Bill Ryan News

Shakespeare & Company's Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare is now on the road. This year, the Company's Tour brings two Shakespeare productions, Othello, the Moor of Venice and A Midsummer Night's Dream, to over 20,000 students. The Tour visits 75 schools throughout the Northeast in nine different states including; Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland.

Shakespeare & Company held a special benefit performance of God of Carnage last Thursday to give back to those impacted by the recent hurricanes. The Berkshire community came out in support, and together raised over $4,775 for victims of the recent devastation.

Shakespeare & Company adds a special benefit performance to its God of Carnage run to give back to those impacted by the recent hurricanes.

The Fall Festival of Shakespeare is back for its 29th season, and with it come the integral Common Classes where hundreds of teenagers come together for four classes in Stage Combat, Dance and Movement, Technical Theatre and Performance Preparation. Ten different schools are represented in this year's Festival, coming from the Berkshires, Pioneer Valley, and eastern New York State. The students join together on four different nights this October to explore, collaborate, and meet each other in celebration instead of competition.

Shakespeare & Company presents God of Carnage written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, directed by Regge Life. The play won a Tony Award for Best Play and an Olivier Award for Best Comedy, now this award-winning New York hit comes to the Berkshires. Written by the author of ART, God of Carnage runs from September 14 - October 8th in the Elayne P. Bernstein.

Senator Elizabeth Warren and the rest of the Opening NIght Audience at Shakespeare & Co's production of Cymbeline didn't have to fill the suggestion box labeled 'Tell Us Why You LIke Shakespeare'  in the lobby of the Tina Packer Playhouse with answers to that question.  They did it with their many standing ovations for the 9 actors and director Tina Packer at the conclusion of a magnificent and energetic performance of the complex plot driven play by Shakespeare.   There are a lot of exciting things going on at Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox MA. and artistic director Allyn Burrows in his toast at the jubilant after party stated 'first to the unknown and to the road ahead'!

The American Composers Forum (ACF) Board of Directors has voted to present its 2016 “Champion of New Music” award to four outstanding recipients: Pianist and Contemporary Chamber Ensemble founding member Gilbert Kalish; Opera Parallèle's artistic director, conductor, and founder Nicole Paiement; new music writer, blogger and New Yorker magazine columnist Alex Ross; and conductor, pianist, composer and pedagogue Robert Spano at public ceremonies this year. The “Champion of New Music” award was established by ACF in 2005 as a national mark of recognition to honor individuals or ensembles that have made a significant contribution to the work and livelihoods of contemporary composers. ACF President and CEO John Nuechterlein will present the awards at three events in the coming months:

The American Composers Forum (ACF) Board of Directors has voted to present its 2015 “Champion of New Music” award to three outstanding recipients: the American Composers Orchestra, flutist and Director of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) Claire Chase, and conductor Michael Morgan, at public ceremonies this year in Oakland, Brooklyn, and New York City.

The Fall Festival of Shakespeare is back and with it come the four Common Classes where hundreds of teenagers gather in one place to work and play together in Stage Combat, Dance and Movement, Technical Theatre and Performance Preparation. Ten different schools will be represented. Coming from the Berkshires, Pioneer Valley, eastern Massachusetts and western New York, the students will join together on four different nights to explore, collaborate, and mostly to have fun together. The Festival continues to be a unique program where schools are not in competition with each other, but rather in celebration of one another.

Heart-stirring, crowd-rousing and life-changing education programs are a bedrock of Shakespeare & Company. This year, the company presents the New England Tour of Hamlet and the Shakespeare & Company original hit Shakespeare and the Language that Shaped a World. Both Tours sold out last year, so be sure to book now to secure one of these performances in your school!

Shakespeare & Young Company brings merriment, madness, tragedy and passion to the outdoor Rose Footprint Theatre with two original performances -- Marina and Love Dance -- short vignettes compiled from scenes of Shakespeare's work. The performers are acting students aged 16-20 who come from schools across the United States including, The Drama Studio in Springfield, The Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School in South Hadley, Bard College, Sarah Lawrence College, Arkansas State University and Bard College at Simons Rock. Shows are tonight, August 13 and Friday, August 15, both at 5:00 pm.

Shakespeare & Young Company brings merriment, madness, tragedy and passion to the outdoor Rose Footprint Theatre with two original performances -- Marina and Love Dance -- short vignettes compiled from scenes of Shakespeare's work. The performers are acting students aged 16-20 who come from schools across the United States including, The Drama Studio in Springfield, The Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School in South Hadley, Bard College, Sarah Lawrence College, Arkansas State University and Bard College at Simons Rock. Shows are Wednesday, August 13 and Friday, August 15, both at 5:00 pm.

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.

Satellite Collective, a collaborative arts incubator focused on creating cutting edge works of interdisciplinary performance, will present two evenings of new work, on May 16 at 17 at 8 pm at Brooklyn Academy of Music's BAM Fisher. Drawing together choreographers, composers, visual artists, writers, filmmakers, designers, and photographers, Satellite Collective offers an innovative vision of how art forms align. The performances will feature five new works by the company's 27 artists, and will include two world premiere modern dance works, a short-motion film, a spoken word piece and a solo cello composition.

BAD JOHNSON, the new comedy from 2DS Productions, Roman Empire Productions, and director Huck Botko (THE VIRGINITY HIT, THE LAST EXORCISM), will hit theaters and VOD this spring courtesy of Gravitas Ventures. The heartwarming tale of a man whose penis gets a mind (and body) of its own will premiere digitally on April 1st (no fooling!) and then will be in theaters May 2nd.

Shakespeare & Company has announced its 34th annual Northeast Regional Tour of Shakespeare, which will bring the beloved romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet to over 50 schools and theatres throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey this spring.

The word is out! The Fall Festival of Shakespeare is no longer the best-kept secret in the Berkshires. Hundreds of teenagers armed with creative freedom, passionate text, flashing broadswords and jubilant dances, will take to the stage this November for the 25th Annual Fall Festival.

The word is out! The Fall Festival of Shakespeare is no longer the best-kept secret in the Berkshires. Hundreds of teenagers armed with creative freedom, passionate text, flashing broadswords and jubilant dances, will take to the stage this November for the 25th Annual Fall Festival.