Barrington Stage Company Appoints Richard M. Parison, Jr. Producing Director

Barrington Stage Company Board President Mary Ann Quinson and Artistic Director Julianne Boyd announce that Richard M. Parison, Jr. has been named Barrington Stage’s new Producing Director.  Richard assumes this new leadership position on September 15, 2008 after acting as Associate Producer for the 2008 summer season.

“Richard is a strong and successful addition to the leadership of Barrington Stage Company.  He and Julie Boyd share an energy and enthusiasm for the theater, the work and the community,” said Quinson. “Their partnership will enhance BSC’s many producing programs and our outstanding educational endeavors. We are fortunate to have him with us just in time for our 15th Anniversary Season.”

Parison comes to the Berkshires and Barrington Stage from Philadelphia , PA where for the past four years he served as Associate Producing Director at the award-winning Prince Music Theater.   During his tenure he helped to continue the Prince Music Theater’s position as a leader in the Philadelphia theater community. He worked and strategized to gain greater visibility and increased support from the Prince’s audiences, constituents and philanthropic community.  Prior to the Prince Music Theater, he worked for over eight seasons as Associate to Producing Artistic Director to Bernard Havard at the historic and celebrated Walnut Street Theatre.

 “I am so thrilled that Richard is joining BSC at this important moment in the theatre’s development,” says Boyd.   “We have transitioned from a summer theatre to a year-round theatre, now producing twelve shows a year vs. just 6 shows three years ago.  Richard brings the expertise, leadership, diplomacy and true theater know-how we've been seeking for a long time.”

As Producing Director, Parison is responsible for Barrington Stage’s institutional, administrative and producing affairs, and for guiding the theater’s strategic planning effort through fiscal stability, audience development, community relations and external affairs.  BSC’s annual budget is $2.7 million and they currently serve over 50,000 patrons each season.

 “Barrington Stage is an American theater in the truest sense of the word.  It has a passionate and lasting commitment to its mission and community,” said Parison.  “I have long been an admirer of BSC, its Musical Theater Lab and all its accomplishments under the brilliant artistic direction of Julie Boyd.”  

“Barrington Stage is a driving force in the creative economy both in Pittsfield , as part of the city’s on-going revitalization, and in Berkshire County .  Ultimately it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to partner with Julie to produce and support the continuation of Barrington ’s signature excellence in theater.  I am looking forward to adding my energy to the cause of championing and supporting Barrington Stage Company.”

Barrington Stage Company is a professional award-winning Equity theatre, located in the heart of the Berkshires, in Pittsfield , MA .  BSC’s mission is three-fold: to present top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to find fresh, bold ways of bringing new audiences into the theatre.   BSC garnered national attention with William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s Tony Award-winning musical hit “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which began at BSC in February, 2004, prior to taking New York by storm at Second Stage Theatre and later transferring to Broadway where it played over 1000 performances.

Richard M. Parison, Jr. is the Producing Director of Barrington Stage Company and thrilled to partner with Julianne Boyd in the Berkshires.   Before coming to BSC, Richard was Associate Producing Director at the award-winning Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia , PA.   There he worked with a dedicated staff producing a 5-show Main Stage season and a sophisticated Cabaret series including some of our industry’s finest cabaret artists.  For over eight seasons, Richard was Associate to Producing Artistic Director, Bernard Havard at the internationally recognized Walnut Street Theatre, during which time the Walnut became the most subscribed theater in the country. A native of Northeast Ohio , Richard began his professional career working for six years with Gerald Freedman, Artistic Director, Victoria Bussert, Associate Artistic Director and Anne DesRosiers, Managing Director of Great Lakes Theatre Festival.  Richard was recently honored by PEW Charitable Trusts as one of the Philadelphia ’s leading Next Generation Arts Leaders.  He has served on several panels for TCG, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and served as a site visitor for the City of Philadelphia Cultural Fund .  He sat on the Board of Trustees Executive Committee of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and is a member of Leadership Philadelphia.  He is a two-time Barrymore Award nominee for Outstanding Direction for Dreamgirls at the Prince and The Big Bang at Act II Playhouse.  Richard holds a cum-laude BFA from Miami University , Oxford , Ohio with an emphasis in Arts Administration & Directing.

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