Rees Leaving Williamstown Theatre Festival

Roger Rees

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Artist director Roger Rees and the Williamstown Theatre Festival are parting ways after three years.

Following speculation in Variety magazine on Monday, his departure was announced early Thursday morning by the company's board President Matt Harris. He will be replaced by Nicholas Martin, artistic director of the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston.

"Roger came in at a time of transition for the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and did a great job setting a foundation of innovation for the future," said Harris in a statement. "He also helped to reaffirm our focus on training the next generation of artists while continuing our tradition of top-notch productions."

Rees was chosen after a yearlong search for a successor to Michael Ritchie, who left in 2004 after nine years leading the festival to become producer of the Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles. The award-winning stage, TV and film actor had appeared in and directed a number of plays at the festival since 1997. Rees oversaw the festival's move into its new quarters at the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance on the Williams College campus. He also frequently participated in readings at Williams' Chapin Hall and the Clark Art Institute, most recently reading letters by Claude Monet for the museum's "The Unknown Monet."

While there has been criticism about Rees' selections and casting for the summer festival, Harris told The New York Times this week that the break up had nothing to do with performance.

"Roger has a lot of demands with different projects." Williamstown managing director Bill Darger also recently departed his post, according to Variety.

Martin will take the post effective Nov. 1 and continue with the Boston company through next spring. He has been with Huntington Theatre Company since 2000. He has been associated with WTF for more than a decade and was resident director for two years under Ritchie.

"I couldn't be more delighted to be returning to Williamstown Theatre Festival where I have shared so many experiences with so many incredible artists," said Martin in a statement. "Williamstown is truly the place where I feel I really learned to direct."

Harris described Martin as a "great leader and superb director."

"We are thrilled that he will be helming the WTF and look forward to a creative association and an exciting new chapter in the life of the Williamstown Theatre Festival," he said in the statement.

During his tenure at the WTF, Rees presented some of the most acclaimed productions in the WTF's recent history, including "Autumn Garden" and "The Corn Is Green" (directed by Martin) from the 2007 season. In addition, he spearheaded continued innovation in the WTF's education programs, most notably the leapFROG program, which offers young writers, directors and actors a chance to write and workshop a new play and a new musical each summer.

Despite his long history on the stage, the Welsh-born actor is probably best-known for his portrayal of tycoon Robin Colcord on the sitcom "Cheers." Martin has directed plays on and off Broadway, in London and in a number f regional theaters. He also will be directing the world premiere of Paul Rudnick's play "The New Century" at Lincoln Center Theater next April.

Williams College Lone Proponent for Development of Water Street Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
11:15AM / Thursday, April 16, 2026

Williams College hopes to replace the current Facilities Services building on Latham Street and use that space for a new  athletics complex. 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — If the town accepts an offer from Williams College, a 1.27-acre lot that long has been eyed as a possible venue for housing and economic development instead will find a use similar to its history.

 

The college was the lone respondent to the town's request for proposals to purchase and develop 59 Water St., a dirt lot known around town as the "old town garage site." This was first reported Wednesday by Greylock News. 

 

If successful, the college plans to use the former town garage property for the school's Facilities Services building. Or it could be turned back into a parking lot.

 

Williams' offer includes a $500,000 upfront payment and a 10-year agreement to make $50,000 annual donations to the Mount Greylock Regional School District according to the proposal unsealed on Wednesday afternoon.

 

If it closes the deal, the college said it will explore development of a three- to four-story Facilities Services building with "a structured parking facility providing approximately 170 spaces."

 

"[I]f site constraints impact our ability to develop both structured parking and the Facilities Services building, our backup proposal is to develop the parking structure with approximately 170 spaces, also with capacity to support institutional and public needs," the college's proposal reads.

 

The college's current Facilities property at 60 Latham St. has an assessed value — for the .42-acre lot only — of $113,000 and an annual property tax bill of $1,606, according to the town's website.