Tonya Pinkins, Jackie Hoffman and More to Appear at Shakespeare & Company's BROADWAY IN THE BERKSHIRES Benefit, 7/8

Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Tony Simotes announces the benefit performance of Broadway in the Berkshires that will take place on Monday, July 8^th at The Tina Packer Playhouse, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA.

Producer and Company member, Deborah Grausman (Actor and founder of Berkshire Musical Theater Workshop), has assembled an all-star cast and first-rate creative team for this spectacular (not to be missed) one-night-only event. Director Sam Scalamoni (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Lestat), Stage Manager Kat West (Altar Boyz, New York City Opera, Prospect Theatre Company) and Assistant Director/Associate Producer Amy Hume will be heading up the creative team. All of the artists are generously donating their time and talent.

The illustrious line-up of Broadway performers includes: Tony Award Winner Tonya Pinkins (Jelly's Last Jam, Caroline, or Change, The Wild Party) Theater World Award Winner Jackie Hoffman (Hairspray, Xanadu, The Addams Family), Tony Award Nominee Forrest McClendon (Scottsboro Boys), Charlotte Cohn (La Bohème, Coram Boy), Leah Edwards (Master Class), Russell Arden Koplin (LES MISERABLES, James Joyce's The Dead), Peter Mazurowski (Billy Elliot), Jonathan Rayson (Little Shop of Horrors, A Year With Frog and Toad) and Brian Charles Rooney (The Three Penny Opera).

The cast also features Metropolitan Opera star, Dimitri Pittas, along with a select group of actors from Broadway Across America's most popular National Tours including Deborah Grausman (Fiddler on the Roof) and Carla Stickler (Wicked). Other actors slated to perform are company members, Eleni Delopoulos, David Josephand Nora Menken along with New York Philharmonic and City Opera performers, Adam Alexander and Michael Marcotte. Rounding out the star-studded cast are Sarah Corey, Dana Mazurowski and Yanni's Featured Vocalist, Lauren Jelencovich.

"After the incredible success of the first Broadway showcase two years ago, I knew I wanted Deborah to produce another star-studded event that will raise funds to educate and train the next generation of artists," says S&Co's Artistic Director, Tony Simotes.

"I am incredibly honored and so grateful to be working on what promises to be another dazzling event involving so many truly accomplished artists," adds Deborah Grausman, Actor/Producer. "This one-night-only benefit performance will (no doubt) be one of the highlights of the Berkshire summer season, and I am so excited to be a part of it!"

Tony Simotes and Deborah Grausman gratefully acknowledge the official housing sponsors of Broadway in the Berkshires: Blantyre, Hampton Terrace Inn and Seven Hills Inn.

Proceeds will go to Shakespeare & Company's internationally acclaimed Education and Training Programs. The Education Program reaches more than 40,000 students and teachers each year with innovative, socially responsive, and educationally challenging performances, workshops and residencies. Actors, directors, writers, and teachers from all over the world come to work with the company's faculty in the Training Programs to develop not only their voices and train their bodies with a daily regiment of demanding classes, but also to delve deeply into their own imaginations, intellects, and emotional lives. Broadway in the Berkshires performers who are also graduates of the training program are: Sarah Corey, Eleni Delopoulos, Deborah Grausman, David Joseph and Nora Menken.

Space is limited, and this event is expected to sell out quickly; patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets early. For tickets and information call Ariel Bock, Event Coordinator, at (413) 637-1199 ext. 117. Tickets are available at the following levels: Angel $2,500-six VIP tickets for the performance, post-show dinner, the VIP after party with the cast, listing in the program and a signed cast poster; Lead Producer $1,000-One VIP ticket for the performance (premium seating), dinner reception, VIP after-party with the cast, listing in the program and a signed cast poster; Underwriter $500-One VIP ticket for the performance (preferred seating), dinner reception, VIP after-party with the cast and listing in the program; Patron $250-One ticket for the performance and dinner reception and listing in the program.

Special business sponsorships are also available-for more information regarding sponsorships, please call Development Director, Ute DeFarlo, at Shakespeare & Company (413) 637-1199 ext. 146.

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