Ranch where he has worked for twenty-six years. His previous job titles at Canyon Ranch include; IT Project Manager, Front Office Manager and Reservations Manager. Mr. Konowitch graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a degree in Communications and Theatre.

About Shakespeare & Company - Located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Shakespeare & Company is one of the largest Shakespeare Festivals in the country. Founded in 1978 by Tina Packer, the organization attracts more than 60,000 patrons annually. The Company is also home to a renowned Center for Actor Training, as well as an award-winning Education Program. More information is available at www.shakespeare.org.

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