Sally Sugarman

The Berkshire Theatre Critics Association has announced the nominees for the 5th Berkshire Theatre Awards, known colloquially as The Berkies.

The Berkshire Theatre Critics Association will resume its exploration of all things theatrical in the Berkshire Region which includes all of Berkshire County, Southern Vermont including Dorset and Weston, Eastern New York State from Schenectady and Catskill to the Mass border, Northern Connecticut, and the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.

Member critics will once again be reviewing shows and writing articles about the many theater companies in this region and the Association will be resuming its annual award ceremony, know as “The Berkies,” in November. The Association counts as a “Season” any play, musical, revue or other theatrical forms that open between October 1 and September 30 of the following year. 

Critics J. Peter Bergman and Macey Levin once again hosted the ceremony, which saw top honors for Best Play go to the Berkshire Theatre Group's production of David Auburn's Lost Lake, and a tie between Barrington Stage Company's production of Stephen Sondheim's Company and the Mac-Haydn Theatre's production of Hello, Dolly! for Best Musical.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, swept the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards last night, winning 20 out of possible 25 awards. Winners of the awards-nicknamed "The Berkies"-were first announced on Monday, October 17, 2016, and awards were presented Sunday, November 13 at a ceremony held at Mr. Finn's Cabaret (36 Linden St) in Pittsfield, MA.

It was appropriate that two-time Tony Award winner William Finn was present at The First Annual Berkshire Theatre Award ceremony held in Pittsfield MA. on  Sunday November 13th. Mr. Finn won a Tony for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which was home grown up in The Berkshires at Barrington Stage Company. Although he didn't have any work in contention for the prestigious award, Finn did accept a few 'Berkies' for some artists who could not receive their awards in person.

The winners of the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards - already being nicknamed "The Berkies" - will gather at 5 pm on Sunday, November 13, 2016  at Mr. Finn's Cabaret in Pittsfield.

The winners of the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards have been announced. Seventeen arts journalists voted on 120 nominees in 25 categories chosen from artists in the 75 live theatre productions mounted in Berkshire County and adjacent areas between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

Dorset Theatre Festival will stage Katie Forgette's Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily, a delightfully funny and exciting take on the famous detective story that weaves together threads of history and literature including the great Sherlock Holmes himself, his trusted friend Watson, the sinister Moriarty, the glamorous Lillie Langtry, and even Oscar Wilde. The production will be directed by Margarett Perry and will run from July 9th through the 25th. 'There is a reason that Sherlock is such a popular figure in literature as well as on stage and in film,' says Artistic Director Dina Janis. 'These mysteries are engaging throughout and always very satisfying. This piece in particular is so clever and entertaining.' The Case of the Jersey Lily places literature's favorite genius detective right in the middle of a blackmail scheme that connects the famous actress Lillie Langtry, celebrated playwright Oscar Wilde (just finishing work on his new play, The Importance of Being Forthright), criminal mastermind James Moriarty and Queen Victoria herself.