Richard Grausman

You don't have to go to the Cannes Film Festival in France to see to see the best new creations from film makers and mingle with glamorous and creative people. It's happening in the Berkshires at the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF). Kelley Vickery who founded the festival 12 years ago has brought the best of independent film from around the world to Great Barrington and Pittsfield Mass. movie theaters. It's a four day event of great movies, Q&A, discussions, special events, and parties.  This year's festival paid tribute to Academy Award winning actor, Christopher Plummer, who when accepting BIFF's Lifetime Achievement Award told the audience ' you probably can't realize how much this award means to me'.

The magic of Venice was in the air at Shakespeare & Company last night.   After a stirring performance of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Tina Packer in the Tina Packer Playhouse, it was cocktails, dinner, and dancing under the stars on the beautiful campus of Shakespeare & Company.   Guests mingled with actors and dignitaries at the annual Gala and BroadwayWorld was there.  The play runs through August 21st. Check out the photos below.

Today, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) named Marcus Samuelsson, internationally acclaimed chef, restaurateur and author, as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors with Mark Weiss, Chief Investment Officer of RFR Holdings. C-CAP Founder Richard Grausman, who previously held the Chairman position, will continue as Chairman Emeritus. The Board's transition will set the course for the future of C-CAP, which in 2015 marked 25 years of preparing underserved high school students across the country for college and careers in the food service and hospitality industry.

Shakespeare & Company presented the first full American production of Red Velvet, written by Lolita Chakrabarti, directed by Daniela Varon, and starring OBIE Award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson last night and Broadwayworld's Stephen Sorokoff was there. This powerful and emotional drama joins the Tina Packer Playhouse repertory and runs through September 13. Check out photos from the production below!

Shakespeare & Company's Midsummer Night's Celebration, held last weekend, was a magical and unforgettable evening that celebrated the Bard's 450th birthday and the Company's 37thseason. Artistic Director Tony Simotes and Co-Chairs Phoebe Giddon and Deborah Ryan presented an enchanting evening with a New Orleans Jazz Era theme, and welcomed over 250 guests to the Tina Packer Playhouse. Guests of Honor included Governor Deval Patrick and Shakespeare & Company's newly appointed Executive Director Rick Dildine.

Shakespeare & Company's Midsummer Night's Celebration will be held Today, June 28th. Artistic Director Tony Simotes and Co-Chairs Phoebe Giddon and Deborah Ryan will present a magical and unforgettable evening celebrating the 450thbirthday of William Shakespeare and the start of Shakespeare & Company's Summer Season. Guests of Honor Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane B. Patrick will be in attendance, as well as Rick Dildine, Shakespeare & Company's newly appointed Executive Director in his first public appearance. The evening will also feature the opening night performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Simotes and set in the mysterious bayous of New Orleans during the height of the Jazz Age. Proceeds from the Midsummer Night's Celebration will benefit Shakespeare & Company's nationally recognized Education and Training programs.

Shakespeare & Company's Midsummer Night's Celebration will be held Saturday, June 28th. Artistic Director Tony Simotes and Co-Chairs Phoebe Giddon and Deborah Ryan will present a magical and unforgettable evening celebrating the 450thbirthday of William Shakespeare and the start of Shakespeare & Company's Summer Season. Guests of Honor Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane B. Patrick will be in attendance, as well as Rick Dildine, Shakespeare & Company's newly appointed Executive Director in his first public appearance. The evening will also feature the opening night performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Simotes and set in the mysterious bayous of New Orleans during the height of the Jazz Age. Proceeds from the Midsummer Night's Celebration will benefit Shakespeare & Company's nationally recognized Education and Training programs.

Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Tony Simotes proudly announces the benefit performance of Broadway in the Berkshires Monday, August 15th at 6:00pm, Founders' Theatre, 70 Kemble Street , Lenox , MA . Proceeds will go to Shakespeare & Company's internationally-acclaimed Education and Training Programs. 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 event. Broadway's Chip Zien (Into the Woods-the original Baker, Les Miserables, The Country Girl, People in The Picture, Falsettos, Grand Hotel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Boys from Syracuse, etc.) will host. Director Sam Scalamoni (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Lestat) and Music Director Paul Staroba (A Little Night Music, Next to Normal, Grey Gardens) will head up the creative team.